EARTHQUAKE DEVASTATES MYANMAR AND SOUTHEAST ASIA KILLING 140
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Southeast Asia on Friday, causing widespread destruction and killing more than 140 people in Myanmar. The earthquake’s epicenter was near Mandalay, Myanmar’s ancient royal capital, and affected neighboring Thailand. In Thailand, a tower block under construction in Bangkok collapsed, leaving 117 people missing and five confirmed dead. Mandalay suffered significant damage, with buildings, roads, and bridges destroyed. Rescue teams have retrieved numerous bodies, including 60 from monasteries in Pyinmanar, near the capital Naypyidaw. Local media and residents reported widespread panic as buildings collapsed, and many fled their homes. The situation is complicated by ongoing conflict in Myanmar, where a military junta is battling insurgents. This unrest is expected to hinder rescue and relief efforts. (Reuters)
US SCIENTISTS CONSIDER LEAVING AMID POLITICAL RESEARCH CHANGES
Following significant changes in US research under President Trump’s administration, many scientists are reconsidering their careers, with over 1,200 respondents to a Nature poll indicating they are considering leaving the US. The disruptions, including funding cuts, halted federally funded science, and firings of researchers, have led to widespread uncertainty. Europe and Canada are among the top destinations for relocation. Early-career scientists are particularly affected, with many losing funding and facing limited job prospects. One graduate student in agriculture lost her research support and is now exploring opportunities in Europe, Australia, and Mexico. Meanwhile, some US-based scientists are seeking opportunities abroad, with institutions in countries like Canada seeing a surge in interest. Although some researchers plan to stay, many are uncertain about the future and feel forced to leave due to the changing political and academic landscape. (Nature)
TRUMP SIGNS ORDER TO REMOVE “DIVISIVE NARRATIVES” FROM SMITHSONIAN
President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting the Smithsonian Institution, aiming to remove what he calls “divisive narratives” and “improper ideology” from its programs. He claims that over the past decade, American history has been rewritten to promote a distorted, ideological narrative, and he seeks to ensure that the institution’s museums and research centers reflect “objective facts” rather than ideological views. The order places Vice President JD Vance, a member of the Smithsonian Board of Regents, in charge of overseeing these changes. Trump also criticized institutions like the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Women’s History Museum, asserting that museums should educate without promoting political agendas. The order hints at reinstating Confederate statues removed after the George Floyd protests, and mandates improvements to Independence Hall ahead of its 250th anniversary. Trump also seeks to ensure future Smithsonian funding aligns with conservative values and federal policy. (AP)
WHO REPORTS MEASLES OUTBREAK IN US WITH 378 CASES
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported an ongoing measles outbreak in the United States, with 378 confirmed cases across 17 states as of March 20. The outbreak involves three distinct clusters and two deaths, with 90% of cases linked to these clusters. Texas has reported the highest number, with cases also appearing in New Mexico. The Kansas Department of Health confirmed 23 cases in six counties, mostly among unvaccinated individuals, while Ohio reported 10 cases in Ashtabula County. Genetic analysis of the virus shows that the Texas D8 genotype has spread to New Mexico and Kansas. The WHO stated that there is no evidence of reduced vaccine effectiveness or changes in the virus, but highlighted the high risk in the Americas due to low vaccination coverage from pandemic disruptions, vaccine hesitancy, and limited access to healthcare. (CIDRAP)
US POULTRY FARMS HIT BY MULTIPLE BIRD FLU OUTBREAKS
Since 2022, numerous U.S. poultry operations have been reinfected by bird flu, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in federal payouts. At least 56 poultry farms, primarily in South Dakota, have been infected twice, and 17 farms have experienced three outbreaks. Six farms in South Dakota have had four outbreaks, receiving substantial payments. The USDA has paid over $365 million to farms with reinfections and more than $1.1 billion for flock culling and replacements. These recurring outbreaks highlight the need for stronger prevention, including poultry vaccination and changes in farming practices. Experts suggest smaller, less densely packed farms could reduce outbreak risks, and better biosecurity alone isn’t enough. Vaccinating poultry could help prevent production losses and mitigate future pandemics, though challenges such as testing vaccinated birds and export limitations remain. The U.S. is investing in biosecurity and treatments while exploring new agricultural practices to support affected producers. (The Guardian)
RESEARCHERS DEVELOP ADVANCED METHOD FOR PROMPT INJECTION ATTACKS ON LLMS
Researchers have developed a new, more effective method for creating prompt injection attacks against closed-weights language models (LLMs) like Google’s Gemini, OpenAI’s GPT-3, and GPT-4. These attacks exploit the fine-tuning feature of LLMs, which allows models to be trained on specialized data. By using discrete optimization, the researchers created “Fun-Tuning,” an algorithmic approach that improves the likelihood of prompt injection success. Fun-Tuning works by generating random prefixes and suffixes for prompt injections, making them more likely to succeed. This method is significantly faster and more efficient than previous manual methods, achieving high success rates in attacks against Gemini models. Despite these advancements, the use of fine-tuning in LLMs makes them vulnerable to exploitation. The researchers suggest that mitigating this vulnerability will be difficult, as fine-tuning is crucial for model optimization, and any restrictions could undermine its utility. Google is actively working on defenses, but addressing this attack vector remains challenging. (Ars Technica)
MASAKI KASHIWARA WINS 2025 ABEL PRIZE FOR MATHEMATICAL INNOVATION
Masaki Kashiwara, a project professor at Kyoto University, has been awarded the 2025 Abel Prize for his pioneering work in algebraic analysis and representation theory. Recognized as a “mathematical visionary,” Kashiwara is celebrated for his development of D-module theory, which provides a new approach to studying systems of linear differential equations. This groundbreaking work has opened new fields in mathematics. Kashiwara, 78, is the first Japanese recipient of the prestigious award, which is often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Mathematics.” He is best known for the “SKK Paper” published in 1973, alongside Mikio Sato and Takahiro Kawai, which laid the foundations of algebraic analysis. Even after retiring in 2010, he continued contributing to the field. The Abel Prize, worth 7.5 million Norwegian kroner ($710,000), will be awarded to him in Oslo on May 20. (Asahi)
PHILIPPINES RANKS THIRD IN ASIA FOR HEAT IMPACTS
According to Climate Central, the Philippines is the third most heat-impacted country in Asia, with 37 of 51 Asian countries experiencing abnormal warming. The Philippines ranks eighth in Asia for risky heat days, which are days with temperatures exceeding the 90th percentile of local historical norms. The report highlights that climate change has added over 30 extra days of life-threatening heat for nearly 394 million people. Global heat exposure is increasing, with at least one in five people worldwide experiencing higher temperatures daily. The World Meteorological Organization’s 2024 State of the Climate report confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing the previous year by 0.1°C. Oceans reached record heat levels, and sea levels also hit new highs. The report noted the largest glacier loss in recorded history and the highest number of displaced people due to extreme weather events, with 151 unprecedented events recorded in 2024. (One News)
MIWATARI ICE RIDGE MISSING IN JAPAN DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
For over 600 years, residents of Suwa, Japan, have celebrated the return of the Miwatari, a natural ice ridge that appears on Lake Suwa after freezing temperatures. This phenomenon, once believed to be the trail of a wandering god, has been recorded annually since 1443. However, for the past seven winters, the Miwatari has failed to appear due to the lake not freezing, a rare occurrence last seen 500 years ago. This absence is attributed to global climate change, as the lake has only fully frozen 7 times in the past 25 years. While science explains the formation of the ice ridges, the Miwatari’s failure has stripped it of its mystical significance, with locals now viewing it as a warning about climate change. Despite the disappointment, the community, led by the chief priest of Yatsurugi Shrine, continues to record the event, maintaining the centuries-old tradition while reflecting on the changing world. (New York Times)
CHINA’S SPACE LAB OUTLINES AMBITIOUS SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION PLANS
China’s “Deep Space Exploration Laboratory,” established three years ago, is spearheading ambitious plans to explore the Solar System, including outer planets. The laboratory, in partnership with the University of Science and Technology of China, has revealed future missions such as the 2028 Tianwen-3 mission to collect Martian samples, the 2029 Tianwen-4 mission to explore Jupiter’s moon Callisto, and a 2039 mission to Neptune’s moon Triton. While only the first two missions are formally approved, China’s space program, including the successful Tianwen-1 Mars mission, demonstrates their capability. With NASA facing potential budget cuts, China is positioning itself as a serious contender in planetary exploration. However, the ambitious scope of China’s plans raises questions about their feasibility, particularly with the technical challenges involved. Despite potential setbacks, China’s rising space ambitions could reshape global space exploration, posing a credible challenge to NASA’s historic dominance. (Ars Technica)
Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.
WORDS: The Biology Guy.