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Newsweek
16-07-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Thousands Warned To Go Inside If They Start Coughing
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Thousands of Americans in northern and central Maine were under an air quality alert on Wednesday after state officials warned of unhealthy pollution levels from wildfire smoke. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reported that fine particle pollution from smoke had pushed air quality into the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" category, prompting warnings for residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activity and to stay alert for respiratory symptoms. Why It Matters The alert comes as smoke from Canadian wildfires has descended across the U.S. throughout the summer, creating hazy skies in some areas while blanketing other regions with smoke that is thick enough to cause physical symptoms. The most recent alert in Maine emphasized heightened risks for vulnerable populations—children, the elderly, people with asthma or heart diseases, and those working or exercising outdoors. A stock photo of a man coughing. A stock photo of a man coughing. Liubomyr Vorona/Getty What to Know The alert affects thousands from Allagash to Topsfield, including key cities such as Caribou, Houlton, Greenville, and Millinocket, and was scheduled to remain in effect until midnight. Smoke and particle pollution, primarily traced to wildfires burning in Canada, contributed to the degraded air quality, which officials said may persist until at least Thursday. "Smoke is expected to continue to impact Maine on Thursday. It should start to clear out later in the day," the air quality alert from the DEP said. State health authorities urged people experiencing coughing, shortness of breath, throat irritation, or chest discomfort to immediately limit outdoor exposure. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection issued the air quality alert for the following regions: Northwest Aroostook, Northeast Aroostook, Northern Somerset, Northern Piscataquis, Northern Penobscot, Southeast Aroostook, Central Piscataquis, Central Penobscot, Southern Piscataquis, and Northern Washington counties. Affected cities include Allagash, Clayton Lake, Madawaska, Fort Kent, Frenchville, Presque Isle, Caribou, Van Buren, Mars Hill, Ashland, Millinocket, Greenville, Lincoln, Dover-Foxcroft, and several others, covering much of the northern and central part of the state. Officials expected the highest concentration of smoke and particle pollution to begin dissipating by Wednesday evening. However, polluted air and moderate particle levels could linger into Thursday as the smoke plume gradually exits the region. Local and federal data confirmed the region was experiencing pollution levels classified as "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, in which the Air Quality Index (AQI) measures between 101 and 150, meaning that susceptible individuals could experience adverse health effects, while the general public could also be affected with prolonged exposure." The AQI scale used for these alerts helps residents understand the severity of pollution. Officials warned that exposure to AQI considered unhealthy for sensitive groups may cause health effects for sensitive individuals and could begin to affect the general public with prolonged or strenuous outdoor exposure. For the remainder of Maine, particle and ozone levels were expected to remain in the moderate AQI range. What People Are Saying National Weather Service (NWS) Caribou in an air quality alert: "The Maine Department of Environmental Protection recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young, the elderly, those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma, those with heart disease and anyone who is working hard outdoors. But if you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, throat irritation or an uncomfortable sensation in your chest please consider limiting the intensity and duration of your outdoor activities." NWS meteorologist Alice Brennan told Newsweek: "Based on forecasting, [the smoke] should start to clear out a bit. The heaviest was definitely today and should start to gradually push out by tomorrow. There is a low-pressure system coming in that's going to bring a good chance for thunderstorms, especially north of I-95, so gusty winds, heavy rainfall, things like that." What Happens Next Air quality across Maine is expected to improve as denser smoke moves out by Wednesday evening. However, some particle pollution may persist into Thursday until wind patterns fully clear the region. State agencies are continuing to monitor the situation and will update forecasts and advisories as conditions change.
Black America Web
29-06-2025
- Science
- Black America Web
Howard University And Google Team Up To Advance AI Speech Recognition For African American English
Source: Liubomyr Vorona / Getty In a significant move toward advancing inclusivity in technology, Howard University and Google Research have unveiled a new dataset designed to enhance how automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems serve Black users. The collaboration, part of Project Elevate Black Voices , involved researchers traveling nationwide to document the unique dialects, accents, and speech patterns commonly found in Black communities, features often misinterpreted or ignored by current AI systems. The project spotlights African American English (AAE)—also known as African American Vernacular English, Black English, Ebonics, or simply 'Black talk'—a culturally rich and historically rooted linguistic form. Due to systemic bias in the development of AI tools, Black users have frequently encountered errors or been misunderstood by voice technologies, sometimes feeling pressured to alter their natural speech just to be recognized by these systems— a classic form of code switching. Researchers at Howard University and Google are on a mission to change this. 'African American English has been at the forefront of United States culture since almost the beginning of the country,' shared Gloria Washington, Ph.D., a Howard University researcher and the co-principal investigator of Project Elevate Black Voices , in a press release. 'Voice assistant technology should understand different dialects of all African American English to truly serve not just African Americans, but other persons who speak these unique dialects. It's about time that we provide the best experience for all users of these technologies.' To build this groundbreaking dataset, researchers gathered 600 hours of speech from participants representing various AAE dialects across 32 states. The goal was to confront hidden barriers that hinder the effectiveness of automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems for Black users. One of the key findings was that AAE is significantly underrepresented in existing speech datasets, not because the language isn't spoken, but because many Black users have been socially conditioned to alter their natural speech when interacting with voice technology. This phenomenon, often rooted in the need to be understood by systems that don't recognize AAE, leads to a lack of authentic representation. A 2023 Google blog post highlighted another challenge: privacy and security policies, while essential, create additional constraints on the collection of AAE-specific voice data. These self-imposed limits make it harder to amass the scale and authenticity of data required to close the gap in performance. Despite these challenges, progress is being made. Researchers are now using dialect classifiers to identify AAE within broader datasets, a promising first step toward building more inclusive technologies. Howard University will maintain ownership and licensing rights to the dataset, serving as its ethical guardian to ensure it's used responsibly and for the benefit of Black communities. Google, in turn, will be able to use the dataset to enhance its own ASR products, part of a broader effort to make AI tools more equitable across dialects, languages, and accents globally. SEE MORE: What Are Racial Microaggressions? Black Culture, White Face: How the Internet Helped Hijack Our Culture SEE ALSO Howard University And Google Team Up To Advance AI Speech Recognition For African American English was originally published on
Newsweek
17-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
'Razor Throat': Nimbus COVID Symptoms To Watch For As New Variant Rises
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new COVID-19 variant spreading across the United States may cause an extremely painful sore throat—dubbed the "razor throat"—among its symptoms. The new "Nimbus" strain, also known as COVID-19 NB 1.8.1, was first detected in China in January, and was classified as a variant "under monitoring" by the World Health Organization (WHO) in May. NB 1.8.1 has been reported in a number of US states—including California and New York—with reports of the variant increasing globally. NB 1.8.1 made up a whopping 37 percent of all reported COVID-19 diagnoses between May 25 and June 7, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is a significant increase since late May, when a CDC spokesperson told Newsweek that there had so far been "fewer than 20 sequences of NB.1.8.1 in the U.S. baseline surveillance data to date, so it has not met the threshold for inclusion in the COVID Data Tracker dashboard." Stock image of a man holding his painful throat, and inset, illustration of a COVID-19 mutation. Stock image of a man holding his painful throat, and inset, illustration of a COVID-19 mutation. Liubomyr Vorona / Images Omicron LP.8.1 remains the most commonly reported Covid variant at present, but its share of 38 percent of all cases places NB 1.8.1 at a close second. For comparison's sake, the CDC listed LP.8.1 as making up 70 percent of reported cases between April 26 and May 10, mere weeks ago. Reports from Chinese media via the LA Times indicate that symptoms of "razor throat" and coughing appear more prevalent with the new strain that is predecessors. According to the CDC but the following symptoms are common with COVID-19 in general: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath Sore throat Congestion, runny nose New loss of taste or smell Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea Read more COVID-19 NB 18.1 variant: Symptoms to watch for as virus surges COVID-19 NB 18.1 variant: Symptoms to watch for as virus surges Infectious disease expert and CEO of Wellness and Equity Alliance, Dr. Tyler B Evans, previously told Newsweek that there was "no clear evidence that this subvariant presents dramatically different symptoms from other recent strains. "We're still seeing common indicators like sore throat, nasal congestion, fatigue, and cough," he said. "In some cases, especially among unvaccinated or immunocompromised individuals, symptoms can escalate to more severe respiratory distress." Newsweek has contacted the CDC for comment. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about medicine? Let us know via science@
Newsweek
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Alerts Urging People to Monitor Themselves for Coughs Return to One State
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Air quality officials are once again advising people in Wisconsin to monitor themselves for symptoms such as coughs as Canadian wildfire smoke descends across the state. National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Todd Rieck, who works at the La Crosse, Wisconsin, office, told Newsweek that Thursday might be the worst day for smoke impacts. Why It Matters Over the past few weeks, wildfire smoke from Canada has descended into the U.S. and worsened the air quality in some states. Among them, Wisconsin has been on high alert, with residents advised to monitor themselves for symptoms such as coughs if they are exposed to the polluted air. Earlier this week, much of the smoke dissipated but has once again returned. What to Know Much of Wisconsin is under the air quality alert, which was issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on Thursday morning. The alert encompasses northern, northcentral, northeastern, southwestern and central Wisconsin. A stock photo shows a woman coughing while outdoors. A stock photo shows a woman coughing while outdoors. Liubomyr Vorona/Getty Current air quality monitoring shows that air quality has reached levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups in parts of central and southwestern Wisconsin. Sensitive groups such as those with respiratory diseases, asthma, or children and the elderly were advised to be particularly cautious and monitor themselves for symptoms such as coughing. "Make outdoor activities shorter and less intense. It is OK to be active outdoors but take more breaks," the alert said. "Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. People with asthma: Follow your asthma action plan and keep quick relief medicine handy. People with heart disease: Symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your health care provider." Air quality alerts are also in place in Montana, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, and New Jersey, but these alerts didn't mention coughing. Earlier in the week, the smoke prompted alerts in Minnesota, in which people were asked to keep their windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting inside their homes. What People Are Saying Rieck told Newsweek: "Currently the upper-level flow is allowing for more air to filter southeast over the last couple days and especially today, it might be the worst of the bunch. As we start to move into the weekend, we should start getting a little more ridging in the upper atmosphere, so that's going to bump the winds back north. The smoke should follow suit and stay mostly farther to the north as a result, and the air quality should improve as we get into the weekend." An air quality alert in place in Wisconsin said: "Canadian wildfire smoke has mixed down to the surface, leading to enhanced PM2.5 concentrations." What Happens Next The air quality alert will remain in place until Thursday. Improved air quality will move in from the north and east, the alert said.
Newsweek
06-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Alert Urging People To Monitor Themselves for Coughs Spreads to 3 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Air quality alerts advising people to monitor themselves for symptoms such as coughing are in place for three states, with other warnings about poor air quality extending further as Canadian wildfire smoke descends into the U.S. In addition to respiratory symptoms such as coughing, exposure to wildfire smoke could cause an uptick in heart attacks and strokes, Dr. Scott Budinger, the chief of pulmonary and critical care in the Department of Medicine at Northwestern University, told Newsweek. Why It Matters Smoke from the Canadian wildfires has degraded air quality in the Upper Midwest for the past week. In some instances, smoke has impacted sunsets as far south as the Gulf Coast, with people warned of physical impact as far south as the Plains states. As of Friday, air quality alerts advising people to move indoors if they begin to cough are in place for Maine, Michigan and Wisconsin. Other air quality alerts are in place in Nebraska, the Great Lakes and parts of the Northeast. A stock image shows a man coughing. A stock image shows a man coughing. Liubomyr Vorona/Getty What To Know Most air quality alerts warning of symptoms like coughing were set to expire by noon on Friday, although they could be reissued. The alert in Maine included the cities of Allagash, Clayton Lake, Lincoln, Howland and Springfield, among others. "People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young, the elderly, those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma, those with heart disease and anyone who is working hard outdoors," an alert from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection said. "But if you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, throat irritation or an uncomfortable sensation in your chest please consider limiting the intensity and duration of your outdoor activities." In Michigan, the alert was in place for cities such as Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Ludington and others. "Smoke associated with Canada wildfires persists over the state today," the Michigan alert said. "Levels of PM2.5 into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) range are expected and reading could reach the Unhealthy (Red AQI) range for a short period of time." In Wisconsin, the alert was in place for areas along the Lake Michigan shoreline. What People Are Saying NWS Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Marc Chenard told Newsweek: "To some extent, there's going to be some smoke that's lingering in the Midwest, Great Lakes and into the Northeast through the weekend. "It generally looks like the concentration will be on a downward trend, so that might mean some of the air quality won't be quite as impacted but there will likely still be periods of smoke." An air quality alert in Wisconsin: "Make outdoor activities shorter and less intense. It is OK to be active outdoors but take more breaks. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. People with asthma: Follow your asthma action plan and keep quick relief medicine handy. People with heart disease: Symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your health care provider." What Happens Next If someone's cough lasts for seven days or is associated with breathlessness, they should see a doctor. Most of the air quality alerts will expire on Friday.
