Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

A new AI model can predict the likelihood of premature death from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with around 95% accuracy. This is good news, though – because, by looking beyond the gut for early treatment of other chronic illnesses, the early mortality rate can be significantly reduced. · A new study by Canadian researchers from the University of Toronto, the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), and the SickKids Research…

Britain has laid the keel for the Royal Navy's largest-ever submarine. At BAE Systems's Barrow-in-Furness facility, the ceremony marked the "birth" of the nuclear-powered and armed HMS Dreadnought, one of the most advanced submarines to date. · Keel laying is the major milestone in the building of a ship. The keel is the main structural member of the ship's hull and laying it down is the equivalent to laying the cornerstone of a building.…

A study linking mRNA Covid vaccines to increased cancer deaths in Japan has been retracted—twice—without clear justification. · The research, led by Dr Miki Gibo, found a statistically significant rise in cancer mortality following Japan’s mRNA vaccine rollout, particularly in ovarian and blood cancers. · While the authors acknowledged that causation cannot be proven, their study was removed from Cureus after a Reuters fact-check, and later…

People trafficking investigations in New Zealand have exploded by nearly 4000%, yet no prosecutions have been brought in the past five years. · Immigration New Zealand (INZ) data shows just six cases were investigated from 2018 to 2020, compared to 236 in the two years leading up to October 2023. Despite this surge, there are no traffickers being prosecuted. · The rise in investigations coincided with the introduction of the accredited…

The government is moving to reform the struggling education system by introducing standardised reading, writing, and maths tests for Years 3-10, but some principals are resisting change. · The Ministry of Education has called for proposals to develop a single national assessment system. · It would replace the current mix of Progressive Assessment Tests (PATs) and Electronic Assessment Tools for Teaching and Learning tests (e-asTTle, an online…

3D-printed architecture continues to go from strength to strength, with all kinds of projects now being created with the burgeoning technology, including a Walmart, housing, and even a data center. The latest example comes from Japan, where a new train station will be built in just six hours. · To be clear, Hatsushima Station isn't some ambitious multi-story building, but a small and simple structure. It's being created by West Japan Railway…

The government is moving to reform the struggling education system by introducing standardised reading, writing, and maths tests for Years 3-10, but some principals are resisting change. · The Ministry of Education has called for proposals to develop a single national assessment system. · It would replace the current mix of Progressive Assessment Tests (PATs) and Electronic Assessment Tools for Teaching and Learning tests (e-asTTle, an online…

According to economist Rob MacCulloch of Down to Earth Kiwi, in 2023, Treasury falsely claimed it had definitive proof that school lunches had no impact, even though this is a complex question no one has fully answered. · That bad advice came from the Treasury, not the actions of any particular political party. · The report dismissed the effectiveness of free school lunches, leading then-Finance Minister Grant Robertson to state that the…

The first satellite in a constellation designed specifically to locate wildfires early and precisely anywhere on the planet has now reached Earth's orbit, and it could forever change how we tackle unplanned infernos. · The FireSat constellation, which will consist of more than 50 satellites when it goes live, is the first of its kind that's purpose-built to detect and track fires. It's an initiative launched by nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance,…

A former TVNZ presenter and doctor, Samantha Bailey, has lost her medical registration and been fined after posting videos challenging mainstream COVID narratives. · Bailey’s content criticised vaccine efficacy and accused the medical industry of manufacturing epidemics for profit, racking up 18 million views along the way. · The Medical Council found her guilty of spreading misleading information after receiving 15 complaints. · Bailey…