A large Australian study finds that variants in the AQP4 gene are linked to memory and brain structure in older adults at risk for Alzheimer’s. Sleep quality shaped these effects. Poor sleep worsened brain atrophy and cognitive decline in certain genotypes. The findings point to sleep as a possible way to reduce genetic risk.
NIST has released technical findings on the 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse that killed 98 people. Investigators traced the disaster to two failed garage column connections beneath the pool deck. Weak safety margins, design and construction deviations, and long-term corrosion left the Surfside building dangerously vulnerable. A final report with safety recommendations is forthcoming.
A new Chatham House paper argues middle powers cannot escape dependence on US and Chinese AI, but can secure meaningful sovereignty through four strategies: specialize, align, share, or hedge. The authors map eight critical building blocks and case studies from the UAE to Japan, urging pragmatic choices over unrealistic bids for full independence.