ELON MUSK SUES OPENAI AND CEO SAM ALTMAN.
Elon Musk has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging they have deviated from the organization's original mission by prioritizing profits over humanity's benefit. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI, accuses the company of betraying its foundational principles by partnering with Microsoft, thereby transforming OpenAI into a profit-driven entity focused on developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) for Microsoft's gain rather than for humanitarian purposes. The lawsuit, lodged in San Francisco, criticizes OpenAI for becoming a closed-source entity under Microsoft's influence, veering away from its commitment to openness and the betterment of humanity. Musk's concerns highlight the existential risks of AGI, feared to surpass human control and potentially endanger the planet. The lawsuit details the transformation of OpenAI from a not-for-profit, open-source lab dedicated to humanity's benefit into a secretive, profit-oriented organization, driven by commercial interests and closely tied to Microsoft, challenging the integrity of its founding agreement and mission. (The Guardian)
CDC AND FDA NOTICE POTENTIAL GBS RISK IN RSV VACCINES.
Recent data from the CDC and FDA indicate a potential, albeit small, increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) following vaccination with new RSV vaccines for older adults. This observation emerged during a presentation to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, highlighting a slightly higher incidence of GBS among recipients of the Pfizer RSV vaccine, with some cases also linked to the GSK vaccine. However, experts stress that it's premature to confirm a definitive increased risk of GBS from these vaccines, citing the need for further analysis due to the small number of cases and doses administered so far. The CDC plans to conduct a more detailed investigation using a different vaccine safety database, with improved risk estimates expected in the future. GBS, a neurological condition that can lead to muscle weakness and paralysis, is generally more common in individuals over 50 and can follow certain infections or vaccinations, though most people recover fully. The new RSV vaccines, introduced last fall, have been under scrutiny after three clinical trial participants developed GBS. (STAT)
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TEXAS' LARGEST WILDFIRE ENGULFS OVER ONE MILLION ACRES.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas has become the state's largest recorded wildfire, consuming over one million acres of the Texas panhandle. Ignited on a Monday, its rapid growth was fueled by dry grasses and exacerbated by low humidity and strong winds. Despite the common perception, wildfires in this region during winter, termed the "dormant" fire season, are typical due to hard freezes that dry out the grasslands, making them highly flammable. This year's significant "fuel loading" was attributed to a wetter growing season followed by freezes, creating ideal conditions for such a disaster when combined with unusual warmth and wind gusts over 40 miles per hour. The fire's expansion was swift, doubling in size within two days and even spreading into Oklahoma, where it burned more than 30,000 acres. As of the last update, it was only 3% contained, with concerns that upcoming weather conditions could worsen the situation. This event underscores the potential impact of climate change on increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires, as warmer temperatures and lower humidity levels contribute to drier fuels, setting the stage for more devastating fires. (Scientific American)
NOVO NORDISK UNVEILS US R&D HEADQUARTERS IN LEXINGTON.
Despite the rainy weather in Lexington, Massachusetts, the atmosphere was vibrant inside Novo Nordisk's newly unveiled U.S. R&D headquarters, formerly the Dicerna facility acquired for $3.3 billion in 2021. This marks a significant step in establishing the Boston area as a dual hub for Novo Nordisk, alongside Copenhagen. The event celebrated the facility's redesign and coincided with a surge in R&D investments by Novo, reflecting its growing revenue from its obesity and diabetes treatments, Wegovy and Ozempic. In the fourth quarter alone, R&D expenditures reached $1.5 billion, about 16% of sales revenue, with a 35% increase in R&D spending in 2023, aligning with sales growth. Chief Scientific Officer Marcus Schindler highlighted the competitive positioning in R&D spending and the company's efforts to explore beyond its cardiometabolic focus, including a phase 1 cell therapy program for Parkinson's disease. Novo Nordisk aims to innovate in cell therapy delivery methods and is exploring siRNAs for cancer treatment, despite not being an oncology company. The primary focus remains on cardiometabolic diseases, with ongoing research into more effective and less frequent treatment regimens for obesity, alongside preventive measures for at-risk patients. The Boston hub is poised to leverage local talent, exemplified by the hiring of Bei Zhang to lead the obesity therapeutic area, highlighting the strategic advantage of the location over asking recruits to move to Denmark. (Fierce Biotech)
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NEW RAVENMASTER APPOINTED TO TOWER OF LONDON,
Michael "Barney" Chandler, a 56-year-old former Royal Marine, has been appointed the new ravenmaster at the Tower of London, a role steeped in legend and tradition. According to ancient prophecy, the presence of at least six ravens at the Tower is essential for the safety of the Kingdom of England, as their departure would signify the fall of both the Tower and the kingdom. Chandler, now responsible for the care of the Tower's seven ravens, embraces this duty with seriousness, ensuring the prophecy remains untested. As part of his role, Chandler, a Yeoman Warder and military veteran, will oversee the health and welfare of these intelligent birds, managing their diet and enclosures while ensuring they do not fly away by trimming their feathers. The ravens, known for their intelligence and distinct personalities, roam freely by day and are secured at night. Chandler's appointment continues the tradition of maintaining these symbolic protectors of the Tower, a historic site that attracts millions of tourists annually. (Associated Press)
GROUND-BREAKING STUDY REVEALS VESTIGIAL EYES IN DADDY LONGLEGS.
Guilherme Gainett and his team have made a groundbreaking discovery in the study of daddy longlegs (harvestmen), finding evidence of vestigial eyes in addition to the two commonly recognized eyes. This finding, published in Current Biology, suggests that the species Phalangium opilio may have inherited remnants of additional eyes from their ancestors, challenging previous understandings of arachnid anatomy. By using fluorescent markers designed to bind to opsins, the light-sensitive proteins found in eyes, Gainett observed four additional eye-like structures during the developmental stages of these arachnids. This discovery not only sheds light on the evolutionary history of daddy longlegs, indicating a potential link to ancient ancestors with two full pairs of eyes, but also raises intriguing questions about the functionality of these vestigial eyes. While they likely don't provide vision in the conventional sense, due to the absence of lenses, there's speculation that they might still be light-sensitive. This finding contributes significantly to our understanding of the evolutionary trajectory of arachnids and opens new avenues for research into the complexities of their vision and genetics. (New York Times)
Thanks for reading. Let's be careful out there.
WORDS: The Biology Guy.
IMAGE CREDIT: DonkeyHotey.
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