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  • Nano-Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste: The Benefits and Risks of the Fluoride-Free Alternative

    Nano-Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste: The Benefits and Risks of the Fluoride-Free Alternative

    As health concerns around fluoride in public drinking water continue to swirl, nano-hydroxyapatite toothpastes are becoming increasingly popular substitutes for fluoride toothpaste. Popular brands include Boka Davids and NOBS (No Bad Stuff), which are touted as fluoride-free alternatives that whiten teeth, repair enamel and prevent cavities. 

    “As ingredient labels shift toward cleaner, fluoride-free formulas, one compound is taking center stage in modern oral care: nano-hydroxyapatite,” Dr. Pia Lieb, DDS, cosmetic dentist and clinical assistant professor emerita at NYU College of Dentistry, explains. If you’re thinking about replacing your fluoride toothpaste with a nano-hydroxyapatite alternative, this is what dental experts want you to know before you brush your teeth. 

    What is nano-hydroxyapatite?

    “Nano-hydroxyapatite is a synthetic calcium phosphate compound that’s used in some oral care products, including toothpastes,” explains Dr. Ada Cooper, consumer advisor and spokesperson for the American Dental Association, says. “[It] has a structure that is similar to hydroxyapatite found in enamel, and nHAP gets incorporated into the tooth structure preferentially in demineralized areas.” 

    Nano-hydroxyapatite is also abbreviated as n-HA and n-HAp.

    Dr. Royce Lai of King Village Dental adds that this is technically a two-part question, since “hydroxyapatite has been around for decades and has been studied for at least 20 years.” Newer and less studied, nano-hydroxyapatite is a version of hydroxyapatite with small, rod-shaped particles. 

    “Hydroxyapatite is natural. It is a type of calcium that makes up bones and teeth,” says Lai. “Nano-hydroxyapatite relates to the particle size. These are between 20 and 80 nanometers and are much smaller than the hydroxyapatite tubules that are a part of your teeth.” 

    According to Dr. Daniela Eversgerd, a cosmetic dentist and the founder of Allure Dental, nano-hydroxyapatite was developed by NASA in the 1970s for astronauts dealing with bone and enamel loss during long periods of space travel. Since the early 1990s, it has been approved for oral care products in Japan. 

    Nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste benefits

    “Nano-hydroxyapatite doesn’t just protect your teeth — it helps rebuild them,” says Dr. Catrise Austin, a cosmetic dentist, author of Gum Health Made Simple and host of the Let’s Talk Smiles podcast. She lists the following as potential nano-hydroxyapatite benefits:

    • Enamel remineralization
    • Tooth sensitivity relief
    • Reduced bacterial adhesion
    • Whitening and gloss enhancement

    “n-HA can actually fill microscopic cracks and help reverse or arrest early cavities,” adds dentist Dr. Sandip Sachar.

    Austin cites a 2019 study that found a 10% hydroxyapatite toothpaste is equivalent or non-inferior to fluoride toothpaste for preventing and remineralizing dental cavities (or caries) in children. 

    Health Tips

    When it comes to teeth sensitivity, Lai cites a 2014 study concluding that 15% nano-hydroxyapatite helped sensitive teeth. “The particle size could get into space and work better than larger particles in micro-hydroxyapatite or fluoride,” he explains. “The conclusion was that nano-hydroxyapatite could significantly reduce tooth sensitivity to hot and cold in two to four weeks of use.”

    Referencing an 18-month 2023 clinical trial finding that a 10% n-HAp toothpaste protected adult teeth from new cavities as well as a standard 1,450-ppm fluoride paste, Dr. Christopher Tolmie, DDS, MBA, of PDS Health, states, “By patching enamel and calming swollen gums, nano-hydroxyapatite may cut off a hidden spark of chronic inflammation linked to heart disease and diabetes.” 

    Since nano-hydroxyapatite toothpastes are fluoride free, Dr. Yenile Y. Pinto, DDS, functional and biomimetic dentist and founder of Deering Dental, adds, “It’s also been shown to reduce sensitivity and strengthen the enamel surface without the risk of fluorosis.” Fluorosis occurs when you get too much fluoride as a child, causing white or brown spots on the teeth. The CDC reports that fluorosis typically doesn’t affect tooth function and isn’t painful. 

    A 2020 systematic review of 32 studies concluded that “Nano-HA is a relatively novel material with outstanding physical, chemical, mechanical and biological properties that makes it suitable for multiple interventions. It outperformed most of the classic materials used in implantology and surgery, but it should be further investigated for bone engineering and caries prevention therapy.”

    A close-up of a person brushing their teeth.

    Henglein and Steets/Getty Images

    A 2023 comprehensive review found that, while more long-term studies are needed to establish the safety of regular use, “Nanohydroxyapatite is a promising revolutionary material in the prevention of early carious lesion mainly due to a greater source of free calcium.”

    Ultimately, providing a 2021 review and 2022 scoping review, Cooper concludes, “Although there is some evidence that alternative ingredients, such as [nano] hydroxyapatite, prevent tooth decay by acting as a remineralizing or anti-cavity agent, the studies are preliminary. The only anti-cavity agent recognized by the Food and Drug Administration in its over-the-counter monograph is fluoride, a naturally occurring chemical.” 

    Cooper adds that all toothpastes with the ADA Seal of Acceptance contain fluoride. The administration specifically recommends brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and regularly visiting your dentist. 

    Nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste risks

    “According to a [2021] narrative review from Odontology, the official journal of the Society of the Nippon Dental University, so far, there have been no reports of adverse dental or systemic effects of HAP-containing toothpastes because HAP has an excellent biocompatibility,” states Cooper. 

    According to Austin, the concern with nano-hydroxyapatite is that, because it’s made of nanoparticles, some worry about how much might get absorbed into the body if regularly swallowed. “The European Commission’s Scientific Committee raised concerns due to the lack of long-term safety data on ingestion, particularly in children,” she says. This has led to temporary nano-hydroxyapatite restrictions (not a full-on banning) in Europe. 

    The European Scientific Committee deems nHA safe in toothpaste up to 29.5% and up to 10% in mouthwash, per Tolmie. However, he states, “Regulators still bar it from breath-spray products to avoid lung exposure, so stick to pastes and rinses.”

    Key concerns around nano-hydroxyapatite, according to Lieb, are: 

    • Potential ingestion and systemic absorption, especially in nano form
    • Lack of long-term studies in humans on the cumulative effects
    • Unknown impact of inhalation from aerosol products (not toothpaste)

    In terms of systemic absorption, Sachar specifies, “Because nano-hydroxyapatite particles are similar in composition to bone mineral, there has been some theoretical concern that if absorbed systemically, they could potentially contribute to unwanted calcifications in soft tissues (like blood vessels or kidneys).” However, she states that this is speculative and not supported by any current clinical evidence. 

    Person squeezing toothpaste onto toothbrush.

    Sally Anscombe/Getty Images

    Is nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste only effective at 10%?

    “Most clinical formulations of nHA range from 5%-15%, with 10% emerging as the benchmark concentration in several Japanese and European studies,” answers Lieb. “This concentration has demonstrated reliable enamel restoration while maintaining product stability and usability.”

    However, she states that newer formulations are experimenting with lower concentrations and enhanced delivery systems (such as encapsulation or synergistic minerals), which may improve efficacy at reduced levels. “The effectiveness isn’t just about percentage, it’s also about particle quality and how it’s delivered to the tooth surface,” she explains. 

    Tolmie adds, “Effective repair starts as low as 5% and plateaus around 10-15%. Several studies show that 5% n-HAp can mend enamel dings, divots and dents in the teeth, with benefits leveling off somewhere between 10% and 15%. One review even noted that 5% sometimes beats 10% because fewer particles clump, making them easier to slip into enamel defects; hence, most US brands sit comfortably in the 5-10% sweet spot.”

    We also reached out to Dr. Foti Panagakos, who’s a part of Boka’s Oral Health Advisory Committee. “While there is a lot of discussion around nano-hydroxyapatite concentration and its effectiveness, what matters most is how it is formulated and the fact that the ingredient is backed by research,” he explains. “This includes how nano-hydroxyapatite is stabilized, delivered and supported by other ingredients, which is why at Boka, years were spent working with oral health professionals to ensure our formula delivers on both safety and performance. Each tube of Boka toothpaste contains a precisely balanced concentration of nano-hydroxyapatite — high enough to deliver measurable benefits and safe for daily use, with a formula that’s gentle on dentin.”

    Should people replace fluoride toothpaste with nano-hydroxyapatite?

    Eversgerd states that it all depends on each person’s oral health needs. “Fluoride remains the gold standard for cavity prevention, supported by decades of large-scale, randomized controlled trials,” she explains. “However, for patients seeking a fluoride alternative — whether due to sensitivity, allergies, personal preferences or a desire for a biomimetic approach — nano-hydroxyapatite provides a scientifically supported option.”

    According to the Academy of Biomimetic Dentistry, a biomimetic approach is one in which damaged teeth are restored using materials mimicking natural teeth in function, strength and appearance. 

    For high-risk patients, Eversgerd recommends fluoride, while she may recommend n-Ha to low-risk or fluoride-averse individuals.

    Austin seconds this, but adds that she also recommends fluoride toothpaste to children with poor brushing habits or communities with limited dental access. “nHA is a great option, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all replacement for fluoride — yet,” Austin says. 

    Lieb explains that nHA may also be a compelling alternative for patients with aesthetic concerns, such as whitening-induced sensitivity, and individuals in preventive care regimens post-restorative treatment.

    Pinto agrees that it depends on the person, stating, “For most of my patients, especially those with low to moderate cavity risk, nano-hydroxyapatite is an excellent option; gentler on the mouth, less drying and effective at rebuilding early damage. For people with high cavity risk, fluoride might still be the best choice, at least short term. For my high-risk patients, I often recommend a combo toothpaste that includes both ingredients when appropriate.” Ultimately, if a patient isn’t high risk and has health or safety concerns about fluoride, she thinks hydroxyapatite is a great option.

    When asked if there’s a reason people should choose n-HAp over other anti-cavity toothpastes, Tolmie answers, “No, as long as patients are brushing their teeth with an anti-cavity toothpaste. There are differences in the way an n-HAp toothpaste and a fluoride toothpaste work to prevent decay, and some n-HAp toothpastes may feel smoother on the teeth. But anti-cavity toothpastes as a whole accomplish the same task. Do I wash a car with tap water or bottled water? We know that both of them get the job done.”

    What’s most important, according to Tolmie, is that patients ensure they’re not swallowing toothpaste.

    What does the American Dental Association think? Cooper states that the ADA recommends brushing teeth twice daily for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste, as the naturally occurring mineral has been proven to remineralize weakened enamel and reverse early signs of tooth decay. 

    “Additionally, the fluoride you take in from drinking water and other beverages continues to provide a topical benefit because it becomes part of your saliva, constantly bathing the teeth and helping to rebuild weakened tooth enamel,” Cooper further explains. “The best scientific evidence has shown that adding fluoride to community water supplies is safe and effective. This is backed by decades of research and recognized by more than 100 health organizations.”

    A child with black hair in buns and a white tee brushing their teeth with a pink toothbrush.

    Goodboy Picture Company/Getty Images

    Does nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste work? 

    All of the dentists we consulted agree that nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste works, but in the right context and with the right product. It’s also not a miracle cure and should not replace your entire oral care routine, dentist’s recommendations or regular appointments. Plus, Eversgerd adds that more long-term, large-scale trials are needed to fully validate whether it’s equal to fluoride in preventing cavities. 

    When asked if it’s effective, Austin says, “Yes — particularly for enamel remineralization and sensitivity. In my practice, I’ve seen patients who switched to nHA toothpaste experience noticeable improvements in comfort, plaque control and surface smoothness. But like any product, it works best when paired with consistent brushing, flossing and professional cleanings.”

    Pinto agrees and has also seen the results firsthand. “It helps remineralize enamel, soothe sensitivity and support a healthier oral microbiome, especially when paired with a good routine (good home hygiene, healthy diet, hydration and nasal breathing),” she explains, noting that it’s not a miracle cure, but does offer many benefits.

    On behalf of the ADA, Cooper echoes Eversgerd’s earlier statement: “The use of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) in over-the-counter products is growing, and some evidence shows that nHAP may contribute to remineralization, but the evidence is fairly new and often ambiguous, especially regarding clinical indications. ”

    Do experts recommend nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste?

    All of the experts we consulted do recommend nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste, but only for certain patients. After all, according to Austin, “Nearly half of US adults over 30 have some form of gum disease, and you can’t out-toothpaste a bad hygiene routine.” Brushing your teeth regularly, flossing and regularly visiting your dentist are still essential, no matter what toothpaste you use. 

    Though Lieb recommends nHA toothpaste for adult patients experiencing post-whitening sensitivity or early enamel erosion, low-caries risk individuals seeking natural alternatives and adults undergoing cosmetic dental work who want to protect their investment with gentle, remineralizing care, she doesn’t recommend nano-hydroxyapatite for children with deciduous dentition. 

    “In my professional opinion, fluoride remains the safest and most effective option for all patients under 14,” says Lieb. “Its protective effect during the development of permanent dentition is unmatched, and its caries-prevention record is well established.”

    Sachar states that she often recommends it for “patients seeking fluoride-free options, those with mild tooth sensitivity and for children at risk of swallowing fluoride toothpaste.” However, she advises that patients with moderate to high cavity risk not fully abandon fluoride. 

    Again, it’s important to note that the “ADA recommends that adults brush their teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes each time, or as directed by a licensed dentist,” according to Cooper. This is because the proposed benefits of nHAP are fairly new and ambiguous.

    gettyimages-1169329645

    Getty Images

    The bottom line 

    Though more research is needed, the dentists we consulted explained that nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste can be an effective alternative to fluoride — but only in the right context. The ADA doesn’t recommend it. It’s also not a miracle cure or a replacement for brushing regularly, flossing and professional dental appointments. 

    If you’re considering nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste, consult your dentist first before making the switch. They know your teeth best and will be able to help you find the best toothpaste for your smile.


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  • Book on Mini Skills Camps at Roadshow dates

    Book on Mini Skills Camps at Roadshow dates

    Dragons RFC will be out into the community next week as the Men of Gwent hold a series of open training sessions – and junior players can also enjoy a series of mini camps at the clubs.

    We are inviting supporters to come along and watch the new-look squad train at clubs across our region – and it all starts this coming Monday.

    The four FREE opening training session dates are booked in at:

    • Monday 28th July – Abertillery RFC – 2pm

    • Tuesday 29th July– Caerphilly RFC – 2pm

    • Thursday 31st July – Pontypool United RFC – 2pm

    • Friday 1st August – Caldicot RFC – 2pm

    At every opening training session, you can watch Filo Tiatia’s men prepare for a new season of BKT United Rugby Championship and EPCR Challenge Cup action.

    Then there will be an opportunity for a meet and greet with the Dragons afterwards on the field once the session has ended – grab your autograph books and selfie sticks!

    A reminder – all four afternoon events are FREE entry to attend and, on each occasion, the open training sessions will start at 2pm.

    As an added extra, our award-winning Dragons Community team are also now running Mini Skills Camps on the morning of each roadshow.

    Young fans can join them from 10am until 12noon at each club for two hours of non-stop fun, games, and rugby – perfect for children of all abilities!

    The Mini Skills Camps at each club are open to children aged between seven and 15-years-old and are priced at just £10 for an unforgettable morning of rugby fun! Don’t miss out – grab your boots and come join the action!

    Click HERE to book on a Mini Skills Camp or click on the links below:

    Come along and join us for a special week as Dragons take to the road ahead of the new season.


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  • LG QNED93 vs Sony Bravia 7: which Mini LED TV should you buy?

    LG 65QNED93 LCD TV

    Pros

    • Often outstanding picture quality
    • Excellent gaming support
    • Good connectivity

    Cons

    • Sound distorts and lacks bass
    • No HDR10+ support
    • Only the 65-inch model has the premium VA panel

    Sony Bravia 7 55-inch 4K TV

    Pros

    • Outstanding colour and contrast
    • Impressively clean and convincing backlight control
    • Good sound quality

    Cons

    • No HDR10+ support
    • Only two HDMIs support 4K/120Hz gaming
    • Limited effective viewing angles

    Buying the best TV to suit your needs can be a tricky endeavour. With all manner of the best OLED TVs and best Mini LED TVs vying for your attention, sorting through all the considerations can be a daunting experience.

    And that brings us here. Below, you’ll find an in-depth comparison of two sets from LG and Sony – the LG QNED93 (or QNED92 in the US), and Sony Bravia 7.

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  • Best TV deal: Save $110 on Amazon Fire TV 4-Series

    Best TV deal: Save $110 on Amazon Fire TV 4-Series

    SAVE $110: As of July 23, the Amazon Fire TV 4-Series is on sale for $289.99 at Amazon. That’s a 28% saving on the list price.

    Time for a new TV? Look no further than Amazon’s Daily Deals for a whole host of great deals and discounts. Like this latest offer on the 50-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series. As of July 23, you can save $110 on this great TV, now just $289.99.

    This is an excellent price for a TV that has such great quality. With 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus, you’ll get stunning clarity, vibrant colors, and rich detail that brings your favorite shows and movies to life.

    SEE ALSO:

    Amazon’s Fire TV Soundbar Plus is just $5 shy of its record-low Prime Day price

    Like most Amazon devices, it comes with Alexa built in, so you can easily search for content, launch apps, and control playback using just your voice. You’ll have instant access to all the major streaming platforms too — including Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video.

    The Fire TV can also connect with your smart home Alexa devices, including doorbells, lightbulbs, and speakers. For example, pair up your TV with your Echo speakers to create an immersive home theater atmosphere for your next movie night. Plus, there are four HDMI inputs to connect gaming devices, sound accessories, cables, and other equipment seamlessly.

    Mashable Deals

    This is a limited-time only deal, so head to Amazon now before it runs out.

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  • Tietoevry begin collaboration on efficient data collection

    Tietoevry begin collaboration on efficient data collection

    Sikt becomes the first organization in Norway to adopt Tietoevry’s new digital form solution, which simplifies the collection and integration of data into existing case and archive systems.

    Bent Philipps, Managing Director of Public 360° at Tietoevry

    “The majority of public forms submitted by citizens are still delivered as PDFs or emails, requiring employees to spend time transferring them into digital systems. This costs time and money and leads to errors that must be corrected later. With our new solution, budgets can instead be used for real transformation. We are pleased that Sikt quickly recognized the potential,” says Bent Philipps, Managing Director of Public 360°  at Tietoevry.

    Sikt, a government agency under the Ministry of Education and Research, provides shared services to the country’s universities and colleges. It is now the first organization to implement Tietoevry’s new form solution, 360° Collect, which offers a structured and efficient way to gather information through web-based forms.

    A Much-Needed Solution for the Education Sector

    Universities and colleges have long needed such a service, and Sikt is very pleased that it is now available through the supplier of the sector’s case and archive system.

    “It is important that the solution is built in a responsible and secure manner, tailored to the requirements of the public sector. We are delighted to now offer a service the sector has been missing,” says Kadri-Liis Wist, Team Leader and Product Manager for Documentation Management at Sikt.

    Tailored to the Public Sector

    360° Collect is a ready-to-use form solution that simplifies the collection, structuring, and management of information. Collect is designed to meet the needs of organizations requiring a flexible tool for information gathering, which is easy to set up and manage internally. The tool can be used for both internal and external information collection, supporting simple and complex processes.

    “The solution is specifically developed to meet the needs of the public sector, offering quick support for new processes while being reliable, secure, and accessible. It integrates seamlessly into the digital value chain, making it a valuable tool for documentation management and process support,” says Philipps.

    360° Collect can also be combined with 360° Engage to collect data on the go via mobile devices.

    A Strong Foundation for the Future

    The solution is built on a new platform that opens opportunities for the development of additional digital services in the future.

    “The public sector needs flexibility and scalability tailored to both current and future needs. This marks the start of an exciting journey for Sikt and Tietoevry, where technology and innovation go hand in hand to strengthen the education sector in Norway. The same potential exists for the rest of the public sector,” says Philipps.

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  • ‘You’re going to see this flood of new stories’: Why African animators are excited about AI

    ‘You’re going to see this flood of new stories’: Why African animators are excited about AI



    CNN
     — 

    Digital technology may have led to the decline of hand-drawn animation, but it still required legions of creatives and technicians to feed into the process. Now some fear that artificial intelligence (AI) could push the human touch further still out of the equation.

    But in Africa, animation professionals see AI as a means to unlock new creative possibilities, while getting their projects off the ground with greater ease.

    Stuart Forrest, CEO of BAFTA and Emmy-winning Triggerfish Animation Studio, which has its headquarters in South Africa, is one of them. “Africa has quite a unique position globally,” he told CNN. “Of the 1.4 billion people that live on the continent, there’s such a tiny amount that are actually active in the animation industry.”

    Given the limited number of professional animators, Forrest believes that by integrating AI, some creatives will have a route to realize their projects for the first time – “that’s really exciting for the continent.”

    Ebele Okoye, an award-winning Nigerian filmmaker affectionately known as the “Mother of African animation,” also sees plenty of upsides.

    “We now have the opportunity to tell our stories without having to wait for somebody to give us $20 million,” she told CNN during the Cannes Film Festival in May, where she hosted a masterclass on AI in animation at the Pavilion Afriques.

    Africa’s animation sector was valued at $13.3 billion in one 2023 report but historically, there has been a lack of funding for African animated projects, said Forrest. “There’s a general rule that African stories don’t generate income. But the African stories that are made are such low budget that, yes, they don’t generate income. So it’s a self-fulfilling thing,” he explained.

    Soon, he projects, a feature film that might have cost $10-20 million to make, may cost $50,000 with AI, and require just two or three creatives.

    “You’re going to see this flood of new stories that have never been heard before, from countries that no one would ever invest (in),” he added.

    “Eventually the playing field between Hollywood and Kinshasa (in the Democratic Republic of Congo) will be levelled in terms of the quality of storytelling.”

    There are many outstanding questions. For one: What might AI do to the jobs market?

    Opinions differ. “You’re going to empower people working for you,” Okoye said. “You’re not going to replace them; you’re going to make their jobs easier.”

    But that’s assuming you have a job in the first place. AI is already taking on many mundane, repetitive tasks – tasks that might be done by entry level staff and trainees.

    “If those jobs then become obsolete, at some point this makes the industry a bit elitist … you don’t have the same entry window that you do now,” argued Masilakhe Njomane, a junior research fellow at the South African Cultural Observatory and co-author of a recent report on AI’s impact on South Africa’s creative industries.

    “In an economy like South Africa it’s detrimental, as we already have a lot of trouble with job security as a whole, especially in the creative and cultural industry,” she added.

    A still from

    While Triggerfish has not used AI-generated art, Forrest said, employees have used GitHub Copilot, an AI-powered coding assistant, to help them generate code for the past couple of years, noticeably speeding up their output.

    He conceded “AI initially might eliminate some roles, but it will enable other roles.” On the other hand, Njomane pointed to AI creating opportunities for independent studios to play a bigger role in content creation.

    The ethical and legal debate

    Aside from the impact on jobs, most reservations with integrating AI – particularly generative AI – in the creative industries involve ethics and the law.

    There is an ongoing murkiness surrounding where and how some AI companies acquire the datasets used to train algorithms which generate imagery. AI companies have been hit with dozens of lawsuits, largely based on copyright infringement. Just last month, Midjourney was sued by Disney and Universal, who alleged the generative AI company trained its model on their intellectual property, and generated images in violation of copyright law.

    In July, the European Union proposed new rules that would force companies to make publicly available summaries of the content used to train their algorithms. In January the US Copyright Office concluded that the output of generative AI could be copyright protected, but only when a human had contributed “sufficient expressive elements” – and that inputting prompts alone did not meet the criteria. The African Union is a few paces behind forming concrete policy, but the issue featured prominently its 2024 AI strategy report.

    Triggerfish Animation Studios produced

    A creative with no copyright on their work has few routes to make money from it. Okoye believes, for this reason and more, African animators should avoid web browser-based generative AIs and instead use AI in a localized workflow.

    Okoye uses software ComfyUI, into which she has fed drawings of her characters in different poses. “You can train an AI model based on your character, so that the moment you connect this model to your local workflow, you say exactly what you want your character to do and it’s doing it,” she explained. “You just get back what you gave it – and it’s your IP (intellectual property).”

    Forrest says Triggerfish is looking to develop an ethical “AI-assisted pipeline,” though he can still find some sympathy for algorithms.

    “If we have to brutally honest with ourselves, we were inspired by Disney, Pixar,” he said. “I think art is always assimilating – I mean, Raphael was assimilating Michelangelo and Leonardo. It’s always been about looking at what people are doing and saying, ‘How can I being my perspective to this?’

    “It’s acceptable if humans do it. But the question is how acceptable is it when it’s done by machines? Ultimately, I think the controversy will wear off.”

    Having creative control over your data inputs could have other benefits: namely, helping eliminate bias.

    Racial bias in AIs is well documented, from facial recognition technology recording much higher error rates among dark-skinned people than light-skinned, to large language models perpetuating negative stereotypes against speakers of African American English. Such “techno-racism” extends into generative AI: artist Stephanie Dinkins even produced an exhibition out of AI’s inability to accurately depict Black women.

    Okoye says in the past, some AIs have generated either generic or inaccurate imagery when prompted to create African characters. “The only solution is to go local, create your characters, train your own model,” she reiterated.

    As for why AIs fall short, Forrest said that “there is so little existing African content – especially in animation – that there is a lot less for (an AI) to understand.”

    Njomane pointed to AIs performing better in English and other Western languages, adding many often generate generic imagery of Africa. “It’s not being programmed with (Africans) in mind or even consulting them at all. And that’s a huge problem.”

    A still from

    Okoye outlined a dream scenario in which development funds or angel investors back studios to create diverse African characters and culturally specific assets to train an AI model. That would generate a library of accurate, free-to-access imagery, which can serve as a foundation for animators to build on in a way that allows them to assert their copyright.

    Amid a boom in African animation, animators will need all the tools they can get, as studios look to replicate the success of series like “Iwájú” and “Iyanu” – Nigerian projects streaming on Disney+ and HBO Max respectively, signposting growing international appetite for Afro-centric storytelling.

    Despite the ongoing ethical kinks, Okoye remains optimistic. But as someone who once worked as a typesetter alongside colleagues worried for their careers with the arrival of the personal computer, she also understands people’s concerns.

    “Coming from (being) a typesetter to somebody who’s training AI models – how beautiful,” she said.

    “What a great time to be alive.”

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  • How toxic tau spreads in progressive supranuclear palsy

    How toxic tau spreads in progressive supranuclear palsy

    image: ©Artur Plawgo| iStock

    UK Dementia Research Institute scientists reveal how toxic tau spreads between neurons in PSP, causing synapse loss and highlighting new targets for potential treatments

    A team of scientists has made a crucial breakthrough in understanding progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a devastating neurodegenerative disease. Their latest research, which unveils the precise way toxic tau proteins travel across synapses—the communication points between neurons—contributing to the rapid spread of brain damage, is a significant step forward. This discovery opens up promising new avenues for developing targeted therapies aimed at halting or slowing the progression of disease, underscoring the urgent need for such treatments.

    What is PSP, and how does it spread?

    PSP is a rare neurodegenerative disease that causes problems with movement, thinking, and behaviour. People typically develop PSP in their mid to late 60s, and symptoms worsen rapidly, causing severe disability within five years of symptom onset. Currently, there are no treatments available that can slow or stop PSP progression. 

    In people with PSP, toxic tau proteins clump inside neurons and spread through the brain. Research has indicated that synapses, the connections between neurons, die in PSP in brain areas affected by toxic tau. However, it is not known whether tau directly affects synapses or how the clumps spread through the brain.

    Tau kills synaptic connections

    Neuroscientist and veterinarian Dr Robert McGeachan observed tau inside synaptic connections in donated post-mortem brain tissue samples from people who died with PSP.  The presence of tau in synapses was associated with synapse death, meaning the tau was likely toxic and killing these connections.

    Delving further, the team found that small clumps of tau may be spreading through the brain by jumping through synaptic connections, from presynapse to postsynapse. To examine whether this jumping of tau through synapses could occur in living human brain tissue, the team used a new method pioneered by Dr Claire Durrant in collaboration with neurosurgeon Prof. Paul Brennan. 

    Following this, the researchers used living human brain slices with tau protein taken from post-mortem brain tissue of people who died with PSP. Post-synapses in living brain slices took up the toxic PSP tau, supporting the idea that tau may spread to neurons by infiltrating post-synapses. This tau challenge triggered the consumption of synapses by astrocytes, support cells in the brain. Astrocytes are a type of support cell in the brain. Their consumption of synapses further confirms that synaptic tau is toxic.

    This pattern of tau in synapses strongly suggests that tau may be jumping from one side of the synapse to the other. Since neurons make synapses with other neurons in distant brain regions, this jumping could explain why tau pathology spreads through the brain between regions that have synaptic connections. Targeting tau in synapses may help to slow disease progression in PSP,” added Prof Tara Spires-Jones, Group Leader, offering a ray of hope for future treatments.

    The team found that clusterin, a protein that has been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease, could play a significant role in tau toxicity. They found the protein in the same synapses as toxic tau when analysing the PSP brain samples.  Furthermore, imaging studies showed that clusterin and tau are close enough to interact within post-synapses, indicating that this protein may be involved in degeneration or tau spreading in PSP. Clusterin is a protein that has been found to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and its presence in the same synapses as toxic tau suggests that it may play a role in the toxicity of tau. Imaging studies have shown that clusterin and tau are close enough to interact within post-synapses, indicating that this protein may be involved in the degeneration or spreading of tau in PSP.

    Dr Claire Durrant said: “By using both post-mortem PSP brain samples, alongside live human brain slice cultures treated with PSP-derived tau, this study gives us insight into how pathological tau may spread through, and damage, the brain in PSP. As dementia research moves closer towards developing treatments for these devastating diseases, the use of human tissue will be increasingly important to ensure preclinical findings have the best chance of working in patients.” This collaborative effort underscores the collective determination to find effective treatments for PSP.

    Dr Robert McGeachan said: “Progressive Supranuclear Palsy is a devastating disease not only for those living with it, but also for their families, friends, and carers. Due to its rapid progression, it can sadly take away a person’s independence in just a few short years. This research provides crucial new insights into how the disease spreads in the brain, bringing us one step closer to effective treatments that could slow or prevent progression.”

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  • Gold Nanoclusters, a Scalable Option for Quantum Computing

    Gold Nanoclusters, a Scalable Option for Quantum Computing

    The efficiency of quantum computers, sensors and other applications often relies on the properties of electrons, including how they are spinning. One of the most accurate systems for high performance quantum applications relies on tapping into the spin properties of electrons of atoms trapped in a gas, but these systems are difficult to scale up for use in larger quantum devices like quantum computers.

    Now, a team of researchers from Penn State and Colorado State has demonstrated how a gold cluster can mimic these gaseous, trapped atoms, allowing scientists to take advantage of these spin properties in a system that can be easily scaled up. 

    “For the first time, we show that gold nanoclusters have the same key spin properties as the current state-of-the-art methods for quantum information systems,” said Ken Knappenberger, department head and professor of chemistry in the Penn State Eberly College of Science and leader of the research team.

    “Excitingly, we can also manipulate an important property called spin polarization in these clusters, which is usually fixed in a material. These clusters can be easily synthesized in relatively large quantities, making this work a promising proof-of-concept that gold clusters could be used to support a variety of quantum applications.”

    Two papers describing the gold clusters and confirming their spin properties appeared in ACS Central Science and The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters.

    “An electron’s spin not only influences important chemical reactions, but also quantum applications like computation and sensing,” said Nate Smith, graduate student in chemistry in the Penn State Eberly College of Science and first author of one of the papers. “The direction an electron spins and its alignment with respect to other electrons in the system can directly impact the accuracy and longevity of quantum information systems.”

    Much like the Earth spins around its axis, which is tilted with respect to the sun, an electron can spin around its axis, which can be tilted with respect to its nucleus. But unlike Earth, an electron can spin clockwise or counterclockwise. When many electrons in a material are spinning in the same direction and their tilts are aligned, the electrons are considered correlated, and the material is said to have a high degree of spin polarization. 

    “Materials with electrons that are highly correlated, with a high degree of spin polarization, can maintain this correlation for a much longer time, and thus remain accurate for much longer,” Smith said.

    The current state-of-the-art system for high accuracy and low error in quantum information systems involve trapped atomic ions — atoms with an electric charge — in a gaseous state. This system allows electrons to be excited to different energy levels, called Rydberg states, which have very specific spin polarizations that can last for a long period of time. It also allows for the superposition of electrons, with electrons existing in multiple states simultaneously until they are measured, which is a key property for quantum systems. 

    “These trapped gaseous ions are by nature dilute, which makes them very difficult to scale up,” Knappenberger said. “The condensed phase required for a solid material, by definition, packs atoms together, losing that dilute nature. So, scaling up provides all the right electronic ingredients, but these systems become very sensitive to interference from the environment. The environment basically scrambles all the information that you encoded into the system, so the rate of error becomes very high. In this study, we found that gold clusters can mimic all the best properties of the trapped gaseous ions with the benefit of scalability.”

    Scientists have heavily studied gold nanostructures for their potential use in optical technology, sensing, therapeutics and to speed up chemical reactions, but less is known about their magnetic and spin-dependent properties. In the current studies, the researchers specifically explored monolayer-protected clusters, which have a core of gold and are surrounded by other molecules called ligands. The researchers can precisely control the construction of these clusters and can synthesize relatively large amounts at one time. 

    “These clusters are referred to as super atoms, because their electronic character is like that of an atom, and now we know their spin properties are also similar,” Smith said. “We identified 19 distinguishable and unique Rydberg-like spin-polarized states that mimic the super-positions that we could do in the trapped, gas-phase dilute ions. This means the clusters have the key properties needed to carry out spin-based operations.”

    The researchers determined the spin polarization of the gold clusters using a similar method used with traditional atoms. While one type of gold cluster had 7% spin polarization, a cluster with different a ligand approached 40% spin polarization, which Knappenberger said is competitive with some of the leading two-dimensional quantum materials.

    “This tells us that the spin properties of the electron are intimately related to the vibrations of the ligands,” Knappenberger said. “Traditionally, quantum materials have a fixed value of spin polarization that cannot be significantly changed, but our results suggest we can modify the ligand of these gold clusters to tune this property widely.”

    The research team plans to explore how different structures within the ligands impact spin polarization and how they could be manipulated to fine tune spin properties.

    “The quantum field is generally dominated by researchers in physics and materials science, and here we see the opportunity for chemists to use our synthesis skills to design materials with tunable results,” Knappenberger said. “This is a new frontier in quantum information science.”

    Reference: Foxley J, Tofanelli M, Knappenberger JA, Ackerson CJ, Knappenberger KL. Diverse superatomic magnetic and spin properties of Au144 (SC8H9 )60 clusters. ACS Cent Sci. 2025:acscentsci.5c00139. doi: 10.1021/acscentsci.5c00139

    This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source. Our press release publishing policy can be accessed here.

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  • Understanding financed emissions with Indonesia Infrastructure Finance

    Understanding financed emissions with Indonesia Infrastructure Finance

    CHALLENGE

    How can financial institutions tackle their emissions when data remains limited?   

    For the past decades, Indonesia’s government and the private sector have invested in new ports, roads, bridges and dams to keep pace with economic changes and urbanisation. However, Indonesia’s goal to achieve Net Zero by 2060 means that the decarbonisation of existing and future infrastructure must happen alongside economic developments.

    Indonesia Infrastructure Finance (IIF), a private financial institution that provides long-term loans and guarantees to infrastructure projects, plays a core role in decarbonising this sector. Its investment portfolio houses projects across electricity, transportation, telecommunication and road infrastructure among others. And although IIF had already measured its Scope 1 and 2 emissions, the financial institution recognised that it had to account for the emissions from its investment portfolio (Scope 3, Category 15) to fully understand its climate impact. However, limited data availability, evolving analytical tools, and the need to further build internal capabilities posed challenges in accurately measuring these financed emissions.

    With support from sustainable finance experts at the Carbon Trust, IIF and its shareholder DEG wanted to quantify what is the largest sum of IIF’s emissions profile: its financed emissions. More so, to lead by example, IIF sought independent verification of its existing Scope 1 and 2 calculations to ensure they conform to international best practices.  

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  • Fighting outbreaks with FEEVA: New project could support faster approvals of infectious disease vaccines

    Fighting outbreaks with FEEVA: New project could support faster approvals of infectious disease vaccines

    MELBOURNE/SYDNEY/OSLO, 23 JULY 2025—Australian scientists will kickstart research into how early vaccine studies can safely support faster approvals of vaccines in response to infectious disease outbreaks.

    FEEVA (a Framework for Evidence Evaluation in Vaccine Assessment) is a new collaborative project led by the  Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney and the Australian Living Evidence Collaboration (ALEC) at Monash University supported by up to US $3m funding from global health organisations CEPI and Wellcome.

    The first-of-its-kind initiative will work with immunologists, vaccine developers and regulators to explore how early evidence on a vaccine’s efficacy could be reviewed by regulators alongside robust safety data to support potential early deployment in an outbreak. 

    Typically, late-stage trials involving thousands of participants are used to assess the efficacy of a vaccine and guide regulatory approvals. However, with the world looking to respond more rapidly and equitably to outbreaks in as little as 100 days, large-scale efficacy trials may not be possible in the first few months after an outbreak emerges as there may be too few confirmed cases. Early efficacy data can instead be gathered from research in cells, tissues and preclinical models, as well as human challenge trials and observational studies that track the natural course of a disease.

    Hon Professor Jane Halton, Chair of the CEPI Board, says: “During a deadly disease outbreak, every day without a vaccine costs lives. This innovative partnership aims to speed up vaccine development and approval when each day counts, accelerating access to vaccines during future epidemics and pandemics.” 

    “Data from early preclinical and clinical studies could help move away from efficacy trials to the pre-agreed use of early immune markers for accelerated development and approvals of vaccines”, explains Dr Adam Hacker, Director and Global Head of Regulatory Affairs and Quality at CEPI. “However, there are currently no harmonised guidelines on how to determine the importance of different and often complex sources of evidence that get produced from these early vaccine explorations, consequently limiting the intended use of these studies to fasttrack authorisation of an outbreak vaccine to 100 days.” 

    The FEEVA Team will develop a voluntary toolkit that researchers, vaccine developers, regulators and policymakers can use as a standardised way to both grade the evidence for vaccine effectiveness arising from these non-traditional trial designs and plan how studies can run ahead of an outbreak to get the right data. In an outbreak, regulators and health officials can use the tools to review early available vaccine data and, depending on the outbreak’s size, severity and impact, guide potential emergency approvals of a vaccine based on benefit-risk scenarios. 

    “The response to an infection outbreak involves teams working across the research spectrum, from developing laboratory tests to studying immunity to running clinical trials. However, the process for assessing and integrating the results of these studies is not always clear. The FEEVA project aims to ensure we can make the best use of all of the available evidence to inform the development and use of vaccines” says Professor Miles Davenport, Head of the Infection Analytics Program at the Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney.

    “COVID-19 showed how exposed a globalised world is to infectious diseases, and the lifesaving importance of vaccines and pandemic preparedness. This critical work will help regulators and researchers to assess the quality of non-clinical research as part of the body of evidence of vaccine effectiveness. In doing so, it will help deliver effective vaccines to people faster”, says Professor Tari Turner, ALEC Academic Director, Monash University.     

    In addition to outbreak diseases, FEEVA will provide a critical tool to evaluate evidence from studies of endemic diseases, such as paratyphi A, for which large-scale efficacy studies may also be unfeasible due to their size, complexity or duration.

    Debbie King, Research Lead in the Infectious Disease team at Wellcome, says: “Bringing more safe and effective vaccines to the market is vital for managing and preventing infectious disease outbreaks. Currently there is a bottleneck in the vaccine pipeline, with later-stage trials requiring large numbers of participants and long periods of follow-up resulting in high costs. Testing if these vaccine candidates work and are safe in humans is a step that cannot be by-passed, but by enabling early-stage data to be consistently evaluated, we are increasing the chance of developing and delivering potentially life-saving vaccines to the people most in need. Without this innovation, these vaccines may not get made, resulting in otherwise preventable deaths.”

    The development of the framework will also be supported by the FEEVA researchers reviewing previous examples of vaccine approvals in the absence of human efficacy data, such as the approval of Janssen’s Ebola Zaire vaccine based on preclinical and immunogenicity findings.

    The guidelines will be made available online and open-access so that all experts around the world can follow the same vaccine assessment framework.

    FEEVA will run for four years. The work will be reviewed and guided by external expert and consultation panels and overseen by a Steering Committee.

     

    ENDS

    Notes to Editors

    • CEPI will provide up to $1.9 million funding to FEEVA. Wellcome will provide up to $1.1 million.
    • Both CEPI and Wellcome will sit on the FEEVA Project Steering Committee and will be actively involved in broader project discussions.
    • Researchers, vaccine developers, regulators and policymakers who would like more information about the project are invited to contact the FEEVA team via email: [email protected]

     

    About CEPI 

    CEPI is an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil organisations. Its mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to all people in need. CEPI has supported the development of more than 60 vaccine candidates or platform technologies against multiple known high-risk pathogens or a future Disease X. Central to CEPI’s pandemic-beating five-year plan for 2022-2026 is the ‘100 Days Mission’ to compress the time taken to develop safe, effective, globally accessible vaccines against new threats to just 100 days.

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