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Today’s Pulse rundown
West Africa Floods
Transcript: Did you know that a changing climate can actually supercharge a rainstorm? Last month, intense rainfall drenched Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Nigeria in west Africa. Over the course of 72 hours, some cities received more than 140mm of rain. Researchers at Imperial College London say human-caused warming made this event worse. The extra heat in the atmosphere caused a 4% increase in the storm's intensity. Cities may need stronger drainage, better warnings, and smarter planning for heavier rain in the future.
Bear-dar
Transcript: How do you spot a polar bear in the vast, snowy Arctic? Conservationists have deployed a new radar system called Bear-dar at a weather station in Eureka. In May, the system successfully detected a mother bear and her two cubs approaching the area. The artificial intelligence algorithm in the radars was trained to detect polar bears by watching zoo-held animals. If the system spots a bear approaching, it sends out an alert so people can safely guide the animals away. What other wild animals could we protect using smart radar?
Brain Cells MPS
Transcript: What if your brain cells had tiny hidden gatekeepers inside them? Researchers at Penn State have discovered that a microscopic skeleton inside our neurons actually controls nutrient uptake. This structure is 10,000 times smaller than a human hair! The skeleton acts as a physical gatekeeper by controlling where and when substances enter the cell. The team found that weakening this structure caused neurons to take in harmful proteins more rapidly. Next time you learn something new, remember the tiny gates working inside your head!
Surfer Scientist
Transcript: Imagine doing your scientific research while riding a massive ocean wave! Cliff Kapono is a Native Hawaiian professor and professional surfer based in Hilo, Hawaii. He works with a research center to study the structural complexity of reefs around the world. By mapping the seafloor, he is learning exactly how different reefs affect the way waves break. This research helps scientists understand ocean environments, and it helps him become a better surfer! If you could combine your favorite sport with science, what would you study?
GPT-Red
Transcript: What if the best way to stop a computer hacker was to build an artificial one? OpenAI has developed a new artificial intelligence super-hacker called GPT-Red. The company built this tool to test and improve the security of its other models against cyberattacks. During testing, GPT-Red inserted a fake entry into another model's chain of thought to trick it into acting on spoofed information. By finding these weak spots early, developers can patch the software before it is released. Would you ever want to work as a cybersecurity tester?
Mars Impacts
Transcript: What if you could read a cosmic weather report from 4 billion years ago? NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has uncovered a 245-foot-thick stack of ancient rock on the rim of Jezero Crater. Scientists say this terrain is more than 3.9 billion years old. Researchers from Caltech and Imperial College London discovered that repeated asteroid impacts produced tiny dark glassy beads and constructed this thick sequence of rock layers. The debris from both nearby and distant impacts piled up over time. What other secrets do you think are buried in the Martian rocks?
Wildfire Smoke
Transcript: Have you noticed the sky looking a little hazy this week? Heavy smoke from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota is engulfing large swaths of the Midwest and Northeast U.S. The National Weather Service says the smoke could spread as far south as Washington, D.C. Experts at Columbia University explain that severe drought conditions combined with heat created dry conditions that provide fuel for these wildfires to burn. The resulting smoke carries fine particles that make the air unsafe to breathe. Do you know how to check the air quality in your neighborhood?
Avatar Aang Movie
Transcript: Are you ready to return to the world of the four nations? A brand new animated film called Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender is getting a special theatrical run. From July 24 to 30, the movie will screen in select theaters in Los Angeles and New York. The film features Eric Nam as Aang and Dave Bautista as Tagah. It gives fans a chance to see the beloved franchise on the big screen before it makes its streaming debut on Paramount. Which of the four elements would you want to bend?
UK Fanzines
Transcript: What if you made your own magazine instead of scrolling on your phone? Independent music fanzines are experiencing a massive resurgence across the UK. Creators in places like London and Glasgow are printing their own DIY booklets to celebrate everything from hip-hop to indie pop. Zine makers say that creating a physical object is a great way to connect with a local community. It acts as a permanent snapshot of a music scene that will not get lost in a digital algorithm. If you started your own fanzine today, what topic would you cover?
China Economy
Transcript: How does a boom in artificial intelligence affect global trade? China's economic growth slowed to 4.3% in the April-June quarter. The National Bureau of Statistics reported that this is the weakest growth the country has seen in over three years. While domestic spending has lagged, the country saw a massive 27% rise in exports in June. This surge was driven partly by global demand for high-tech products like computer chips and electric vehicles. How do you think new technology will change the global economy next year?
How an Asteroid Wiped Out the Dinosaurs
Today’s deeper dive follows a story from this episode.