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  • Myopenia identified as key contributor to muscle loss in rheumatoid arthritis

    Myopenia identified as key contributor to muscle loss in rheumatoid arthritis

    Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects individuals across all ages and genders. While its most visible impact is on the joints, RA also contributes to accelerated musculoskeletal ageing, often leading to progressive muscle degeneration and reduced muscle function. Emerging research has identified a specific form of muscle loss in RA-known as myopenia-which differs significantly from other disease-related muscle-wasting conditions such as cancer cachexia or heart failure. Unlike those conditions, myopenia is characterized by a decline in muscle mass without concurrent fat loss and can manifest across all age groups.

    Despite growing recognition of myopenia’s clinical impact, its precise biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. To address these gaps, a team of researchers led by Professor Jiake Xu from School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia, conducted a comprehensive review exploring the underlying pathways of myopenia in RA. Their findings were published in Bone Research on June 16, 2025. “The intersection of myopenia and accelerated musculoskeletal ageing in RA represents a multifaceted area of research, highlighting both the urgency and potential for optimizing patient outcomes through targeted care,” explains Prof. Xu.

    In their article, the authors investigate two overlapping conditions contributing to muscle loss in RA: myopenia and secondary sarcopenia. While primary sarcopenia refers to age-related muscle decline, secondary sarcopenia results from underlying illness or its treatment. In contrast, myopenia involves clinically significant muscle loss that can affect individuals of any age, independent of normal ageing. In RA patients, myopenia leads to notable muscle mass loss without concurrent fat loss-worsening functional capacity, frailty, and mortality risk.

    Importantly, the researchers describe how myopenia and secondary sarcopenia in RA follow a non-linear trajectory of muscle decline, differing from the steady, gradual loss seen in age-related sarcopenia. “Patients with RA experience more severe reductions in muscle mass than their healthy age- and sex-matched peers, making myopenia an indicator of early, disease-related muscular ageing,” notes Prof. Xu.

    In discussing the role of myopenia in RA, researchers explore the known genetic factors contributing to RA and discuss the clinical characteristics of myopenia. Furthermore, the researchers differentiate between the distinct clinical characteristics of myopenia in elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) and young-onset rheumatoid arthritis (YORA), highlighting key differences in presentation.

    The review also outlines the major factors contributing to RA-associated myopenia, including chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokines, hormonal imbalances, and genetic influences. In addition, it discusses how the clinical features of myopenia vary depending on age of RA onset. In elderly-onset RA (EORA), baseline muscle mass is already reduced due to ageing, and this is compounded by inflammatory pathways and neuromuscular deterioration. “EORA patients experience muscle mass reduction, further weakening their physical capacity,” says Prof. Xu.

    By contrast, young-onset RA (YORA) patients typically begin with higher muscle mass and less neuromuscular ageing, but prolonged inflammation over time can gradually impair function. Understanding these age-specific differences is crucial for designing appropriate interventions.

    The review highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic relevance of myopenia in RA. Early detection of myopenia could serve as a clinical marker of RA onset, enabling earlier intervention. Evidence supports the use of physical activity-particularly aerobic and resistance training-as an effective strategy to preserve muscle mass. Additionally, nutritional support and pharmacological treatments may also play a role in prevention and management.

    “Early detection of myopenia combined with a tailored management strategy-encompassing pharmacological treatments, personalized exercise regimens, psychological support, and dietary modifications-may alleviate muscle loss, reduce frailty, and mitigate risks associated with sarcopenic obesity,” Prof. Xu concludes.

    With further research, these insights may help enhance the quality of life and physical independence of individuals living with rheumatoid arthritis.

    Source:

    Journal reference:

    Jin, H., et al. (2025). Pathophysiology of Myopenia in rheumatoid arthritis. Bone Research. doi.org/10.1038/s41413-025-00438-9.

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  • Parker Solar Probe captures closest-ever photos of the sun during record-breaking flight

    Parker Solar Probe captures closest-ever photos of the sun during record-breaking flight

    NASA has released the closest-ever photos of the sun, taken by the Parker Solar Probe at just 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) from the star’s surface. The new images reveal important features in the solar wind that will help scientists understand the origins of this mysterious space weather phenomenon and its effects on life on Earth.

    The solar wind is the constant stream of charged particles — mainly protons and electrons — released by the sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona. This torrent of matter speeds through the solar system at more than a million miles an hour, combining with magnetic fields and material jettisoned from the sun to create auroras, strip planetary atmospheres, and generate electric currents that can interfere with power networks on Earth. Understanding and predicting this space weather is vital to protecting astronauts and spacecrafts, and minimizing the disruptions to infrastructure sometimes caused by strong solar activity.

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  • Jannik Sinner sets up final against Carlos Alcaraz with dominant win over Novak Djokovic

    Jannik Sinner sets up final against Carlos Alcaraz with dominant win over Novak Djokovic

    World no. 1 Jannik Sinner is into Wimbledon final number one.

    The Italian tennis titan produced a clinical performance in just his second semi-final appearance at SW19, defeating seven-time champion Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Friday (11 July).

    Two years ago, Sinner reached his first semi-final at SW19 before losing to Djokovic. The Italian flipped the narrative around in 2025, sealing a spot in the men’s singles final for the first time.

    Sinner will take on defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles final at The Championships 2025, just over a month since their five-hour Roland-Garros final classic.

    More to follow.

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  • High winds halt opening round at LIV Golf Andalucia

    High winds halt opening round at LIV Golf Andalucia

    High winds brought a halt to Friday’s opening round of the LIV Golf Andalucia event in San Roque, Spain.

    Gusts up to 33 mph produced unplayable conditions at Real Club Valderrama.

    Play was suspended at 5:07 p.m. local time as organizers were monitoring weather conditions before announcing a restart time.

    Five players shared the lead at 1-under par at the time of the stoppage, including England’s Lee Westwood and Australia’s Cameron Smith, both of whom were close to completing their opening rounds.

    This is the first European stop on the 2025 LIV Golf calendar. Spain’s Sergio Garcia is the defending champion.

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  • Rolex Fastnet Race – Intense competition predicted in IRC Three

    Rolex Fastnet Race – Intense competition predicted in IRC Three

    IRC Three may consist of smaller, slower and in some cases older boats than those that will garner headlines in the first couple of days of the Rolex Fastnet Race. However, it’s always an intensely competitive class and has produced the overall winner of two of the last six editions.

    This year an impressive 93 boats, across 29 different yacht designs, many of them racing two handed, are entered in the class. The fleet ranges from small offshore raceboats, including the Dehler 30 and Sun Fast 30 one designs, through Sun Fasts, J Boats and JPKs, up to past RORC commodore Steven Anderson’s 50ft cutter Gemervescence and Andrew Tseng’s classic Nicholson 55, Quailo III. 

    Picking out potential class winners at this stage is an almost impossible task. Competition so far this year in IRC Three has been exceptionally close, with 12 boats from four different countries scoring top-four places in the first five races of this year’s RORC domestic series. At the same time, Gautier Normand’s Archambault A35 Locmalo that took fifth place in IRC Three in 2023, is the only top five finisher in this class from the last edition of the race to return this year (with the exception of Cora, which is racing in IRC Four this year).

    An example of the many challenges competitors face in the Rolex Fastnet Race is that in the last edition Quailo III’s liferaft inflated unexpectedly in strong winds not long after the start, forcing her retirement. Owner Andrew Tseng, who also serves as a RORC Rear Commodore, says “the boat was fine, but with no liferaft we couldn’t continue.”

    Mzungu!, the JPK 1080 sailed double-handed by Sam White and Sam North © Rick Tomlinson

    At the other end of the spectrum Mzungu!, the JPK 1080 sailed doublehanded by Sam White and Sam North, has long been a fixture at the head of this class, with a string of podium results in RORC races. In the last edition of the Fastnet they were second in the two-handed division at the Fastnet Rock, before becoming becalmed for five frustrating hours and slipping down the standings.

    White, an airline pilot and property developer, will be racing his seventh Fastnet, while North will be competing in his fourth, representing a wealth of offshore experience for a two-handed team. To exorcise the demons of 2023, White says “we’ll be looking for podium places in class and doublehanded, plus more if conditions go our way.” He emphasises that “tidal strategy – particularly for the Cornish coast, Isles of Scilly, and the final 50 miles – will be key. The strength of the Fastnet is the depth of competition and every single place is hard fought.”

    Gérard Quenot and Luc Fourichon will be competing in their fifth Fastnet race together on the La Rochelle based JPK 1030 Blue Skies, one of 16 boats of this design entered. The pair first teamed up to win the 2011–12 Transquadra transatlantic race and are both well known on the French sailing scene. Fourichon was president of the famed Les Glénans sea school, while Quenot was recently elected president of La Rochelle Nautique.

    Following a class victory in the 2015 Rolex Fastnet Race, they finished the brutal 2023 edition unscathed but “it was not so pleasant,” Fourichon says, and they’re hoping for milder conditions this time. He particularly enjoys the spectacle of the fleet passing the Needles: “it’s a beautiful vision with all those quite different boats together,” and counts “playing along the English shore” and choosing “the right time to switch to an offshore mode” among his favourite strategic moments.

    Noël Racine’s JPK 1030 Foggy Dew © Paul Wyeth

    Noël Racine is sure to be another formidable competitor and is racing his JPK 1030 Foggy Dew in his 10th Fastnet. Racine has been one of the most consistently successful competitors for at least the past decade and a half, twice winning his class and taking second overall in 2013. None of his crew of four are professional sailors, and three are retired, but collectively they have huge experience, including the Whitbread round the world race and America’s Cup training.

    Rob Craigie’s Sun Fast 3600 Bellino © Rick Tomlinson

    Bellino, one of 16 Sun Fast 3600s entered, has been long campaigned two-handed by Rob Cragie and RORC Commodore Deb Fish and won last year’s overall RORC season’s points championship. They are currently leading IRC Three in this season’s points championship, ahead of a trio of Sun Fast 3300s that are also entered in the Fastnet: Simon Toms’ Zephyr, Simon Bamford’s Kestrel and Dan Fellows’ Orbit.

    However, Bellino has switched to a four-person roster this season, adding two very experienced Australian sailors for the Rolex Fastnet Race. Mark Hipgrave tackled the super-tough 2017 OSTAR single-handed transatlantic in his own Sun Fast 3600, Mister Lucky, before taking the boat home. He then competed in the 5,500 mile Melbourne to Osaka race with Rohan Wood as co-skipper, who will also be on board for the Fastnet, finishing fifth overall.

    Nick Martin’s successful Sun Fast 3600 Diablo © Paul Wyeth

    Nick Martin is racing his well travelled and successful Sun Fast 3600 Diablo doublehanded with former adversary Jim Driver, who raced for four seasons doublehanded with his daughter Ellie, before she moved on to the Figaro 3 class in France. Martin and Driver have decades of shared experience in RORC racing, including 10 Fastnets, multiple Sydney–Hobarts, five Middle Sea Races, and a victory in the 2012 Round Ireland race.

    The Sun Fast 3600 Griffin is owned by RORC and sailed by a team of young members aged 18 to 30 who are participating in the heavily subsidised Griffin Youth Program, with Nicole Hemeryck as skipper.

    Young members on RORC’s Sun Fast 3600 Griffin © Paul Wyeth

    Sovereign – Sail Navy is also a Sun Fast 3600 and is skippered by Fiona Cook with a seven-strong crew of full time and reserve Sailors and Marines. Many have competed in previous Rolex Fastnet Races, however growing new sailors is also a key goal for the programme, which recognises competitive sailing as “an ideal vehicle for improving personal skills and military efficiency.”

    Similarly, the British Army’s Sun Fast 3600 Fujitsu British Soldier is also a regular on the RORC circuit and has competed in the past two editions of the RFR, as well as the 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland race and will be skippered by Philip Caswell.

    British Army’s Sun Fast 3600 Fujitsu British Soldier © Paul Wyeth

    Cap Regatta’s charter fleet of Sun Fast 30 One Designs have all been fitted with new rudders ahead of this year’s Fastnet, which will allow them to be pushed harder downwind in boisterous condition. Recently in training, for instance, last year’s doublehanded world championship winners, Maggie Adamson and Calanach Finlayson (Solan Ocean Racing), hit speeds of up to 19.4 knots.

    Alwena for Pure Ocean, represents the Massilia Sailing Academy’s mission to make offshore racing more accessible. The young team of Charles Hénon and Clara Bayol only began racing together in September 2024. As Hénon explains, “our biggest challenge will probably be the weather routing, especially considering the currents and rocky obstacles along the coast.” Their goals include qualifying for September 2025’s Double Handed Offshore World Championship in Cowes.

    Karavel, a French JPK 1080, returns for her second Fastnet after a strong debut with a third in class in 2023. Owner Frédéric Nouel is backed by a Corinthian crew and aims “to be in the top 10 in our class” and is “looking forward to a fantastic race, after three marvellous days in Cowes.” Past victories include the 2023 ArMen Race and the 2024 French IRC 2 championship.

    Charles Hénon and Clara Bayol racing the Sun Fast 30 Alwena for Pure Ocean © Yohan Brandt

    Old Mother Gun, a distinctive and well-known custom Humphreys 40 from 1989, aims to “be the first wooden boat and in the top third of our class,” says skipper Tim Penfold. “The most challenging part will be to make sure we finish with the boat and crew in one piece! “The history of the race means this 100-year anniversary edition is going to be very special and the highlights will be crossing the Celtic Sea and rounding the Rock” he adds.

    Another vintage icon is Hiroshi Nakajima’s timeless 49ft aluminium Sparkman & Stephens sloop Hiro Maru. Originally named Scaramouche, she has storied legacy, including a class win in the 1972 SORC and 1977 Transpac, plus a class win and second overall in the 2019 West-East Transatlantic Race (IRC-3). Few boats can claim victories 42 years apart in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans!

    The 1989 vintage Humphreys 40 Old Mother Gun © Paul Wyeth

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  • Common Bacteria Causing Millions of Stomach Cancer Cases, Study Finds

    Common Bacteria Causing Millions of Stomach Cancer Cases, Study Finds

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    About three-quarters of gastric cancer cases worldwide have been linked to the common bacteria H. pylori. Courtney Hale/Getty Images
    • Researchers say about three-quarters of gastric cancer cases worldwide are caused by the common bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
    • H. pylori infection doesn’t always produce symptoms, so it’s important to get screened for any persistent gastric-related pain, such as indigestion and bloating.
    • You can lower your risk of gastric cancer by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting tested for H. pylori if you have any symptoms that may indicate infection.

    The vast majority of stomach cancer cases have been linked to a common bacteria that often doesn’t produce any symptoms.

    The scientists found that nearly 16 million people born between 2008 and 2017 are expected to develop gastric cancer sometime during their lifetime. Of those cases, around 12 million will be caused by H. pylori bacteria.

    They noted that about 8 million of those bacteria-related cases are expected to occur in Asia. Another 1.5 million are predicted for North America and South America.

    They also noted that a vaccine to prevent H. pylori bacteria “would be a powerful tool for gastric cancer prevention,” but there appears to be “little momentum at present to advance its development.”

    Experts not involved in the study told Healthline the findings are important and should be noted by medical professionals.

    “This is truly a fascinating, practice-changing study,” said Anton Bilchik, MD, a surgical oncologist as well as the chief of medicine and director of the Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Program at Providence Saint John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA. “This tells us that … it is a preventable cancer.”

    “We have known that H. pylori infection increases an individual’s risk of developing stomach cancer for many years,” added Joo Ha Hwang, MD, a professor of medicine at Stanford University.

    “This study quantifies the estimated number of deaths that would likely occur if we do not start screening individuals who are at moderate to high risk for H. pylori infection and gastric cancer. This study is a call to action to address a preventable cancer,” Hwang noted.

    Alan Venook, MD, a professor of medical oncology and translational research at the University of California San Francisco, and program development director at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, said the connection between the H. pylori bacteria and gastric cancer has been known for more than 30 years.

    He cited older research from 1991 published in the New England Journal of Medicine that first made the connection, and said the findings in the new study aren’t surprising. Still, he expressed concern over the persistent nature of the bacteria’s connection to cancer.

    “The most interesting thing in this study to me is that this is still a problem,” Venook said, adding he is “mystified” as to why progress hasn’t been made. “I think the message to medical professionals is that this remains a terrible problem,” he noted. “This is a wake-up call.”

    Bilchik, who had attended the 1991 presentation of the original study, said the research was initially dismissed by the medical community. Since then, he said those early findings have proven to be correct.

    “This is a clear message to both patients and professionals that stomach cancer is not necessarily caused by smoking and alcohol,” he said.

    Nilesh Vora, MD, a hematologist and medical oncologist and medical director of the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in California, has some cautions about the new research.

    He called it “thought-provoking,” but added that more research is necessary to confirm the data and the conclusions.

    The Helicobacter pylori bacteria grow in the digestive tract and tend to attack the stomach lining. It has adapted itself to live in the highly acidic world of the human gastrointestinal system.

    H. pylori often develops in a person’s stomach during childhood. The bacteria are typically harmless and don’t cause symptoms. However, in some cases, they may lead to stomach ulcers and some diseases, including gastric cancer.

    Many people with H. pylori don’t have symptoms. However, an estimated 30% of people with the bacteria develop peptic ulcers and other conditions.

    Some common symptoms from the bacteria include:

    • burning stomach pain
    • feeling full quickly
    • nausea
    • burping
    • unexplained weight loss

    The bacteria can be transmitted via saliva, contaminated food, and other methods. It can be diagnosed with tests involving breath, stool samples, and blood antibodies. Doctors sometimes order an endoscopy, which involves placing a tube down a person’s throat.

    The bacteria are treated with antibiotics. Some people may be prescribed proton pump inhibitors to help the stomach heal.

    The American Cancer Society (ACS) notes there are currently no recommendations for routine stomach cancer screenings for those with average risk.

    “Given the relatively low prevalence of gastric cancer in the United States, there is currently no screening recommendation for H. pylori in patients without symptoms,” said Anu Agrawal, MD, vice president of Global Cancer Support at the American Cancer Society.

    “The high incidence in Asia particularly could justify screening protocols which, as noted in the publication, have been initiated in a few Asian countries,” he told Healthline.

    Bilchik said that people should not ignore gastrointestinal symptoms that linger for an extended period of time. “If the symptoms are persistent, then go to a physician and be proactive,” Bilchik advised.

    Vora added that while screenings are important, there are some logistical issues. Endoscopies, he said, are invasive and expensive. He added that the big questions are whether general screenings should be done for this bacterium and whether everyone with long-term gastrointestinal symptoms should be tested for H. pylori.

    Hwang agreed that screening should be selective.

    “H. pylori often infects family members, so if one family member is diagnosed with H. pylori, family members who live together should be tested for the infection,” he said.

    “We have been advocating for individuals who have immigrated from regions that have a high incidence of H pylori infection and gastric cancer, such as East Asia, Eastern Europe, and the west coast of South America, to be tested for H pylori infection and treated if positive.”

    The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates there will be about 30,000 new cases of stomach cancer in the United States this year. More than 10,000 people are expected to die from the disease.

    Those numbers represent less than 2% of all cancer cases and all cancer deaths in the United States.

    Almost 38% of people in the United States with stomach cancer are expected to live at least five years after diagnosis.

    Stomach cancer usually develops over a number of years. Many times, there are no symptoms until the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

    The disease is more common in adults over the age of 60 and in those who smoke, have obesity, or have a family history of the disease. It’s also more common in people of Asian descent and people with a diet high in salty foods, meat, and processed products.

    Symptoms of stomach cancer include:

    • frequent heartburn
    • loss of appetite
    • bloating or burping
    • indigestion
    • abdominal pain

    The disease can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and immunotherapy.

    Experts say you can lower your risk of stomach cancer by:

    The American Cancer Society has a list of ways people can lower their risk.

    “Obesity, tobacco use, alcohol, diets high in smoked foods or foods preserved by salting, or diets low in fruits and vegetables are risk factors,” said Agrawal. “If you have a family history of stomach cancer, are a first-generation immigrant from a high prevalence area (e.g., East Asia), or have certain genetic cancer predisposition syndromes, you should be screened for stomach cancer.”

    Vora said the message is pretty simple: “Eat well and exercise more.”

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  • Former police officer from Cornwall sentenced for misconduct

    Former police officer from Cornwall sentenced for misconduct

    BBC A brass plaque on a sandstone building reading "Crown Court". A column and a court crest is visible in the background. Two people can be seen walking into the building.BBC

    Former Devon and Cornwall Police officer Martyn Newitt appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Friday

    A former Devon and Cornwall Police officer has been sentenced for forming an inappropriate relationship with a woman he met while on duty.

    Martyn Newitt, 39, from Liskeard, Cornwall, admitted misconduct in a public office and causing a computer to perform a function with intent to secure unauthorised access to a programme data, the court heard.

    He was sentenced to a 12-month prison term, suspended for 12 months, following a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

    The judge also ordered Newitt to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity days within the next 12 months.

    The court was told Newitt had been a temporary police sergeant when he was called to attend the home of a woman following an incident involving her former partner in May 2020.

    Newitt, now a married father-of-two, initially exchanged professional messages with the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, on his police phone.

    He then created a social media account under the name Nick Nicholson which he used to exchange sexual messages with the woman, the court was told.

    Newitt also looked up a police log regarding an allegation of rape the woman had made against a different person.

    The woman made a complaint about Newitt after being stopped by officers due to an issue with her vehicle in December 2021, leading to Newitt being suspended and he resigned three years later.

    ‘Fall from grace’

    Judge Michael Cullum said: “It is always sad to see a man of good character come before the criminal courts to be sentenced, particularly when having been a serving public official and police officer that fall from grace is higher.

    “The references show that you were a good officer, rising to be a sergeant.

    “You threw that away when, in a period of weakness and stress in your personal life, you pursued an inappropriate relationship with a member of the public.”

    ‘I trusted him’

    In a victim personal statement read to the court, the woman said: “I was scared, isolated and vulnerable.

    “Martyn arrived in uniform to help and I trusted him. He was supposed to protect us. Instead, he embedded himself in my life and became Nick.

    “I am grieving a man that never existed. Nick wasn’t just his name. It was his carefully crafted persona.”

    Newitt said he had been in a “very difficult place” at the time.

    “Up until that point, my record as a police officer was untarnished,” he said.

    “I have let the public down by putting myself in this position.

    “I am eternally sorry for that.”

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  • Publication of The Salt Path author’s new book is delayed amid scandal | Books

    Publication of The Salt Path author’s new book is delayed amid scandal | Books

    Penguin, publisher of The Salt Path, is delaying author Raynor Winn’s next book after reporting cast doubt over the truth of the 2018 memoir. The decision was taken to “support the author,” according to a statement.

    The Salt Path tells the story of Winn and her husband, Moth, who embark on a 630-mile walk after their house is repossessed and Moth is diagnosed with corticobasal degeneration (CBD), a terminal illness.

    Last weekend, the Observer published an investigation alleging that Winn had lied about being made homeless and about the circumstances under which she and her husband lost their home. It also questioned the legitimacy of Moth’s diagnosis.

    On Wednesday, Winn published a lengthy response denying many of the allegations, and shared medical letters discussing Moth’s CBD.

    In a statement reported by the Bookseller, the publisher said: “Given recent events, in particular intrusive conjecture around Moth’s health condition which has caused considerable distress to Raynor Winn and her family, it is our priority to support the author at this time”.

    “With this in mind, Penguin Michael Joseph, together with the author, have made the decision to delay the publication of On Winter Hill from this October. We will announce a new publication date in due course.”

    On Winter Hill would be Winn’s fourth book, after Landlines, The Wild Silence and her debut, The Salt Path, which has sold more than 2m copies globally.

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    On Winter Hill sees Winn undertake the Coast to Coast walk in northern England, this time alone. “Despite 45 years of walking together, setbacks in her husband, Moth’s, health have led him to see his decline as inevitable, which Raynor refuses to accept”, according to the publisher’s description. “Feeling trapped, she is drawn north, like a migratory bird, seeking the peace and hope that walking brings her”.

    After last weekend’s allegations, the charity PSPA, which supports people with CBD, ended its relationship with the couple. Winn also withdrew from the planned Saltlines tour, on which she was scheduled to appear alongside the Gigspanner Big Band at a number of UK venues. Refunds have been given to some customers, according to the BBC.

    The Observer accused Winn – whose real name is Sally Walker – of taking “around £64,000” from a former employer, among other allegations. In her response, Winn states: “Any mistakes I made during the years in that office, I deeply regret, and I am truly sorry.”

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  • Ancient Rivers in Noachis Terra Reveal Mars’ Long-Lived Wet Past

    Ancient Rivers in Noachis Terra Reveal Mars’ Long-Lived Wet Past

    There’s very little scientific debate about the existence of surface water on Mars in its past. The evidence at this point is overwhelming. Orbiter images clearly show river channels and deltas, and rovers have found ample minerals that only form in the presence of water. Now the scientific debate has moved on. Scientists are trying to learn the extent of Martian surface water, both on the planet’s surface and through time.

    NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a prolific purveyor of images of Mars’ surface. One of its most well-known image shows Jezero Crater, the landing site of the Mars Perseverance rover. Jezero Crater is an ancient paleolake filled by an ancient river that created a delta of sediments. The orbiter also identified clays and carbonate salts, minerals that were altered by water in the planet’s past.

    This image of Jezero Crater is one of the MRO’s most well-known images. It shows clear evidence of flowing water. The colours map the location of different minerals, including water-altered clays and carbonate salts. Image Credit: NASA/ JPL-Caltech/ MSSS/ JHU-APL.

    There are two schools of thought around Mars’ watery past. One says that water was stable on the Martian surface for long periods of time, while the other states that the water channels were carved during geologically brief periods of time when climate shifts caused ice sheets to melt. Call the first one the ‘warm and wet’ theory and the second one the ‘cold and dry’ theory. Both theories are well developed, and make predictions about what scientists will find when they dig deeper.

    Some research into Noachis Terra supports the idea that water features there were carved by ice-related processes during short-lived periods of wetness, the cold and dry theory. This 2016 paper illustrates that point of view. “Our studied valleys’ association with ice-rich material and abundant evidence for erosion caused by downslope flow of ice-rich material are consistent with a cold, wet Mars hypothesis where accumulation, flow, and melting of ice have been dominant factors in eroding crater valleys,” those researchers concluded.

    Not all regions of Mars have been studied equally, and the Noachis Terra is not as well-studied as some other regions. The ‘warm and wet’ climate theory predicts that Noachis Terra would’ve had high levels of precipitation. However, there’s an overall lack of Valley Networks (VNs) in the region. Valley Networks are similar to Earth’s river drainage basins and are compelling evidence of Mars’ watery past.

    This map of Mars shows important surface features, as well as all of the planet's surface regions. Noachis Terra is a southern highland region of heavily cratered ancient terrain. Image Credit: By Jim Secosky modified NASA image. - http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/mola_regional_boundaries.pdf, Public Domain, This map of Mars shows important surface features, as well as all of the planet’s surface regions. Noachis Terra is a southern highland region of heavily cratered ancient terrain. Image Credit: By Jim Secosky modified NASA image. – http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/mola_regional_boundaries.pdf, Public Domain,

    New research presented at the Royal Astronomical Society’s National Astronomy Meeting presented a different sort of evidence to support the high levels of precipitation predicted in Noachis Terra by the warm and wet theory. It’s titled “The Fluvial History of Noachis Terra, Mars,” and the lead researcher is Adam Losekoot. Losekoot is a PhD student at the Open University, a public research university in the UK.

    “Studying Mars, particularly an underexplored region like Noachis Terra, is really exciting because it’s an environment which has been largely unchanged for billions of years. It’s a time capsule that records fundamental geological processes in a way that just isn’t possible here on Earth,” Losekoot said in a press release.

    The evidence Losekoot and his fellow researchers uncovered is in the form of Fluvial Sinuous Ridges.

    “Noachis Terra, in Mars’ southern highlands, is a region where ‘warm, wet’ climate models predict high rates of precipitation, but is poorly incised by VNs,” Losekoot explained. “We searched instead for Fluvial Sinuous Ridges (FSRs, aka inverted channels) here as they provide alternate evidence to VNs for stable surface water.”

    FSRs are winding, elevated features left behind from Mars’ watery past. They form when water flows across the surface carrying sediment with it. The sediment deposits become harder than the rock in the surrounding terrain due to compaction and mineral precipitation. When Mars’ water disappeared, aeolian erosion ate away at the softer, surrounding rock, leaving the elevated FSRs behind.

    To find the FSRs in Noachis Terra, Losekoot and his co-researchers turned to NASA’s MRO. No other mission has done more to reveal Mars’ past than the MRO. They used data from its HiRISE and other instruments, as well as data from the Mars Orbital Laser Altimeter on the Mars Global Surveyor, to identify FSRs.

    Losekoot and his co-researchers found 15,000 km of FSRs in Noachis Terra. “We find FSRs to be common across Noachis Terra, with a cumulative length of more than 15,000 km. These are often isolated segments, but some systems are hundreds of km in length,” Losekoot writes.

    This HiRISE image shows two branches of an FSR. The river split into two then rejoined outside of the image. The lower branch is heavily eroded and quite spread out, the upper branch is narrower but more clearly preserved. They could've had different exposure times or undergone different geological processes. Or they could be from different periods of water activity. There are remnants of an infilling material within the ridge and a meander where the branch turns back towards the lower trunk. The mesa in between the branches could be a crater that was filled with the same sediment as the FSR. Image Credit: HiRISE Image: ESP_085519_1585 NASA/JPL/University of Arizona. Licence type: Attribution (CC BY 4.0) This HiRISE image shows two branches of an FSR. The river split into two then rejoined outside of the image. The lower branch is heavily eroded and quite spread out, the upper branch is narrower but more clearly preserved. They could’ve had different exposure times or undergone different geological processes. Or they could be from different periods of water activity. There are remnants of an infilling material within the ridge and a meander where the branch turns back towards the lower trunk. The mesa in between the branches could be a crater that was filled with the same sediment as the FSR. Image Credit: HiRISE Image: ESP_085519_1585 NASA/JPL/University of Arizona. Licence type: Attribution (CC BY 4.0)

    The FSRs are broadly distributed across Noachis Terra, and some are tens of meters tall. That means the water flowed for a long time.

    “The broad distribution of FSRs suggests a broadly distributed source of water,” Losekoot writes. “The most likely candidate is precipitation, suggesting a benign surface environment. For FSRs to have formed mature, interconnected systems, up to tens of meters high, these conditions must also have been relatively long-lived.”

    “This suggests that ~3.7 Ga, Noachis Terra experienced warm and wet conditions for a geologically relevant period,” Losekoot explained.

    This HiRISE image shows narrow FSR with a pointed pinnacle ridge. The pointed could indicate that this FSR has suffered heavy erosion for a long time until only a narrow peak remained, or it may be that only a narrow part of the original river infill has been preserved. Image Credit: HiRISE Image: ESP_067439_1505 NASA/JPL/University of Arizona. Licence type: Attribution (CC BY 4.0) This HiRISE image shows narrow FSR with a pointed pinnacle ridge. The pointed could indicate that this FSR has suffered heavy erosion for a long time until only a narrow peak remained, or it may be that only a narrow part of the original river infill has been preserved. Image Credit: HiRISE Image: ESP_067439_1505 NASA/JPL/University of Arizona. Licence type: Attribution (CC BY 4.0)

    The way the FSRs are distributed across Noachis Terra and their extent suggests that precipitation is responsible. They also form large, interconnected systems, which suggests the watery period was long-lived. This work supports the idea that Mars was warm and wet for a long time, rather than just for bursts of time when ice sheets melted.

    This MRO CTX image gives an oblique view of part of a system of FSRs in Noachis Terra. It shows river tributaries that were probably active at the same time. The rivers meandered, and there are areas where the river banks burst and deposited fine layers of sediment. At the top of the image is a really clear example of an area where two FSRs intersect with an infilled crater. This is likely where the river flowed into the crater, filling it up and then breaching the other side to continue through the crater and down to the bottom of the image. CTX image: MurrayLab_V01_E020_N-20_Mosaic. Image Credit: NASA/JPL/MSSS/The Murray Lab. Licence type: Attribution (CC BY 4.0) This MRO CTX image gives an oblique view of part of a system of FSRs in Noachis Terra. It shows river tributaries that were probably active at the same time. The rivers meandered, and there are areas where the river banks burst and deposited fine layers of sediment. At the top of the image is a really clear example of an area where two FSRs intersect with an infilled crater. This is likely where the river flowed into the crater, filling it up and then breaching the other side to continue through the crater and down to the bottom of the image. CTX image: MurrayLab_V01_E020_N-20_Mosaic. Image Credit: NASA/JPL/MSSS/The Murray Lab. Licence type: Attribution (CC BY 4.0)

    “Our work is a new piece of evidence that suggests that Mars was once a much more complex and active planet than it is now, which is such an exciting thing to be involved in,” said Losekoot.

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  • AI Coding Tools Made Some Engineers Less Productive: Study

    AI Coding Tools Made Some Engineers Less Productive: Study

    AI code editors have quickly become a mainstay of software development, employed by tech giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.

    In an interesting twist, a new study suggests AI tools made some developers less productive.

    Experienced developers using AI coding tools took 19% longer to complete issues than those not using generative AI assistance, according to a new study from Model Evaluation & Threat Research (METR).

    Even after completing the tasks, participants couldn’t accurately gauge their own productivity, the study said: The average AI-assisted developers still thought their productivity had gained by 20%.

    How the study was set up

    METR’s study recruited 16 developers with large, open-source repositories that they had worked on for years. The developers were randomly assigned into two groups: Those allowed to use AI coding assistance and those who weren’t.

    The AI-assisted coders could choose which vibe-coding tool they used. Most chose Cursor with Claude 3.5/3.7 Sonnet. Business Insider reached out to Cursor for comment.

    Developers without AI spent over 10% more time actively coding, the study said. The AI-assisted coders spent over 20% more time reviewing AI outputs, prompting AI, waiting on AI, or being idle.


    A graph from METR's study is pictured.

    While participants without AI use spent more time actively coding, AI-assisted participants spent more time prompting and waiting for AI, reviewing its output, and idling.

    METR



    A ‘really surprising’ result — but it’s important to remember how fast AI tools are progressing

    METR researcher Nate Rush told BI he uses an AI code editor every day. While he didn’t make a formal prediction about the study’s results, Rush said he jotted down positive productivity figures he expected the study to reach. He remains surprised by the negative end result — and cautions against taking it out of context.

    “Much of what we see is the specificity of our setting,” Rush said, explaining that developers without the participants’ 5-10 years of expertise would likely see different results. “But the fact that we found any slowdown at all was really surprising.”

    Steve Newman, serial entrepreneur and cofounder of Google Docs, described the findings in a Substack post as “too bad to be true,” but after more careful analysis of the study and its methodology, he found the study credible.

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    “This study doesn’t expose AI coding tools as a fraud, but it does remind us that they have important limitations (for now, at least),” Newman wrote.

    The METR researchers said they found evidence for multiple contributors to the productivity slowdown. Over-optimism was one likely factor: Before completing the tasks, developers predicted AI would decrease implementation time by 24%.

    For skilled developers, it may still be quicker to do what you know well. The METR study found that AI-assisted participants slowed down on the issues they were more familiar with. They also reported that their level of experience made it more difficult for AI to help them.

    AI also may not be reliable enough yet to produce clean and accurate code. AI-assisted developers in the study accepted less than 44% of the generated code, and spent 9% of their time cleaning AI outputs.

    Ruben Bloom, one of the study’s developers, posted a reaction thread on X. Coding assistants have developed considerably since he participated in February.

    “I think if the result is valid at this point in time, that’s one thing, I think if people are citing in another 3 months’ time, they’ll be making a mistake,” Bloom wrote.

    METR’s Rush acknowledges that the 19% slowdown is a “point-in-time measurement” and that he’d like to study the figure over time. Rush stands by the study’s takeaway that AI productivity gains may be more individualized than expected.

    “A number of developers told me this really interesting anecdote, which is, ‘Knowing this information, I feel this desire to use AI more judiciously,’” Rush said. “On an individual level, these developers know their actual productivity impact. They can make more informed decisions.”


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