Vithanage Erandi Kawshalya MadhushaniJade Times Staff
V.E.K. Madhushani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Political.
Image Source : Sam Francis
Labour Strengthens Presence in the Lords with New Appointments
The government has announced the appointment of 30 new Labour peers to the House of Lords, including notable former MPs and key allies of Sir Keir Starmer. Among the appointees is Sue Gray, the former chief of staff to the prime minister, whose peerage confirms widespread speculation following her recent departure from her Downing Street role.
The announcement comes just two months after Gray stepped down from her post, a move that had sparked debates over her influence within the Labour Party.
A Broader Reshuffle Across the House of Lords
Alongside Labour's new additions, the Conservative Party has appointed six new peers, including former deputy prime minister Thérèse Coffey and Spectator associate editor Toby Young. The Liberal Democrats also added two new peers to their ranks.
The current composition of the House of Lords includes 273 Conservative peers, 187 Labour peers, and 78 from the Liberal Democrats. Additionally, there are 184 crossbench peers who are not affiliated with any political party.
Labour’s Previous Pledge to Reform the Lords
In 2022, Labour had outlined an ambitious plan to abolish the current 805-member House of Lords and replace it with a reformed second chamber. However, this pledge was scaled back before July's election. Instead, Labour committed to consulting on potential reforms while enacting immediate changes such as eliminating the 92 hereditary peerages and instituting a retirement age of 80.
The party also plans to introduce stricter rules to ensure participation, alongside mechanisms to remove peers who have been "disgraced."
The Road Ahead for the House of Lords
The latest appointments come amid continued discussions about the future structure and function of the House of Lords. Labour's renewed influence within the chamber could signal a shift in legislative dynamics, though debates about reform are likely to remain contentious.
While Labour's long-term vision for reforming the House of Lords may take time to materialize, the party's latest appointments underline its intent to strengthen its role in the current system.
Vithanage Erandi Kawshalya Madhushani Jade Times Staff
V.E.K. Madhushani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Innovation.
Image Source : Pagraig Belton
Using AI to Combat Ovarian Cancer: A Deadly and Underfunded Challenge
Ovarian cancer, often referred to as “rare, underfunded, and deadly,” poses a significant challenge to early detection and treatment. By the time symptoms manifest, the cancer has often spread beyond the ovaries, dramatically reducing survival rates. Audra Moran, head of the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (Ocra), emphasizes the urgency of detecting ovarian cancer at least five years before symptoms arise to improve mortality rates.
New advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are offering hope for earlier detection. Researchers are now leveraging AI in combination with innovative blood tests to identify subtle biomarkers, enabling detection of ovarian cancer in its earliest stages.
Breakthrough Technology: Nanotubes and AI for Early Detection
Dr. Daniel Heller, a biomedical engineer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is at the forefront of this innovation. His team uses nanotubes microscopic tubes of carbon 50,000 times smaller than a human hair—capable of emitting fluorescent light. These nanotubes interact with molecules in blood samples to emit unique light signals, which AI decodes to identify patterns indicative of ovarian cancer.
“The patterns these sensors detect are far too subtle for the human eye to interpret,” says Dr. Heller. Machine-learning algorithms trained on data from patients with ovarian cancer analyze these signals, identifying patterns that suggest the presence of cancer.
While the early results are promising, a major challenge is the limited availability of data. Ovarian cancer is rare, and much of the necessary data is siloed in hospital systems, making it difficult for researchers to access. Despite training algorithms on data from just a few hundred patients, Dr. Heller’s system outperformed current biomarkers, demonstrating the immense potential of AI-driven diagnostics.
Dr. Heller’s ultimate goal is to create a tool that can triage gynecological diseases, helping doctors quickly differentiate between cancer and other conditions. He estimates that such a tool could be available within three to five years.
AI Speeds Up Testing for Deadly Infections
Beyond cancer detection, AI is also transforming how doctors diagnose and treat infections like pneumonia, which can be fatal for cancer patients. Pneumonia can be caused by over 600 pathogens, necessitating numerous tests to identify the cause an expensive and time-consuming process.
California-based Karius has developed an AI-powered blood test capable of identifying the specific pathogen causing pneumonia within 24 hours. By comparing patient samples to a vast database of microbial DNA containing billions of data points, the AI quickly pinpoints the infection, enabling faster and more accurate treatment.
“Previously, a pneumonia patient would undergo 15 to 20 different tests in their first week of hospitalization, costing about $20,000,” says Alec Ford, CEO of Karius. With the AI-driven test, hospitals can reduce costs and improve patient outcomes.
AI and the Quest to Decode Complex Biomarker Patterns
Researchers are also using AI to identify patterns in biomarkers for a wide range of diseases. Dr. Slavé Petrovski, a researcher at AstraZeneca, developed an AI platform called Milton, which analyzes biomarkers from the UK Biobank to accurately identify 120 diseases with a success rate of over 90%.
“These patterns are incredibly complex,” Dr. Petrovski explains. “Often, it’s not about one biomarker but the interplay of multiple biomarkers that only AI can decipher.”
Dr. Heller echoes this sentiment in his work on ovarian cancer, noting that while his nanotube sensors respond to proteins and molecules in the blood, the specific markers linked to cancer remain unknown. AI’s ability to uncover these patterns is transforming how diseases are diagnosed.
The Data Sharing Dilemma
Despite these advances, the lack of accessible data remains a significant barrier. Many hospitals and institutions are reluctant to share patient data, limiting the ability of researchers to train their algorithms effectively.
Ocra is addressing this challenge by funding a large scale patient registry that includes electronic medical records from patients who have consented to share their data for research purposes.
“It’s still early days for AI in medical research,” says Moran. “We’re navigating uncharted territory, but the potential is extraordinary.”
The Future of AI in Medicine
As AI continues to advance, it holds the promise of revolutionizing early disease detection and treatment. From ovarian cancer to deadly infections, these technologies are poised to save lives by enabling faster, more accurate diagnostics. While challenges such as data accessibility and algorithm refinement remain, the breakthroughs achieved so far suggest a bright future for AI driven healthcare.
G. Mudalige is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Technology & Innovation
Image Source : NASA
Originally scheduled for a brief eight-day mission, their stay was extended to February 2025 due to technical issues with Boeing’s experimental Starliner spacecraft. Now, with further delays in the launch of a new crewed capsule, their return has been pushed back to late March or possibly April.
The prolonged mission has resulted from complications in the private space sector’s preparation of a SpaceX Dragon capsule intended to transport their replacements to the ISS. This capsule, essential for the standard crew rotation process, will not be flight-ready until at least March. NASA briefly considered deploying a different SpaceX Dragon capsule to expedite the rotation and return Wilmore and Williams home sooner but ultimately decided to wait for the new capsule to ensure operational safety and efficiency.
Despite the extended mission, NASA has assured the public that there is no risk to the astronauts. In a statement, the agency confirmed that the ISS is well-stocked with essential supplies, including food, water, clothing, and oxygen. Recent resupply missions in November also delivered additional items to allow the crew to celebrate the holidays aboard the station. This reassurance underscores NASA’s commitment to the safety and well-being of its astronauts during unforeseen mission extensions.
Long-duration space missions, while challenging, are not unprecedented. Most ISS stays last six months, with some extending to a full year. The additional two-month delay is unlikely to pose significant issues for Wilmore and Williams, who are experienced astronauts accustomed to the demands of life aboard the orbital platform. Dr. Simeon Barber of the Open University noted that while the astronauts may be disappointed about missing the holidays with their families, they are likely still devoted to their work on the ISS, where they contribute to groundbreaking research and space exploration efforts.
The delay also highlights the evolving role of the private sector in space exploration. Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, intended to provide a reliable means of transportation to and from the ISS, has faced repeated setbacks since its development. Similarly, SpaceX’s delay in preparing the new Dragon capsule underscores the complexities of producing state-of-the-art space vehicles on tight schedules. These challenges are part of the growing pains of a space industry increasingly reliant on public-private partnerships to expand humanity’s reach beyond Earth.
For NASA, the focus remains on ensuring the success and safety of its missions. By prioritizing readiness and reliability over speed, the agency aims to uphold its high standards for space exploration. Wilmore and Williams, along with their ISS crewmates, continue their critical work aboard the station, contributing to experiments and operations that advance scientific knowledge and pave the way for future missions.
As the astronauts await their return, the delay serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of space exploration. While technological advancements have made space travel more accessible, challenges persist in ensuring that missions proceed smoothly. For Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, their extended stay on the ISS is another testament to their resilience and dedication to NASA’s mission of exploration and discovery.
