Latest news with #Oxford
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Rare daytime fireball bright enough to be seen from orbit may have punched a hole in a house in Georgia
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A large meteor that triggered a spectacular daytime fireball over the southeastern U.S. may have survived its dramatic passage through Earth's atmosphere to punch through the roof of a Georgia home. The fireball was spotted over the southeastern U.S. at 12:25 EDT on Friday, (1625 GMT), visibly flaring as the extreme heat of atmospheric friction overwhelmed the ancient chunk of solar system debris. Its descent was bright enough to be seen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAAs) GOES-19 Earth observation satellite, using an instrument designed to map flashes of lightning from orbit. "Daylight fireballs are rare in that it takes a large object (larger than a beachball compared to your normal pea-sized meteor) to be bright enough to be seen during the day," said Robert Lunsford of the American Meteor Association in an email to "We probably only average one per month worldwide, so perhaps one out of every 3,000 reports occurs during the day." The meteor was first spotted 48 miles (77 kilometers) above the town of Oxford, Georgia travelling at around 30,000 mph (48,000 km/h), according to NASA Meteoroid Environment Office lead Bill Cooke, via CBS News. Lunsford noted that the fireball may have been associated with the daylight beta Taurid shower, which peaks in late June as Earth passes through the trail of cosmic debris shed by the ancient solar system comet 2P/Encke. Footage of the event led many to speculate that fragments of the meteor may have survived its bruising passage through Earth's atmosphere. The hours that followed saw photos circulate online purporting to show the damage that a fragment of the meteorite caused when it smashed through the roof of a home in Henry County, Georgia. "Being much larger than your average meteor also means that it has a better chance of producing fragments on the ground," explained Lunsford "We look for reports of sound such as thunder or sonic booms to have confidence that fragments of the original fireball survived down to the lower atmosphere and perhaps all the way to the ground. Therefore the photograph of the hole in the roof is probably associated with this fireball." If verified, the Georgia meteorite certainly wouldn't represent the first time that a daylight beta Daylight Taurid left a mark on our planet. Lunsford noted that a particularly large meteor that some scientists believe to be associated with the annual shower detonated in a powerful airburst 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) over Russian Siberia in June 1908. The force of the explosion sparked massive forest fires and flattened roughly 80 million trees in what has since become known as the 'Tunguska Event'. Editor's Note: If you capture a photo or video footage of a meteor and want to share it with readers, then please send it, along with your name, comments, and details of your experience to spacephotos@
Entrepreneur
7 hours ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
My Success Felt Hollow — Until I Made This Pivotal Leadership Shift
Over 50% of CEOs are struggling with mental health. Part of the reason is that they are chasing a version of success that doesn't resonate with their identity. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Four years ago, I hit a breaking point. On paper, I had everything — degrees from Harvard and Oxford, a Rhodes Scholarship, bestselling books and stood alongside icons like Oprah and Richard Branson. I had launched global movements and built international organizations. But inside, I was empty. A traumatic event in 2020 forced me to confront what I'd been ignoring: I was burned out, disillusioned and spiritually disconnected. I had followed the script for success — achievement, recognition, scale — but it had left me physically depleted and mentally adrift. And while the personal toll was staggering, the professional cost was even greater. I realized something many leaders quietly suspect: You can't lead well when you're running on empty. Related: How to Escape Entrepreneurial Burnout When You Can't Just Quit Fulfillment isn't a luxury — it's a leadership strategy Burnout among top leaders is more than a personal problem. A 2024 study found 55% of CEOs reported experiencing a mental health issue in the past year — a 24% increase from the year before. Leaders who feel unfulfilled make poorer decisions, struggle to build trust and drain culture. But when leaders feel connected to purpose, teams thrive. Engagement and retention go up. So does creativity, clarity and momentum. Fulfillment fuels everything. From breakdown to breakthrough What pulled me out wasn't another productivity hack — it was a deeper reset. I asked questions I'd been avoiding: Who am I without the work? What truly brings me joy? What do I want this all to mean? That journey led me through a full personal overhaul — biohacking, longevity medicine and deep self-reflection. But the biggest shift wasn't physical. It was internal. It was about redefining success — not as output, but as alignment. Here's what I now practice — and share with the leaders I mentor. Reclaim your morning Instead of starting the day in reaction mode (email, Slack, to-do lists), I protect the first 90 minutes for myself. Meditation, movement, reading — whatever connects me to clarity before the noise begins. Tip: Ask yourself each morning: What would make today feel meaningful, regardless of outcome? Start there. Audit your energy, not just your time Your calendar reveals what you truly value. If most of it drains you, no supplement or sprint will fix it. I started building "fulfillment time" into my schedule — mentoring, hiking, ideating. It made me a better, more present leader. Try this: Look at last week's calendar. Highlight everything that lit you up in green. Everything that drained you in red. Then, make one adjustment. Lead from purpose, not just pressure Metrics matter. But when pressure is your only motivator, burnout is inevitable. Purpose sustains you. Create a one-line purpose statement for yourself as a leader. Keep it visible. Let it guide how you show up for your team. Talk about fulfillment out loud For years, I kept conversations about meaning and mental health private. Now, I bring them into team check-ins and leadership meetings. When we normalize these discussions, we build more human, resilient cultures. Try asking your team: What part of your work has felt most meaningful lately? Related: How to Escape Entrepreneurial Burnout When You Can't Just Quit The wake-up call that too many leaders ignore If you're succeeding outwardly but feeling lost, it's not weakness — it's a signal. Your burnout isn't a badge of honor. And your fulfillment isn't a personal indulgence — it's a professional responsibility. Because when you're grounded, whole, and purpose-driven, the ripple effect is powerful: stronger teams, healthier cultures and companies built to last. You didn't come this far just to feel numb at the top. Do the work. Define what matters. And lead like it.
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Scientists attempting to create human DNA
Scientists are attempting to create human DNA. Teams from the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester and Kent, as well as Imperial College London, are set to spend five years writing genetic code. Called the SynHG project - which has £10 million funding behind it from the Wellcome Trust, a science charitable foundation - the group of scientists, hope to make human genetic code from raw chemicals. The project will be led by Jason Chin from Cambridge's Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology. However, some people have raised ethical concerns about synthetic genomics - the field in which "new, engineered organisms and cells designed to have a specific function" are created - such as "designer babies" On the other hand, those who back synthetic genomics say learning how to construct DNA will improve people's understanding of human biology. The supporters also think it could pave the way for treating diseases that do not currently have a cure.
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Breakthrough British prostate cancer test could avoid need for biopsies in 80pc of men
A British-made prostate cancer test could avoid the need for biopsies in four out of five cases, according to a study. The EpiSwitch PSE next generation blood test uses advances in technology to identify prostate cancer, the most common form of the disease among men in the UK. The test, made by Oxford BioDynamics, has an accuracy of 94 per cent in identifying prostate cancer, a dramatic leap compared with the standard test along, which is reckoned to be correct in only around half of cases. Crucially, a peer-reviewed study due to be published in the Cancers medical journal, accepts the findings that up to 80 per cent of patients could potentially avoid unnecessary prostate biopsies - an often invasive procedue considered one of the biggest stumbling blocks in men going to get tested in the first place. The study concludes: 'Across models, up to 79.1 per cent of patients could safely defer biopsy based on PSE results, highlighting the test's potential to reduce invasive procedures without compromising diagnostic safety.' Dr Alexandre Akoulitchev, chief scientific officer at Oxford BioDynamics, said: 'This study builds on our earlier robust clinical validation work which demonstrated the application of EpiSwitch PSE as a precise, minimally invasive test that empowers clinicians and patients with clarity, reduced patient risk, and improved outcomes, while easing the pressure on the diagnostic pathway.' The paper said the innovation could effectively save the NHS significant amounts of money by reducing the amount of men sent for biopsies and MRI scans, reducing pressure on the service. The study reckoned this translated to a saving of almost £1,000 per patient. Oliver Kemp, chief executive of UK charity Prostate Cancer Research (PCR), said: 'This study shows how smarter testing can save millions while improving care for patients. 'Reducing unnecessary biopsies and scans means less stress for men and more capacity in the system.' Oxford BioDynamics worked with leading researchers and clinicians at the Imperial NHS Trust, Imperial College London, and the University of East Anglia to produce EpiSwitch. It is used following a PSA test - meaning prostate-specific antigen, identifying whether the protein levels produced by the gland are raised - and measures five markers to identify the likelihood of cancer being present. The firm's headquarters were visited by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in February this year, as he backed calls for a targeted national screening programme for men most at risk of prostate cancer. In government, Mr Sunak announced with charity PCR a £42 million screening trial to find ways of detecting prostate cancer earlier. But it is hoped a national screening programme would be the most effective way to prevent unnecessary deaths. The Mail has long campaigned for a national roll-out, a cause backed by the likes of Sir Stephen Fry, a former prostate cancer patient. The UK national screening committee has come under increasing pressure to reconsider testing policy following the news last year of Sir Chris Hoy's diagnosis with the terminal illness. Prostate cancer most frequently affects black men and those with a family history. It is often symptomless, meaning early detection is crucial in stopping the disease's spread. Earlier this week, newscaster Dermot Murnaghan revealed he is battling stage-four prostate cancer.
Metro
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
'Divisive' comedy thriller with shocking ending available to stream for free
Movie fans now have the chance to watch one of 2023's most controversial films, now that it's landed on BBC iPlayer. Dark comedy Saltburn, starring Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi, caused quite the stir when it dropped on Amazon Prime Video towards the end of 2023. Saltburn follows the story of Oxford student Oliver Quick (Keoghan), who finds himself romantically drawn to the aristocratic Felix Catton (Elordi) and his titular country estate. However, upon arriving at Saltburn, Felix and his family aren't quite what they seem, leading Oliver into a world of depravity, decadence, and even murder. The film quickly gained a reputation for its severe sexual content and nudity, as well as its frequent depiction of violence and gore, drug use, and frightening scenes. A moment towards the end of the film that used Sophie Ellis Bextor's Murder On the Dancefloor also sent that song back into the charts more than 20 years after its release. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video It was celebrated by some critics who called it 'incisive and invigorating' but was slammed by other film fans who described it as 'astoundingly misjudged'. Still, regardless of how people might have felt about the Emerald Fennell-directed film in 2023 and 2024, almost all agreed that it was certainly a memorable experience. An IMDb summary said: 'Saltburn was one of the most talked about films in the award season in 2024. The film was perhaps the most divisive of all, particularly due to the disturbing nature of the film.' And movie fans will now be able to stream Saltburn for free on BBC iPlayer right now. The film currently has a Rotten Tomatoes critical rating of 71% – new official reviews were still being added to the site almost a year after its release. Audiences who watched Saltburn reacted positively, with the fan rating currently stating that 79% of viewers would give the film a score of seven out of 10 or more. The audience consensus, generated by Rotten Tomatoes, warned: 'Saltburn is really intense and the cast does a terrific job, but if you're easily grossed out or offended, this probably isn't the movie for you.' For Metro, Tori Brazier said Saltburn had: 'Sex scenes dripping with bodily fluids, [and] a highly sexualised sequence in a cemetery that no film fan is likely to have anticipated – until it's already unfolding in front of their eyes. The film's director Emerald Fennell told Metro: 'If anyone should be asking any sort of questions about [my] sanity, for example, they should leave them maybe at my door. More Trending 'Everyone who worked on [Saltburn] was completely dedicated and completely understood the sort of film we were trying to make.' She continued: 'I wouldn't ever want to have an awkward conversation [with an actor]. I'd never ask anyone, actor or anything, to do something they weren't comfortable with. 'But when you're talking about desire, when you're talking about obsession, when you're talking about power and love, then you do have to go to places that are quite extreme.' Saltburn is streaming now on BBC iPlayer . 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: 'Underrated' horror movie hailed by fans finally arrives on Amazon Prime MORE: 'Epic' sci-fi series returns to streaming — and four more shows to binge in July MORE: Bake Off legend insists she 'won't be grateful' after TV show axed by BBC
