Controversy Mounts Over LK-99 Superconductor
LK-99, a material discovered by Korean researchers last month — reportedly capable of conducting electricity at room temperature and pressure — has touched off a global race to replicate and verify the groundbreaking superconductor.
Superconductors are materials that conduct electricity without resistance but can only be achieved in extremely low temperatures or under high pressure. They are critical to various everyday applications, from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines to The European Organization for Nuclear Research's (CERN) Large Hadron Collider.
On July 22, two separate non-peer-reviewed papers were uploaded to Cornell University's pre-print server by Sukbae Lee and Ji-Hoon Kim. These papers purported that LK-99, a lead-copper compound, was a superconductor that could create a room-temperature semiconductor with no loss of energy.
Narrative A
Unfortunately, this would-be breakthrough is a dud, as every attempt to replicate the experiment's results has been lackluster. Many professional physicists have found the research to be amateurish and improbable. However, this has kept the media and financial markets from running away with a dubious science story. Until proven otherwise, LK-99 is a flop.
Narrative B
The LK-99 saga has been a fruitful and inspiring moment for science. Everyone, from backyard researchers to Ivy League teams, has been attempting to test the original claims, sparking a scientific frenzy the world has not seen in some time. While the initial claims may or may not be debunked, the world looked at science-in-action and can build on this research to continue the superconductor hunt. The implications from manufacturing to computing to transportation could be enormous.
Nerd narrative
There is a 2% chance a room-temperature and ambient-pressure superconductor will be used in a commercial application before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Review: New Zealand Must Boost Defense Spending
On Friday, New Zealand introduced its first-ever national security strategy alongside the first phase of a defense review, calling for more spending on its military and the strengthening of ties with countries in the Indo-Pacific.
Presented by Defense Minister Andrew Little, the review said that the island nation must boost its military budget from approximately 1% of the nation's GDP to nearly 2%.
The analysis further concluded that New Zealand's defense "is not in a fit state to respond to future challenges," adding that its primary function is currently to provide aid during natural disasters or peacekeeping missions.
Anti-China narrative
The wording, the overall tone, and the substance of the new National Security Strategy represent a historic shift. China's aggression has been — and continues to be — a major concern as it elbows its way in the Indo-Pacific, forcing New Zealand to take the necessary steps to become combat-ready. This review is long overdue.
Pro-China narrative
New Zealand has maintained warmer relations with Beijing than many of its Western allies amid rising global tensions. PM Chris Hipkins's recent visit to Beijing showed that he's interested in stabilizing and improving relations with China. However, this latest analysis may be the first sign that Wellington has lost its ability to think for itself and is now echoing the US' strategy toward Beijing.
Two US Navy Sailors Charged With Spying for China
Two US Navy personnel have been arrested in California on charges of allegedly passing sensitive military information to China, prosecutors said Thursday.
China-born Jinchao Wei, 22, a machinist's mate aboard the USS Essex, is accused of handing over technical documents, photographs, and video footage of weapons systems and other "critical technology" used aboard the ships to a Chinese intelligence officer.
Wei, who faces four charges — including one under the rarely used Espionage Act — served in the Navy since July 2021 and allegedly began spying for China when he applied to become a naturalized US citizen.
Anti-China narrative
These two American sailors violated their commitments to protect the US and abused the public trust to the PRC's advantage. However, most critically, their arrest reflects the PRC's reckless efforts to harm the US as the defender of the free world and to subvert its laws by tapping sensitive military information. The two cases must be rigorously investigated to defend the US against China as the leading threat to its national security.
Pro-China narrative
The incident is just the latest example of how Washington is constantly hyping cases of Chinese "espionage." The PRC is portrayed as a national security threat while US intelligence agencies boast about rebuilding their spy networks in China. The US is waging a smear campaign against China's counterintelligence, yet it can't hide that it's a world leader in infiltrating other countries, while mass surveillance of US citizens is widespread and extensive.
Nerd narrative
There is a 20% chance of war between China and the US before 2035, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump Ally Charged in Alleged 2020 Michigan Vote Scheme
Stefanie Lambert Junttila, a lawyer and an ally of former Pres. Trump, was charged on Thursday with accessing, tampering with, and undue possession of voting machines in the state of Michigan following the 2020 presidential election.
The charges come only days after Republican lawyer Matthew DePerno and GOP state Rep. Daire Rendon were also arraigned on Tuesday in connection to the case.
The office of Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, has accused Trump's allies of plotting to access voting machines from across the state. The charges have been brought by special prosecutor DJ Hilson, having petitioned to convene a grand jury.
Democratic narrative
Trump and prominent Michigan Republican figures are facing the consequences for repeatedly pushing baseless conspiracy theories, after their ham-fisted and meritless attempts to undermine the 2020 election. These Trumpist Michigan officials are getting what they deserve.
Pro-Trump narrative
There are clearly two sets of laws for the left and the right in America, and Biden's Dept. of Justice is actively targeting Trump and his allies as he poses the greatest threat in 2024. To retain power at all costs and to destroy a political rival, Democrats are weaponizing the constitutional foundations of the US.
Nerd narrative
There's an 80% chance that prediction markets will say Donald Trump is the most likely Republican nominee for President on January 1, 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UK's NHS to Expand Use of Private Sector
In an effort to clear record National Health Service (NHS) backlogs, UK PM Rishi Sunak is planning the largest expansion of private healthcare sector involvement since the Blair era. To start, private firms will be asked to operate eight community diagnostic centers (CDCs) and carry out over 400K scans, tests, and checks per year.
As ministers hope relaxing the rules for issuing contracts will give more flexibility to local health leaders, the private sector, which already handles hundreds of thousands of treatments and appointments per year, says it can provide an additional 30% support more than it currently does.
The latest figures show 7.47M people – which is more than one in eight – are on waiting lists, the highest number since records began in 2007.
Narrative A
The government's failure to expand the public health sector long predates COVID, and its expansion of private involvement hasn't quelled the crisis. Despite public opinion showing a strong preference toward the NHS and opposition to the unaffordable private health industry in the US, both Labor and the Tories have only paid lip service to their constituents while moving steadily toward a private sector takeover.
Narrative B
The problem with a completely public health sector is that doesn't motivate innovation. Both liberals and conservatives should agree that the NHS, while maintaining its core principles, should allow the growth aspect of the private sector to assist in strengthening the institution as it plummets in quality and capacity. Privatize shouldn't be a dirty word — it's what's needed to dig the UK out of this hole.
US Migration Offices to Open in Colombia
Colombia's foreign ministry announced on Thursday that two offices for migrants hoping to reach the US would open in the country as part of a "Safe Mobility" initiative between the US and Latin American countries designed to curb dangerous migrant passages to the US.
Along with a third office in the city of MedellÃn that opened Aug. 1, the offices are part of a six-month "exploratory phase." In June, the US announced migrant processing centers would be opened in Guatemala.
The Safe Mobility plan was formed in April between the US, Panama, and Colombia and was designed to stop migration through the dangerous Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama, which has seen a record number of crossings this year.
Pro-establishment narrative
The Safe Mobility offices are going to be a vital tool in stopping dangerous migration to the southern border. By allowing migrants to apply for asylum in the countries they are already present in, it could curtail loss of life and hamper human trafficking operations that smuggle migrants to the US. Other Latin American countries are interested in the plan, as it could help lessen the migration crisis gripping the continent.
Establishment-critical narrative
While this initiative sounds good in principle, the reality on the ground is that requirements for the Safe Mobility program are so stringent that the average migrant cannot even think of applying for asylum in the US. Those without financial means, a sponsor in the US, or the appropriate documentation are shut out of the program, excluding those who need the most help. This program is window dressing to mask America's continuing disregard for migrants.
Study: Bacteria Could Stop Malaria Transmission
Scientists with GSK Pharmaceutical have reportedly discovered a naturally occurring bacteria that prevents mosquitos from developing the malaria parasite, with research suggesting it could reduce mosquito's malaria load by 73%.
The TC1 strain of Delftia tsuruhatensis, when introduced to mosquito colonies in a controlled environment, did not harm the mosquitos. It did, however, produce a neurotoxin known as harmane, which inhibited parasite development.
GSK researchers had discovered the anti-parasitic properties of TC1 by accident, after noticing that they were unable to infect some laboratory mosquitos with malaria. The culprit was TC1, a microbe present in the gut of the mosquitos.
Narrative A
The news regarding malaria-destroying microbes is stunning, as the world has a chance to finally defeat one of the world's oldest killers. By circumventing lengthy clinical trials for medical interventions and the bioethical minefield of mosquito gene editing, this method could eliminate malaria without interfering with ecosystems. We should monitor these developments with excitement.
Narrative B
While this is a promising development, it could be all for naught if the world doesn't grapple with the climate crisis. There's good evidence to suggest that climate is directly linked with malaria incidence, and a warming planet could lead to an explosion of cases. We need to prepare for the malaria onslaught before it's too late.
Putin Critic Alexei Navalny Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison
A court in Russia extended opposition leader Alexey Navalny's prison sentence by 19 years on Friday. A vocal critic of Russia's actions in Ukraine, Navalny is currently serving a nine-year sentence on fraud and contempt of court charges.
Navalny was found guilty on six counts he rejects as being politically motivated — including financing extremism, promoting Nazism, inciting children to dangerous acts, and creating an illegal group.
Navalny, a 47-year-old lawyer, and politician — and Russian President Putin's most prominent opponent — has been imprisoned since 2021 after returning to Russia following his recovery from nerve agent poisoning.
Pro-Russia narrative
Navalny is a dangerous extremist who created an extremist organization and directed his associates to carry out polarizing activities aimed at undermining public security and state integrity and changing the Russian political system. As he has repeatedly violated the law, it's only fair that due process is carried out.
Anti-Russia narrative
The Kremlin has disturbingly attempted to silence Navalny and prevent his calls for transparency and accountability from reaching the Russian people for years. This is an unjust conclusion to an unjust trial and shows how judicial harassment and the court system are weaponized for political purposes in Russia.
Nerd narrative
There's a 3% chance that Alexei Navalny will become president or prime minister of Russia in his lifetime, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Report: World's Oceans Break Heat Record
According to the EU's earth observation program Copernicus Climate Change Service, the average surface temperature of the world’s oceans hit a record-breaking 20.96C (69.73F) this week.
The previous record was set in 2016. Scientists expect the temperatures to continue increasing in the coming months as oceans worldwide are usually warmest in March, not August.
"The fact that we've seen the record now makes me nervous about how much warmer the ocean may get between now and next March," says Dr. Samantha Burgess from Copernicus.
Narrative A
Record-breaking ocean temperatures are just the tip of the iceberg and a warning sign of the chaos to come. We are quickly moving into uncharted, dangerous territory because of the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere out of greed and consumerism. Something has to be done now for our planet to survive.
Narrative B
Climate alarmists have been predicting the world will end because of climate change for decades. Doomsaying doesn't get us anywhere and focuses on the wrong issues. The end of the world isn't coming any time soon and the catastrophic framing of climate change does far more harm than good.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the total damage incurred by climate change in the 21st century, as measured by its impact on GDP, will be at least 10.98%, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Expelled Tennessee Democrats Win Back State Legislature Seats
Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, the two Democratic Tennessee state representatives who were expelled by Republicans in April for protesting gun violence on the Tenn. House floor, have been reelected to their old seats following elections Thursday.
Though they were reinstated on an interim basis by local officials, Jones, from Nashville, had to defeat Republican candidate Laura Nelson, while Pearson, from Memphis, defeated independent Jeff Johnston. Both districts strongly lean towards Democrats.
Jones, Pearson, and their colleague Rep. Gloria Johnson led the protest without approval days after a deadly shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville that saw three children and three adults killed. The demonstration led to outside protesters entering the statehouse.
Left narrative
The Tennessee GOP's expulsion vote certainly did backfire, as "the Justins" now have even more influence than ever before. What did they think would happen after they kicked out the two officeholders with enough charisma and popularity to bring their constituents down to the statehouse for a peaceful demonstration? Voters are tired of seeing people shot dead due to lax gun laws and an authoritarian-leaning GOP, so the Justin movement is just beginning.
Republican narrative
First and foremost, the expulsion was not racist, as Gloria Johnson never screamed on the House floor, let alone into a bullhorn, as her colleagues did. The Tennessee House has a code of conduct for a reason — to prevent mobs like the one summoned by Jones and Pearson from disrupting the business of lawmakers. Whether these democrats regained their seats or not, the GOP should be proud that it stood up to the woke, unruly mob.
Nerd narrative
There is a 0.2% chance that the Second Amendment, as written and in force on December 13th, 2018, will be successfully amended or repealed before Jan. 1, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.