Daily briefing: The fun of winning science’s satirical Ig Nobel prize

Science and Health

Hello Nature readers, would you like to get this Briefing in your inbox free every day? Sign up here.Researchers retrieve lunar samples from the Chang’e-6 return capsule.Credit: Xinhua/ShutterstockFirst analysis of rocks from Moon’s far sideTwo groups of researchers have taken the first-ever look at samples brought back from the Moon’s far side — and revealed a history of volcanic activity that spans billions of years. Nearly two kilograms of lunar soil was retrieved by the China National Space Administration mission Chang’e-6 and then dropped down to Earth in a re-entry capsule. Scientists found grains of dust in the sample that originated from lava that erupted to the surface as long as 4.2 billion years ago.Nature | 5 min readReference: Nature paper & Science paperFat cells can ‘remember’ obesityThe body’s fat cells carry a ‘memory’ of obesity, even after weight loss. The memory is formed because obesity causes epigenetic changes in the cells, which seem to render them incapable of their normal function even when weight returns to healthy levels. The results suggest that people trying to slim down will often require long-term care to avoid weight regain, says biologist and study co-author Laura Hinte. “It means that you need more help, potentially,” she says. “It’s not your fault.”Nature | 5 min readReference: Nature paperGoogle Scholar faces AI competitorsGoogle Scholar is turning 20 — and facing the rise of competing systems, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), for searching the literature. “If there was ever a moment when Google Scholar could be overthrown as the main search engine, it might be now,” says computational social scientist Jevin West. Anurag Acharya, who co-founded Google Scholar, says he welcomes all efforts to make scholarly information easier to find, understand and build on. Nature | 6 min readFeatures & opinionThe ‘silly’ science prize changing careersUnlike its Nobel namesake, an Ig Nobel prize is not always coveted by scientists. But receiving one of the the satirical awards — which honour work that “makes people laugh, then think” — is no bad thing, say some former winners. “My paper got a huge readership,” says ornithologist Kees Moeliker, who won in 2003 for reporting the first documented case of homosexual necrophilia in ducks. Psychologist Minna Lyons, who won in 2014 for her work on the dark personality traits of night-owls, calls the award “one of the best surprises in my academic career, by far”. “It actually inspires people,” she says.Nature | 9 min readReference: DEINSEA paper & Personality and Individual Differences paper‘Science, at its most basic, is apolitical’“The scientific community must take a critical look at what responsibility it bears in science becoming politically contentious,” argues Marcia McNutt, the president of the US National Academy of Sciences. She emphasizes the role of evidence in informing — not setting — policy. And she says that “it may not be helpful to emphasize consensus in policy reports’ recommendations when the underlying values are not universally shared” — for example, by being prescriptive about the use of renewable energy to address climate change.McNutt’s opinion has sparked debate among scientists. Her argument fails to recognize that trust in science has been intentionally dismantled by those with a vested interest, argues a researcher who studies the psychological factors that influence how people accept or reject scientific messages. And science writer Philip Ball asks how scientists can heed McNutt’s call to fight disinformation. “The idea that this can be done now in the US without being seen as ‘political’ is… absurd,” he writes.Science | 5 min readIn 2020, Nature explored why we write (and podcast) about politics in a three-part audio series that considers the intimate relationship between politics and science.The return of a vanished Hawaiian islandIn 2018, Hurricane Walaka wiped a tiny island in the remote northwest of the Hawaiian archipelago off the map. With it went a refuge for threatened green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi). But East Island is making a comeback: it has regained about 60% of its original size, along with some turtle nesting sites and seals. “It was a tragic event but there’s just so much knowledge that we’re gaining,” says climate scientist Haunani Kane. This “will help to guide our long-term understanding of how our islands are resilient or vulnerable to the changes that are to come”.Honolulu Civil Beat | 16 min readQUOTE OF THE DAY“Is it feasible? The answer is absolutely yes. Is it politically challenging? The answer is also yes.”Amar Bhattacharya, executive secretary of the UN’s independent high-level expert group on climate finance, recognizes that wrangling US$1 trillion a year by 2030 to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement is no mean feat. But without it, the world risks a future of climate-change-driven economic turmoil. (The Guardian | 5 min read)

Daily briefing: The fun of winning science’s satirical Ig Nobel prize

Science and Health

Hello Nature readers, would you like to get this Briefing in your inbox free every day? Sign up here.Researchers retrieve lunar samples from the Chang’e-6 return capsule.Credit: Xinhua/ShutterstockFirst analysis of rocks from Moon’s far sideTwo groups of researchers have taken the first-ever look at samples brought back from the Moon’s far side — and revealed a history of volcanic activity that spans billions of years. Nearly two kilograms of lunar soil was retrieved by the China National Space Administration mission Chang’e-6 and then dropped down to Earth in a re-entry capsule. Scientists found grains of dust in the sample that originated from lava that erupted to the surface as long as 4.2 billion years ago.Nature | 5 min readReference: Nature paper & Science paperFat cells can ‘remember’ obesityThe body’s fat cells carry a ‘memory’ of obesity, even after weight loss. The memory is formed because obesity causes epigenetic changes in the cells, which seem to render them incapable of their normal function even when weight returns to healthy levels. The results suggest that people trying to slim down will often require long-term care to avoid weight regain, says biologist and study co-author Laura Hinte. “It means that you need more help, potentially,” she says. “It’s not your fault.”Nature | 5 min readReference: Nature paperGoogle Scholar faces AI competitorsGoogle Scholar is turning 20 — and facing the rise of competing systems, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), for searching the literature. “If there was ever a moment when Google Scholar could be overthrown as the main search engine, it might be now,” says computational social scientist Jevin West. Anurag Acharya, who co-founded Google Scholar, says he welcomes all efforts to make scholarly information easier to find, understand and build on. Nature | 6 min readFeatures & opinionThe ‘silly’ science prize changing careersUnlike its Nobel namesake, an Ig Nobel prize is not always coveted by scientists. But receiving one of the the satirical awards — which honour work that “makes people laugh, then think” — is no bad thing, say some former winners. “My paper got a huge readership,” says ornithologist Kees Moeliker, who won in 2003 for reporting the first documented case of homosexual necrophilia in ducks. Psychologist Minna Lyons, who won in 2014 for her work on the dark personality traits of night-owls, calls the award “one of the best surprises in my academic career, by far”. “It actually inspires people,” she says.Nature | 9 min readReference: DEINSEA paper & Personality and Individual Differences paper‘Science, at its most basic, is apolitical’“The scientific community must take a critical look at what responsibility it bears in science becoming politically contentious,” argues Marcia McNutt, the president of the US National Academy of Sciences. She emphasizes the role of evidence in informing — not setting — policy. And she says that “it may not be helpful to emphasize consensus in policy reports’ recommendations when the underlying values are not universally shared” — for example, by being prescriptive about the use of renewable energy to address climate change.McNutt’s opinion has sparked debate among scientists. Her argument fails to recognize that trust in science has been intentionally dismantled by those with a vested interest, argues a researcher who studies the psychological factors that influence how people accept or reject scientific messages. And science writer Philip Ball asks how scientists can heed McNutt’s call to fight disinformation. “The idea that this can be done now in the US without being seen as ‘political’ is… absurd,” he writes.Science | 5 min readIn 2020, Nature explored why we write (and podcast) about politics in a three-part audio series that considers the intimate relationship between politics and science.The return of a vanished Hawaiian islandIn 2018, Hurricane Walaka wiped a tiny island in the remote northwest of the Hawaiian archipelago off the map. With it went a refuge for threatened green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi). But East Island is making a comeback: it has regained about 60% of its original size, along with some turtle nesting sites and seals. “It was a tragic event but there’s just so much knowledge that we’re gaining,” says climate scientist Haunani Kane. This “will help to guide our long-term understanding of how our islands are resilient or vulnerable to the changes that are to come”.Honolulu Civil Beat | 16 min readQUOTE OF THE DAY“Is it feasible? The answer is absolutely yes. Is it politically challenging? The answer is also yes.”Amar Bhattacharya, executive secretary of the UN’s independent high-level expert group on climate finance, recognizes that wrangling US$1 trillion a year by 2030 to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement is no mean feat. But without it, the world risks a future of climate-change-driven economic turmoil. (The Guardian | 5 min read)

Christmas travellers to Italy will face airport strikes and a surge in petty crime, warns Foreign Office

Travel

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreTravellers to Italy face a series of problems over the coming days and months.On one of the busiest days in the run up to Christmas, Friday 29 November, a nationwide general strike will paralyse the transport system – causing severe disruption for air and rail travellers, as well as shutting down local transport.Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport says staff at the two main Milan airports, Linate and Malpensa, will walk out all day. Across in Venice, the strike will affect flights between 2 and 6pm.Many other airports are expected to be disrupted.Wizz Air staff working in Italy may strike all day, affecting a number of flights to and from the UK.Looking further ahead, a new Foreign Office bulletin warns about Holy Year, which begins on Christmas Eve 2024 and will “draw millions of pilgrims to the city” until it ends on 6 January 2026.“The higher number of travellers during the Holy Year could increase levels of petty crime,” says the FCDO – which also warns: “Expect heavy crowds and road closures.”A Holy Year, or Jubilee, takes place every 25 years.The next will begin on Christmas Eve 2024. The Vatican says: “The Holy Father will preside over the celebration of Mass at 7pm in St Peter’s Square. The Rite of Opening of the Holy Door will take place immediately afterwards.”James Hill, who runs cultural tours to Italy and elsewhere, told The Independent: “This one is likely to be even busier than the one in 2000. Estimates are that 25 to 40 million people will come to Rome in one calendar year, particularly from Easter 2025.”He recommends a visit to the Italian capital before mid-December 2024 or after 6 January 2026.The official airline for the year is ITA, which is offering extra benefits – including flight discounts – for holders of the official pilgrimage card.

23 actors who hated their own movies: ‘I couldn’t believe how bad it was’

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreEvery now and then, an actor gets quite candid about dislking a film they once starred in.While the question “Do you have any career biggest regrets?” might perhaps be one of the more obvious ones a journalist can ask an actor. the answer can sometimes be rather revealing.Many Hollywood stars, recently including Chris Hemsworth and Orlando Bloom, have spoken negatively about their past choices. Hemsworth, as well as his co-star Christian Bale, are not fans of Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love and Thunder while Bloom said he has “blanked” 2004 film Troy from his memory.Others (we’re looking at you, Bill Murray) have even gone on to poke fun at their disliked role during a role in another film.Then there are those – for example Charlize Theron – have admitted accepting a film purely based on the director’s filmography, only to then be let down by the final result of their collaboration.Below, The Independent looks at 23 actors who have been vocal about disliking films they have starred in.George Clooney – Batman & Robin (1997)Michael Keaton, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck – some of Hollywood’s best-known actors have played the Caped Crusader on screen. However, only one wore a suit with Batnipples – and that was George Clooney. “Let me just say that I’d actually thought I’d destroyed the franchise until somebody else brought it back years later and changed it,” he once said of the role. “I thought at the time that this was going to be a very good career move. It wasn’t.”Halle Berry – Catwoman (2004)Halle Berry remains one of the few actors to accept her Razzie award in person. “Thank you so much. I never in my life thought I would be up here,” she told the audience, before spoofing her own Oscar acceptance speech and thanking her manager. “He loves me so much that he convinces me to do projects even when he knows that it is s***.” She recently said she has been “carrying the weight” of the film’s failure, telling Jimmy Kimmel: “Whatever success it had or didn’t have somehow seemed like it was all my fault. But it really wasn’t my fault.”Ben Affleck – Daredevil (2003)If you hate Daredevil, Ben Affleck hates it more. “Daredevil didn’t work at all”, the actor told Entertainment Weekly in 2007. “If I wanted to go viral, I would be less polite.” He’d give the superhero genre another go, accepting the role of Bruce Wayne for Suicide Squad and Batman v Superman, with better, if underwhelming, results.Ben Affleck, like most of us, wasn’t a fan of ‘Daredevil’

CFPB finalizes rule to supervise some Big Tech firms

Technology

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Rohit ChopraBloomberg News WASHINGTON — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has finalized its rule to supervise the largest nonbank companies that offer digital funds transfers and payment wallets. While the CFPB did not name the companies, it likely includes payment giants like Apple, Google, PayPal and others. The CFPB said that it has always had enforcement authority over large payments companies, but that the rule will allow the bureau to conduct proactive examinations to make sure that the companies are complying with the law. “Digital payments have gone from novelty to necessity and our oversight must reflect this reality,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra in a statement. “The rule will help to protect consumer privacy, guard against fraud, and prevent illegal account closures.” The bureau will supervise these companies in areas like privacy and surveillance, ensuring that tech companies comply with federal law allowing consumers to opt out of certain data collection and sharing practices, ensuring that popular payments apps manage disputes on their own rather than shifting them to banks, credit unions and credit card companies, and reducing harm to consumers if they lose access to an app without notice. In the final rule, the CFPB made several significant changes from its initial proposal. The bureau significantly raised the transaction threshold at which companies would require supervision to 50 million payments from 5 million, and limited the rule’s scope to only consider transactions conducted in U.S. dollars.The Dodd-Frank Act gave the CFPB the power to designate so-called “larger participants” in a specific financial market, a designation that allows the bureau to conduct supervisory exams. Chopra has long warned of the impact of unsupervised tech firms’ growing influence in the payments sector. “Every single government agency is being impacted by how big tech companies are infiltrating sectors of the economy,” Chopra said in the Senate Banking Committee in 2021. Shortly after being sworn into office he publicly demanded that Amazon, Apple, Google, Facebook, PayPal and Square turn over information about payment products and practices. In their comments to the bureau, bankers largely supported the idea of regulation on nonbanks to be more consistent with depository institutions, but recommended that the CFPB more thoroughly define its examination process. Tech firms, meanwhile, pushed back firmly against the rule. TechNet, a group of senior executive and technology CEOs, said that the CFPB might have bypassed a congressional requirement to consult with the Federal Trade Commission, opening the rule up to an Administrative Procedures Act challenge. While the three main prudential bank regulators — the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Comptroller of the Currency — have backed off policymaking since the election, Chopra has continued to push for the policy that he’s pursued throughout his tenure at the bureau. Chopra can be dismissed by the president at will and it widely expected to be dismissed by President-elect Trump after he takes office in January.Earlier this week, he called on Congress to reconsider deposit insurance limits after the failure of a tiny Oklahoma bank will cause uninsured depositors — likely small businesses, houses of worship or farmers — to take a haircut on their uninsured deposits.

Science & Tech Ministry signs agreements under PACE programme

Science and Health

New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS): The Ministry of Science & Technology on Thursday announced that it has signed agreements under the Patent Acquisition and Collaborative Research and Technology Development (PACE).The PACE programme by the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR) fosters collaborative research between Indian industries and R&D organisations, academic institutions, and universities. It emphasises innovative work and supports the development of new technologies focused on the commercialization of products and processes addressing unmet industrial needs.
The ministry notified the signing of two separate tripartite agreements with Devashish Polymers (DPPL), Mumbai and GPS Renewables, Bangalore, and Agarkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune.
The MoU with DPPL aims to develop compounded elastomers and evaluate their performance for diverse applications under this project. The GPS Renewables in collaboration with ARI seeks to scale up and conduct pilot trials for enhanced microbial methane production from agricultural residues using anaerobic fungi.
“The PACE programme represents a cornerstone of DSIR’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaborative research in India,” said Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR & Director General, CSIR.
“Through this initiative, we aim to catalyse the development of new products, processes, and solutions that are not only technologically sound but also have a clear path leading to commercialisation,” Kalaiselvi added.
Kalaiselvi noted that the projects will help address pressing national challenges and contribute significantly to India’s development goals.
Kalaiselvi also underlined the critical role such projects play in fostering industry-academia partnerships to create sustainable solutions and drive the nation’s progress in science, technology, and societal impact.
“DSIR remains committed to nurturing ideas that transform into impactful solutions, and the PACE programme is a testament to this mission. Together, we can drive sustainable industrial growth and technological self-reliance for India,” said Dr. Vipin Chandra Shukla, Scientist-G, & Head PACE.
The PACE programme encourages proposals targeting specific industrial sectors with practical applications. It supports projects demonstrating proof-of-concept to address significant unmet industrial needs, with a duration of one to three years.

Science & Tech Ministry signs agreements under PACE programme

Science and Health

New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS): The Ministry of Science & Technology on Thursday announced that it has signed agreements under the Patent Acquisition and Collaborative Research and Technology Development (PACE).The PACE programme by the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR) fosters collaborative research between Indian industries and R&D organisations, academic institutions, and universities. It emphasises innovative work and supports the development of new technologies focused on the commercialization of products and processes addressing unmet industrial needs.
The ministry notified the signing of two separate tripartite agreements with Devashish Polymers (DPPL), Mumbai and GPS Renewables, Bangalore, and Agarkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune.
The MoU with DPPL aims to develop compounded elastomers and evaluate their performance for diverse applications under this project. The GPS Renewables in collaboration with ARI seeks to scale up and conduct pilot trials for enhanced microbial methane production from agricultural residues using anaerobic fungi.
“The PACE programme represents a cornerstone of DSIR’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaborative research in India,” said Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR & Director General, CSIR.
“Through this initiative, we aim to catalyse the development of new products, processes, and solutions that are not only technologically sound but also have a clear path leading to commercialisation,” Kalaiselvi added.
Kalaiselvi noted that the projects will help address pressing national challenges and contribute significantly to India’s development goals.
Kalaiselvi also underlined the critical role such projects play in fostering industry-academia partnerships to create sustainable solutions and drive the nation’s progress in science, technology, and societal impact.
“DSIR remains committed to nurturing ideas that transform into impactful solutions, and the PACE programme is a testament to this mission. Together, we can drive sustainable industrial growth and technological self-reliance for India,” said Dr. Vipin Chandra Shukla, Scientist-G, & Head PACE.
The PACE programme encourages proposals targeting specific industrial sectors with practical applications. It supports projects demonstrating proof-of-concept to address significant unmet industrial needs, with a duration of one to three years.

Kansas State squares off against George Washington in Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands

Technology

George Washington Revolutionaries (4-0) vs. Kansas State Wildcats (3-1)
Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands; Friday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Kansas State will face George Washington at Virgin Islands Sport & Fitness Center in Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands.
Kansas State went 19-15 overall with an 11-6 record in non-conference play in the 2023-24 season. The Wildcats averaged 72.2 points per game while allowing opponents to score 71.1 last season.
George Washington went 15-17 overall with an 11-2 record in non-conference games during the 2023-24 season. The Revolutionaries averaged 76.8 points per game last season, 31.3 in the paint, 10.9 off of turnovers and 7.9 on fast breaks.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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