Doctors have raised concerns about a commercial cancer test that produces high levels of false negative and false positive results. Additionally, an increase in extreme wildfires is causing global emissions and what quantum theory means for determinism.
Doctors Skeptical of Cancer Tests for Nematodes
Doctors have raised concerns about a commercial cancer test that produces higher levels of false negative and false positive results than indicated by published figures. The N-NOSE test, sold by the Japanese startup Hirotsu Bio Science, detects cancer based on whether microscopic nematodes move towards a urine sample. Hirotsu Bio Science’s technology director, Eric DeLucio, states that the criticisms are “100% nonsense.” The company highlighted that the doctors’ figures have not been peer-reviewed. Two Japanese medical associations launched an investigation, with results expected as early as next year.
Extreme Wildfires Fuelling Global Emissions
The annual carbon dioxide emissions produced by wildfires have now exceeded those from burning fossil fuels in Japan, which is the sixth largest source of carbon dioxide in the world. In particular, emissions from northern wildfires, such as those that occurred in Canada this year, have shown a “rapidly increasing trend,” according to landscape ecologist and study co-author, Sho Winro. The report calls on countries to include wildfires in their climate plans – their emissions cannot be ignored, according to Sho.
Swimming Speed Analysis of Bee Animals
A new method for measuring the movement speed of bee animals could help maintain their reproductive health and prevent their population decline. When analyzing the sperm movement of humans and other species, the sperm head serves as a reference point. “With bee sperm, you can barely distinguish between the head and the tail because the sperm is very narrow and small,” explains biologist Janice Murray, a member of the research team. Her team used a fluorescent dye to stain only the head, allowing them to track bee sperm by combining standard sperm movement analysis with fluorescent microscopy.
Is the Universe Determined?
Determinism suggests that if someone knows the positions and momenta of all particles, they can use the fundamental laws of physics to infer all truths about the universe, past and future. This idea seems to fail in the face of quantum physics, which presents an inherent indeterminacy in the picture. However, from a certain perspective, the quantum universe is more determinable than the classical universe, says philosopher Eddie Kaming Chen. It could even be the key to powerful determinism, meaning there is only one path the universe can take. “This has effects on humans too, because it makes it harder to rely on quantum theory to defend free will,” says Chen.
Why Some Scientists Don’t Use ChatGPT
“Why should I be a researcher if I’m not writing my own research?” asks psychologist Ada Caluzna. She is one of those who avoid using generative artificial intelligence (AI) for scientific writing, as she feels it could disrupt her ability to learn and think creatively. There are others who are concerned about the tendency of chatbots to fabricate facts and citations when answering specialized questions. Some scientists believe that more advanced AI tools could be helpful – especially when writing in a language other than their native tongue – but they are frustrated with the wait for ChatGPT-4.
Reimagining Postdoctoral Researcher Roles
A working group from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released a report containing six recommendations to improve the situation for postdoctoral researchers who have long felt undervalued and overworked. Working group member and postdoctoral researcher Abada Sabagh states that the NIH should lead a broader change. “The postdoctoral researcher crisis is not a separate issue,” he says. “The scientific system that has served us well since World War II is no longer sustainable, and failing to change it fundamentally threatens not only postdoctoral researchers but research in general.”
We must
Overcoming GDP Addiction
“The misuse of GDP as a political target drives communities toward an unsustainable future,” says environmental economist Robert Costanza. There are hundreds of indicators of community well-being already in use, and now there is a need for broad agreement on what should be included, he says. More importantly are the “post-growth” policies that actual governments can adopt, adds Costanza.
Quote of the day: “Instead of splitting points between power, skill, intelligence, and wisdom – as you do in some games – you should choose how to split your time and energy among different areas of academia.” Immunologist Jon Trigonning explains how role-playing video games helped him understand his faculty position. (Nature | 7 minutes)
A brief encounter between Jupiter and the Moon can be observed as they appear close together in the night sky after sunset.
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Katrina Kramer, Deputy Editor, Nature Briefing
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