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US House Representatives Earl Francis Blumenauer and Adam Schiff want further US Department of Agriculture (USDA) scrutiny of Elon Musk’s Neuralink following a Reuters report that outlined mistakes in the brain chip company’s animal testing program, their offices said on Thursday.

Reuters reported on Monday that the USDA’s inspector general is investigating Neuralink for potential animal-welfare violations amid internal staff complaints that its animal testing is being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths.

Blumenauer and Schiff, two Democrats who are members of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, wrote in a draft letter they will send to the USDA that “the treatment of the animals described in these complaints seems to indicate a distressing lack of oversight.”

“We are very concerned that this may be another example of high-profile cases of animal cruelty involving USDA-inspected facilities, referenced in previous letters to your agency, where there has not been adequate action from USDA,” the lawmakers said in a letter addressed to USDA secretary Thomas Vilsack and Kevin Shea, who oversees the agency’s inspection service.

Neuralink executives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A USDA spokesperson said the agency could not comment on Neuralink and referred Reuters to the inspector general’s office, which also declined to comment.

Reuters identified several problems with Neuralink’s animal trials, including four experiments involving 86 pigs and two monkeys that were marred by human errors, following a review of dozens of previously unreported audio recordings, emails, messages, presentations, internal company reports and interviews with more than 20 current and former employees.

The mistakes weakened the experiments and required repeated tests, leading to more animals being killed. In total, the company has killed about 1,500 animals, including more than 280 sheep, pigs and monkeys, following experiments since 2018, Reuters found.

Blumenauer’s and Schiff’s offices declined to comment on what they want the USDA to do beyond the inspector general’s investigation. The lawmakers wrote in their letter that the investigation was “vital to shedding light on the unnecessary animal suffering and deaths” and potential animal-welfare law violations.

The lawmakers also cite records made public by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, an animal advocacy group that released records related to Neuralink’s partnership at the University California Davis, as grounds for concern. Neuralink has acknowledged that six monkeys died because of health problems in experiments it conducted with the university during their partnership that lasted from 2017 until 2020.

Schiff has also been critical of Musk’s $44 billion (roughly Rs. 3,37,465 crore) acquisition of Twitter, accusing him of “sabotaging safeguards against digital misinformation and hate.”

© Thomson Reuters 2022

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Drone mapping reveals ancient settlement in the Caucasus Mountains

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January 9, 2025

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Drone mapping reveals ancient settlement in the Caucasus Mountains

A groundbreaking discovery has been made in the Caucasus Mountains where an ancient Bronze Age settlement, Dmanisis Gora, has been mapped using drone technology. This site, believed to be over 3,000 years old, reveals new insights into the evolution of large-scale settlements during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. Spanning an area far larger than initially expected, the research offers a fresh perspective on ancient urbanism and interactions between sedentary and mobile communities.

Drone Mapping Reveals Extensive Settlement

As reported by Science Daily, the project led by Dr. Nathaniel Erb-Satullo, Senior Lecturer in Architectural Science at Cranfield Forensic Institute and Dimitri Jachvliani, co-director at the Georgian National Museum, employed drone technology to create high-resolution models of the site. The drone, equipped with advanced imaging tools, captured nearly 11,000 photographs, which were later used to generate detailed maps of the settlement. This method allowed the identification of fortification walls, graves and other structural remnants spread across a vast area.

The site, originally thought to be much smaller, was found to include a 1-kilometre-long defensive wall protecting an outer settlement. This finding significantly alters the understanding of the region’s settlement patterns, which were influenced by interactions with pastoral communities and seasonal population dynamics.

Integrating Modern and Historical Data

To further analyse the settlement, drone-generated images were compared with declassified satellite imagery from the Cold War era. This comparison highlighted changes in the landscape over decades, distinguishing ancient features from those impacted by modern agricultural activities. Geographic Information System (GIS) software was employed to integrate and analyse the diverse datasets, revealing patterns in the site’s expansion and usage over time.

Dr. Erb-Satullo noted to Science Daily, that these findings offer invaluable data on population density, agricultural practices and the broader socio-economic landscape of ancient societies. Continued excavations have uncovered artefacts such as pottery shards and animal remains, shedding more light on the lives of the people who inhabited Dmanisis Gora. This research underscores the potential of drone technology in unearthing and documenting historical sites on an unprecedented scale

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Ancient Geological Hotspot Linked to Great Lakes’ Depth and Formation

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January 9, 2025

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Ancient Geological Hotspot Linked to Great Lakes' Depth and Formation

Evidence has emerged pointing to a significant role played by an ancient geographic hotspot in shaping the Great Lakes. Researchers have linked the formation of these massive water bodies to a hotspot that interacted with the Earth’s lithosphere millions of years ago. While the lakes are commonly attributed to glacial activity during the Ice Age, recent findings suggest that deeper geological processes may have contributed to their formation, providing insight into their extraordinary depth and size.

Study Highlights Geological Interactions

According to research published in Geophysical Research Letters, a team of scientists from the University of Houston and the University of Arizona investigated the Cape Verde hotspot’s historical activity. Hotspots, known for generating heat and material flow from the Earth’s mantle, are believed to have influenced the Great Lakes region approximately 225 to 300 million years ago. As Pangea, the ancient supercontinent, moved over this hotspot, thinning of the lithosphere occurred, making the ground beneath more susceptible to external forces.

Seismic Clues Support Hotspot Theory

As reported by phys.org, data from seismic wave analyses supported these claims. Unusual horizontal wave movement beneath the lakes indicated lithospheric deformation. This anomaly aligned with the passage of North America over the hotspot during its drift over geological time. These conditions, as reported, would have created a weakened crust, later amplified by glacial activity during the Ice Age.

Hotspot’s Legacy in the Great Lakes Formation

The research outlines how the Cape Verde hotspot likely underlay Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie at different points in history, contributing to the geological features that enabled the Great Lakes to form. The fragile crust allowed ice to carve deeper and larger depressions than would have been possible otherwise, creating the unique landscape seen today.

These findings reshape understanding of the Great Lakes’ origins, suggesting that both deep-Earth processes and surface phenomena played critical roles in their formation.

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LA wildfires rage as Santa Ana winds spread flames across 13,000 acres

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7 hours ago

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January 9, 2025

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LA wildfires rage as Santa Ana winds spread flames across 13,000 acres

Raging wildfires in Los Angeles County have scorched over 13,000 acres, forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate as powerful Santa Ana winds continue to fuel the blazes. Four fires—the Eaton Fire in Pasadena, the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, a blaze in Sylmar and another in the Sepulveda Basin—have collectively caused widespread destruction. Over 1,000 structures have been damaged and two fatalities have been confirmed as firefighting efforts are challenged by dry weather and hurricane-force winds reaching speeds of 99 mph.

Santa Ana Winds Amplifying Fire Threats

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the wildfires have been intensified by the Santa Ana winds, which are characterised by dry and warm air moving from the Great Basin towards the California coast. These winds descend over mountain ranges, increasing in speed and losing moisture, creating conditions that rapidly spread flames. Reports indicate that some areas have recorded wind speeds of up to 100 mph in mountain passes, complicating containment efforts and grounding firefighting aircraft overnight.

Hydrant Issues and Evacuations Reported

The Los Angeles Times has reported water supply problems, with several fire hydrants in Pacific Palisades running dry. This issue has further hindered firefighting operations as crews battle to control the Eaton Fire, which has consumed 10,600 acres near Altadena and Pasadena. Meanwhile, the Palisades Fire has burned through 2,900 acres. Evacuations remain in place as residents are warned to avoid affected areas.

Winds Expected to Subside

Forecasts from the NWS predict a decrease in wind activity by Wednesday afternoon as an ocean breeze is expected to bring relief. Efforts to contain the flames are anticipated to accelerate once conditions improve. Officials continue to monitor additional fires, including one in Riverside that has been partially contained and another reported in Ventura.

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