Latest news with #EncyclopediaBritannica
Metro
4 hours ago
- Health
- Metro
Area 51 staff ‘left with fatal diseases' after guarding top secret project
US Air Force veterans have revealed that many workers at the Area 51 base were killed by cancer. Security guards at Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), known as the secretive Area 51, were handed a death sentence by the government due to the presence of an 'invisible killer' on site, they have said. The NTTR was built in the 1970s on land found to be contaminated with radiation due to years of nuclear testing. However, veterans who survived the ordeal have not been offered medical care by the US Department of Veterans Affairs as they have not been able to prove they were exposed to radiation. Former Air Force Sergeant David Crete, who worked at NTTR between 1983 and 1987, said that the left side of his brain was 'dying' due to atrophy, MailOnline reported. He told the House Veterans Affairs Committee he was one of the luckier ones, as 490 of his co-workershave died of severe illness since serving at the former nuclear site. Sergeant Crete said that an airman had lost his life at 33 after serving in the unit, and that his fellow servicemen had lived to an average age of 65. Despite concerns over the NTTR's radiation risk, a government report insisted that stopping projects being carried out there would 'be against the national interest'. However, veterans have been left without evidence to prove their exposure because the top secret nature of their work meant their records had been 'data masked'. Sergeant Crete added that the radiation risks were not just a health hazard for servicemen but also for their families, to whom they have never even been able to explain what they did while at the top secret base. Area 51 is known as a top secret facility operated by the US Air Force, located at Groom Lake in southern Nevada. Apart from its only confirmed use as a flight testing facility, the site is off limits to the public and media. Its name comes from its designation on maps by the Atomic Energy Commission. The base has given rise to many conspiracy theories with many claiming to have witnessed UFOs near Area 51. These are accounted for my military aircraft tests according to the CIA. Workers reach the site by air from a designated terminal at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. Source: Encyclopedia Britannica 'My wife had three miscarriages. One of the guys that I worked with, his wife had seven,' he added. 'All four of my children were born with birth defects or significant health problems. It's not their fault. I'm not saying it's mine, but I brought it home.' Another veteran, Pomp Braswell, said working at the base at a young age felt 'very special' as his mother knew 'absolute zero' about the nature of his activities. More Trending Two Congress bills have been introduced to provide more support to NTTR veterans, the Protect Act and the Forgotten Veterans Act. A previous bill was signed by then-President Bill Clinton in 2000 to provide compensation for veterans who had worked at certain government sites But Sergeant Crete said that the only acknowledgement of his service came from the late US Senator John McCain, who told him that his unit 'ended the cold war'. Metro has approached the US Air Force for comment. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: In a divided world, I found the community I was craving on the streets of Washington DC MORE: Angry Trump fans burn their MAGA hats over Epstein files mystery MORE: Dentist facing murder trial accused of lacing wife's protein shakes with cyanide
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Donald Trump jokes about passing executive order to relabel ‘soccer' to ‘football' in USA; Soccer is an Oxford University British coinage
It's not exactly a real war, settling which can get anyone a peace prize. But US President joked he would try. As the Club World Cup wound up, DAZN reporter Emily Austin on Sunday (13 July) following Trump's presence on the pitch after Chelsea's win at the MetLife stadium, drew Trump into a discussion over difference between the British (football) and American (soccer) terms for the popular game. 'They call it football, we call it soccer. I'm not sure if that change can be made very easily,' Trump told her first up. After Ms Austin wondered if he could issue an executive order instead so only the word football is used, the US president guffawed and replied: 'I think we could do that.' USA has a few slightly more urgent matters to attend to, so 'soccer' might yet survive. But it drew attention to the serendipitous route the words have taken – always influenced by the presence of a more popular rival sport. Encyclopedia Britannica notes that the term 'soccer' originated in England as a slang abbreviation of 'association football.' After the formation of the Football Association in late 1800s, the rules of football, were slotted in stone by 'Association Football.' However, not the most interesting variety of kicking the ball with the foot, it faced jostles from other football codes, like rugby. That's when Oxford University students coined the term 'soccer' as a casual, shortened version, using the 'soc' from 'association' and adding the '-er' suffix common in Oxford campus slang. So, soccer set itself apart from rugger. Britannica writes, 'Although football-type games have been around for centuries, the sport we know today is often said to have begun in 1863, when England's newly formed Football Association wrote down a set of rules. At the time, it was the most widely played game of its kind in the country, but it wasn't the only one. Rugby football, named after an English boarding school, was a rebellious variation that allowed players to carry and run with the ball to advance it toward the goal.' So, the football of Pirlo, Canavaro, Gigi Buffon, Big Brazilian Ronaldo, Gatusso, del Piero, Gerrard, Raul Gonzalez Blanco, Miroslav Klose and the great Juan Roman Riquelme was called by the Football Association's as association football. Britannica further mentions that linguistically creative students at the University of Oxford in the 1880s distinguished between the sports of 'rugger' (rugby football) and 'assoccer' (association football). 'The latter term was further shortened to 'soccer' (sometimes spelled 'socker'), and the name quickly spread beyond the campus. However, 'soccer' never became much more than a nickname in Great Britain. By the 20th century, rugby football was more commonly called rugby, while association football had earned the right to be known as just plain football.' Onto the United States where the womens team salvages ineptness of the men, and actually wins World Cups. Another sport, Britannica says, emerged in the late 19th century that borrowed elements of both rugby and association football. 'Before long, it had proved more popular than either of them. In full, it was known as gridiron football, but most people never bothered with the first word.' So Anerican football came into being. Cornered by yet another mire popular sport, American association-football players defiantly adopted soccer to refer to their sport. 'The United States Football Association, which had formed in the 1910s as the official organizing body of American soccer, changed its name to the United States Soccer Football Association in 1945, and it later dispensed with the 'Football' altogether. No longer just a nickname, soccer had stuck,' Britannica writes. Football, of the Buffon kinds, also faced competition from gridiron football in Canada, Gaelic football in Ireland and Australian rules football (which is derived from rugby). 'In places where football can be ambiguous, soccer is usefully precise,' Britannica writes. Thus was sulkingly born soccer. Which might need a presidential decree to lose its British slang name in the lead up to next year's World Cup. The real issues facing football in US however are quality of playing turf, humid hot temperatures and American general disinterest.
New York Post
08-07-2025
- Climate
- New York Post
UV umbrellas are the coolest trend in sun protection — how to pick the best ones to beat the heat
It kept you dry in December — now it might be the secret to surviving July. As temperatures soar, a growing number of Americans are getting hip to what much of the world already knows: Umbrellas aren't just for rain. 'I don't care how cute my hat is, I don't care if I have a fan, it's not going to work,' Amber Ferguson (@girlwithdrive) said in a recent TikTok. 'The only thing that's going to keep me from literally melting out here is my umbrella.' Advertisement 5 Umbrellas can provide an extra layer of protection against the sun's harmful rays. Paige Kahn/NY Post Turns out, that's exactly why they were invented more than 4,000 years ago. In fact, umbrellas were the primary method Americans used to shield themselves from the sun until the 20th century, when sunscreen, hats and other protective gear took over, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. Nowadays, carrying an umbrella — or parasol, as it's often called when used for sun protection — is common across large parts of East and Southeast Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand. Advertisement 'In these countries, it is common to see individuals of all ages carrying umbrellas on sunny days, reflecting a strong cultural emphasis on sun protection for both health and aesthetic reasons, such as prevention of sunspots, tanning and premature aging,' Dr. Helen He, co-director of Mount Sinai-Clinique Healthy Skin Dermatology Center, told The Post. 'When it comes to sun protection, not all umbrellas are created equal.' Dr. Helen He People use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, which in moderation help with vitamin D production. But overexposure can lead to sunburn, skin damage, premature aging and even skin cancer. Umbrellas can also block infrared radiation — the part of sunlight that makes you feel hot. Advertisement 5 In other parts of the world, like East and Southeast Asia, parasols are a summertime staple. Getty Images But, He cautioned, 'when it comes to sun protection, not all umbrellas are created equal.' 'The best umbrellas are UV umbrellas, which are usually made of tightly woven fabrics and are treated with special UV-resistant coatings that absorb or reflect solar radiation,' explained He, who said she carries one everywhere she goes. Advertisement While sunscreens have a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating to indicate how well they'll protect you from getting a sunburn, umbrellas (and clothing) use an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) to measure their effectiveness against UV radiation. 'Look for umbrellas that have UPF 50+, which will block over 50% of UV rays,' He recommended. Wider umbrella canopies provide more coverage, and darker fabrics absorb more solar radiation — blocking both harmful UV rays and heat from reaching your skin, she said. There's real science behind this. 5 In general, light-colored umbrellas offer less sun protection than darker ones. Stefano Giovannini A 2013 study by Emory School of Medicine researchers tested 23 handheld umbrellas and found they protected participants' skin from an average of 77% of UV damage. Black umbrellas performed best, blocking at least 90% of UV rays, while lighter colors, especially white, offered less protection. Advertisement 'If you want a colorful umbrella, I highly recommend one with a black or reflective silver coating inside or outside,' He advised. But shade alone isn't a perfect shield. 'While the umbrella is very effective for providing protection against direct overhead UV rays, it does not provide complete coverage,' He said. UV radiation can still reflect off surfaces like concrete, water, and sand, exposing your skin even when you're under an umbrella. Advertisement 5 A growing number of Americans are turning to umbrellas for sun protection. Robert Miller Plus, there will inevitably be moments outdoors when you have to put your umbrella away — whether you're taking photos, carrying items or doing activities that require both hands. 'It is important that you are always using backup sun protection to ensure that you are still covered during those times, especially if they are prolonged,' He said. For this reason, He recommends that even if you're carrying a sun umbrella, you should still apply sunscreen, wear sun-protective clothing and practice other sun-safe behaviors like seeking shade and avoiding peak sun hours between 10 am and 3 pm. Advertisement 5 Umbrellas can make you feel significantly cooler on a sunny day by providing shade and blocking direct sunlight. Paige Kahn/NY Post 'I often remind my patients, 'If you see the sun, the sun sees you,'' she said. When shopping for sun-protective clothing, remember that UPF ratings aren't limited to umbrellas. We're Tracking Prime Day Live! Unlock exclusive NYP codes and real-time deals on everyday must-haves. See Your Deals Advertisement 'Sun protective clothing, hats, swimsuits and accessories with UPF 50+ will boost your overall defense against UV exposure and are a great investment for summer months, especially if you will be spending a lot of time outdoors or at the beach,' He said. When it comes to sunscreen, she said many people don't apply often enough — or forget to do it altogether. 'A good rule of thumb is to use a nickel-sized amount on the face and about a shot glass amount on the body,' He said. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, or more frequently if you're swimming or sweating. For people with darker skin tones or those prone to hyperpigmentation or melasma, He recommends using a tinted mineral sunscreen. 'This protects not only against UV light but also visible light, which is a major trigger for hyperpigmentation,' she explained.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Micron makes massive $200 billion AI bet
Micron makes massive $200 billion AI bet originally appeared on TheStreet. Some readers may get the wrong impression that I am a Luddite. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Luddites were members of organized bands of 19th-century English handicraftsmen who rioted against the use of textile machinery that was displacing them. The term is now used broadly to refer to people opposed to technological change. I criticize artificial intelligence, but that doesn't mean I am against machine learning. It can be used for good. Finding patterns in data that the human mind can't "digest" properly is very useful. It has already led to scientific recently launched supercomputer systems have been slapped with AI tags for marketing purposes, even if those supercomputers (hopefully) won't be used for useless stuff like chatbots. And to mention the Luddites again, we hear every day how AI will replace humans in the workplace, or that it is already taking jobs. More than 150,000 tech workers were laid off in 2024. It doesn't matter if it is Amazon, Google, Tesla, or Microsoft, tech companies are looking for ways to use AI, rather than humans, to generate as much code as possible. Relying heavily on AI to generate code, or "vibe coding," unfortunately, only works if a person can review the AI-generated slop. AI will surely work if you are updating a website that has been made hundreds of times before. If you want to build something original, you'll have plenty of mistakes to fix.I don't know about you, but I don't like fixing AI's mistakes. Even before AI, gigantic "enterprise" codebases were the topic of horror stories among programmers. These vibe-coded ones will make those codebases look great, if not impeccable. When these vibe projects get stuck, the developers hired back to fix all the AI-generated code should request higher pay to deal with it. More Tech Stocks: Palantir gets great news from the Pentagon Analyst has blunt words on Trump's iPhone tariff plans OpenAI teams up with legendary Apple exec Micron Technology, Inc. () is poised to profit from AI regardless of the project goals and is also helping to create more jobs in the US tech sector. Micron and the Trump Administration announced on June 12th that Micron plans to expand its U.S. investments to approximately $150 billion in domestic memory manufacturing and $50 billion in research and development, creating an estimated 90,000 direct and indirect jobs. The company plans to invest an additional $30 billion beyond prior plans, which include building a second memory fab in Boise, Idaho, and expanding and modernizing its existing manufacturing facility in Manassas, Virginia. The second Idaho fab will increase Micron's production of DRAM in the U.S., serving growing market demand fueled by will bring advanced packaging capabilities to the U.S. to enable long-term growth in high-bandwidth memory (HBM). HBM is indispensable to the AI market. As GPUs that power AI systems become increasingly powerful, they are bottlenecked by memory bandwidth. HBM provides the bandwidth necessary to leverage these powerful processors in the most effective and efficient manner. The more the AI market grows, the more the demand for HBM grows. This investment includes its previous plan for a mega fab in New York. This expansion plan includes two high-volume fabs in Idaho, up to four high-volume fabs in New York, and the expansion and modernization of its existing manufacturing fab in Virginia. Idaho fab is expected to start DRAM output in 2027. 'President Trump has made it clear that the time to build in America is now. In partnership with the Department of Commerce, Micron is announcing a $200 billion semiconductor manufacturing and R&D investment to bring the full spectrum of memory chip production back to the United States. Micron's planned investment will ensure the U.S. advances its lead across critical industries like AI, automotive, and aerospace & defense,' stated Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. If everything goes according to plan, the factories will add many new job positions, but it will take time, as building a new semiconductor factory takes makes massive $200 billion AI bet first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 13, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Miami Herald
13-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Micron makes massive $200 billion AI bet
Some readers may get the wrong impression that I am a Luddite. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Luddites were members of organized bands of 19th-century English handicraftsmen who rioted against the use of textile machinery that was displacing them. The term is now used broadly to refer to people opposed to technological change. I criticize artificial intelligence, but that doesn't mean I am against machine learning. It can be used for good. Finding patterns in data that the human mind can't "digest" properly is very useful. It has already led to scientific breakthroughs. Related: Google resolves major privacy issue Many recently launched supercomputer systems have been slapped with AI tags for marketing purposes, even if those supercomputers (hopefully) won't be used for useless stuff like chatbots. And to mention the Luddites again, we hear every day how AI will replace humans in the workplace, or that it is already taking jobs. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/Getty Images More than 150,000 tech workers were laid off in 2024. It doesn't matter if it is Amazon, Google, Tesla, or Microsoft, tech companies are looking for ways to use AI, rather than humans, to generate as much code as possible. Relying heavily on AI to generate code, or "vibe coding," unfortunately, only works if a person can review the AI-generated slop. AI will surely work if you are updating a website that has been made hundreds of times before. If you want to build something original, you'll have plenty of mistakes to fix. Related: Apple WWDC underwhelms fans in a crucial upgrade I don't know about you, but I don't like fixing AI's mistakes. Even before AI, gigantic "enterprise" codebases were the topic of horror stories among programmers. These vibe-coded ones will make those codebases look great, if not impeccable. When these vibe projects get stuck, the developers hired back to fix all the AI-generated code should request higher pay to deal with it. More Tech Stocks: Palantir gets great news from the PentagonAnalyst has blunt words on Trump's iPhone tariff plansOpenAI teams up with legendary Apple exec Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) is poised to profit from AI regardless of the project goals and is also helping to create more jobs in the US tech sector. Micron and the Trump Administration announced on June 12th that Micron plans to expand its U.S. investments to approximately $150 billion in domestic memory manufacturing and $50 billion in research and development, creating an estimated 90,000 direct and indirect jobs. The company plans to invest an additional $30 billion beyond prior plans, which include building a second memory fab in Boise, Idaho, and expanding and modernizing its existing manufacturing facility in Manassas, Virginia. The second Idaho fab will increase Micron's production of DRAM in the U.S., serving growing market demand fueled by AI. Related: Klarna CEO sounds the alarm on a growing problem Micron will bring advanced packaging capabilities to the U.S. to enable long-term growth in high-bandwidth memory (HBM). HBM is indispensable to the AI market. As GPUs that power AI systems become increasingly powerful, they are bottlenecked by memory bandwidth. HBM provides the bandwidth necessary to leverage these powerful processors in the most effective and efficient manner. The more the AI market grows, the more the demand for HBM grows. This investment includes its previous plan for a mega fab in New York. This expansion plan includes two high-volume fabs in Idaho, up to four high-volume fabs in New York, and the expansion and modernization of its existing manufacturing fab in Virginia. Idaho fab is expected to start DRAM output in 2027. "President Trump has made it clear that the time to build in America is now. In partnership with the Department of Commerce, Micron is announcing a $200 billion semiconductor manufacturing and R&D investment to bring the full spectrum of memory chip production back to the United States. Micron's planned investment will ensure the U.S. advances its lead across critical industries like AI, automotive, and aerospace & defense," stated Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. If everything goes according to plan, the factories will add many new job positions, but it will take time, as building a new semiconductor factory takes years. Related: Amazon's latest big bet may flop The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
