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Can Amazon Alexa or Google Home help detect Parkinson’s?

A quick, speech-based AI tool offers a new way to screen for a key indicator of the neurodegenerative disease.

Computer scientists at the University of Rochester have developed an AI-powered, speech-based screening tool that can help people assess whether they are showing signs of Parkinson’s disease, the fastest growing neurological disability in the world. A study published in the journal npj Parkinson’s Disease introduces a web-based screening test that asks users to recite two pangrams—short sentences using all 26 letters of the alphabet. Within seconds, the AI analyzes the voice recordings for subtle patterns linked to Parkinson’s, with nearly 86 percent accuracy.

Parkinson’s disease is typically diagnosed by movement disorder specialists—neurologists with specific training to evaluate complex motor symptoms—using a combination of family history, neurological examinations, and brain imaging. While the study’s authors emphasize that their AI-based tool is not a substitute for a clinical diagnosis, they see it as a fast, low-barrier, and accessible way to flag people, especially in remote areas, who might be living with the condition and encourage them to seek more thorough clinical evaluations.

“There are huge swaths of the US and across the globe where access to specialized neurological care is limited,” says Ehsan Hoque, a professor in Rochester’s Department of Computer Science and co-director of the Rochester Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory. “With users’ consent, widely used speech-based interfaces like Amazon Alexa or Google Home could potentially help people identify if they need to seek further care.”

To train and validate the tool, the researchers collected data from more than 1,300 participants—with and without Parkinson’s—across diverse environments, including home settings, clinical visits at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and the InMotion Parkinson’s disease care center in Ohio.

Using the computer’s microphone, users simply read aloud two sentences: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The dog wakes up and follows the fox into the forest, but again the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” By leveraging the power of advanced semi-supervised speech models trained on millions of digital audio recordings to understand the characteristics of speech, the tool can glean enough vocal cues from those two short sentences to flag warning signs.

“These large audio models are trained to understand how speech works; for example, the way someone with Parkinson’s would utter sounds, pause, breathe, and inadvertently add features of unintelligibility is different in someone without Parkinson’s,” says Abdelrahman Abdelkader, a computer science master’s degree student in Hoque’s lab and one of the two lead authors of the study. “If a person is saying the pangram that contains the full spectrum of the alphabetical variability and trails off at certain points, the model can tell if that’s different from the typical representation and flag it.”

The tool was 85.7 percent accurate when tested, providing a strong indication of whether someone may have Parkinson’s. But it is a multifaceted disease, and while some people demonstrate symptoms through speech, they can also display signs through motor tasks or facial expressions. Over the last decade, Hoque’s lab has pursued clever algorithms to combine multiple indicators and produced state-of-the-art results.

“Research shows that nearly 89 percent of people with Parkinson’s have a deformity in their voice that can be indicative of the disease, making speech a strong starting point for digital screening,” says Tariq Adnan, a computer science PhD student affiliated with Hoque’s lab and another lead author of the study. “By combining this method with assessments of other symptoms, we aim to cover the majority of people through our accessible screening process.”

An interactive demo of the lab’s three screening tests, including the speech test outlined in the paper, is available online.

The other authors of the paper include PhD students Md. Saiful Islam, who co-supervised the work with Hoque, Zipei Liu, Ekram Hossain, and Sooyong Park.

The study was funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, a Google Faculty Research Award, and a Google PhD Fellowship.

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July 23, 2025
Best-ever map of the human genome reveals ‘hidden’ regions of DNA

Twenty-two years after the completion of the Human Genome Project, scientists have unveiled the most expansive catalog of human genetic variation ever compiled.

Across two new papers published Wednesday (July 23) in the journal Nature, scientists sequenced the DNA of 1,084 people around the world. They leveraged recent technological advancements to analyze long stretches of genetic material from each person, stitched those fragments together and compared the resulting genomes in fine detail.

The results deepen our understanding of “structural variants” within the human genome. Rather than affecting a single “letter” in DNA’s code, such variations affect large chunks of the code — they may be deleted from or added to the genome, or encompass places where the DNA has been flipped around or moved to a different location.

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The studies have revealed “hidden” features of the human genome that were previously too technologically challenging to study, said Jan Korbel, the interim head of European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Heidelberg, who is a co-author of both new papers. For instance, large portions of the genome contain codes that repeat over and over, and these were thought to be nonfunctional.

“Some 20 years ago, we thought about this as ‘junk DNA’ — we gave it a very bad term,” Korbel told Live Science. “There’s more and more the realization that these sequences are not junk,” and the new work sheds light on these long-maligned DNA sequences.

Additionally, all of the data generated in the new studies are open access, so others in the field can now take “the findings, some of the tools we’ve developed and use them for their purposes to understand the genetic basis of disease,” Korbel told Live Science. “I thoroughly believe that the advances that we’re publishing in Nature today, a subset of these will also make it into diagnostics.”

Related: People’s racial and ethnic identities don’t reflect their genetic ancestry

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Over 1,000 genomes

When the first draft of a “complete” human genome was published in 2003, it was actually missing about 15% of its sequence due to technological limitations of the time. In 2013, scientists managed to close that gap by about half. And finally, in 2022, the first “gapless” human genome was published.

In 2023, researchers published the first draft of a human pangenome, which incorporated DNA from 47 people around the world, rather than predominantly being based on one person’s DNA. And that same year, researchers published the first Y chromosome that had ever been sequenced from end to end, because the previous “gapless” genome was still missing the male sex chromosome.

In the past few years, the field has continued to advance, thanks to new technologies and efforts to expand DNA sampling beyond populations of mostly European descent. Those advancements heralded the two papers published in Nature this week.

In the first study, researchers sequenced the DNA of 1,019 people representing 26 populations across five continents. To analyze the DNA, the researchers collected “long reads,” each composed of tens of thousands of base pairs; one base pair corresponds with one rung in the spiral ladder of a DNA molecule.

“With short reads of around 100 base pairs, it is difficult to distinguish between genomic regions that look alike,” explained study co-author Jesus Emiliano Sotelo-Fonseca, a doctoral student at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CGR) in Barcelona, Spain. That’s especially true in repetitive regions of the genome. “With longer reads, of around 20k base pairs, assigning each read to a unique position in the genome gets much easier,” he told Live Science in an email.

More than half of the new genomic variation uncovered in the study was found in those tricky repetitive regions, including in transposons, also known as jumping genes. Transposons can leap to different locations in the genome, copying and pasting their code. Sometimes, depending on where they land, they can destabilize the genome, introduce harmful mutations and contribute to diseases like cancer.

“Our study reveals that some of these transposons can hijack regulatory sequences to boost their activity, contributing to understanding the biological mechanisms behind their mutagenicity,” or ability to trigger mutations, study co-author Bernardo Rodríguez-Martín, an independent fellow at CGR and a former postdoc in Korbel’s EMBL lab, told Live Science in an email.

The jumping genes can essentially hitch a ride with certain regulatory molecules — long noncoding RNAs — and use that trick to make far more copies of themselves than they usually would. “That’s a very surprising mechanism to us,” Korbel said.

Related: Scientists just discovered a new way cells control their genes

From 95% to 99%

The second study featured far fewer genomes — only 65 in total — but sequenced those genomes more comprehensively than the first study did. The first study captured about 95% of each genome analyzed, while the second study generated 99%-complete genomes.

“It might sound like a small difference, but it’s huge actually from the perspective of the genome scientist,” Korbel said. “To get the last few percentages, it’s a major achievement.”

That leap required different sequencing techniques, as well as new analytical approaches. “This project used cutting-edge software to assemble genomes and identify genetic variation, much of which simply did not exist a few years ago,” co-author Charles Lee, a professor at the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, told Live Science in an email.

The sequencing techniques included one that generated long reads with very few errors and one that generated ultralong reads that were slightly more error-prone. At the expense of analyzing fewer genomes, this approach nonetheless enabled the second study to capture stretches of DNA that were totally missed in the first, Rodríguez-Martín said.

Those “hidden” regions included the centromeres, important structures at the centers of chromosomes that are key for cell division. As a cell prepares to split, fibers attach to the centromeres and then pull the chromosome in two. The study found that, in about 7% of centromeres, there are likely two places where these fibers can attach, instead of only one.

“Could that mean that those chromosomes are more unstable? Because if the spindle [fiber] attaches to two points, it might get confused,” Korbel said. That’s a purely speculative idea, he added, but it’s one that can now be explored. The next step will be to study the effects of these centromere variations experimentally, Lee agreed.

JAX in Motion | Revealing The Hidden Genome – YouTube

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Issues with chromosome splitting can lead to various conditions. For example, “Down syndrome is the result of a mistake of chromosome segregation during cell division in meiosis,” when cells split to form sperm and eggs, co-author Dr. Miriam Konkel, an assistant professor at the Clemson University Center for Human Genetics, told Live Science in an email.

Like the first study, the second study also provided an unprecedented look at jumping genes, cataloging more than 12,900. Beyond cancer, jumping genes can also trigger various genetic diseases by causing mutations, as well as prompt more subtle changes in how genes are switched on and off, Konkel noted. A better understanding of the diversity of jumping genes can help unpack their function in human health and disease.

Looking at both studies, scientists can now compare the newly sequenced genomes to other datasets that include both genome and health data, Korbel noted. This would be the first step toward linking the newfound structural variations to tangible health outcomes and, eventually, to incorporating those insights into medical practice.

“Certain clinical studies will not be able to ignore these [sequencing] techniques because they will give them higher sensitivity to identify variation,” Korbel said. “You don’t want to miss variants.”

There’s still more work to be done to improve the genomic data, as well, Lee added. More DNA could be incorporated from underrepresented populations, and the sequencing techniques and software could be further refined to make the process more efficient and accurate. But in the meantime, the pair of new studies marks a major technological feat.

“These advanced tools were developed recently to handle the huge amounts of long-read data we are now using for each genome,” Lee said. “A few years back, assembling a complete human chromosome from end to end, especially including centromeres, was virtually unattainable because the software and algorithms were not mature yet.”

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July 23, 2025
23-month-old female with cough, rhinorrhea, and increased work of breathing
Figure 1:CXR completed on day 5 of admission demonstrates right perihilar and lower lobe opacities.

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A 23-month-old female presented with a 3-day history of cough, rhinorrhea, and increased work of breathing. Initially, she was treated for bronchiolitis at an urgent care center, where a nasopharyngeal swab identified adenovirus. Despite initial treatment, the patient’s condition worsened, and she required oxygen supplementation via nasal cannula for oxyhemoglobin desaturation. Her hypoxemia further deteriorated, necessitating an increase in oxygen supplementation (Figure 1).

On physical examination, the patient showed signs of respiratory distress. A chest X-ray (CXR) revealed opacities in the right middle and lower lobes. The patient’s condition improved with supportive care, and she was discharged after several days in the hospital.

However, 9 months later, due to recurrent wheezing, she was referred to the pulmonary service for further evaluation. A follow-up CXR, taken 3 months after the initial infection, demonstrated complete opacification of the right hemithorax with a mediastinal shift to the right, as well as collapse of the right upper and middle lobes.

Figure 2:

CXR 3 months after hospitalization shows complete opacification of the right hemithorax with mediastinal shift to the right.

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On physical examination, the patient appeared in mild respiratory distress. Her oxygen saturation was 96% on room air. Breath sounds were diminished on the left side, with crackles noted in the right lower lung fields. Her growth and development were normal, and she was in the 25th percentile for both height and weight. A complete blood count and metabolic panel were within normal limits.

Figure 3: (A) and (B):

Axial and coronal chest CT views 3 months after the patient’s initial infection demonstrate pronounced mediastinal shift with a presumed collapse of the right upper and middle lobes. There is dense airspace consolidation throughout the lower right lobe with superimposed bronchiectasis.

Click image to zoom in

Due to recurrent wheezing, she was referred to the pulmonary service. A follow-up CXR (3 months afterward) showed complete opacification of the right hemithorax with mediastinal shift to the right and collapse of the right upper and middle lobes (Figure 2). CT scan of the chest revealed unilateral hyperlucency of the left lung. There was complete opacification of the right hemithorax, mediastinal shift to the right, and atelectasis of the right upper and middle lobes with superimposed bronchiectasis (Figures 3A and B). Her findings were consistent with Swyer-James-Macleod Syndrome (SJMS) (Table). Her condition was managed with inhaled corticosteroids, chest physiotherapy, and antibiotics during exacerbations. Her most recent CXR, fifteen months after initial presentation, continues to reveal hyperlucency of the left lung (Figure 4).

Her condition was managed with inhaled corticosteroids, chest physiotherapy, and antibiotics during exacerbations.

Figure 4:

Follow-up CXR 15 months after initial infection demonstrates hyperlucency of the left lung with collapse of the right lung.

Click image to zoom in

We present a rare case of Swyer-James-Macleod Syndrome (SJMS) in a pediatric patient. SJMS is a post-infectious bronchiolitis first described by Swyer and James in 1953.^1-4 This condition is characterized by unilateral hyperlucency of the lung, typically following a viral or bacterial infection in infancy or early childhood. Our patient’s diagnosis followed recurrent respiratory infections and lung collapse.

SJMS can be associated with numerous infections, including adenovirus types 3, 7, and 21, paramyxovirus, Bordetella pertussis, Mycobacteria, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, influenza virus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus.¹ These infections lead to inflammation and fibrosis that cause bronchial lumen narrowing, reduced ventilation/perfusion, and vasoconstriction, consequently reducing blood flow to the pulmonary artery and leading to arterial hypoplasia.⁵ In addition, decreased pulmonary vascularization, abnormal alveolar development, and destruction of the pulmonary parenchyma and alveoli are observed.⁶

Due to its rarity, little is known about the incidence of SJMS, and the clinical course varies based on the presence or absence of bronchiectasis.⁵ Adults with SJMS are often asymptomatic, with the condition being an incidental finding on imaging. In contrast, children tend to be symptomatic, presenting in infancy or early childhood with dyspnea, wheezing, recurrent respiratory infections, productive cough, failure to thrive, and, rarely, hemoptysis and spontaneous pneumothorax.^2,5,6,10

Diagnostic tools such as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) have shown active inflammatory processes in SJMS, with increased neutrophils and lymphocytes, specifically CD8+ T cells.⁸ Pulmonary function tests may reveal mixed obstructive-restrictive ventilation defects.⁷ Imaging remains key to diagnosis, with chest X-ray and CT scans revealing characteristic findings of unilateral hyperlucency, bronchiectasis, and lung collapse, as seen in our patient.⁷

In the differential diagnosis of unilateral hyperlucency (Table), conditions such as congenital lobar emphysema (CLE), bronchogenic cyst, CPAM, and pulmonary sequestration must be considered. CLE presents with respiratory distress in infancy and hyperinflation of the lung lobe, whereas SJMS typically follows an infectious process and affects an entire lung. Pulmonary sequestration, involving non-functioning lung tissue with an aberrant blood supply, also needs to be ruled out using imaging studies such as CT or MRI.

Treatment for SJMS is preventative and conservative, with a focus on averting further infection. Management includes airway clearance with chest physiotherapy, vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal infections, and antibiotic treatment during exacerbations.^2,7 The efficacy of surgical interventions, such as lung resection, is not well established but remains an option in cases of clinical pulmonary deterioration, recurrent infections despite prophylactic measures, or recurrent pneumothoraces.⁸ Further studies are needed to explore the benefits of inhaled medications, including bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids with or without long-acting beta-agonists.

This case highlights the importance of recognizing SJMS as a sequela of early childhood respiratory infections. Early diagnosis and intervention can help reduce the long-term risk of complications such as bronchiectasis and progressive lung disease.

References:
1. Wojcicki KM, Sindel AD, Berry AC, et al. 2015. An uncommon obliterative lung disease: Swyer‐James‐MacLeod syndrome. Intern Emerg Med. 10: 881–882. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-015-1239-z
2. Chaucer B, Chevenon M, Toro C, et al. 2015. Swyer‐James‐MacLeod syndrome: a rare finding and important differential in the ED setting. Am J Emerg Med. 34: 1329. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2015.12.045
3. Kawasuji H, Suzuki K, Furuse H, Tsuda T, Masaki Y, Taniguchi H. Multimodal imaging findings in an adult case of Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome. Respirol Case Rep. 2017 Apr 17;5(4):e00236. doi:10.1002/rcr2.236
4. MacLeod WM. Abnormal transradiancy of one lung. Thorax. 1954; 9: 147–53.
5. Vieira Gde D, Yamagishi AY, Vieira NN, Fogaça RM, Alves Tda C, Amaral GM, Sousa CM. Complication of post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (Swyer-James syndrome). Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2015 Sep-Oct;61(5):404-6. doi:10.1590/1806-9282.61.05.404
6. Pérez Guerrero JJ, Sánchez Salguero CA. Hiperclaridad pulmonar unilateral en un niño. Síndrome de Swyer-James-Macleod [A pediatric clinical case of unilateral hyperlucency of the lung]. Arch Argent Pediatr. 2019 Oct 1;117(5):e527-e531. Spanish. doi:10.5546/aap.2019.e527
7. Mehra S, Basnayake T, Falhammar H, Heraganahally S, Tripathi S. Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome-a rare diagnosis presented through two adult patients. Respirol Case Rep. 2017 Jun 16;5(5):e00245. doi:10.1002/rcr2.245
8. Mariana, M., Gaio, R., Albuquerque, J., Gonçalves, M., & Lobo, L. (2018). Swyer-James-Macleod Syndrome presentating as pneumothorax. Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports, 37, 57–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsc.2018.07.015
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July 23, 2025
Malwarebytes Launches New Email Security Module
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Malwarebytes, a provider of real-time cyberthreat protection, is expanding its ThreatDown portfolio by launching a new email security module meant to defend against email-based threats.

IRONSCALE’s AI fueling new email protections

ThreatDown Email Security, powered by IRONSCALES’s adaptive AI technology, manages both endpoint and email security from a single, unified console.

The new email security module helps IT teams and security service providers protect users from increasingly sophisticated email attacks, while reducing operational complexity and overhead. It integrates with Nebula, Malwarebytes’ cloud-based security operations platform, and its multi-tenant console for managed service providers (MSPs), OneView, to minimize management complexity for businesses.

Companies tout advanced detection and unified management for MSPs

The ThreatDown Email Security module protects against advanced phishing attacks, business email compromise (BEC), malware, credential harvesting, and other email-related threats.

“The launch of ThreatDown Email Security, in partnership with IRONSCALES, marks a significant milestone in our mission to protect organizations with effective, easy-to-use cybersecurity solutions,” said Marcin Kleczynski, founder and CEO at Malwarebytes. “By unifying endpoint and email protection in a single platform, IT teams can now detect, protect, and respond to both endpoint and email threats faster and with far less complexity.”

Among the key benefits of the new module are:
- Adaptive AI Threat Detection: Machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and behavioral analysis are utilized to detect and block advanced phishing attempts, such as BEC and credential harvesting, with high accuracy and low false positives.
- Real-time, Inbox-Level Protection: Instantly removes or quarantines malicious emails across all inboxes to reduce exposure and minimize manual effort.
- Rapid Deployment: Native API integration with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace to enable four-click deployment with no MX record changes, agents, or separate console required.
- Unified Security Management: Provides a single source of management for email and endpoint protection together in the ThreatDown console (Nebula for businesses, OneView for MSPs), streamlining operations and reducing complexity.
- Crowdsourced Threat Intelligence: Continuously improves detection using global data from more than 16,000 security teams and human-in-the-loop feedback.
“IRONSCALES has established itself as the definitive leader in next-generation, AI-powered email security, pioneering advanced threat detection capabilities that protect organizations from sophisticated phishing attacks,” said Eyal Benishti, founder and CEO of IRONSCALES. “By strategically combining our cutting-edge, machine learning-driven technology with Malwarebytes’ comprehensive ThreatDown solutions, we are uniquely positioned to deliver a comprehensive, enterprise-grade email and endpoint security ecosystem that empowers businesses of all sizes to defend against evolving threats at scale while maintaining operational efficiency.”

The new module will be rolled out to MSPs in early August.

It’s been a productive year for Malwarebytes delivering greater value to partners in the channel. Learn more about Malwarebytes’ new channel initiatives for partner success through its ThreatDown catalog of products.
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July 23, 2025
Weighing Interstellar Objects with Gravitational Wave Detectors | by Avi Loeb | Jul, 2025

Image of 3I/ATLAS taken by the Hubble Space Telescope on July 21, 2025. (Image credit: NASA)

One of the main unknowns concerning interstellar objects, such as 1I/`Oumuamua, 2I/Borisov and 3I/ATLAS, is their mass. In a recent published paper, I excluded the possibility that 3I/ATLAS is an asteroid with a diameter of order 20 kilometers — as suggested by its high brightness, because detecting such a massive rock over the 5-year observing period of the ATLAS telescope is extremely unlikely. On the other hand, I showed that if 3I/ATLAS has a nucleus with a diameter smaller than 1 kilometer, then its mass would be 8,000 [=(20)³] times smaller, consistent with the expected reservoir of rocks in interstellar space. In that case, its high brightness is associated with sunlight scattered by the dust cloud surrounding it, an outer halo that carries a small fraction of its mass. If there had been a way of gauging the mass of 3I/ATLAS, this conjecture could have been tested.

Can we weigh the mass of interstellar objects? Being able to do so would also allow us to infer their mean mass density based on an independent measurement of their size.

In a new paper that I just wrote with the brilliant graduate student, Valentin Thoss, we studied the possibility of weighing interstellar objects that pass through the inner Solar System using gravitational wave observatories.

In particular, our paper studies the feasibility of probing the gravitational tide from interstellar objects roaming near Earth. Their impulsive gravitational signal is detected as their gravitational tide moves test-masses inside a gravitational wave detector relative to each other. Our calculations assess the ranges of masses, distances and velocities of interlopers to which current and future gravitational wave detectors are sensitive.

Our paper shows that the planned space observatories: Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), Big Bang Observer (BBO) and Deci-Hertz Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (DECIGO), are sensitive to massive interstellar objects above the scale of 3I/ATLASS, out to distances of a few million kilometers — ten times larger than the Earth-Moon separation. The main limitation of each detector is the frequency range to which it is sensitive. In order for an encounter to be detectable, the fly-by must be sufficiently close or fast so that the peak frequency of the gravitational signal, given by the ratio between its relative velocity and distance, matches the frequency window to which the detector is sensitive.

For illustration, the following figure shows the maximum distance, R, from existing and future gravitational wave detectors, at which a fly-by of an interstellar object of mass, M, is detectable. The plot assumes an object’s velocity of 300 kilometers per second, ten times faster than the orbital speed of the Earth around the Sun or the maximum speed of conventional chemical rockets.

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Maximum distance for which gravitational wave detectors are sensitive to a fly-by of a dark interstellar object as a function of its mass of the interstellar object, M, assuming a velocity of 300 kilometers per second.

The next figure shows the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) from the closest encounter expected within an observation period of 10 years, assuming that the objects make the dark matter. The SNR is shown for several gravitational wave detectors as a function of the mass, M, and velocity, v, of the objects. The red line indicates the contour for which SNR = 1.

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Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) from the closest encounter expected within an observation time of 10 years, assuming that the objects make up the dark matter. The SNR is shown for several gravitational wave detectors as a function of the mass, M, and velocity, v, of the dark interstellar objects. The red line indicates the contour for which SNR = 1.

The likelihood for DECIGO to detect at least one event from the fly-by of compact objects, depends on their individual masses and their total local mass density in the Milky-Way. The next figure assumes an observation time of 10 years and random orbits for interstellar objects. The red shaded band corresponds to the range of the latest observational estimates of the local dark matter density. The dotted line indicates the contour of 50% detection probability, for a reduction in the expected detector noise level by a factor of 2.

Zoom image will be displayed

Likelihood for DECIGO to detect at least one event from the fly-by of compact objects, shown as a function of their mass, M, and local mass density in the Milky-Way, ρ, assuming an observation period of 10 years. The red shaded band corresponds to the range of the latest observational estimates for the local dark matter density. The dotted line indicates the contour of 50% detection probability, for a reduction in the detector noise level by a factor of two.

In summary, our new paper finds that if the solar system encounters dark interstellar objects with the cumulative mass density of dark matter, then future gravitational wave observatories such as DECIGO offer good prospects for detecting them in the mass window of 10–100,000 tons.

Obviously, the most interesting class of dark interstellar objects would be stealth spacecraft employed by extraterrestrial civilizations, in the style of our B-2 Spirit aircraft, to avoid detection by telescopes which rely on the reflection of sunlight from their surface. These low-albedo objects might have an unexpected appearance rate in the inner solar system if their trajectories are designed to target the habitable planets around the Sun — where the “party” of life-as-we-know-it takes place.

Gladly, gravity cannot be screened and even these stealth objects would be detectable by future gravitational wave observatories if their masses and velocities are large enough and their distance of closest approach is short enough. In that case, each data analyst working on future gravitational wave observatories could say: “Dark interstellar objects — make my day!”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zoom image will be displayed

(Image Credit: Chris Michel, National Academy of Sciences, 2023)

Avi Loeb is the head of the Galileo Project, founding director of Harvard University’s — Black Hole Initiative, director of the Institute for Theory and Computation at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and the former chair of the astronomy department at Harvard University (2011–2020). He is a former member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and a former chair of the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the National Academies. He is the bestselling author of “Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth” and a co-author of the textbook “Life in the Cosmos”, both published in 2021. The paperback edition of his new book, titled “Interstellar”, was published in August 2024.

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July 23, 2025
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Associated With Depressive Symptoms

There is a high prevalence of depressive symptoms among woman who are diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), according to recent data published in Menopause.¹ The authors of the study said the findings highlight the need for targeted mental health support that addresses the unique needs of this patient population.

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Associated With Depressive Symptoms / Lightfield Studios – stock.adobe.com

POI is characterized by impaired ovarian follicle function before the age of 40 and affects approximately 3.7% of women worldwide. In addition to fertility challenges, POI increases the long-term risk of bone loss, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline. While many cases remain idiopathic, evidence increasingly supports a strong genetic basis, with the age of menopause recognized as a heritable trait.²

“Women with POI not only experience the symptoms associated with estrogen deficiency but also experience the loss of reproductive function,” the authors wrote. “A combination of these factors may lead to various psychological problems that significantly impact their quality of life.”

Investigators from the Erasmus University Medical Center conducted a study to explore associations between clinical and patient reported variables and depressive symptoms in women with POI. Data for the study was gathered from the university’s Women’s Health Research and Innovation Center.

The study included 345 women with POI who attended the hospital’s multidisciplinary POI care unit between April 2020 and December 2023. Before each hospital visit, the women were asked to complete multiple questionnaires, including the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the Greene Climacteric scale (GCS), and a questionnaire about general health, medical history and lifestyle. Additionally, a comprehensive patient assessment and personalized health care plan was formulated at the first visit.

The study found that of the 345 women, 103 reported depressive symptoms. Women who were younger at the time of POI diagnosis, lacked emotional support, or had an increase in severe menopausal symptoms were more likely to experience depressive symptoms. The study also found that there was no difference in depressive symptoms between women who used estrogen plus progestogen therapy and those who did not.

Additionally, a subgroup analysis showed that lower fertility related quality of life and limited emotional support were related to depressive symptoms in women who were experiencing fertility-related grief.

“Our findings underscore the high prevalence of depressive symptoms in this population and highlight the importance of comprehensive care addressing both physical and psychological aspects of menopause at an early age,” the authors concluded. “To fully address the mental health needs of women with POI, a multidisciplinary approach is essential, incorporating psychological support, symptom management strategies, and tailored interventions to address the specific challenges faced by this population.”

READ MORE: Women’s Health Resource Center

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References

1. van Zwol-Janssens C, Louwers YV, Laven JSE, et al. Depressive symptoms in women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI): a cross-sectional observational study. Menopause. 2025 Jul 15. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002614. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40663547.

2. Federici S, Rossetti R, Moleri S, et al. Primary ovarian insufficiency: update on clinical and genetic findings. Front Endocrinol. 2024 Sep 26;15:1464803. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1464803. PMID: 39391877; PMCID: PMC11466302.

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July 23, 2025
ServiceNow CEO warns of ‘extinction’ for some legacy software as stock pops on earnings
By Emily Bary

The enterprise-software company beats expectations with its latest earnings and boosts its outlook

ServiceNow Inc. said that the rise of artificial-intelligence agents is translating into financial rewards for the company.

The software powerhouse topped expectations with its latest quarterly results Wednesday, while raising its guidance for the full year. Chief Executive Bill McDermott told MarketWatch that AI has underpinned those results, as AI deals were up 50% sequentially in the second quarter.

“The AI revolution is in full flight and knows no boundaries,” he said.

The company turned in $3.11 billion in subscription revenue during the second quarter, up 22.5% from a year earlier and ahead of the $3.03 billion consensus view. Overall revenue amounted to $3.22 billion, while analysts tracked by FactSet were looking for $3.12 billion.

ServiceNow (NOW) easily exceeded expectations on the bottom line, with adjusted earnings per share of $4.09, versus the $3.57 that analysts tracked by FactSet had been modeling.

Shares were rising 7% in Wednesday’s extended session.

Read: Figma files for an IPO. What investors should know about the Adobe design rival.

The company reported $10.92 billion in current remaining performance obligations as of the end of the June quarter, with that number representing contract revenue that is expected to be recognized as revenue in the next 12 months. Analysts were expecting $10.47 billion on that metric.

ServiceNow is seeing success with technology that helps link complicated systems within companies and software that connects to clouds, data sources, large language models and AI agents. McDermott said this is becoming more important to companies as they look for more efficient ways to conduct cross-functional work, meaning work that spans multiple departments.

McDermott said he expects AI to represent an “extinction-level event” for traditional customer-relationship management platforms as businesses will look for unified platforms that seek to manage procedures using AI.

ServiceNow’s guidance for the third quarter calls for $3.26 billion to $3.265 billion in subscription revenue, whereas analysts were looking for $3.207 billion. The company also lifted its full-year forecast on that metric, as it now calls for $12.775 billion to $12.795 billion in subscription revenue. ServiceNow’s prior full-year outlook was for $12.64 billion to $12.68 billion.

-Emily Bary

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July 23, 2025
Eyam Health strikes partnership with Swiss non-profit to develop one-dollar malaria treatment

Eyam claims its AI drug discovery and delivery platform can develop treatment at less than half the usual cost.

Vancouver-based Eyam Health has struck a research partnership with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), a Swiss non-profit that helps develop malaria treatments, to discover a more affordable antimalarial solution.

The partnership will use Eyam’s Jennerator platform, which relies on artificial intelligence (AI) to design medications, and its Gemini system (no relation to the Google-owned AI model) to develop and deliver monoclonal antibodies for malaria treatment.

Eyam has received multiple grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop its Gemini platform.

Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins that help stimulate the immune system to fight disease. Eyam and MMV claim a single, long-acting injection could protect a patient for an entire rainy season, the roughly five month period where peak malaria transmission occurs. Eyam claims its Gemini system enables medications to be delivered without cold storage, while carrying multiple antibodies in a single dose that costs less than one dollar.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria vaccines can cost between two to four dollars per dose.

Eyam says the Gemini delivery system also makes it possible to target multiple stages of a parasite’s lifecycle, and can be readily adapted for local manufacturing in communities in Africa where malaria is prevalent.

“The approach to develop affordable monoclonal antibodies with longer dosing intervals could be truly transformative for improving delivery and efficacy of broadscale preventive malaria campaigns including potential use in mass administration campaigns to accelerate malaria elimination,” MMV senior director Brice Campo said in a statement.

RELATED: Reverb Therapeutics closes $17-million seed round led by Amplitude Ventures

Founded in 2020 by Vancouver native Dr. Wilfred Jefferies, Eyam uses its Gemini and Jennerator platforms to develop treatments for infectious diseases, cancer, chronic disease, and animal health applications. The company has received multiple grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has previously committed to funding the eradication of malaria, to develop its Gemini platform.

According to the WHO, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases in 2023, with 597,000 deaths from the disease, about three-quarters of them among children under five, in 83 countries. MMV launched in 1999 to use the expertise and resources of its partner network to discover, develop, and deliver new malaria treatments. MMV claims that its supported products have treated approximately 711 million people as of 2024.

Feature image courtesy Eyam Health.

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July 23, 2025
Charlotte Otton: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet) | Culture
I love internet. I love screen. I love laugh. I’m a certified eight-hour-a-day screen user. I’m like a little iPad kid except I’m a six-foot-two, 31-year-old woman.

Getting access to the family computer at 10 years old sparked something in me. It unlocked the deep, dark and wonderful world of the internet and my profound desire to explore every corner of it.

Unfortunately for me, my algorithm at the moment is feeding me the worst the internet has to offer. My show I Watched Someone Die on TikTok forces me to watch, save and muse on mostly distressing digital content. Fortunately for you, though, gorgeous internet stranger, this list is all the delightful and joyous things I’ve witnessed on the internet. Please enjoy my curated list (and then please buy tickets to my show. I promise the show itself is not distressing and is in fact very sexy, fun and fresh.)

1. Patti LaBelle – Where my background singers?

This is a classic. It’s the embodiment of everything going so wrong during a live performance but you having the chutzpah to power through and publicly call out everyone around you for it going downhill. A masterclass in diva-ism. I never call for “line” onstage. I simply say, “Where my background singers?”

2. AI food eating itself

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Look, is it funny? No. Is it delightful, soothing, scary, awe-inspiring, never before seen, adorable, bus, club, another club, the absolute best use of AI? Everyone in my life says no.

3. Kim Cattrall scatting

Another true diva. What I like about this video is Kim’s earnestness as she delivers this showstopping scat. Personally, I’m requesting that “well he bit all the he-dogs and winked at all the she-dogs” be sampled into a DJ mix and played at my funeral.

4. Very Important People (specifically Zeke’s episode)

Vic Michaelis is a genius and they are, in fact, very important. This talkshow consists of improvised interviews with comedians playing surreal characters. You can watch the full eps on Dropout or via the very generous free official shorts platform on YouTube. I love this little freak made out of rocks so much.

5. Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles tribute to Laura Dern

A choir of 30 gay men singing about moments in film you didn’t realise were gay. If you’re ever feeling depresso, please watch this three-minute clip to immediately make you feel better. I love when so much time, resources and talent go into creating a piece so SILLY.

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6. Jake Schroeder

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Jake’s topical and ultra-silly ballads are everything right about TikTok and gen Z. He takes the overwhelming feeling of world-ending despair circulating in our feeds and turns it into little ditties that soothe your rotted brain.

7. Caleb Hearon on Ziwe

Caleb is one of my favourite comedians and his interview with Ziwe is incredible. He’s so witty and talented it makes me sick.

8. The TikTok AI sway dance filter

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What we know: AI poses extreme risks to society and humanity. What we also know: when someone puts this AI filter on a dog I immediately feel very good. My friend’s dog recently passed and I thought sending her videos of her dog with this filter on it would cheer her up. Again, everyone in my life said no.

9. Fergie doing cartwheels

Fergie has had some iconic live performances (notably the 2018 national anthem performance). For me, this one takes the cake for most insane and most impressive.

10. Jack McBrayer visiting Chicago’s Wieners Circle

One of the best Conan segments was getting the sweetest, most polite man alive (Jack McBrayer) and putting him in confrontational situations. This video is peak late night to me. I went to the Wieners Circle in 2015 to see if the staff actually act like this and when I ordered a hotdog they said, “You want a dick in a bun?” Being a 20-year-old virgin at the time, the only response I could muster was “no onions please”.
- Charlotte Otton is an award-winning theatre maker. Her show I Watched Someone Die on TikTok has picked up five-star reviews in Perth and Melbourne and is heading to Pact for Sydney fringe festival from 3 to 13 September
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July 23, 2025
Trade In Grandpa’s Old Reading Glasses and Upgrade to Xreal AR Glasses With This Insane Deal

Glasses are having a moment, from Jurassic Park to VR headsets. If you’ve been hoping to snag a pair of smart glasses without paying full price, then this deal is for you. Right now you can snag a sweet trade-in deal from Xreal. Just turn in any pair of glasses, whether that’s an AR or VR model, spare sunglasses you’ve had laying around the house or even your grandpa’s old readers, you’ll get trade-in credit with your purchase of either the Xreal One or One Pro AR headset.

The Xreal One AR glasses impressed CNET Editor at Large and wearables expert Scott Stein thanks to their sharp and vivid display, solid sound and wide compatibility. He notes that, “The Xreal One glasses aren’t perfect, but they’re the best set of display glasses I’ve ever seen.” There are a few things about this trade-in deal to be aware of, which I’ll outline for you below — but this is a pretty sweet deal for anyone looking for a solid pair of smart glasses.

First, you’ll need to purchase either the Xreal One or the Xreal One Pro directly from Xreal. Then you’ll submit your claim here. You must submit your claim within 30 days of your purchase date and include proof of purchase. Once that is completed, you’ll be contacted via email if you’re approved and XReal will give you instructions on how to send in your qualifying trade-in product.

Select Meta and Amazon wearables are included, as well as older Xreal models and more. But even if you don’t have other smart glasses to turn in, you’ll be able to send in any old pair, including those blue-light blocking glasses that were all the rage not too long ago. (I still use mine daily.)

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

Xreal is offering trade-in savings of up to $475, but that amount is for the Meta Quest Pro. For just any old glasses, you’ll likely get back $75 or $100. But there is a vast range in between. A pair of Amazon Echo Frames could get you as much as $145, for example. Check out all of the qualifying items and values (which vary based upon which Xreal glasses you purchase and the condition of your trade in item) to get an idea on what you could expect to get back.

Once Xreal reviews the condition of your trade-in, the company will finalize your trade-in amount and send you a digital MasterCard loaded with the final value for you to spend wherever MasterCard is accepted. Just be sure to snag your AR glasses by Aug. 15 to qualify.

It’s also worth noting that this promotion is exclusively for US customers, and you can only make two claims per person and a maximum of four claims per household. Only one claim will be accepted per purchased promotion product and corresponding trade-in device. Once you receive your card, you must spend the funds within 6 months or forfeit the balance.

SMARTWATCH DEALS OF THE WEEK

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why this deal matters

Getting your hands on cutting-edge tech is hardly cheap. But finding deals can make it a little more affordable to splurge. These Xreal One glasses don’t often see price cuts, whether directly or through trade in offers. Because of expected tariff-related price hikes on all sorts of tech, this is a great time to go ahead get yourself a solid pair of smart glasses at a nice discount whether you’re turning in an older smart model or just handing over one of your well worn pairs of extra sunglasses.

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July 23, 2025