OpenAI unveiled its latest innovation, Deep Research, on February 2, 2025, a powerful AI tool designed to perform complex research tasks by gathering and synthesizing data from across the internet. This AI tool promises to function at the level of a research analyst, providing users with comprehensive, well-synthesized reports using information from various online sources, including text, images, and PDFs. Deep Research is built on a version of OpenAI’s upcoming o3 model, optimized for

World Cancer Day, observed annually on February 4th, serves as a global initiative to raise awareness about cancer and encourage preventive measures, early detection, and better treatment. Millions of lives are affected by cancer every year, and through education, lifestyle changes, and advancements in treatments, the goal is to reduce cancer-related deaths significantly. A healthy diet plays a crucial role in cancer prevention, and certain foods have been shown to contain compounds that prot

OpenAI has launched its latest AI agent, Deep Research, following the introduction of its Operator last week. Deep Research is specifically designed for intensive knowledge work in areas like finance, science, policy, and engineering, where comprehensive and reliable research is crucial. The AI agent leverages OpenAI’s GPT-3 and web browsing capabilities to perform intelligent, reasoning-based research across various formats, such as text, images, and PDFs.  

What is Black Plastic and Can It Cause Cancer? Black plastic is made from recycled materials, including old electronics, and treated with chemicals like decaBDE to enhance flame resistance. These chemicals, however, are not securely bound and may leach into food, especially when it is hot, oily, or acidic. While there is no definitive study linking black plastic to cancer, it contains chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors, potentially leading to hormonal imbalance

A recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open reveals that women may have a 31% higher risk of developing long Covid compared to men, with the highest risk observed in those aged 40-55 years. Among this group, menopausal women face a 42% higher risk, while non-menopausal women show a 45% increase. The study, based on the 'RECOVER' trial, included over 12,200 participants and was led by researchers from The University of Texas,

 Lilavati Hospital has entered into a strategic partnership with Mayo Clinic USA to develop a 300-bed Cancer Care Institute in Mumbai and a healthcare project in Gift City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The Cancer Care Institute, expected to cost Rs 800 crore, will be situated near Lilavati Hospital in Bandra, Mumbai. The Maharashtra government has agreed to allocate land at a subsidized rate, and the acquisition process is nearing completion. The hospital is anticipated to begin operations with

A recent study has highlighted the significant impact of obesity at the time of cancer diagnosis on the survival rates of children. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 390 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight in 2022, with 160 million living with obesity. Obesity is a known risk factor for various non-communicable diseases, including cancer, and this study underscores its detrimental effect on childhood cancer survival. The study, conduc

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the genome sequencing data of 10,000 Indian nationals, a significant step in advancing biotechnology research in India. This data, known as Genome India Data, encapsulates the vast genetic diversity of the Indian population and will be available to researchers through the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) with "managed access." PM Modi highlighted that the national database would be crucial in the treatment of genetic and infecti

A groundbreaking new theory suggests that Pluto's moon Charon may have been captured in a "kiss and capture" scenario billions of years ago, offering a fresh perspective on the formation of planetary systems. Led by NASA postdoctoral fellow Adeene Denton at the U of A Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, this study challenges long-standing models of moon formation. Instead of the traditional collision model, the researchers propose that Pluto and Charon had a brief, icy encounter, wh

On December 13, 2024, the United States and China signed a bilateral science and technology agreement, revising a 45-year-old pact. However, this new agreement limits research collaboration and narrows the scope of topics allowed for joint study, reflecting heightened concerns over international research security. Governments worldwide, including the U.S., European Union, Canada, and Japan, have introduced stricter measures to safeguard sensitive scientific data from foreign interference, esp

The U.S. Surgeon General's office has issued a significant report revealing that alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity. Alcohol increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer, including breast, liver, and colorectal cancers, contributing to 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths annually. This alarming figure surpasses the deaths caused by alcohol-related traffic crashes, highlighting the urgent ne

A groundbreaking study has uncovered notable differences in the nut-cracking abilities of chimpanzees within the same group, shedding new light on their cognitive and motor skills. Researchers analyzed extensive video footage of wild chimpanzees from Bossou, Guinea, where they observed 3,882 instances of chimps attempting to crack open nuts using stones as tools. The study found varying levels of efficiency among individuals, indicating differences in cognitive abilities and physical dexterit

Alibaba’s Qwen research team has introduced a new experimental open-source AI model, the QVQ-72B, designed to handle both vision-based analysis and advanced reasoning tasks. The model combines the abilities of analyzing visual information from images and answering complex queries through reasoning-focused techniques. According to internal benchmarks, QVQ-72B surpassed OpenAI’s o1 model on the MathVista (mini) benchmark, scoring 71.4% compared to o1’s 71.0%. The mod

In a groundbreaking study, scientists have quantified how quickly the human brain processes information, revealing a surprisingly slow speed of just 10 bits per second. Despite receiving billions of bits of data from our senses, including sight, hearing, touch, and smell, the brain only processes a tiny fraction of this information. Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) conducted the study, publishing their findings in the journal Neuron last week.

A recent study led by Professor Simone Pettigrew from The George Institute for Global Health has found an effective method to reduce alcohol consumption. The study combined a warning about the cancer risks associated with alcohol with a practical action—tracking the number of drinks consumed. The findings show that this combination helped participants significantly cut down on their alcohol intake. This approach offers a straightforward and actionable strategy for promoting better healt

On Friday, Catherine, Princess of Wales, will host a special Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey, reflecting on "the most difficult times" as she makes her return to public life after undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. The service, which emphasizes love, empathy, and the need for support during challenging times, will feature an illustrated order of service by artist Charlie Mackesy. Guests will receive a reminder of the importance of being there for one another, with the

US President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Indian-American scientist Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a pivotal role in overseeing health research and funding in the United States. Bhattacharya, a professor at Stanford University with expertise in health policy and the economics of aging, will work alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to address the nation's most pressing health issues, including chronic illness and disease. Bhattacharya is known for his contro

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) in Guangdong, China, is poised to transform the study of neutrinos, subatomic particles produced by nuclear reactions. Set to begin operations in 2025, this $300 million facility features a giant spherical detector located 700 meters underground, surrounded by a 12-storey cylindrical pool of water. This innovative setup is designed to capture and analyze neutrinos emitted from nearby nuclear power plants, as well as those from the sun and t

Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery involving a massive black hole that is currently disrupting two celestial objects, one of which is a star. Utilizing NASA's observatories, including Chandra, NICER, and Hubble, alongside India’s AstroSat, researchers have gained new insights into the behavior of stellar debris surrounding supermassive black holes. In 2019, astronomers observed a star that ventured too close to a supermassive black hole, resulting in a tidal

In a landmark achievement for molecular biology, scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their pioneering discovery of microRNA and its pivotal role in gene regulation. Announced by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden's Karolinska Institute Medical University, the prize includes a sum of 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately $1.1 million). The Nobel Prize in Medicine is the first of the Nobel awards announced each