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Gadvasu marks Nat’l Milk Day, AI dominatesAs science continues its evolution, discoveries and technologies can act like a master key that open doors leading to novel advancements. Artificial intelligence is one such key, making innovations possible by solving complex problems, automating tasks and enabling research that would have been impossible, or very time-consuming, without it. Mohammad Hosseini But do we want to do research on all topics, and shall we try the AI master key on every door? To explore this question, let’s consider the use of AI by genomics experts as an example. In recent years, genomics experts have added unbelievable depth to what we know about the world and ourselves. For example, genetics researchers have revealed facts about when certain animals and plants were domesticated. In another example, researchers used DNA from 30,000-year-old permafrost to create fertile samples of a plant called narrow-leafed campion. Importantly, genetic engineering has facilitated extraordinary advances in the treatment of complicated conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia. Thanks to AI, we are witnessing a dramatic increase in the pace and scalability of genomic exploration. But given the risks and possible consequences of AI use in science, should we rush headlong into using AI in all kinds of projects? One relevant example is research on Neanderthals, our closest relatives, who lived about 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals have been studied for several years now through genetic investigation of their fossils and their DNA. Genetic engineering can potentially use ancient DNA and genome editing methods to re-create a Neanderthal or aspects of a Neanderthal’s genetics and physiology. To do this, scientists could start by figuring out the DNA sequence of a Neanderthal by comparing it with the DNA of modern humans, because they are closely related. Then, scientists could use the gene-editing tool known as CRISPR to swap out parts of human DNA with Neanderthal DNA. This process would require a lot of trial and error and might not succeed soon. But based on what we know about genetics, if something is possible, AI can help make it happen faster, cheaper and with less effort. Scientists are excited about these developments because they could facilitate new discoveries and open up many research opportunities in genetic research. With or without AI, research on Neanderthals will proceed. But the extraordinary power of AI could give the final push to these discoveries and facilitate this kind of resurrection. At that point, the scientific community must develop norms and guidelines about how to treat these resurrected beings with dispositions very similar to humans. We would need to carefully consider their rights and well-being almost in the same way as when humans are involved and not as research subjects or artifacts of scientific curiosity. These ethical issues are discussed in more detail in a new paper published in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence. A more holistic question to consider is: Should we prioritize the use of resource-intensive AI, researchers’ time and public funds to resurrect extinct beings? Or should we invest these resources into conserving species that are critically endangered today to prevent biodiversity from more degradation? Hosseini is an assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He wrote this for The Chicago Tribune . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!United Kingdom CFTC GBP NC Net Positions fell from previous £56.1K to £40.3K

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 26: President of the current session of the GCC Ministerial Council and Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al- Yahya affirmed the Gulf countries' unified stance on Syria’s independence and sovereignty, refusing any form of foreign interference. In his speech at the council’s 46th extraordinary meeting on the situation in Lebanon and Syria in Kuwait on Thursday, Al-Yahya called on all factions to resume the political process to achieve peace and stability for the Syrian people. He affirmed the GCC’s full support for the UNSC Resolution number 2254 and the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen. He also underlined the need to protect refugees and displaced Syrians and allow their safe return to their homes. The Middle East region is witnessing rapidly growing challenges and crises nowadays, said Al-Yahya, noting that this requires extra joint work and cooperation to achieve peace in Syria and Lebanon, which will in return positively affect the security and stability in other Arab states. Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011, the GCC has continuously supported the Syrian people, hosting donor conferences to aid them, the minister said. In this context, he noted that Kuwait had hosted three donors conferences for Syrians in 2013, 2014 and 2015, while the country also co-chaired the donor conferences in London in 2016 and Brussels in 2017. As for the situation in Lebanon, Al-Yahya said that the GCC is closely monitoring the conditions in the country, expressing deep concern over the recent developments. He reaffirmed the Gulf’s full support to Lebanon’s sovereignty, calling for a commitment to UN resolution number 1701. Moreover, the minister expressed optimism on the upcoming presidential elections on January 9 in Lebanon, hoping it would be an opportunity to bring back stability to the country. Al-Yahya expressed deep concern over the continuous Israeli occupation attacks on Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine, a clear violation of international law and human rights. The minister reaffirmed the Gulf’s commitment to support the Palestinian cause and the rights of Palestinians to have an independent state with Jerusalem as the capital. He renewed the call for the international community to end the Israeli occupation attacks on Palestinians, and allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Meanwhile, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi said Thursday that the extraordinary GCC ministerial meeting held in Kuwait reflects support to the security and stability of Syria and Lebanon. Addressing the 46th extraordinary meeting, Al-Budaiwi said the gathering also aimed at coordinating Gulf stances amid the ongoing events and swift developments in Syria and Lebanon. He added that Kuwait-hosted meeting came just a few days following the 45th GCC summit, which focused on the latest regional and international developments, mainly the Israeli occupation’s war on and continued violations in the Gaza Strip in a breach of all international laws and humanitarian norms and criteria. On Syria, he said the Gulf bloc, since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, has adopted a relentless stance and clear-cut policy regarding Syria, and has exerted efforts to support the Syrian people, citing Kuwait’s hosting of several donor conferences to alleviate the humanitarian anguish of the Syrian people. He pointed out Gulf relief and humanitarian aid worth over eight billion US dollars and hosting more than two million Syrians who enjoy full rights and benefits. Politically, the GCC member countries have thrown much weight behind UN efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis in line with Statement of Geneva One and UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2254, which underlined immediate reforms that would fulfill the Syrian people’s expectations, maintain their country’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and reject any foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs. The GCC chief condemned the recent Israeli occupation attacks on Syria, the occupation of the border area and settlement expansions in the occupied Golan Heights as a serious violation of international laws, UNSC resolutions and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. In this context, he called on the international community to take on its due role and responsibilities by moving to halt such aggressions on the Syrian territory and oblige the Israeli occupation to pull out of all occupied Syrian lands. Al-Budaiwi commended the positive steps adopted by the caretaker Syrian government for power transition and safety of Syrian civilians, along with efforts to maintain Syrian state bodies and achieve national reconciliation as a core pillar of security and stability. He also urged all Syrian parties and groups to prioritize their country’s supreme interests and national unity, and to adopt dialogue to meet the Syrian people’s hopes of security, stability, development and prosperity. On Lebanon, the GCC chief quoted the final communique of the 45th GCC gathering as having restated the bloc’s unwavering support for the Lebanese people and their country’s security and stability, in addition to its condemnation of serious Israeli occupation atrocities. He also underlined the significance of all-out political and economic reforms aiming at enabling Lebanon to overcome its political and economic crisis, implementation of UNSC Resolution 1701, home return of refugees and internally displaced persons, restoration of security and stability and respect of Lebanon’s territorial integrity, political independence and sovereignty. He concluded by saying that Kuwait-hosted meeting reflects the GCC member countries’ attention to all Arab and Muslim causes and their commitment to promoting cooperation and ensuring regional security and stability. The Ministerial Council of the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Thursday urged all parties of the Syrian people to join hands and seek bonding on the national higher interests’ bases and affirmed solid support for Lebanon’s sovereignty. The GCC council, in a statement marking the conclusion of the 46th session, called on the Syrian people to uphold national unity, launch comprehensive national dialogue for restoring security and stability to the country. The council, the session of which was chaired by Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya, affirmed the necessity of respecting the sovereignty of the sisterly Arab Republic of Syria, its independence, and territorial unity, rejecting meddling in its internal affairs, affirming the rejection of terrorism and chias. The GCC ministers applauded the steps that have been taken to protect civilians, avert blood spilling, achieve national conciliation, preserve the Syrian State assets, dissolve the militias and the armed groups and restrict weapons’ possession to the State “as these steps are based for safeguarding Syria’s security, stability, restoring its regional and international status.” They acclaimed a call by the UN Secretary-General to form a special mission to aid the Syrians in the transitional process, with emphasis on the necessity fo abide by the UN charter that calls for respecting the State sovereignty, non-interference in states’ local affairs and resolving conflicts peacefully. They condemned the recurring Israeli attacks on Syria, occupation of the buffer zone in the border region in fl agrant breach of Syria’s sovereignty and the disengagement accord worked out in 1974. On Lebanon, the GCC council affirmed the council’s unwavering stances in support of the country’s sovereignty, security, stability, and territorial unity, noting necessity to conduct full-scale structural political and economic reforms. The council affirmed necessity to adhere to the cease-fire agreement, and condemned recurring Israeli attacks that have left thousands of civilian as victims, forcing many to flee their homes, destroying infrastructural facilities, civil and health installations. It stressed oan the necessity to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the Taif accord. (KUNA)MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Senate on Thursday began considering a ban on children younger than 16 years old from social media after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly supported the age restriction. The world-first bill that would make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent young children from holding accounts is likely to be passed by the Senate on Thursday, the Parliament’s final session for the year and potentially the last before elections, which are due within months. The major parties’ support for the ban all but guarantees the legislation will become law. But many child welfare and mental health advocates are concerned about unintended consequences. Unaligned Sen. Jacqui Lambie complained about the limited amount of time the government gave the Senate to debate the age restriction, which she described as “undercooked.” “I thought this was a good idea. A lot of people out there thought it was a good idea until we looked at the detail and, let's be honest, there's no detail,” Lambie told the Senate. The House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly carried the bill 102 votes to 13. Once the legislation becomes law, the platforms would have one year to work out how they could implement the ban before penalties are enforced. The platforms complained that the law would be unworkable, and urged the Senate to delay the vote until at least June next year when a government-commissioned evaluation of age assurance technologies made its report on how young children could be excluded. Critics argue the government is attempting to convince parents it is protecting their children ahead of general elections due by May. The government hopes that voters will reward it for responding to parents' concerns about their children's addiction to social media. Some argue the legislation could cause more harm than it prevents. Criticisms include that the legislation was rushed through Parliament without adequate scrutiny, is ineffective, poses privacy risks for all users, and undermines parental authority to make decisions for their children. Opponents of the bill also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of the positive aspects of social media, drive them to the dark web, discourage children too young for social media to report harm and reduce incentives for platforms to improve online safety.

KGNU upgrading to snazzy new headquarters downtown Boulder that will double as creative hubEditor’s Note: On Saturday, my InvestorPlace colleague Luke Lango discussed how a buy-and-hold strategy can still “work”... But in an increasingly complex world and market, it’s likely to lead to a lot of challenges for most investors. That’s why Luke created his brand-new strategy, Auspex – to ensure you’re invested in the “best stocks at the best time,” regardless of market conditions. So far, it’s beaten the market five months in a row... And on this Wednesday, December 11, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time, Luke will be hosting The Auspex Anomaly Event , where he explains how you can take advantage of this strategy for yourself. Click here to sign up for the event . Below, Luke makes the case for how Auspex can be used to let you embrace the “Trump Boom” while also being wary of the potential busts. Take it away, Luke! Ever since Donald Trump won the most recent U.S. presidential election, I’ve embraced the following six-word mantra... Embrace the boom... beware the bust . Since Election Day... the S&P 500 is up about 6.2%, the Russell 2000 index of small-cap stocks has surged about 9.7%... the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 has gained about 7.2%... and Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) has also risen about 32% – reaching its all-time high of more than $100,000 earlier last week. From deregulation to tax reform, Trump promises to reshape the U.S.’ economy through pro-growth policies. Those promises are stirring investors’ “animal spirits”... and so the market will likely continue surging higher in the early days of his administration. Embrace that boom. Of course, there are some issues to worry about for a Trump administration (and a turbulent world). An across-the-board 20% tariff would cause extreme disruptions, especially to American firms that manufacture products abroad. And Trump’s selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the next head of Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) injects enormous uncertainty into the biopharma industry. Meanwhile, the rest of the world remains unpredictable, volatile. Beware those potential busts. Of course, that’s easier said than done. And that’s why my team and I spent the past year developing a system – I call it “Auspex” – that does a lot more than “say” things. It’s a tool and a strategy that turns this embrace the boom... beware the bust mindset into an actionable plan. It requires just about 10 minutes of work a month, and exposure to only around 10 stocks at a time. Even so, our historical analysis shows that from September 2019 to September 2024, that this system if rebalanced monthly, would have returned 1,054%! The S&P 500 only put up 109% over the same five-year period – so, we’re talking about an outperformance of the market by 9X. And it has beaten the market every single month since we started live-testing it with a small group of my members in July. You can learn more about why our “Auspex” system is one of the smartest trading strategies ever created and sign up for my new broadcast on Wednesday by clicking here . But before that, in this letter here, let’s dig into how much longer the Trump boom could last... And at the big reason why every investor should get in on it now – before that inevitable bust (hint: the last 30 minutes of a movie are usually the best). Plus, I want to show you how my new Auspex system can not only help you sidestep getting wiped out in that inevitable bust... but also make market-beating despite it. The Boom We’re Embracing Now Thanks in large part to the AI Revolution and long-awaited rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, the U.S. stock market has been booming for the past two years. In that AI Revolution, Big Tech and others have been racing to create the infrastructure necessary to support next-gen AI. Indeed, Meta Platforms Inc. ( META ), Microsoft Corp. ( MSFT ), Amazon.com Inc. ( AMZN ), Alphabet Inc. ( GOOGL ) – pretty much all the world’s major tech companies – continue to spend billions upon billions of dollars to build new AI data centers, create new applications, hire more engineers, etc. And all that investment has created a major economic boom. Meanwhile – after the most aggressive rate-hiking cycle in nearly 50 years – the Federal Reserve finally started lowering rates in September. This has provided much-needed relief to consumers looking to finance big purchases and businesses looking to make new investments. This relief boosted that AI Boom and... This optimal setup has helped stocks to really soar. Since hitting its lows in October 2022 – just over two years ago – the S&P 500 has surged 70% higher. It is now on track to notch its second consecutive year of 20%-plus gains. The S&P rose 24% in 2023. And so far in 2024, it is up 27%. If those gains hold, this will mark just the fourth time since the Great Depression – nearly 100 years ago – that the S&P 500 rallied more than 20% in back-to-back years. We are unequivocally in a stock market boom. And in our view, this boom is about to get even “boomier.” Thanks to Donald Trump’s victory and Republicans’ newfound control of Congress, a wave of deregulation, pro-business policies, and tax cuts are likely to sweep the nation over the next few years. Those dynamics will only add to the current economic boom. All that’s great... so long as you remember that all market booms inevitably end with busts. It is not a question of “if.” It is simply a question of “when.” The Bust We’ll Avoid in the Future Remember, the stock market is working on back-to-back years of 20%-plus gains. It has only done that three times before: in 1935/36, 1954/55, and 1995/96. After the two boom years in 1935 and ’36, stocks immediately crashed about 40% in 1937. That boom turned into a bust almost immediately. Following the market boom in 1954 and ’55, stocks went flat in ’56, then dropped 15% in 1957. The boom turned into a bust after about a year. Similarly, post-1995/96, stocks kept partying throughout 1997, ’98, and ’99 – only to crash about 50% throughout 2000-’02. After about three years, that era’s big boom turned into a big bust as well. All booms of this nature turn into busts. It’s just a matter of timing. Does that mean you should dump your stocks while you still can and head for the hills to avoid this inescapable bust? Absolutely not. The Final Word Usually, the last 30 minutes of a movie are the best part of the film. The last episode of a TV show is almost always the best one, just as the last few minutes of a ballgame are normally the most exciting. Similarly, the last few years of a stock market boom can often be the most profitable. Just look at the Dot-Com Boom of the 1990s. Tech stocks had some amazing years therein. The Nasdaq Composite rallied 40% in 1995, about 20% in ’96, another 20% in ’97, and then 40% again in ’98. But tech stocks saved their best for last, with the Nasdaq soaring almost 90% for its best year ever in 1999. Then, the bust started in 2000. Point being: The best year for tech stocks in the ’90s was the final year of the Dot-Com Boom. That’s why you don’t want to leave a stock market party early. But you also don’t want to leave too late. So, what’s an investor to do? Embrace the boom... beware the bust. Ride stocks higher, and then head for the exits when the warning signs appear. Of course, as we said before, that’s much easier said than done. But that’s exactly why we’ve been working to create the Auspex investment tool that helps folks navigate through the market turbulence and all these booms and busts. ( Sign up to reserve your spot for my free broadcast on this new tool – on Wednesday – here . ) In short, this new tool is a home-grown stock screener that I use to give my subscribers the chance to make long-term gains again and again like clockwork – but in only 30-day bursts. That way, you can get into a position, potentially make a lot of money, and then cash out. That kind of action helps limit your exposure to the increased volatility coming our way in 2025 and beyond. Perhaps the best part? It requires just about 10 minutes of work a month and exposure to only 10 or so equities at a time. And on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. EST , I’ll be unveiling this investment tool in a new broadcast that you won’t want to miss. Reserve your seat now! Sincerely, Luke Lango Senior Analyst, InvestorPlaceArcane has wrapped its second and final season on Netflix , bringing a close to the saga of Zaun, Piltover, and the various characters (both from League and not!) within. The show has been a big success for Netflix, both critically and in popularity, and has drawn interest even from people who have never and will never touch League of Legends . But how about those of us afflicted with playing League on the regular? We gathered a few of Polygon’s League players, each of whom has a different relationship with League lore, to discuss how the show handled adapting the game’s universe, our favorite moments and characters, and more. Whether you play League or not, we’d love to know what you think as well in the comments. What do you think of Arcane ’s overall depiction of the League universe? Pete Volk: I’m stunned at how good the show is compared to what it had to work with. I love League , but never in a million years could I have imagined a show this good, the kind that I could watch with my partner who doesn’t play League and we’d both love it. And it’s the best-looking show on TV. I also have to say again how much I admire Riot and Fortiche’s restraint. We’re in an era of IP-driven media where it seems like the point of a lot of projects is to stuff in as many recognizable Easter eggs as possible , hoping that audiences’ fond memories of other projects will transfer over to this one. Instead, Arcane had a light touch when it came to its references from the world of League of Legends , using the game as a foundation to tell the story they wanted to tell. That doesn’t mean it feels divorced from the world of League : Rather, Arcane has strengthened the existing world-building and made me, a person who never much cared about the lore element of the game, much more invested in the world, its factions, and its characters. Cass Marshall: Arcane did a great job of depicting Piltover and Zaun, but I was especially impressed by how they occasionally wove in other champions and references to the greater setting. The depictions of Janna and Orianna are pretty brief, but they make the world feel more connected to League . Also, I enjoyed getting to see so much of Noxian culture and aesthetics influencing the story. Saira Mueller: I’m not very familiar with League lore, so I loved Arcane ’s depiction of the characters and their relationships. It was also really interesting to see the settings the characters grew up in and how that shaped who they are. I loved when there was crossover between League and Arcane , like when new champions would make an appearance, or when a character would use their ult or say one of their in-game lines. Which champion’s characterization on the show was your favorite? PV: Probably Viktor , but I also loved the scenes with Ekko and alternate-universe Powder in Act 3. Or Heimerdinger’s new life as a busking musician. Or how Caitlyn was manipulated by Ambessa, and the latter’s general show of force on the show. Or... I could just go on, I guess! CM: For me, the award has to go to Viktor, simply because they had the least amount of material to work with. In-game, Viktor raves about the glorious evolution and the weakness of flesh, but he’s a bit of a one-note villain. His upcoming update will surely address this, but I enjoyed how Arcane showed him as a young scientist and a revolutionary. SM: Oooof, this is a hard choice, honestly. As a Jinx main, I found it fascinating to see her progression throughout the show. Seeing her origins and the development of her abilities gave me a new appreciation for who she is in-game. But also, Ekko and Viktor! Is there a champion whose characterization you didn’t like? PV: Honestly, not really! I guess Singed was a little underbaked compared to his counterparts, but I think that was the right decision to keep the show moving. CM: Poor Vi, set up as a rebel and a Zaunite, but forced to end up a cop due to her League of Legends biography. Don’t get me wrong, I loved seeing Vi on the big screen, and the animators did an incredible job of bringing her to life. But her fate was sealed at the beginning, and it’s a little sad to see her struggle with her Zaunite identity, only to end up with Caitlyn in Piltover in the end. SM: Jayce is hot as shit, but his personality for most of the show was hard to like. He came across as slightly annoying and too one-track minded and self-righteous to me. Is there a champion you were hoping you’d see but who didn’t show up? PV: I’m a Sion main, and the Noxus stuff had me on the lookout for the big guy. But like I said above, I appreciate the show’s restraint on this kind of thing, and prefer its approach of limited champions. CM: On one hand, I’d have loved to see Camille. As a secretive agent operating on behalf of one of Piltover’s prestigious families, she would have had a huge influence on the story. On the other hand, maybe that impact would have been too big. A show needs a certain amount of conflict in order to work, and I can see Camille nipping all of these plot points in the bud. She’s just too efficient, so she can’t get involved. SM: Ezreal was top of this list. I think it would have been interesting to have an accidental agent of chaos on the Piltover side of things, but I guess he’s always off on adventures. Is there an Arcane character who is not in League that you would want to see as a champion? PV: EASY one here — Mel. Her evolution at the end of the show makes for a really intriguing potential League champion, and I’d love to see her join the roster along with her mom. But Sevika would also be sick. CM: Definitely Sevika, especially if they find a way to put the spinning reels and explosive effects to use in a kit. Give my girl a little bit more spotlight; she was an incredibly underrated part of the show. SM: Mel Medarda! Her transition in Arcane was fascinating and it could make for some cool mechanics in-game. Also, the dynamic with having her mother in League could make for some great lines if they go up against each other. Were there any Easter eggs you particularly enjoyed? PV: My favorite was depicting Warwick’s W on the show . It felt like the right combination of nodding to source material from the game while still creating an engaging visual and narrative that people who have never played can still follow. CM: There’s a play rehearsal where we can see one of the Lightshields, the ruling line of Demacia, being crowned. We can likely assume this is a story of one of the Jarvans, of which there are four. It’s a small Easter egg that fits perfectly into the universe, and it makes me want to watch a whole performance, which is no small feat. SM: Warwick’s blood trail ability and ultimate reveal. I’m still crying tbh. But I’m also curious to see what (if anything) happens with Orianna. Is there anything you hope Riot takes from Arcane as it thinks about its own world-building in League ? PV: I think leaving things pretty broad in League lore so that future creators adapting the universe in various forms can make their own interesting choices is a smart call that can create more magic like Arcane , which is just way more interesting than any League lore I’ve read or encountered. CM: Jayce and Viktor started out in League’ s lore as a superhero and his nemesis. Jayce was always a bit too big for his britches, and Viktor was a bit more sympathetic than the populace of Piltover thought, but there wasn’t a lot of depth to their dynamic. I desperately need more discussions between the two about their dynamic as lab partners. They’re a far more interesting duo with all of that nuance and history between them. SM: I would love for Riot to add in-game interaction lines between the characters from Arcane — things that hint at their relationships and dynamics. Also, more League character updates or skins to make them look like their Arcane characters. I guess just more crossover in general! Where would you want the next League show to be set? PV: While Noxus is the most sensible next destination , I’ll vouch for the Freljord here. I think the cold environment would be a fun setting, and I would love to see Braum in a show like this. CM: I’m eager to go to Noxus, because there’s so much narrative potential there. Noxus started out as the bad-guy faction who lived in a giant skull castle, and Riot has slowly refined them into a very interesting parallel to the Roman Empire, packed full of magical intrigue and dark secrets. It’d be fascinating to see the Black Rose with a home advantage, and there’s enough conflict, political maneuvering, and outright murder to fuel a whole other series. SM: Demacia! And not just because I want to see Sylas’ story... That or The Freljord! Give me Ashe, Gnar, and Lissandra, please. Although it seems like the next show will likely be set in Noxus, based on the Easter eggs in Arcane . Sigh. If it has to be Noxus, at least give me Vladimir, Riot! Animation Entertainment Opinion TV

As science continues its evolution, discoveries and technologies can act like a master key that open doors leading to novel advancements. Artificial intelligence is one such key, making innovations possible by solving complex problems, automating tasks and enabling research that would have been impossible, or very time-consuming, without it. Mohammad Hosseini But do we want to do research on all topics, and shall we try the AI master key on every door? To explore this question, let’s consider the use of AI by genomics experts as an example. In recent years, genomics experts have added unbelievable depth to what we know about the world and ourselves. For example, genetics researchers have revealed facts about when certain animals and plants were domesticated. In another example, researchers used DNA from 30,000-year-old permafrost to create fertile samples of a plant called narrow-leafed campion. People are also reading... Beatrice house suffers severe damage from Christmas fire Is John Dutton real? Meet the powerful rancher seemingly inspiring the 'Yellowstone' legend Former Beatrice man sentenced for sex assault of runaway At the courthouse, Dec. 21, 2024 Beatrice church starts construction on fellowship hall Beatrice man pleads guilty to receiving child sex abuse images Gage County supervisors vote down FOP contract offer Downtown Beatrice festive for the holidays What’s open and closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2024? Main Street welcomes new director Gage County says board had authority to deny permit for broadband provider Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez signs with LOVB's Omaha team Matt Rhule and Nebraska football plan Pinstripe Bowl practice in Central Park As Brenda Lee turns 80, the Christmas song she sang as a teen is a holiday staple ‘Turn this program around': Jacory Barney thinking big after starring as Nebraska freshman Importantly, genetic engineering has facilitated extraordinary advances in the treatment of complicated conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia. Thanks to AI, we are witnessing a dramatic increase in the pace and scalability of genomic exploration. But given the risks and possible consequences of AI use in science, should we rush headlong into using AI in all kinds of projects? One relevant example is research on Neanderthals, our closest relatives, who lived about 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals have been studied for several years now through genetic investigation of their fossils and their DNA. Genetic engineering can potentially use ancient DNA and genome editing methods to re-create a Neanderthal or aspects of a Neanderthal’s genetics and physiology. To do this, scientists could start by figuring out the DNA sequence of a Neanderthal by comparing it with the DNA of modern humans, because they are closely related. Then, scientists could use the gene-editing tool known as CRISPR to swap out parts of human DNA with Neanderthal DNA. This process would require a lot of trial and error and might not succeed soon. But based on what we know about genetics, if something is possible, AI can help make it happen faster, cheaper and with less effort. Scientists are excited about these developments because they could facilitate new discoveries and open up many research opportunities in genetic research. With or without AI, research on Neanderthals will proceed. But the extraordinary power of AI could give the final push to these discoveries and facilitate this kind of resurrection. At that point, the scientific community must develop norms and guidelines about how to treat these resurrected beings with dispositions very similar to humans. We would need to carefully consider their rights and well-being almost in the same way as when humans are involved and not as research subjects or artifacts of scientific curiosity. These ethical issues are discussed in more detail in a new paper published in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence. A more holistic question to consider is: Should we prioritize the use of resource-intensive AI, researchers’ time and public funds to resurrect extinct beings? Or should we invest these resources into conserving species that are critically endangered today to prevent biodiversity from more degradation? Hosseini is an assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He wrote this for The Chicago Tribune . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!A Kansas City man has been indicted for allegedly hacking into computer networks and using this access to promote his cybersecurity services. According to the Department of Justice, Nicholas Michael Kloster, 31, of Kansas City, Missouri, breached two computer networks, a health club business and a nonprofit organization. According to the indictment unsealed on Friday, Kloster had been involved in at least three incidents investigated by the FBI against an equal number of organizations not named in the document. The first incident occurred on April 26, 2024, around midnight, when Kloster breached the premises of a health club that operates multiple gyms in the state and gained access to its systems. Next, he sent an email to one of the gym's owners claiming he had hacked their computers and promoted his services in the same message, apparently seeking to get hired by the company for security consulting services. "I managed to circumvent the login for the security cameras by using their visible IP addresses. I also gained access to the GoogleFiber Router settings, which allowed me to use [redacted] to explore user accounts associated with the domain," reads the email shared in the indictment . "If I can reach the files on a user's computer, it indicates potential for deeper system access." In addition to the contracting proposal to the gym owner, the U.S. Department of Justice says Kloster reduced his monthly gym membership fee to just $1, deleted his photograph from the gym's database, and stole a staff member's name tag. Weeks later, the suspect posted a screenshot on social media showing the gym's security camera system under his control. Later, on May 20, the indictment says Kloster physically breached a nonprofit organization and accessed a restricted area where he used a boot disk to bypass authentication requirements and gain access to sensitive information. Kloster allegedly installed a virtual private network (VPN) on the nonprofit's computer and changed account passwords. The DOJ says his actions caused an estimated data of $5,000 to the nonprofit, which had to remediate the intrusion and secure their systems following Kloster's intrusion. Finally, Kloster is accused of using stolen credit card information from his former employer, a third company, to purchase 'hacking thumb drives' designed to exploit vulnerable systems. If proven guilty, Kloster could face sentences of up to 15 years in prison (5 years for unauthorized access + 10 years for reckless damage), fines, and restitution to the victims for financial losses.

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