Climate: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Announces Intent To Conduct Methane Reduction Projects
Last Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy announced a Notice of Intent (NOI) to fund the reduction of methane emissions from oil and gas sectors. This plan is a part of U.S. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, a plan that “[mobilizes] historic levels of private sector investments in the United States” according to the White House. According to the EPA, the methane reduction projects funded would focus on three areas: reducing air pollution caused by existing infrastructure, deploying effective methane reduction solutions, and measuring methane emissions from oil and natural gas operations. The notice of intent was issued mostly to give time for applicants to prepare their proposals for these funding opportunities, according to Reuters. In accepting and implementing these concepts, the United States plans to address methane emissions throughout the oil and gas supply chain. According to Jennifer Macedonia, EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Office of Air and Radiation, these investments will contribute to the Biden Administration’s formidable goal of reducing climate pollution while simultaneously benefiting public health.
Technology: Researchers Discover Applications of AI in Predicting Responses To Anti-Depressant Treatment
Recently, researchers from the Amsterdam University Medical Center devised a remedy to the delays associated with assessing whether antidepressants improve a case of depression or not. The study used “electronic health record (EHR) data and artificial intelligence (AI) to predict response to four antidepressants classes (SSRI, SNRI, bupropion, and mirtazapine)”, according to Nature. During their study, the researcher focused on sertraline, or Zoloft, one of the most prescribed first-line antidepressant treatments and conducted clinical trials on 229 patients aged between 18 and 65, which was then published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, according to Euro News. A prominent strength of the study was “combining MRI data with clinical parameters,” such as blood flow, according to Dr. Soroush Saghafian, an associate professor at Harvard University. However, a limitation of the study was the focus on solely one antidepressant, an unrealistic standard for the numerous treatments patients take for depression. In the future, the researchers hope to externally validate their AI algorithm using clinical data that was not used to train their model.
International: New Intel on Russian Space-Based Nuclear Capabilities Raises U.S. Concern
This Wednesday, the United States informed Congress and allies in Europe about Russia threatening to deploy a potential anti-satellite nuclear system in space. The intel was made clear in a public announcement by Representative Michael R. Turner, a Republican of Ohio and the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. According to CNN, the nuclear weaponry would be designed to disrupt the United States’ vast satellite communications network, hindering civilian and military communications crucial to national military operations. On the contrary, senior Congress members have dismissed this suspicion, citing that the current development of this system “does not pose an immediate threat to the US or its interests”. According to the New York Times, Mr. Turner has requested President Biden to declassify all intelligence related to the nuclear system so that the United States can formulate a proper response to the threat.
Sports: Kelvin Kiptum, Marathon World Record-Holder, Dies at 24 In Car Crash
Last Sunday, Kelvin Kiptum, who had shattered the men’s marathon world record last year, died in a car crash on Sunday at the young age of 24. Around the time of his death, Kiptum’s world marathon record at last year’s Chicago Marathon, 2:00.35, was confirmed by international track federation World Athletics, according to the New York Times. Holding a record ridiculously close to the unfathomed two-hour barrier in the 26.2-mile marathon, Kelvin Kiptum was deemed “an extraordinary athlete to leave an extraordinary mark on the world,” as stated by William Ruto, president of Kenya.
Born in the Kenyan village of Chepsamo, Kiptum’s humble beginnings as a cattle herder did not hinder him from training rigorously in the distance-running heartland of Kenya’s Rift Valley to become one of the world’s top athletes, according to CNN. Following his 23rd birthday, Kiptum underwent a meteoric rise to athletic fame from his first marathon in Valencia, shattering three world records during his career. In the 2023 Chicago Marathon, his efforts and accolades culminated in nearly breaking the 2-hour marathon time, an unprecedented benchmark in the history of marathon records. Before his unfortunate death, Kiptum had hoped to race in Rotterdam as well as the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Politics: In a Narrow House Vote, Cabinet of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is Impeached
This Tuesday, the United States House of Representatives voted to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas in a narrow vote, 214-213. The impeachment follows a failed attempt last week by Republican House members to hold a majority in the initial floor vote, a strategy the Republicans intended to use to “spotlight the Biden administration’s handling of the southern border”, according to CNN. GOP House members have rejected most hopes of a bipartisan agreement on Mayorkas’ impeachment, rejecting a bipartisan legislative solution negotiated by Senate Republicans. Democrats of the House, including President Biden, deemed the impeachment vote a “blatant act of unconstitutional partnership” as well as trampling on the U.S. Constitution for political gain, according to homeland security spokeswoman Mia Ehrenberg. According to CBS News, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security claimed that Congress had never granted them sufficient resources to detain every migrant into the United States as per federal immigration, which Republicans used as a reason to file an impeachment case on Mayorkas.
