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Particles of avian influenza (pink) infect a human cell (blue). Early evidence suggests that the virus infecting a person in Canada could have some worrisome mutations. Credit: Steve Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library
A teenager in Canada is in critical condition after being infected with a version of the H5N1 avian influenza virus that has researchers on high alert. Viral genome sequences suggest that this is a mutated form of H5N1 — which is related to the one infecting US dairy cattle but might be better at infecting the human airway. If true, it could mean that the virus can rapidly evolve to make the jump from birds to humans. “There is reason to be concerned,” says immunologist Scott Hensley. “But not reason to totally freak out.”
Many university scientists are frustrated by the limited amount of computing power available to them for research into artificial intelligence (AI). Graphics processing units (GPUs) — computer chips often used to train AI models — can be prohibitively expensive for academics, which hinders their ability to develop large language models and conduct AI research. “The gap between academic and industry models is huge,” says Stella Biderman, executive director at non-profit AI research institute EleutherAI.
Reference: arXiv preprint (not peer reviewed)
A wave of academics and researchers have defected from the social media platform Twitter/X, with many heading to upstart Twitter-lookalike Bluesky. Part of the attraction is the ease of gathering worthy connections through moderated lists such as the Science feed and ‘starter packs’ of scientists to follow. “I’d really like it to continue to be a place of joy for me,” says bioacoustics researcher Daryll Carlson. Others say that, despite a rise in pornography, spam, bots and abusive content on Twitter, the platform remains a valuable tool for science communication. “If good experts quit X, who will offer evidence-based input on X?” asks tuberculosis researcher Madhukar Pai.
Features & opinion
A physicist endures the anxiety of testing a time machine for a little longer than they’d hoped in I’ll burn this bridge when you get here, while seeing into the multiverse proves a burden in Epiphanies.
Nature | 6 min read & Nature | 6 min read
Andrew Robinson’s pick of the top five science books to read this week includes an exploration of how climate change threatens geopolitics and an examination of the ‘snake oil’ tactics behind the public’s distorted understanding of AI.
Modelled after squids’ ability to shoot ink, swallowable devices can deliver tiny jets of drugs directly into the gut lining, circumventing the need for needles. The devices protect drugs from degradation as they pass through the digestive system, an issue that currently prohibits drugs such as insulin from being given orally. In dogs and pigs, “the amount of insulin that we could deliver was comparable to the administration subcutaneously”, says biomedical engineer Giovanni Traverso. “I would say it’s more than pretty good from a success perspective.”
Nature Podcast | 29 min listen
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Today Leif Penguinson is basking in the lush green moss of Satasarvinen (“Hundred Horns Hill”) on Muuratsalo Island, Finland. Can you find the penguin?
The answer will be in Monday’s e-mail, all thanks to Briefing photo editor and penguin wrangler Tom Houghton.
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Flora Graham, senior editor, Nature Briefing
With contributions by Jacob Smith
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