United News of Bangladesh

The upcoming second World Humanoid Robot Games will see a fourfold increase in participation compared to last year's inaugural event, organizers announced on Thursday. Scheduled to take place in Beijing from August 22 to 26, the event has attracted 666 teams and 2,056 robots from 16 countries, according to Jiang Guangzhi, director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology. Maryland tax court strikes down digital ad tax, orders refunds to Apple, Google and Peacock TV Participating robots include entries from global robotics powerhouses such as the United States, Germany and Japan. Additionally, Brazil has formed a national team consisting of five RoboCup squads . Domestic Chinese participation is significant, featuring 641 teams and 1,975 robots from 157 enterprises and 200 universities and research institutions, including major robotics firms and 27 leading universities. Organizers noted that this year’s games will feature over 30 events. Newly added competitions include weightlifting, table tennis, long jump and tug of war, all designed to evaluate structural design, motion control and core components. Scenario-based contests will also expand into real-world settings, including factories, hotels, homes and logistics facilities. Robots will be tested on practical tasks such as housekeeping, emergency response, assembling and library book sorting. Jiang said many competition rules are expected to evolve into technical standards, facilitating the transition from technological advances to industrial applications.

Chinese researchers have identified widespread corrugated structures in the Milky Way for the first time, offering fresh observational evidence for understanding the galaxy's three-dimensional architecture and dynamic evolution. The findings, from a team at the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, were published on August 7 in the journal Nature Astronomy. NASA plans more than 20 lunar landings to build future Moon base Lead author Sun Yan, an associate researcher at PMO, stated the team analyzed over 30,000 molecular clouds in 3D using carbon monoxide (CO) spectral-line survey data. The sample covered about half of the Milky Way's outer disk, reaching up to 26 kiloparsecs from the Galactic center. Based on these samples, the team constructed the first global "warp" model of the molecular gas outer disk. After subtracting the large-scale warp background, they detected wave-like vertical undulations, or corrugations. "These corrugations appear as large-scale vertical deviations of the disk, likely originating from bending waves excited by external gravitational perturbations," Sun explained. Researchers suggested these "ripples" may result from gravitational disturbances caused by satellite galaxies, such as dwarf galaxies, flying past the Milky Way.

Researchers in Australia have discovered why breast cancer treatment stops working for some patients, uncovering an unexpected role of a key cancer-fighting protein. The study, published in Nature, found that the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein, long viewed as a natural brake on cancer growth, can unexpectedly activate genes that respond to the hormone estrogen. Some of these genes can help cancer cells withstand treatment and retain the ability to regrow, according to a statement released Thursday by Australia's Peter MacCallum Cancer Center. The research team found that Rb does more than switch off genes that drive cell division. It can also "switch on biological programs that partially work against its own protective effects," said Peter Mac Associate Professor Shom Goel, the study's senior author. The findings help explain why medicines known as CDK4/6 inhibitors work particularly well with endocrine therapy in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, the most common subtype. "The CDK4/6 inhibitor activates Rb to stop cancer cells dividing, while endocrine therapy blocks the unwanted estrogen-driven signals that Rb can also trigger. Together, they allow the tumor-suppressing effects of Rb to dominate," Goel said. However, when cancers become resistant to endocrine therapy, the estrogen-related gene program continues despite treatment, reducing the effectiveness of CDK4/6 inhibitors, researchers found. "Understanding this previously unknown role of Rb gives us an important new way to think about drug resistance," Goel said, adding the discovery could guide new combination therapies that keep these treatments working for longer and improve outcomes for breast cancer patients. 

Scientists have found evidence suggesting that the first free-living cells on Earth may have emerged independently in two different forms — the ancestors of bacteria and archaea. An international team led by biologists at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) examined the chemical reactions and enzymes involved in the earliest stages of life. Their findings, published in Science Advances, offer new clues about how the first cells produced essential substances and obtained energy. The researchers believe that around 4 billion years ago, two distinct types of primitive cells may have developed as life began moving beyond hydrothermal vents. “We would see two very different kinds of cells emerging, pioneer bacteria and pioneer archaea,” said Natalia Mrnjavac, a biologist at the University of Düsseldorf and lead author of the study. The team compared genomes, protein structures and chemical reactions to explore microbial evolution, including the period before cells became fully independent from their environment. Their study focused on about 420 chemical reactions that cells use to make essential components such as amino acids, RNA building blocks and vitamins. These reactions use substances that were available on the early Earth, including hydrogen, ammonia and carbon dioxide. Together, the reactions make up the basic metabolic network. The researchers found that while these reactions are extremely ancient and shared widely across life, the enzymes that perform them are not equally conserved between bacteria and archaea. William Martin, a biologist at HHU and senior author of the study, said the last universal common ancestor of all cells, known as LUCA, appears to have had enzymes for only about half of these reactions. The other reactions were likely carried out by naturally occurring metals in the environment where LUCA lived, the researchers said. This suggests that early life depended much more on its surroundings than modern cells do. “Metals that naturally occur in hydrothermal vents can replace a surprisingly large number of enzymes in metabolism,” said Harun Tüysüz, an inorganic chemist and co-author of the study. Joseph Moran of the University of Ottawa said early biochemical evolution appears to have involved a combination of enzyme-based and metal-based chemical reactions. The researchers also found cases in which bacteria and archaea appear to have developed different enzymes independently to perform the same essential metabolic functions. Mrnjavac said these parallel developments may have helped bacteria and archaea emerge as separate forms of free-living life. The findings suggest that although all life today shares a common genetic code and deep evolutionary connections, the earliest free-living cells may have had more than one independent origin. Source: Science Daily

NASA is moving forward with plans to establish a lasting base near the Moon's South Pole, with more than 20 robotic landing missions planned through 2029 to deliver equipment, conduct scientific research and test technologies for future human operations. The planned lunar base is expected to support scientific research, technology development and eventually human activities on the Moon. NASA is working with commercial partners Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines and Voyager Technologies, which are developing landers for missions through 2028. The spacecraft will carry infrastructure, scientific instruments and other equipment needed to build a long-term presence on the lunar surface. The missions are part of the first phase of NASA's Moon Base architecture, which is currently underway and runs through 2029. Before astronauts arrive, robotic spacecraft will study the lunar environment, test new technologies and begin establishing infrastructure needed for future human missions. NASA expects its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programme to provide regular cargo deliveries, helping create a dependable supply system between Earth and the Moon. Blue Origin Blue Origin is preparing its Blue Moon MK1 lander for its first planned lunar mission, called Endurance. The lander has completed several environmental tests, including a thermal vacuum test at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The tests were designed to ensure the spacecraft can operate in conditions similar to those on the Moon. Its main structure, propulsion systems and avionics are now assembled. The company is conducting additional integration work and preparing for further tests, including checks of wiring connections for payloads. Endurance has also completed communication tests with NASA's satellite and deep-space communication networks. A major final test before launch preparations will involve loading its cryogenic propellants. During its mission, the lander is expected to demonstrate precise landing capabilities, gather information about the lunar environment and test autonomous systems that could be used in future Moon Base missions. Firefly Aerospace Firefly Aerospace is preparing Blue Ghost Mission 2, building on the success of its first lunar landing. The new mission will use a larger spacecraft designed for operations on the far side of the Moon. Blue Ghost will be mounted on Firefly's Elytra orbital spacecraft, creating a system about 22 feet tall. Elytra will be able to deploy payloads both in lunar orbit and on the surface, giving NASA greater flexibility for scientific research and future cargo operations. Blue Ghost Mission 2 is planned to make the first US landing on the far side of the Moon. Scientists hope to study the region's geology and learn more about the early universe during the period known as the cosmic Dark Ages. Three NASA payloads will be carried on the mission to support scientific research and test technologies that could be useful for future lunar infrastructure. Firefly also plans to reuse some systems from its first Blue Ghost mission, helping speed up development and reduce risks. Intuitive Machines Intuitive Machines is preparing its third Nova-C lunar landing mission, IM-3, which will also deploy the company's first lunar data relay satellite, Altus-1. The Nova-C lander, named Trinity, is undergoing assembly and testing as the company works toward providing regular science and cargo deliveries to the Moon. The spacecraft's upper deck has been aligned, while its internal wiring is being tested. The company has also completed long-duration thermal vacuum testing with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The tests were designed to ensure that sensors can work accurately through the extreme temperatures expected during the spacecraft's descent to the lunar surface. Further work includes engine integration and hot-fire testing. IM-3 will place Altus-1 into lunar orbit and carry several payloads. Trinity will transport five NASA payloads, six commercial payloads and one civil payload to the surface. The mission will also study Reiner Gamma, an unusual magnetic feature on the Moon. It is expected to be the first mission to explore the surface of a lunar swirl, providing scientists with a closer look at the mysterious region. Voyager Technologies Voyager Technologies is testing its Griffin-1 lander at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California as it prepares for a planned lunar mission. Griffin-1 is designed to carry large infrastructure-related payloads and is scheduled for launch in late 2026. It is expected to deliver the largest commercial payload ever placed on the lunar surface. Five NASA payloads will be installed on the Astrolab FLIP rover. The rover and its instruments will help test lunar mobility, demonstrate new technologies and prepare for longer operations on the Moon. Griffin-1 recently completed mass properties testing, which provides information needed for navigation, guidance and flight control. More environmental tests are planned to simulate conditions from launch through lunar landing. The testing is intended to identify potential problems and improve the spacecraft's reliability. After testing, Griffin-1 will return to Voyager's facility in Pittsburgh for final assembly before moving through launch preparations and being transported to Cape Canaveral. Northrop Grumman tests lunar technology NASA is also working with Northrop Grumman on three technology demonstrations that will be delivered to the lunar surface. The projects use power and avionics systems originally developed for NASA's Gateway programme. The technology is now being adapted for use on the lunar surface as NASA places greater emphasis on surface operations. The demonstrations will test systems designed to survive the Moon's harsh environment, including the extremely cold lunar night and long periods in darkness. NASA and Northrop Grumman will also test shared power systems that could provide electricity to scientific instruments and other Moon Base equipment. The projects will further examine power and avionics systems that could support future lunar operations. Building a long-term lunar presence NASA's planned robotic missions, commercial deliveries and technology demonstrations are aimed at gradually building the infrastructure needed for a long-term presence on the Moon. The agency hopes the effort will support continued scientific research and technology development while preparing the way for sustained human activity on the lunar surface alongside robotic operations. Source: Science Daily

Drinking a glass of 100% fruit juice or a smoothie every day may help improve mental well-being, particularly among people who eat relatively little fruit and vegetables, according to a study by researchers at Newcastle University. The four-week randomized trial involved adults who normally consumed two or fewer portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Researchers provided support to help participants increase their intake toward the recommended five portions a day. Some participants were asked to eat whole fruits and vegetables only, while another group was encouraged to include a daily glass of fruit juice or a smoothie along with whole fruits and vegetables. After four weeks, both groups had increased their fruit and vegetable intake. However, those who included fruit juice or smoothies also reported lower levels of depression. The findings, published in the peer-reviewed British Journal of Nutrition, showed that the fruit juice and smoothie group had depression scores 2.52 points lower on a 27-point scale than the control group. Researchers described the difference as modest but statistically significant. Dr Courtney Neal, who conducted the study while at Newcastle University and is now at the University of Liverpool, said many people find it difficult to meet the recommended five daily portions of fruit and vegetables. “Our trial showed that when people with low fruit and vegetable intake were given financial and educational support to overcome common barriers, they were able to make meaningful changes to their diet,” she said. She said simple and affordable options, such as a small daily glass of 100% fruit juice or a smoothie, could help people reach the recommended intake and potentially support mental well-being. Fiber intake also increasedDietary records showed that participants in both groups that received dietary support increased their daily fiber intake by an estimated 8 to 10 grams. This suggested that participants who drank juice or smoothies continued to add other fiber-rich fruits and vegetables to their diets. The study involved 42 people. Researchers found no harmful changes in metabolic health markers among those who consumed fruit juice or smoothies during the four-week trial, despite concerns about the sugar content of fruit juice. Dr Oliver Shannon, a lecturer in nutrition and ageing at Newcastle University and one of the study’s senior authors, said the cost of fresh produce can make it difficult for some people to increase their fruit and vegetable intake. “Drinking a daily glass of fruit juice or a smoothie could be part of the solution and help people reach five-a-day fruit and vegetable targets,” he said. Shannon said the lower depression scores among those who drank fruit juice were encouraging but required further research, particularly among people experiencing poor mental well-being. He also pointed to earlier research suggesting that citrus juices may improve blood flow to the brain and support cognitive function. How the study was conductedThe 42 participants were randomly divided into three groups of 14. The first group continued with their usual diet and served as the control group. The second group received financial and educational support to increase their intake to five portions a day using whole fruits and vegetables. The third group received the same support but was also asked to drink one glass of fruit juice or a smoothie each day. All participants received £10 a week, while the two groups receiving dietary support were also given educational materials to help them change their eating habits. Researchers assessed participants’ anxiety and depression levels using standard questionnaires known as GAD-7 and PHQ-9. The group that included fruit juice or smoothies recorded significantly lower depression scores than the control group. Its adjusted average score was 2.93, compared with 5.45 for the control group. Participants also completed four dietary records during the study, reporting what they had eaten during the previous 24 hours. The researchers estimated that both groups receiving dietary support increased their daily fiber intake by 8 to 10 grams. The study was funded by the Fruit Juice Science Centre. Source: Science Daily

New research into the extinct dodo bird has revealed previously unknown clues about its sensory abilities, suggesting that the species may have had a stronger sense of smell, greater sensitivity to touch and a more flexible pattern of daily activity than its closest living relatives. Scientists used high-resolution CT scans and digital reconstructions of dodo skulls to examine the spaces where the birds' brains once existed. Their findings indicate that the dodo may have been active not only during daylight but also around dawn and dusk. The research also suggests that the dodo relied more heavily on its sense of smell than modern pigeons and doves. Its large upper beak, meanwhile, appears to have been particularly well adapted for detecting tactile information from its surroundings. Together, the findings provide fresh insight into how the flightless bird may have searched for food and explored its environment on the island of Mauritius before becoming extinct in the late 17th century. “The dodo is one of the world's most recognizable extinct animals, yet surprisingly little is known about how it actually lived,” said Peter Andrew Hosner, associate professor and curator of birds at the Natural History Museum Denmark and a co-author of the study published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Researchers examined CT data from three dodo skulls, including the only two complete specimens known to exist. One is housed at the Natural History Museum Denmark and the other at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. The Copenhagen skull, which has long been displayed at the Danish museum, was given new scientific attention as preparations continue for a new museum building and permanent galleries scheduled to open in 2027. High-resolution CT scanning allowed scientists to create detailed three-dimensional models of the skulls without damaging the rare specimens. They then digitally reconstructed the internal cavities that once contained the birds' brains. Because developing brains leave impressions on the surrounding skull bones, those structures can provide clues about how extinct animals processed information and interacted with their surroundings. “Studying extinct animals is a bit like detective work,” said Christy Anna Hipsley, associate professor at the Natural History Museum Denmark and another co-author. She said the preserved impressions inside the skulls allow scientists to reconstruct aspects of how the dodo sensed and experienced its environment. The researchers compared the reconstructed brain cavities of the dodos with those of modern pigeons and doves, their closest living relatives. The comparison revealed several anatomical differences that could help explain the dodo's distinctive sensory capabilities. Scientists cautioned, however, that anatomy alone cannot establish exactly how the bird behaved. The findings instead offer evidence-based clues about its possible feeding habits, movement and interaction with the island ecosystem. The study also challenges the popular image of the dodo as a clumsy or unintelligent bird whose extinction was inevitable. The researchers found no evidence suggesting that the dodo had inferior cognitive abilities compared with living pigeons and doves. Instead, they say the bird developed a unique combination of sensory adaptations over millions of years in the isolated environment of Mauritius. Hosner said the research does not resolve all the mysteries surrounding the dodo, but it provides a stronger scientific basis for understanding the bird's biology and ecology. The study, he said, helps replace long-standing myths about the extinct species with a more accurate picture of how the dodo may have lived before disappearing from the Earth. Source: Science Daily

Vitamin C has long been promoted as a possible cancer treatment, but new research suggests its potential may be more complicated than the idea that taking large amounts of the vitamin can cure the disease. The debate goes back to Nobel Prize-winning scientist Linus Pauling, who became a strong supporter of high-dose vitamin C late in his career. In the 1970s, Pauling and Scottish doctor Ewan Cameron treated patients with advanced cancer using large amounts of vitamin C. They reported that some patients receiving the treatment lived longer and experienced a better quality of life. However, later clinical trials conducted by the Mayo Clinic found no clear benefit from taking high-dose vitamin C tablets. The results largely ended mainstream interest in Pauling's theory for many years. But there was an important difference between the treatments. Pauling and Cameron initially gave vitamin C directly into patients' veins, while the Mayo Clinic studies used tablets. The body can absorb only a limited amount of vitamin C from the digestive system, meaning very high blood levels cannot normally be achieved by swallowing tablets. Intravenous treatment, on the other hand, can produce blood levels many times higher than oral supplements. How high-dose vitamin C may work At normal levels, vitamin C acts mainly as an antioxidant, helping protect cells from damage. At very high concentrations, however, researchers have found that it can have different effects. Laboratory studies suggest that high-dose vitamin C can increase the production of hydrogen peroxide, a substance that can damage cells. Cancer cells may be particularly vulnerable because they are already under considerable stress and often have weaker systems for dealing with such damage. Researchers therefore believe very high doses of vitamin C could act more like a drug than a regular nutritional supplement, potentially damaging cancer cells while leaving healthy cells less affected. Such concentrations cannot generally be achieved through vitamin C tablets. Evidence in patients remains mixed Research involving cancer patients is still at an early stage. Small studies have examined intravenous vitamin C in people with difficult-to-treat cancers, including ovarian, pancreatic and brain cancers. Many patients have been able to receive high doses several times a week without serious problems. However, the treatment can carry risks, particularly for people with kidney problems or certain rare inherited conditions. Some studies suggest that intravenous vitamin C used alongside chemotherapy may help certain patients live somewhat longer or better manage treatment-related side effects. Other studies have found no clear benefit. Because the studies have generally involved small numbers of patients and used different treatment methods, researchers say there is not yet enough evidence to draw firm conclusions. One potentially encouraging finding involves quality of life. Some patients receiving vitamin C alongside chemotherapy have reported less fatigue, pain and nausea. Researchers are exploring other effects Scientists are also investigating whether vitamin C may influence cancer in other ways. The vitamin plays a role in enzymes involved in how DNA is regulated, how cells divide and how they respond to low-oxygen conditions — all processes that can affect cancer growth. Laboratory experiments have suggested that high levels of vitamin C may slow the growth of some cancer cells or make them more sensitive to other treatments. There are also early indications that it could influence the immune system's ability to recognise cancer cells, although researchers say this possibility remains unproven. Pauling was partly right So, was Pauling right? Researchers say the answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no. He was wrong to promote vitamin C tablets as a powerful cancer cure. Large clinical studies have not shown that taking high doses orally helps people with established cancer live longer. He also went too far in presenting vitamin C as a broad treatment for many diseases. But his idea that vitamin C could have a different role when given in very high doses directly into the bloodstream has gained renewed scientific interest. Modern research confirms that intravenous vitamin C can reach much higher levels in the blood and produce biological effects that are not seen with ordinary supplements. Still, there are no large, definitive clinical trials showing that high-dose intravenous vitamin C clearly extends the lives of most cancer patients. For now, researchers consider the treatment experimental. It may be worth further study, but it should not replace established cancer treatments and should only be used under proper medical supervision or as part of clinical research. The story of vitamin C and cancer is a reminder that scientific ideas can change over time. An idea once dismissed may later deserve a closer look — but promising early findings still need to be tested through large, carefully designed studies before they can become accepted medical treatment. Source: Science Daily

Shares of Elon Musk's SpaceX rose Thursday despite the expiration of restrictions that allowed many company insiders to sell their shares for the first time. Investors had pushed SpaceX shares lower in recent days amid concerns that employees and other insiders would sell their holdings after the first of several lockup periods expired. More than 900 million additional shares became eligible for trading Thursday, roughly doubling the number previously available. SpaceX shares gained 6.1% to close at $114.92, recovering from a nearly 14% drop a day earlier in one of the steepest declines since the company became publicly traded. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said the end of the lockup period could give investors an opportunity to buy the stock at a lower price. He has projected that SpaceX shares could reach $300 by the middle of next year, nearly three times their current level. Morgan Stanley was among the investment banks that earned substantial fees from helping SpaceX go public last month. Earlier this week, SpaceX reported a loss of $541 million, or 9 cents per share, for the three months ending in June. The loss was less than half what analysts had expected. The company reported revenue of $7.8 billion, an increase of more than 90% from the same period a year earlier. However, SpaceX sharply increased spending on research and development and infrastructure, particularly on artificial intelligence and other major projects. Investors have become increasingly concerned about heavy capital spending by technology companies, which has triggered sell-offs in some cases. In June, SpaceX sold shares to the public for the first time in what was the largest initial public offering ever. The stock surged as high as $225, briefly pushing Musk's wealth above the trillion-dollar mark. The subsequent decline has erased hundreds of billions of dollars from SpaceX's market value, with the shares now trading below their initial offering price of $135.

Scientists have produced the most detailed images ever captured of the Sun’s surface, uncovering a remarkably dynamic and unusual landscape. Although viewing the Sun directly is unsafe without proper eye protection, researchers were able to examine its intensely hot surface using the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on Maui, Hawaii. The images were initially taken to calibrate and test the telescope’s performance. However, the team soon realized they had recorded the Sun’s bright outer layer with a level of clarity never achieved before. Among the most striking discoveries were delicate, feather-like patterns spreading across the solar surface. Solar physicist Ruizhu Chen of Stanford University, who was not involved in the study, said the swirling structures reminded her of the dramatic skies depicted in Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night. The researchers identified these patterns as ripples caused by magnetized plasma moving at varying speeds, creating instabilities similar to waves formed when wind blows across water. While this fluid-dynamics phenomenon has been observed on Earth and on planets such as Jupiter and Saturn, study co-author Friedrich Wöger of the National Solar Observatory noted that it has never before been seen so clearly on the Sun’s surface.