Feb 15: How AI is transforming science, and more...
Researchers investigating how sea turtles navigate the vast and trackless ocean have discovered just how sensitive the reptiles' magnetic sense is, as they can even use it to identify the location of food resources. While feeding the loggerhead turtles in the lab, Kayla Goforth, a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M University noticed that the turtles would perform a 'happy dance' when they recognized the right magnetic signature. She led this research that was published in the journal Nature.
WATCH: Turtles Dancing
Scientists were surprised to discover that the more intensely you exercise, the more certain immune cells belch out fragments of DNA that can form webs to trap pathogens, and lead to fewer pro-inflammatory immune cells circulating in our blood. Canadian researcher Stephen Montgomery, a professor of pathology at Stanford University, said their findings suggest that circulating cell-free DNA may play a role in how exercise lowers inflammation in the body. The study was published in the journal PNAS.
Birds are the last surviving lineage of dinosaurs, but modern birds are surprisingly ancient – dating to before the extinction of the rest of their family. An extremely rare, nearly intact bird skull found in Antarctica and dated to about 69 million years ago confirms this. This waterfowl had similarities to ducks and loons. Chris Torres is an assistant professor at the University of the Pacific in Stockton California and was part of the team that analyzed this fossil. Their research was published in the journal Nature.
The stunning advances in artificial intelligence that we see with internet AI apps are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to science. Researchers from almost every field are experimenting with this powerful new tool to diagnose disease, understand climate change, develop strategies for conservation and discover new kinds of materials. And AI is on the threshold of being able to make discoveries all by itself. Will it put scientists out of a job?
Producer Amanda Buckiewicz spoke with:
Jeff Clune, a professor of computer science at the University of British Columbia, a Canada CIFAR AI Chair at the Vector Institute, and a senior research advisor to DeepMind. He's also a co-author of The AI Scientist.
Allison Noble, a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Oxford and a Foreign Secretary at the Royal Society, and chair of the Science in the Age of AI working group.
Elissa Strome, executive director of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy at CIFAR.
Cong Lu, postdoctoral research and teaching fellow at the University of British Columbia and the Vector Institute, and a co-author of The AI Scientist.
Fred Morstatter, a research assistant professor at the University of Southern California, and a principal scientist at USC's Information Sciences Institute.
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2 hours ago
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Spears: AI offered to write my book. How could I refuse?
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Cision Canada
17 hours ago
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- Approximately 3,800 people in Canada are now eligible for ALYFTREK, with up to 60 people potentially eligible for a medicine that treats the underlying cause of their disease for the first time - TORONTO, July 22, 2025 /CNW/ - Vertex Pharmaceuticals today announced that Health Canada has granted Marketing Authorization for Pr ALYFTREK TM (vanzacaftor/tezacaftor/deutivacaftor), a new triple combination therapy for patients living with cystic fibrosis (CF) ages 6 years and older who have at least one F508del mutation or another responsive mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. ALYFTREK brings a potentially transformative therapy to up to 60 people living with CF in Canada who were not previously eligible for a CFTR modulator. As the first once-daily CFTR modulator, ALYFTREK may also provide a new treatment option and flexibility for approximately 3,800 people given the need to take CFTR modulators with fat-containing food. "ALYFTREK represents the next generation of CFTR modulator treatment and is a testament to our long-standing goal to address the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis, treat more people living with CF, and bring more people to normal levels of CFTR function," said Michael Siauw, General Manager at Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Incorporated. "With once-daily dosing, eligibility in 113 additional mutations, and the potential to lower sweat chloride levels even further, ALYFTREK brings us one step closer to achieving this goal." This approval is based on a comprehensive Phase 3 pivotal program, including more than 1,000 patients across more than 20 countries and more than 200 sites. The Phase 3 studies in people with CF ages 12 years and older met their primary endpoint (non-inferiority on absolute change from baseline in ppFEV 1 compared to TRIKAFTA) and all key secondary endpoints (including absolute change from baseline in sweat chloride [SwCl] compared to TRIKAFTA). In the Phase 3 study of children with CF ages 6-11 years, ALYFTREK demonstrated safety, the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints, such as absolute change from baseline in ppFEV 1 and absolute change from baseline in SwCl, demonstrate the benefit of ALYFTREK in this age group. ALYFTREK was generally well tolerated across all studies. "For Canadian patients and families, the approval of ALYFTREK represents significant progress towards improved care," said Dr. Bradley Quon, Medical and Research Director of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program at St. Paul's Hospital, and Associate Professor of Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. "Lower levels of sweat chloride combined with the convenience of a once-a-day treatment provides a new option that has the potential to both improve CFTR function and reduce treatment burden." ALYFTREK is currently approved in the U.S., UK and European Union and is under regulatory review in Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand. About Cystic Fibrosis Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a rare, life-shortening genetic disease affecting more than 109,000 people, including 94,000 people in North America, Europe and Australia. CF is a progressive, multi-organ disease that affects the lungs, liver, pancreas, GI tract, sinuses, sweat glands and reproductive tract. CF is caused by a defective and/or missing CFTR protein resulting from certain mutations in the CFTR gene. Children must inherit two defective CFTR genes — one from each parent — to have CF, and these mutations can be identified by a genetic test. While there are many different types of CFTR mutations that can cause the disease, the vast majority of people with CF have at least one F508del mutation. CFTR mutations lead to CF by causing CFTR protein to be defective or by leading to a shortage or absence of CFTR protein at the cell surface. The defective function and/or absence of CFTR protein results in poor flow of salt and water into and out of the cells in a number of organs. In the lungs, this leads to the buildup of abnormally thick, sticky mucus, chronic lung infections and progressive lung damage that eventually leads to death for many patients. The median age of death is in the 30s, but with treatment, projected survival is improving. Today Vertex CF medicines are treating over 75,000 people with CF in more than 60 countries on six continents. This represents 2/3 of the diagnosed people with CF eligible for CFTR modulator therapy. Sweat chloride, which measures CFTR function, is used to diagnose CF. The diagnostic threshold for CF is SwCl ≥60 mmol/L, while levels between 30-59 indicate CF is possible and more testing may be needed to make the diagnosis of CF. A SwCl level of <30 mmol/L is seen in people who carry one copy of a CFTR gene mutation but do not have any manifestation of disease (carriers). At a population level, higher levels of SwCl are associated with more severe disease. Restoring CFTR function leads to lower levels of SwCl. Restoring SwCl levels below 30 mmol/L has long been the ultimate treatment goal for Vertex, as levels below 30 mmol/L are considered normal and are typical of CF carriers who do not have disease. About ALYFTREK TM (vanzacaftor/tezacaftor/deutivacaftor) In people with CF, mutations in the CFTR gene lead to decreased quantity and/or function of the CFTR protein channel at the cell surface. Vanzacaftor and tezacaftor are designed to increase the amount of CFTR protein at the cell surface by facilitating the processing and trafficking of the CFTR protein. Deutivacaftor is a potentiator designed to increase the channel open probability of the CFTR protein delivered to the cell surface to improve the flow of salt and water across the cell membrane. ALYFTREK is approved in the U.S., UK, and Canada for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in patients aged 6 years and older who have at least one F508del mutation or another responsive mutation in the CFTR gene. ALYFTREK is approved in the European Union for the treatment of CF in patients ages 6 years and older who have at least one non-class I mutation in the CFTR gene. Boxed Warning Elevated transaminases have been observed in some patients treated with ALYFTREK. Cases of liver failure leading to transplantation and death have been reported in patients with and without a history of liver disease taking a fixed dose combination drug containing elexacaftor, tezacaftor, and ivacaftor, which contains one same (tezacaftor) and one similar (ivacaftor) active ingredient as ALYFTREK. Liver injury has primarily been reported within the first 6 months following initiation of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor. See full ALYFTREK Product Monograph for further details. About Vertex Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases and conditions. The company has approved therapies for cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia and acute pain, and it continues to advance clinical and research programs in these areas. Vertex also has a robust clinical pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of modalities in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into causal human biology, including neuropathic pain, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, IgA nephropathy, primary membranous nephropathy, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, type 1 diabetes and myotonic dystrophy type 1. Vertex was founded in 1989 and has its global headquarters in Boston, with international headquarters in London. Additionally, the company has research and development sites and commercial offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the industry's top places to work, including 15 consecutive years on Science magazine's Top Employers list and one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. For company updates and to learn more about Vertex's history of innovation, visit Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, statements by Michael Siauw and Dr. Bradley Quon, and statements regarding the anticipated eligible patient population in Canada and expectations for the ALYFTREK regulatory submissions in Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand. While Vertex believes the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are accurate, these forward-looking statements represent the company's beliefs only as of the date of this press release and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that data from the company's development programs may not support registration or further development of its compounds due to safety, efficacy, or other reasons, and other risks listed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Vertex's most recent annual report and subsequent quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at and available through the company's website at You should not place undue reliance on these statements or the scientific data presented. Vertex disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in this press release as new information becomes available. (VRTX-GEN) Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Investors: [email protected] Media: [email protected] or Canada: +1 647-790-1600 SOURCE Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc.
18 hours ago
A Chinese research vessel returns to Arctic waters — and it appears Canada is watching
The Canadian military and possibly the coast guard appear to have been keeping tabs on a Chinese research vessel as it returns to Arctic waters off Alaska for the second year in a row. Data compiled by an independent researcher and ship tracker, Steffan Watkins, shows a Canadian air force CP-140 surveillance plane was flying in the vicinity of the Xue Long (Snow Dragon) 2 as it exited the Bering Strait on Sunday. The aircraft, according to Watkins's research, relocated to Anchorage, Alaska, from its base in Comox, B.C., on July 9. It has conducted four patrols since then, including the most recent one involving the vessel, which is China's first domestically built polar research ship. Despite publicly available flight tracking showing the CP-140's patrol route, the Department of National Defence would not confirm on Monday the presence of the aircraft and said it couldn't immediately answer questions on the deployment. The air force appears to have picked up where the Canadian Coast Guard left off. Coast guard says it's monitoring illegal fishing The Chinese ice ship left Shanghai on July 6 and passed close to Japan a few days later, before heading north into Russian waters. Shadowing the Xue Long 2 all of the way from Japan was CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, which unmistakably paralleled their transit, staying in international waters, Watkins wrote in his latest post, which included ship-tracking data. The coast guard ship, the data shows, stuck with the Xue Long 2 until it crossed into the Bering Strait, between Alaska and Russia. Asked about the mission of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the coast guard at first provided a circumspect response and pointed CBC News to a June 9 media release which said the ship would be conducting high seas patrols in the North Pacific to counter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Then late Monday, the agency denied it was shadowing the Xue Long 2. The stated mission of the coast guard ship was to focus on migratory routes for key species like Pacific salmon, it said. Researcher Steffan Watkins analyzed maritime tracking data to uncover similar paths followed by the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Xue Long 2. Photo: Steffan Watkins However, when ship-tracking data is overlaid with publicly available data on salmon migration routes, only one-third of the recent voyage involved known salmon paths. The ship's helicopter was also slated to conduct patrols with Canadian fishery officers in Japan to monitor fishing vessels and support partner countries to ensure compliance with international law, according to the statement. Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to expand the reach, security mandate and abilities of the Canadian Coast Guard as part of the Liberal government's plan to beef up the country's defences. Eventually, the federal government intends to integrate the civilian agency, currently under the Fisheries Department, into Canada's NATO defence capabilities to, as Carney put it last June, better secure our sovereignty and expand maritime surveillance. Last summer, the Royal Canadian Navy dispatched a frigate to monitor the Xue Long 2 (new window) during its voyage to the Arctic — a mission the Department of National Defence took more than a week to acknowledge. Military experts have described the Chinese ice research ship as a dual-use vessel — suggesting it has a military or defence capacity. WATCH | Canada plots military expansion in the North: University of British Columbia Arctic expert Michael Byers said he believes Canadian officials need to be more forthcoming about the security threat they believe the vessel poses. One has to actually do a proper threat assessment, Byers told CBC News in an interview. Byers acknowledged the Chinese ship could be collecting data that's militarily relevant, but he questions if the term dual-use is relying on assumptions rather than evidence. Relations with China continue to be strained and Byers said statements that are potentially escalatory about what the Chinese are — and are not — doing in the Arctic need to be examined carefully. Having said that, he fully supports the military and coast guard's monitoring activities. We're very concerned as a country about China as a rising military power, and obviously China is very strongly supporting Russia with regards to its invasion of Ukraine, Byers said. So yes, if a Chinese government vessel is sailing anywhere close to the United States or to Canada, then yeah, we would be monitoring it. Murray Brewster (new window) · CBC News · Senior reporter, defence and security Murray Brewster is senior defence writer for CBC News, based in Ottawa. He has covered the Canadian military and foreign policy from Parliament Hill for over a decade. Among other assignments, he spent a total of 15 months on the ground covering the Afghan war for The Canadian Press. Prior to that, he covered defence issues and politics for CP in Nova Scotia for 11 years and was bureau chief for Standard Broadcast News in Ottawa. Follow Murray Brewster on Twitter (new window)
