
'Remarkable' UClan astrophysicist praised by top scientist
"I couldn't believe someone of such gravitas was interested in my work," she said, adding he is "so passionate about his research and it's infectious to see how excited he is about the possible links" between their findings.Sir Roger, a world-renowned mathematician and physicist who mentored Professor Stephen Hawking, has a keen interest in the cosmological discoveries because they could show signs of his theory of the origin and development of the universe.He has cited Ms Lopez in his latest research publication, The Physics of Conformal Cyclic Cosmology.He said: "Alexia Lopez has discovered a remarkable effect which appears to substantiate the conformal cyclic cosmological model that I originally suggested in the early years of the 21st Century. "Her observations provide what appears to be a very strong challenge to conventional cosmology which had not been previously anticipated."Ms Lopez, who is now a postdoctoral researcher at UCLan in Preston, has been with the university since 2015 when she began an undergraduate degree in physics with astrophysics. She then went on to complete a Masters and PhD with the University's Jeremiah Horrocks Institute for Maths and Physics (JHI).Professor Derek Ward Thompson, director of the JHI, said: "We're very proud of what Alexia has achieved so far and she's still only at the beginning of her scientific career. "To have the backing of Sir Roger Penrose is amazing and really highlights the significance of her research."
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The Independent
01-07-2025
- The Independent
The surprising job AI won't replace any time soon
As AI systems expand their already impressive capacities, there is an increasingly common belief that the field of computer science (CS) will soon be a thing of the past. This is being communicated to today's prospective students in the form of well-meaning advice, but much of it amounts to little more than hearsay from individuals who, despite their intelligence, speak outside of their expertise. High-profile figures like Nobel Prize -winning economist Christopher Pissarides have made this argument, and as a result, it has taken root on a much more mundane level – I have even personally heard high school careers advisers dismiss the idea of studying CS outright, despite having no knowledge of the field itself. These claims typically share two common flaws. First among them is that the advice comes from people who are not computer scientists. Secondly, there is a widespread misunderstanding of what computer science actually involves. AI and the myth of code replacement It is not wrong to say that AI can write computer code from prompts, just as it can generate poems, recipes and cover letters. It can boost productivity and speed up workflow, but none of this eliminates the value of human input. Writing code is not synonymous with CS. One can learn to write code without ever attending a single university class, but a CS degree goes far beyond this one skill. It involves, among many other things, engineering complex systems, designing infrastructure and future programming languages, ensuring cybersecurity and verifying systems for correctness. AI cannot reliably do these tasks, nor will it be able to in the foreseeable future. Human input remains essential, but pessimistic misinformation risks steering tens of thousands of talented students away from important, meaningful careers in this vital field. What AI can and can't do AI excels at making predictions. Generative AI enhances this by adding a user-friendly presentation layer to internet content – it rewrites, summarises and formats information into something that resembles a human's work. However, current AI does not genuinely 'think'. Instead, it relies on logical shortcuts, known as heuristics, that sacrifice precision for speed. This means that, despite speaking like a person, it cannot reason, feel, care, or desire anything. It does not work in the same way as a human mind. Not long ago, it seemed that 'prompt engineering' would replace CS. Today, however, there are virtually no job postings for prompt engineers, while companies like LinkedIn report that the responsibilities of CS professionals have actually expanded. Where AI falls short What AI provides is more powerful tools for CS professionals to do their jobs. This means they can now take concepts further – from ideation to market deployment – while requiring fewer support roles and more technical leadership. There are, however, many areas where specialised human input is still essential, whether for trust, oversight or the need for human creativity. Examples abound, but there are 10 areas that stand out in particular: Adapting a hedge fund algorithm to new economic conditions. This requires algorithmic design and deep understanding of markets, not just reams of code. Diagnosing intermittent cloud service outages from providers like Google or Microsoft. AI can troubleshoot on a small scale, but it cannot contextualise large-scale, high-stakes troubleshooting. Rewriting code for quantum computers. AI cannot do this without extensive examples of successful implementations (which do not currently exist). Designing and securing a new cloud operating system. This involves high-level system architecture and rigorous testing that AI cannot perform. Creating energy-efficient AI systems. AI cannot spontaneously invent lower-power GPU code or reinvent its own architecture. Building secure, hacker-proof, real-time control software for nuclear power plants. This requires embedded systems expertise to be mixed with the translation of code and system design. Verifying that a surgical robot's software works under unpredictable conditions. Safety-critical validation exceeds AI's current scope. Designing systems to authenticate email sources and ensure integrity. This is a cryptographic and multi-disciplinary challenge. Auditing and improving AI-driven cancer prediction tools. This requires human oversight and continuous system validation. Building the next generation of safe and controllable AI. Evolving towards safer AI cannot be done by AI itself – this is a human responsibility. Why Computer Science is still indispensable One thing is certain: AI will reshape how engineering and Computer Science are done. But what we are faced with is a shift in working methods, not a wholesale destruction of the field. Whenever we face an entirely new problem or complexity, AI alone will not suffice for one simple reason: it depends entirely on past data. Maintaining AI, building new platforms, and developing fields like trustworthy AI and AI governance, therefore, all require CS. The only scenario in which we might not need CS is if we reach a point where we no longer expect any new languages, systems, tools, or future challenges. This is vanishingly unlikely. Some argue that AI may eventually perform all of these tasks. It's not impossible, but even if AI became this advanced, it would place almost all professions at equal risk. One of the few exceptions would be those who build, control, and advance AI. There is a historical precedent to this: during the Industrial Revolution, factory workers were displaced at a 50 to 1 ratio as a result of rapid advances in machinery and technology. In that case, the workforce actually grew with a new economy, but most of the new workers were those who could operate or fix machines, develop new machines, or design new factories and processes around machinery. During this period of massive upheaval, technical skills were actually the most in-demand, not the least. Today, the parallel holds true: technical expertise, especially in CS, is more valuable than it ever has been. Let's not confuse the next generation with the opposite message.


Metro
30-06-2025
- Metro
Netflix hours from dropping 'tear-jerking' last season with 100% Rotten Tomatoes
The Big Bang Theory fans will be happy this week, because the sitcom's beloved spin-off has a UK release date for its final season – and it's hours away. Young Sheldon season seven arrives on Netflix in its entirety tomorrow, with all 14 episodes of the prequel's farewell run available to binge, alongside the first six seasons. The US sitcom first hit UK screens in 2018, delving into the childhood of the soon-to-be Nobel Prize winner Sheldon Cooper, as he comes of age and finds his love of physics. Set in Medford, Texas, Sheldon lives in a full house: there's his twin sister Missy (Raegan Revord), older brother Georgie (Montana Jordan), mum Mary (Zoe Perry), dad George (Lance Barber) and Meemaw (Annie Potts). The season six finale saw Sheldon and Mary fly to Germany just before a tornado hit the Texan town, forcing the rest of the clan to take cover. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Yet, alas, in the world of TV everything eventually comes to an end (unless it's Grey's Anatomy or The Simpsons) and the final seventh season was released to US audiences in May 2024. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The season currently boasts an impressive 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on five glowing reviews. A review from CNN bemoaned the fact that Young Sheldon has never been an awards darling, saying it was something the 'emotionally wrenching yet satisfying series finale should remedy'. The write-up in Collider said the seventh season 'proves why it has lasted, and excelled, for the past seven years'. 'Young Sheldon has been evolving into an ensemble family comedy for its entire run, but in its final season that goal is fully realized,' said a review in Decider. When the seventh season hit screens across the pond last year, viewers took to X to share their thoughts on the final instalment, with many remarking on what an emotional send off it was. @micabneyra wrote: 'Just finished watching season 7 of Young Sheldon, and I can't stop bawling my eyes out,' alongside a crying emoji. More Trending 'You knew exactly what you were doing there Young Sheldon writers!,' gushed @MASAJJAGE. 'I haven't watched an episode so sad as this in a long while.' @otared1990 wrote: 'I cried my eyes out during episode 13 of season 7 from Young Sheldon sitcom. First time in years.' @hegavon also singled out episode 13 – although, of course we can't say what happens in that one, it's clearly one to stick around for. They wrote: 'Episode 13 season 7 of Young Sheldon got me in tears. Damn.' View More » Young Sheldon season 7 is available to stream on Netflix from July 1. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: WWE Raw gets 'special' early UK start time tonight on Netflix MORE: TV fans are torturing themselves bingeing two heartbreaking dramas 'back to back' MORE: Netflix fans can binge final 6 episodes of biggest TV show 'no one's talking about'


Evening Standard
26-06-2025
- Evening Standard
Why books are rewriting the box office in 2025
Another story that might feel more non-fic than sci-fi comes from Nobel Prize-winning Kazuo Ishiguro. The author of the emotionally devastating Never Let Me Go returns with Klara and the Sun, starring Jenna Ortega as Klara, an artificial friend bought to keep a sick child company. With AI dominating cultural conversations, Ishiguro's questions about what it means to be human couldn't be more timely. Directed by Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok) and co-starring Amy Adams, Natasha Lyonne and Steve Buscemi, this one is already sparking serious chatter. Coming: October