WashU physicists are using the DR-TES mission to test quantum X-ray and gamma-ray detectors in a space-like environment. Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility
A WashU team launched the Dilution Refrigerator Transition Edge Sensor (DR-TES) mission on Sept. 24 from NASA’s scientific balloon facility in Fort Sumner, N.M. The mission is testing a sophisticated cooling system and a novel gamma-ray detector array in near-space conditions.
Henric Krawczynski, the Wilfred R. and Ann Lee Konneker Distinguished Professor in Physics in Arts & Sciences, leads the DR-TES mission. DR-TES is a collaborative effort of WashU, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of New Hampshire.
The mini-dilution refrigerator on DR-TES was designed to cool detectors to temperatures of 80 millikelvin, enabling the high-precision measurements required for cutting-edge X-ray and gamma-ray detection.
A WashU-led team successfully launched the DR-TES mission from NASA’s balloon launch facility Sept. 24 in New Mexico. Physicists in Arts & Sciences are using this mission to test quantum X-ray and gamma-ray detectors in a space-like environment. Credit: WashU Department of Physics
DR-TES reached a float altitude of about 131,000 feet and flew for a total of 9 hours and 52 minutes, according to NASA. The balloon and payload are safely on the ground and recovery efforts are underway. Krawczysnki described the flight as a “successful technology demonstration.”
WashU scientists on the DR-TES team are working to advance quantum sensor technology as part of the Center for Quantum Leaps, a signature initiative of the Arts & Sciences strategic plan.
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Balloon mission tests quantum sensor technology (2024, September 26)
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Born-in-the-wild unmarked Partula tohiveana snail observed in the wild, meaning the species is re-established. Credit: Paul Pearce-Kelly, CC-BY
A species of tropical tree snail is no longer extinct in the wild following a successful reintroduction project.
A global conservation effort to reintroduce a tiny snail to the wild is celebrating a momentous milestone: for the first time in 40 years, conservationists have found born-in-the-wild adult Partula tohiveana—meaning the precious mollusks have successfully established themselves in French Polynesia.
This year Cambridge’s Dr. Justin Gerlach helped restore more than 6,000 of the snails to Moorea, their French Polynesian island home as part of an annual reintroduction of zoo-bred “Extinct in the Wild” and “Critically Endangered” snail species—carried out through collaboration with zoos around the world.
During their work, the team found unmarked Partula tohiveana: proof that previously reintroduced snails have successfully bred in the area.
The momentous discovery means Partula tohiveana can now be considered as established—an incredibly rewarding result for 40 years of dedication and collaboration. Conservationists will now begin the process of downlisting the snails from “Extinct-in-the-Wild” to “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN’s Red List.
Very few species have been reintroduced successfully after having been completely extinct in the wild. This is also the very first invertebrate species where this has been achieved.
Ten species and sub-species of the tropical snails, reared at London Zoo, Bristol Zoological Society, Detroit Zoological Society, Marwell Wildlife, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Saint Louis Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo and Zoo Schwerin, traveled more than 15,000 km to Tahiti at the beginning of September.
Before making the two-day journey to the islands of Tahiti, Moorea and Huahine, the incredibly rare snails, which each measure a tiny 1–2 cm in length, were individually counted and marked with a dot of red UV reflective paint. The “snail varnish” glows under UV torchlight, helping conservationists in the field to spot and monitor the nocturnal snails at night, when they’re most active.
London Zoo’s Senior Curator of Invertebrates, Paul Pearce-Kelly, who leads the Partula conservation program, said, “Though little, these snails have great cultural, scientific and conservation value. Partula snails have always been part of Polynesia’s rich cultural heritage and play an important role in the ecological health of their forest habitats.
“They’ve also been studied for over a century for the insights they give into how species evolve in isolated environments. Most recently, they’re providing a valuable conservation model for helping hundreds of endangered island species.”
He added, “This collaborative conservation effort is playing a crucial role in saving these species from extinction. It’s a powerful example of how conservation zoos can combat biodiversity loss. At a time when nature faces unprecedented challenges, these small snails are a symbol of hope for global wildlife.”
Partula snails—also known as Polynesian tree snails—eat decaying plant tissue and fungi, so they play an important role in maintaining forest health. Returning these rare snails back to the wild helps to restore the ecological balance in these islands.
Dr. Gerlach of Peterhouse, University of Cambridge and an Academic Associate at the University’s Museum of Zoology, said, “Discovering wild-born adult snails was a great moment. Very few animal species have been re-established back in the wild, so this is a fantastic achievement for the program—the fruit of a vast amount of work.”
Conservation zoos are working with the French Polynesian Government’s Direction de l’environnement, to save Partula snails from extinction. In the 1980s and early 1990s, these snails faced a critical threat after the invasive rosy wolf snail (Euglandina rosea) was introduced to control the African giant land snail (Lissachatina fulica).
Unfortunately, the predatory species targeted the native snails instead, leading to the extinction or near-extinction of many Partula species across the region.
In the early 1990s, the last remaining individuals of several Partula species were rescued by London and Edinburgh Zoos, launching an international conservation breeding program. This collaboration between 15 zoos cares for 15 species and subspecies, most of which are classified as “Extinct-in-the-Wild.”
These rescued snails, along with those already being studied at universities in the U.K. and North America, became the foundation for reintroducing the species back onto their native island homes.
Paul said, “After decades of caring for these species in conservation zoos and working with the Direction de l’environnement to prepare the islands, we started reintroducing Partula snails back into their lowland tropical forests almost 10 years ago.
Since then, we’ve reintroduced over 30,000 snails, including 10 Extinct-in-the-Wild species and subspecies, with this year’s release being the largest so far, thanks to our international team and collaborators, including mollusk specialist Dr. Justin Gerlach of Peterhouse, University of Cambridge.”
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‘Extinct’ snails found breeding in French Polynesia following a successful reintroduction project (2024, September 26)
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But Luxon’s edict neglects a broader transformation in work culture.
Work from home (WFH) arrangements have grown considerably over the past decade, propelled by an increase in dual-income households and rapid technological advancements.
The COVID pandemic acted as a catalyst for further change, proving that many jobs could successfully be performed remotely.
Our upcoming article in the New Zealand Journal of Employment Relations addresses the pros and cons of remote work. We highlight how a hybrid model—mixing days in the office with days working from home—can improve well-being, engagement and productivity.
We found embracing a hybrid approach may lead to better outcomes as society shifts with technology and employment expectations. And, despite the prime minister’s demands on public service workers, it may be too late to go back.
Embracing flexibility
Under current rules, employees can request flexible working arrangements. Employers must provide valid reasons if they decline the request.
According to a 2023 survey from Human Resources New Zealand, 40% of HR professionals noted productivity gains as a critical advantage of WFH arrangements.
And some professional organizations have embraced work from home or hybrid work arrangements.
The New Zealand Law Association, for example, has emphasized the significant benefits of flexible work for their members, including increased employee engagement, productivity, and overall well-being.
A report from Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission noted the public service’s success in delivering quality services during the pandemic while working remotely.
The commission’s current guidance on hybrid work arrangements supports flexibility that allows working from home to focus and working together when necessary.
Does WFH reduce efficiency?
Luxon argues forcing workers back to the office will promote efficiency. But there is little evidence suggesting New Zealand’s productivity has significantly declined with WFH or hybrid arrangements.
Instead, we found office-only arrangements risked introducing new inefficiencies for the government. These included new layers of permissions and reporting on arrangements that have already been agreed to.
The assumption that office work suits everyone is also contradicted by experiences during and after COVID.
During the first year of the pandemic, many workers felt the void of casual interactions that once sparked creativity. They also struggled with isolation. This was especially pronounced for caregivers, often women, who had to juggle professional duties with increased childcare responsibilities.
Despite this, a University of Otago survey conducted during the pandemic noted 67% of participants preferred a hybrid work model.
Many expressed optimism regarding remote work’s continuation, with significant portions reporting stable or increased productivity, although some struggled with home distractions.
And our research found taking a hybrid approach to work—with one or more days at home—reduced the risks from professional and social isolation and improved collaboration.
Opportunities to work at home some of the time also allowed time for focused work, reduced commuting time and improved well-being.
Boosting productivity from home
Luxon’s assertion that working from home is “not an entitlement” aligns with traditional views on work. These include the belief that time at a desk is a measurement of productivity, rather than measuring the outcomes from work.
However, a growing body of evidence indicates remote work can elevate both productivity and employee satisfaction.
Eliminating daily commutes allows employees to redirect time toward focused work, positively impacting job satisfaction and mental well-being.
Moreover, remote work fosters inclusivity, enabling organizations to source talent from a broader geographic area, which in turn enhances diversity and innovation.
A report from McKinsey & Company found businesses adopting flexible work arrangements are better positioned to navigate future uncertainties, sustaining or even boosting productivity.
However, it also highlighted challenges. Some 40% of respondents said they were facing longer work hours, which can lead to burnout. Addressing these issues is essential to maintaining employee well-being.
The future of work
Instead of enforcing strict office attendance, leaders should adapt to the changing work landscape.
Promoting flexible arrangements can foster a more productive and engaged workforce, ultimately benefiting New Zealand’s public service in today’s dynamic environment.
Balancing both office and remote work presents the most promising path forward.
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Mixing it up: Hybrid work models can offer the best of both worlds for worker well-being and productivity (2024, September 26)
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A cathodoluminescence (CL) image of growth zoning in a 3.75 Ga zircon from the Acasta Gneiss Complex (NW Territories, Canada). Credit: Emily E. Mixon
In a new study, a team of researchers suggests that 4 billion years ago, plate tectonics likely looked closer to what we experience today than previously thought. The team published its findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
The team studied the mineral zircon from two of the oldest pieces of intact crust—dating 4.0 to 2.7 billion years old—and discovered that ancient plate tectonics, or how the continents move around and interact with each other, was likely just as diverse as it is today.
“Plate tectonics makes our planet uniquely dynamic on a solar system scale,” said Emily Mixon, the study’s lead author and a researcher at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. “It has been hypothesized that because plate tectonics is important for moving carbon and water around on long time scales, it might be important for how life evolved on Earth.”
Moving continents are destructive—crustal rocks are destroyed and recycled. To reveal the ancient processes behind tectonics, the researchers studied zircons, which are physically durable and resistant to chemical alterations.
More specifically, they studied zircons in the 3.9–2.7-billion-year-old Saglek-Hebron Complex and 4.0–3.4-billion-year-old Acasta Gneiss Complex and found that instead of a linear progression of tectonic styles, from volcanic lavas and magmas pushing down crust into the mantle followed by plates colliding into each other and pushing oceanic crust down to the mantel, many different styles coexisted, just as they do today.
“Understanding how tectonics worked early in Earth history is key for identifying when and how we got the styles of modern tectonics we see today, and how these styles might be expected to look early in planetary development for other possibly habitable planets,” Mixon said.
More information:
Emily E. Mixon et al, Zircon geochemistry from early evolved terranes records coeval stagnant- and mobile-lid tectonic regimes, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2405378121
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Four billion years ago, but not so different: Plate tectonics likely looked closer to what we experience today (2024, September 26)
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‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ will now only hit shelves on February 14, instead of mid-November — ahead of the crucial holiday season.
Shares in French video game giant Ubisoft plunged nearly 20 percent Thursday after it dropped its profit targets following a delay to its latest “Assassin’s Creed” title.
The publisher warned Wednesday that the game would now only hit shelves on February 14, instead of mid-November—in time for the crucial holiday season—as announced.
In early afternoon trading Ubisoft shares were down 18 percent at 9.41 euros ($10.50), with the stock now down around 60 percent since the beginning of this year.
Adding to investor concerns, Ubisoft said the profit alert also reflected a need to update its “Star Wars Outlaws” game, released in August, “in response to player feedback”.
Sales of the hotly awaited title have been lower than expected, and Ubisoft said it developers were focused on improving the game before moving to “further polish” the game-play of “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”.
“While a cut was widely anticipated (note the shares are already down 30 percent since the launch of Outlaws), the delay to AC Shadows is incrementally disappointing,” analysts at Deutsche Bank said in a research note.
The German brokerage also noted that Ubisoft’s announcement came just after US rival Sucker Punch Productions said it would release “Ghost of Yotei”—the eagerly awaited sequel to samurai-themed “Ghost of Tsushima”—next year.
“Given the less favorable release slot, risks of further delays to address backlash surrounding the title, and new competition in the form of Ghost of Yotei… we lower our unit estimates for AC Shadows from 8 million to 7 million over a 12-month period following release,” it said.
Strike called
Ubisoft now expects net bookings, its preferred measure of sales excluding deferred revenues, of 350-370 million euros ($390-$410 million) in its second quarter, down from 500 million euros previously.
The setback is the latest challenge for the French firm after slipping into the red in its 2022-2023 financial year before returning to profit last year.
But it has already announced dozens of layoffs this year alone as it struggles with an industry-wide downturn.
Also Thursday, several Ubisoft labor unions called for a three-day strike by French workers starting October 15, to protest a forced return to on-site work.
Many employees have been working largely from home since the COVID pandemic, but management said in mid-September that at least three days a week would have to be spent at the office.
“Several of our colleagues have built or rebuilt their lives (family, housing, parenthood) and cannot simply return to how things were before,” the STJV union said.
Ubisoft, which cited in a September memo to staff that “creativity is stimulated by personal interactions, informal chats and working around the same table”, declined to respond to requests for comment from AFP.
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Ubisoft shares sink after ‘Assassin’s Creed’ delay (2024, September 26)
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