Grasping a trillion-dollar wealth is almost unconceivable, but let's turn it into something perhaps more relatable.Marine biologists have identified a new species of the shark genus Hemiscyllium in the waters of eastern Papua New Guinea, expanding a remarkable group of reef-dwelling sharks known for using their four fins to ‘walk’ across the seafloor.
The post New Species of Walking Shark Discovered off Papua New Guinea appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
In an era where education continually evolves through collaboration, the partnership between schools and universities represents a crucial frontier for innovation and professional growth. Yet, despite the increasingly common alliances forged between these educational institutions, evaluating their efficacy and sustaining them over time remains a complex challenge. Addressing this gap, a pioneering doctoral thesis from Tallinn University introduces a robust framework designed to monitor and enhance school–university partnerships systematically.
Edna Milena Sarmiento Marquez, PhD in Educational Sciences, has contributed a transformational approach to understanding how educational collaborations can thrive. She emphasizes that strong partnerships catalyze professional development for educators, enrich the practical application of research within classrooms, and ultimately, elevate student learning experiences. More than just administrative or academic joint ventures, these partnerships can ignite educational innovation, blending theoretical insights with lived classroom realities to the benefit of all stakeholders.
However, despite such promise, many partnerships falter due to a lack of clear indicators for progress, and the difficulty in sustaining engagement over extended periods. This represents a critical obstacle, as partnerships often involve diverse participants—teachers, researchers, administrators—each with differing expectations and needs. Without structured methods to assess their collaboration, these alliances risk stagnation or dissolution.
To navigate this intricate landscape, Sarmiento Marquez developed the SUP.ME (School–University Partnerships) framework. This innovative tool acts as both compass and map, guiding partners through the lifecycle of their joint ventures. SUP.ME moves beyond traditional evaluation metrics—such as goal achievement alone—and integrates qualitative measures like mutual trust, effective communication, and the partners’ capacity to learn collaboratively and adapt to evolving conditions. It transforms assessment into an ongoing, reflective learning process where each participant shares responsibility for monitoring progress.
The conceptual underpinning of SUP.ME is the recognition that partnerships function as dynamic ecosystems. They evolve through a continual exchange of knowledge and experiences among partners who bring complementary perspectives. This iterative process supports collective decision-making that is informed by real-time insights rather than distant or static assessments. By embedding evaluation within partnership activities, SUP.ME ensures that feedback loops remain immediate and actionable.
From a methodological standpoint, the framework demands active engagement with observational data, gathered through interactions, meetings, and cooperative initiatives within the partnership. Utilizing this data, partners collaboratively analyze outcomes and challenges, fostering an adaptive environment. Such an approach aligns with contemporary educational theories emphasizing reflective practice and experiential learning, which acknowledge that collaboration itself can be a transformative pedagogical tool.
Sarmiento Marquez’s research highlights that successful partnerships often manifest flexibility—adjusting goals, roles, and strategies as situations evolve. This adaptability is underpinned by the strength of interpersonal relationships and the development of trust. Partnerships that sustain themselves are not merely about completing tasks but about cultivating a shared vision and mutual respect that motivates continued engagement despite inevitable challenges.
This research adds a critical new dimension to partnership studies by situating evaluation as an integral, continuous component rather than a periodic, external audit. In doing so, it disrupts traditional views on educational collaboration and suggests that long-term sustainability emerges through mutual growth and learning. The framework’s practical application promises to provide schools and universities with a much-needed mechanism to quantify and qualify their joint efforts meaningfully.
Equally important is how SUP.ME emphasizes inclusivity and co-ownership of the evaluation process. It eschews hierarchical models where evaluation is imposed by one institution over the other. Instead, it encourages a democratic evaluation culture, promoting transparency and shared accountability. This shift resonates with broader educational trends aiming to democratize knowledge and empower practitioners at all levels.
The broader implications of this work extend beyond school–university partnerships. The principles of collaborative, embedded evaluation may influence how other cross-sectoral educational initiatives are designed and sustained, including community engagement projects and interdisciplinary research programs. By modeling how partnerships can tactically and effectively self-monitor, SUP.ME offers a blueprint for multifaceted educational transformation.
Reflecting on the metaphor provided by Sarmiento Marquez, managing a partnership without structured evaluation is akin to undertaking a trek through challenging terrain without navigational aids. The SUP.ME framework serves as that critical navigation system, enabling partners to map their journey, recognize landmarks of success, and recalibrate their route in response to unforeseen obstacles.
In essence, this doctoral research contributes not just a theoretical model but a functional toolkit aimed at bridging the often elusive gap between partnership aspirations and tangible outcomes. It empowers educational institutions to harness the full potential of collaboration, nurturing an environment where teachers, researchers, and students collectively thrive through shared knowledge, reflective practice, and adaptive strategy.
The significance of this work lies in its potential to reshape educational collaboration worldwide. As schools and universities confront unprecedented challenges—from digitization and shifting pedagogical paradigms to socio-economic disparities—the capacity to build and maintain vibrant partnerships becomes increasingly critical. SUP.ME offers a beacon of guidance for those navigating this demanding yet rewarding path of joint educational advancement.
By integrating observational data, ongoing reflective dialogue, and adaptive learning cycles, Sarmiento Marquez’s framework transcends traditional boundaries of partnership evaluation. It positions collaboration not merely as a strategic imperative but as a living, evolving practice anchored in trust, communication, and mutual growth. This perspective is not only innovative but essential for fostering the sustained success of educational partnerships in the 21st century.
Ultimately, the SUP.ME framework invites education professionals to embrace partnerships as reciprocal journeys of learning and innovation. It challenges institutions to reconceptualize evaluation from a retrospective checkpoint to a real-time compass guiding continuous improvement. As this approach gains traction, it promises to enhance educational ecosystems, ensuring that collaborations realize their full transformative potential.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: Available from DOI link
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.60518/etera/148
Image Credits: Edna Milena Sarmiento Marquez and Tallinn University
Keywords: Educational Partnerships, School–University Collaboration, SUP.ME Framework, Collaborative Learning, Evaluation Framework, Professional Development, Educational Innovation, Reflective Practice
MILAN — Switzerland’s decision not to participate in the European Union’s Copernicus Earth observation program during the 2028–2034 funding cycle has revived a broader debate over the value of contributing […]
The post Swiss decision to not contribute to Copernicus tests program’s value model appeared first on SpaceNews.
Está a meio de uma tarefa no computador, mas não quer perder um vídeo do YouTube? A boa notícia é que não precisa de escolher. Os principais browsers já dispõem de uma funcionalidade integrada que abre uma janela flutuante para reproduzir vídeos do YouTube, enquanto trabalha noutras aplicações.
The post Quer ver um vídeo do YouTube enquanto trabalha no PC? Descubra como ativar a janela flutuante no seu browser appeared first on Tek Notícias.
© Brad J. Vest for The New York Times
Political correctness has been blamed for the failure of social workers to stop a gay couple murdering their adopted baby, with the child's grandmother and a social worker suggesting officials' judgement was clouded.
The post Political Correctness Blamed for Failure to Stop Gay Couple Murdering Baby appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
A groundbreaking new study leveraging the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data has illuminated the intricate relationship between the cardiometabolic index (CMI) and intrinsic capacity in older adults. As populations worldwide continue to age, understanding the multifaceted determinants of healthy aging becomes paramount. This fresh research, published in BMC Geriatrics in 2026, delivers critical insights that could revolutionize how geriatrics and preventive medicine approach elder care and chronic disease management.
Intrinsic capacity, a concept increasingly central to gerontology, represents the composite of all the physical and mental capacities an individual can draw upon. It encompasses diverse domains such as cognition, locomotion, sensory functions, psychological health, and vitality. Maintaining intrinsic capacity is essential for older adults to preserve functional independence and quality of life. The new investigation specifically examined how cardiometabolic health, a field that reflects the interplay of heart health, metabolism, and vascular function, correlates with intrinsic capacity trajectories among the elderly.
At the heart of this research is the cardiometabolic index, a quantitative marker amalgamating several metabolic risk factors—including waist circumference, triglyceride levels, and fasting glucose—as well as blood pressure and lipid profiles. Elevated CMI indicates heightened metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular risk, which have long been implicated in age-related morbidity and functional decline. Yet, the extent to which CMI corresponds with the multidimensional intrinsic capacity domains has remained understudied until now.
Utilizing an expansive dataset from CHARLS, which tracks a nationally representative sample of Chinese adults aged 45 and older over time, the researchers conducted a rigorous analysis involving thousands of participants. This longitudinal framework provided an unprecedented opportunity to examine baseline cardiometabolic health factors and their dynamic associations with changes in intrinsic capacity across multiple years. Advanced statistical models adjusted for socioeconomic variables, lifestyle factors, comorbidities, and medication usage to isolate the independent effects of CMI.
The findings unveiled a robust inverse association between higher cardiometabolic index values and intrinsic capacity scores. Specifically, elevated CMI was linked to greater declines in locomotion, cognitive function, sensory abilities such as vision and hearing, and psychological well-being domains. This multidimensional impact underscores the pervasive influence of cardiometabolic health on overall physiological resilience and functional aging.
Importantly, the study demonstrated that these relationships persisted even after controlling for age, sex, physical activity levels, smoking status, and educational attainment. This suggests that cardiometabolic mechanisms independently contribute to the deterioration of intrinsic capacity beyond the typical aging process and lifestyle effects. The data imply that subclinical metabolic dysfunction silently erodes physiological reserve, accelerating frailty and disability onset.
Furthermore, disaggregated domain analyses revealed nuanced insights. For instance, cognitive decline exhibited particularly strong correlations with abnormal lipid and glucose regulation metrics, aligning with growing evidence implicating vascular and metabolic risk factors in neurodegeneration and dementia progression. Similarly, locomotor impairments appear linked to systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction promoted by metabolic dysregulation.
The practical implications of these results are profound. Cardiometabolic index assessment could serve as a cost-effective, integrative biomarker for early identification of older adults at heightened risk of functional decline, enabling timely interventions. Targeted strategies that optimize cardiometabolic profiles—such as dietary modulation, physical exercise, pharmacotherapy, and chronic disease management—may help preserve intrinsic capacity, prolong autonomy, and reduce healthcare burdens.
Moreover, the study advocates for a paradigm shift in geriatric evaluation frameworks. Rather than focusing solely on diagnosed diseases or disabilities, incorporating composite indices like CMI offers a proactive method to gauge physiological resilience holistically. This could facilitate personalized medicine approaches tailored to individual risk landscapes, enhancing prevention and rehabilitation outcomes.
From a public health standpoint, these findings spotlight the critical need to address cardiometabolic health across the lifespan to foster healthier aging trajectories. Policies promoting early screening, lifestyle education, and equitable access to metabolic disorder treatments will be essential to mitigate the growing socioeconomic impacts of aging populations globally.
Scientifically, this research opens new avenues for exploring the biological underpinnings linking cardiometabolic dysfunction and intrinsic capacity decline. Potential molecular pathways involve oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial impairment, and vascular remodeling. Subsequent investigations involving biomarkers, imaging, and intervention trials could unravel causal mechanisms and optimize therapeutic targets.
In sum, this seminal study elegantly integrates epidemiological data with gerontological constructs, highlighting the cardiometabolic index as a pivotal nexus impacting intrinsic capacity domains in older adults. By portraying metabolic health as a foundational determinant of multidimensional functional aging, it invites a recalibration of clinical priorities and enriches the conceptual fabric of healthy aging sciences.
As populations age globally, fostering intrinsic capacity preservation through cardiometabolic management offers a promising frontier to enhance longevity and life quality. This research embodies a critical step in unraveling the complex biology of aging and encourages cross-disciplinary endeavors that unify metabolic health and functional gerontology.
The collective insights underscore that aging is not an inexorable march towards decline but a modifiable process intricately linked to physiological homeostasis. Leveraging cardiometabolic indices as tools for early detection and targeted intervention can usher in a new epoch of preventive geriatrics, prolonging vitality and independence for millions worldwide.
The integration of cardiovascular and metabolic markers into geriatric assessments represents a monumental advancement with deep ramifications for clinical practice, research innovation, and public health strategy. Future studies can build upon this foundation to craft comprehensive models forecasting aging trajectories and responsively mitigating decline.
As this field evolves, multidisciplinary collaborations bridging endocrinology, neurology, cardiology, and gerontology will be indispensable. This fosters a holistic understanding indispensable for effectively addressing the challenges and opportunities inherent in extending healthspan alongside lifespan in an aging society.
Subject of Research: The relationship between cardiometabolic index and intrinsic capacity, including its various domains, in older adults.
Article Title: Association between the cardiometabolic index and intrinsic capacity and its domains in older adults: a study based on CHARLS data.
Article References:
Chen, Z., Wu, H., Zhou, J. et al. Association between the cardiometabolic index and intrinsic capacity and its domains in older adults: a study based on CHARLS data. BMC Geriatr (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-07659-5
Image Credits: AI Generated
In a groundbreaking development that could revolutionize the field of artificial intelligence and neuromorphic computing, researchers have unveiled a novel algorithm–hardware co-design approach featuring neuromorphic networks supported by dual memory pathways. This innovative framework, recently published in Nature Machine Intelligence, promises to overcome longstanding challenges in efficiently mimicking brain-like processing in silicon hardware. The fusion of algorithmic design and hardware architecture epitomizes a synergistic leap forward for neuromorphic systems, which strive to emulate the efficiency and adaptability of biological neural networks.
Neuromorphic computing, inspired by the structure and function of the human brain, seeks to replicate neural dynamics through specialized hardware that inherently supports parallel and event-driven processing. Unlike traditional von Neumann architectures, which segregate memory and processing units, neuromorphic systems integrate these functions, drastically reducing latency and energy consumption. However, a persistent limitation in current neuromorphic implementations lies in their constrained memory capacity and difficulties in sustaining stable learning over time. The new co-design method directly confronts these issues by introducing a dual memory pathway mechanism akin to the human brain’s approach to memory storage and retrieval.
The dual memory pathways conceptualized by the research team separate short-term and long-term memory processing within the neuromorphic network. Short-term memory pathways facilitate rapid, flexible adaptation to incoming data, echoing the brain’s working memory functions. Concurrently, long-term memory pathways enable the consolidation and retention of learned information over extended periods. This bifurcation fosters an architectural efficiency that mitigates memory interference and catastrophic forgetting—two notorious hurdles in neuromorphic learning systems and artificial intelligence at large.
Fundamentally, the innovative algorithm tailors synaptic plasticity dynamics to the hardware substrate, leading to more stable, biologically plausible learning rules. The researchers employ spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) paradigms adjusted dynamically by the dual pathways, allowing the system to adapt continuously yet retain core learned information without overwriting. This hybrid plasticity approach is supported by circuits that facilitate separate yet interactive memory stores, closely emulating the hippocampus-neocortex complementarity observed in mammalian brains.
Critically, the design is optimized to leverage emerging non-volatile memory technologies such as resistive RAM (ReRAM), which afford dense, low-power synaptic implementation. The team’s hardware prototype integrates these resistive elements into the dual memory architecture, striking a delicate balance between speed, retention, and energy efficiency. By co-optimizing the algorithmic parameters with hardware constraints, the design attains a level of performance and scalability previously unattainable in neuromorphic networks.
Extensive benchmarking on machine learning tasks highlights the superiority of this co-design approach. Tasks demanding continual learning and domain adaptation—traditionally challenging due to interference effects—exhibit enhanced stability and precision. Notably, the dual pathways enable the neuromorphic system to segregate novel information from prior knowledge efficiently, supporting lifelong learning scenarios critical for real-world AI applications such as robotics, autonomous systems, and adaptive sensory processing.
The implications of this breakthrough extend beyond traditional AI. By more faithfully replicating the brain’s memory consolidation processes, these neuromorphic networks could yield insights into neurological disorders characterized by memory dysfunction. Additionally, the modularity of the dual memory pathways invites future customization and specialization for domain-specific tasks, envisioning a new class of adaptive hardware that evolves alongside its operational environment.
Moreover, the research addresses the formidable challenge of hardware variability and noise—a persistent bottleneck in neuromorphic device deployment. The co-designed algorithm inherently compensates for device-level imperfections through adaptive learning thresholds and redundancy in memory representations. This robustness not only ensures reliable operation over extended periods but also enhances manufacturability and cost-effectiveness for large-scale silicium implementations.
This co-design paradigm exemplifies a pivotal shift in neuromorphic engineering, moving away from generic algorithm deployment on fixed hardware towards integrated development of systems where both hardware and software are mutually optimized. This approach reflects an emerging philosophy in AI hardware: embracing the interdependence of physical substrate and algorithmic function to unlock previously constrained capabilities.
Such a sophisticated neuromorphic platform provokes exciting questions regarding the future landscape of artificial intelligence. Could dual memory pathways represent a standard architectural motif underpinning all next-generation AI chips? Might this design accelerate the creation of truly autonomous systems capable of continuous, context-aware learning within dynamic environments? The potential scale and impact of these mechanisms suggest transformative ripples across industry sectors reliant on AI, from healthcare and finance to autonomous vehicles and beyond.
While promising, challenges remain. Scaling the dual memory network to extremely large, brain-scale systems presents engineering complexities necessitating further innovations in materials, circuit design, and integration techniques. Additionally, fine-tuning the balance between memory consolidation and plasticity, ensuring both adaptability and stability, demands deeper theoretical understanding informed by neuroscience. Continued collaboration between multidisciplinary teams of neuroscientists, material scientists, electrical engineers, and computer scientists will be pivotal to this endeavor.
Looking ahead, this work may catalyze the proliferation of neuromorphic devices poised to operate at unprecedented energy efficiencies while offering continuous learning capability. By taking inspiration from the brain’s memory architecture and rigorously co-designing compatible hardware, the research ushers in an era where artificial intelligence systems can remember, adapt, and grow with a natural fluidity previously attainable only in biological organisms.
The dual memory pathway design stands as a milestone demonstrating that bridging the algorithm–hardware gap is an indispensable strategy for advancing neuromorphic computing. Its capacity to resolve persistent issues such as catastrophic forgetting and memory interference attests to an elegant merging of biological principles with cutting-edge technology. As AI advances toward greater autonomy and contextual sophistication, innovations like these could form the foundational building blocks of truly intelligent machines.
In sum, the synergy achieved by this algorithm–hardware co-design exemplifies the future of neuromorphic architectures — dynamic, adaptive, and deeply integrated with the physical medium of computation. It heralds a pivotal moment where the dream of brain-inspired computing inches closer to reality, promising devices that do not merely process information, but learn and remember in a resilient and energy-efficient manner akin to the human mind.
Subject of Research: Algorithm–hardware co-design in neuromorphic networks incorporating dual memory pathways to enhance learning stability and efficiency.
Article Title: Algorithm–hardware co-design of neuromorphic networks with dual memory pathways.
Article References:
Sun, P., Su, Z., Achterberg, J. et al. Algorithm–hardware co-design of neuromorphic networks with dual memory pathways. Nat Mach Intell (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42256-026-01255-3
Image Credits: AI Generated
The state of Florida is suing TikTok over claims the company isn't complying with the state's child safety law, which bans kids under 14 from creating social media accounts, as reported earlier by Reuters. The lawsuit, filed on Monday, alleges that TikTok still allows 13-year-olds in Florida to use the platform and is "actively deceiving" parents about its risks.
TikTok is also accused of failing to require 14- and 15-year-olds to obtain parental consent before signing up to the platform, in violation of Florida's social media law. The law (HB3) initially came into force on January 1st, 2025, but a federal judge blocked it in the midst of a …
A hidden biological clock has been discovered by genetic researchers, revealing how proteins act as a timing mechanism that controls living organisms’ growth into adulthood.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) researchers in New York revealed their findings in a recent paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, identifying how a feedback circuit between the proteins MYRF-1 and LIN-42 functions as the worm genome’s master developmental clock.
Their research focused on the worm species Caenorhabditis elegans, revealing how these proteins set the timing of pulses that guide the worm through its development.
“Development requires that cells change identity in the correct order while the organism continues to grow. How multicellular animals generate and synchronize this timing information across tissues has remained unclear,” the authors write.
The search for this missing biological clock was the core of the CSHL team’s research. Genetic and developmental problems are often expressed as a failure of developmental processes to initiate, which could be tied to problems with internal timing sequences that organize such behaviors. This marks the first time researchers have discovered a non-repeating biological clock.
“This is the central clock for all cells in the worm,” explained co-author Christopher Hammell. “It’s responsible for coordinating a finite series of sequential pulses of gene expression that must occur only once, and in order, for proper developmental progression. It’s like a ratchet. It turns genes on and off multiple times during development, but ultimately, it’s only going in one direction.”
CSHL researchers paired the modern AI tool AlphaFold with more traditional genetic research techniques, such as protein sequencing, molecular experiments, and DNA sequencing, to identify MYRF-1’s role in the worm’s development.
The team found that protein signals both initiate and terminate developmental stages, keeping growth on track. MYRF-1 pulses fire first, then activate LIN-42, which determines the strength and duration of the timing pulses. This biological clock activates stage-specific regulatory RNAs and synchronizes developmental checkpoints, creating a rhythmic gene-regulation metronome that enforces the irreversible nature of growth and molting.
In tests to confirm how this biological clock operates, researchers discovered that blocking MYRF-1 expression disrupts the worms’ development cycle.
“We’ve never seen anything like this before,” Hammell says. “MYRF-1 is part of this master regulatory clock for all cells, but it’s also acting as a key maker and the master key for each stage of growth. Without the right key for each stage, development hits a wall and can’t progress.”
The researchers say that understanding how these proteins interact to create cellular clocks that guide development will help researchers better understand cell growth, progression, and differentiation.
“The MYRF-1/LIN-42 circuit runs in all cells,” Hammell says. “And every one of these independent cellular clocks appears to be in sync when you watch normal development. But are they communicating with each other? We’ve never thought deeply about that question before.”
A better understanding of these clocks could offer potential routes to cures for genetic and developmental issues by allowing medical science to jump-start processes that fail to initiate naturally.
Fundamentally, by restoring synchronization of these growth, development, and differentiation processes, scientists and medical practitioners could see better future success in alleviating certain genetic conditions.
The team’s recent paper, “A Molecular Timer Couples Organism-Wide Temporal Identity to Developmental Checkpoints,” appeared in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on May 6, 2026.
Ryan Whalen covers science and technology for The Debrief. He holds an MA in History and a Master of Library and Information Science with a certificate in Data Science. He can be contacted at ryan@thedebrief.org, and follow him on Twitter @mdntwvlf.
A NASA investigation blamed millions of dollars in damage to one of its largest Deep Space Network (DSN) antennas on poor training and procedures.
The post Deep Space Network antenna mishap blamed on poor training and procedures appeared first on SpaceNews.
Semaglutide has become one of the most talked-about medicines in recent years because of its ability to help people with type 2 diabetes and obesity lose weight. Doctors have welcomed its benefits for blood sugar control and weight management, but questions remain about how significant weight loss affects other parts of the body, especially bones. […]
The post This Diabetes Drug May Lower Bone Fracture Risk appeared first on Knowridge Science Report.
Hurty words on social media will bring the police to your door. But when a landlord discovered a cannabis farm in her property, officers didn't want to know. Welcome to two-tier Britain.
The post I Discovered a Cannabis Farm in My Property – and the Police Did Nothing appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
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