'Remarkable' astrophysicist praised by top scientist
PhD student Dr Alexia Lopez discovered the Giant Arc - a gigantic, ring-shaped structure in space, made up of galaxies and galaxy clusters that scientists say is so big it challenges our understanding of the universe.
Sir Roger Penrose, who won the Nobel Prize for Physics for his work on black holes, has invited her to meet in person at Oxford University, where he is an Emeritus Professor.
Ms Lopez, 28, said she "thought someone was playing a joke at first" when she heard he got in touch to say he was "fascinated by my findings".
"I couldn't believe someone of such gravitas was interested in my work," she said, adding he is "so passionate about his research and it's infectious to see how excited he is about the possible links" between their findings.
Sir Roger, a world-renowned mathematician and physicist who mentored Professor Stephen Hawking, has a keen interest in the cosmological discoveries because they could show signs of his theory of the origin and development of the universe.
He has cited Ms Lopez in his latest research publication, The Physics of Conformal Cyclic Cosmology.
He said: "Alexia Lopez has discovered a remarkable effect which appears to substantiate the conformal cyclic cosmological model that I originally suggested in the early years of the 21st Century.
"Her observations provide what appears to be a very strong challenge to conventional cosmology which had not been previously anticipated."
Ms Lopez, who is now a postdoctoral researcher at UCLan in Preston, has been with the university since 2015 when she began an undergraduate degree in physics with astrophysics.
She then went on to complete a Masters and PhD with the University's Jeremiah Horrocks Institute for Maths and Physics (JHI).
Professor Derek Ward Thompson, director of the JHI, said: "We're very proud of what Alexia has achieved so far and she's still only at the beginning of her scientific career.
"To have the backing of Sir Roger Penrose is amazing and really highlights the significance of her research."
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Huge galaxy ring challenges thinking on universe
Astronomers discover 'the perfect solar system'
US issues first ever fine for space junk
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Forbes
Growing Almost Anything From Almost Anything
One of the most interesting applications of AI is the ability to use it to analyze and design materials in the 'real world.' And that's an understatement. It's one thing to create digital playgrounds or do deep research on some intangible concept. It's quite another thing to improve the design of molecular compounds, i.e. drugs or other chemical compositions. It's probably no coincidence that one of the most heralded innovations with AI is the Alphafold project which won a Nobel prize for science. The idea of inventing proteins through automated research led to enormous changes in how we approach both pharmaceutical research and clinical science in general. Notwithstanding all of the amazing progress we have done to date, we're not done yet. There's much more to come, and those involved in this kind of science are paying attention to what's happening as we game all of this out. Growing Things 2.0 In a recent TED Talk, David Kong shows us how some of this cutting-edge design works. He mentions a project where it's possible to 'nucleate' and edit DNA. When I looked this up, the idea of 'nucleating' just means forming something into a nucleus or cluster. He then refers to how scientists 'design and build genetic circuits,' which, he suggests, are large pieces of DNA. I was about to look this up, too, but then realized that Kong describes it himself: 'We put (DNA) inside cells, on cells who behave like circuits from electronics or computer science, (and) we learn all about cell-free systems, which can help us understand the origins of life on Earth, or they can be used in applied ways, and freeze dried, and used as sensors to detect pathogens and pollutants in fabrics and textiles.' He also mentions the ability to build completely synthetic genomes from bacteria or yeast, which speaks to a kind of modern alchemy that explores previously uncharted waters. And in a way, that's what all of this is about – alchemy. Kong goes over what's happening in a MIT Harvard global synthetic biology class. Students, he said, program a robot to dispense brightly colored E. coli bacteria in the shape of a design that they created. Psychedelic Results 'After growing on black agar plates for 24 hours, a living artwork flowed under UV light,' he said. The student base, he pointed out, is diverse. 'We have students that are computer scientists, mechanical engineers, urban planners, management students, artists, designers, almost any type of creative or technical background … in the course,' he said. 'And the course has really grown tremendously in recent years, more than doubling our number of accepted students to almost 1300 from MIT Harvard and all around the world. And some of our students are even high school students or even retirees that join us each and every year.' Working Wonders As more of this alchemy, Kong cited projects built to break down temperature-sensitive materials, or deploy nanosensors to surveil environments. One student, he related, used a bioreactor to study indigenous microorganisms. Research Anywhere And then there's the versatility and portability of these project goals. In older times, scientists needed a dedicated lab, because of equipment and mechanical tools. Now, it's different. '(This research) could be (done) anywhere in the world,' he said. 'It could be across the street, in their dorm rooms, Ghana, London in the U.K., wherever our students happen to be.' In fact, Kong adds another quasi-superlative to one that was already in his lexicon: instead of just 'how to grow almost anything from almost anything else,' the phrase becomes 'how to grow almost anything from almost anything else, almost anywhere.' Let's take that a step further, though, because in subsequent narration of other lab work, Kong describes how another student figured out that processes could also be untethered from hands-on access to source material. 'He started to realize that you could take … lab modules like biological production, where organisms are being engineered to produce molecules like lycopene and beta carotene, and they could be programmed totally remotely,' he said. There's a lot more in the video. But this is a good start to understanding the 'modern magic' that goes into learning systems on the cutting edge of today's AI world, and what one of our speakers called the 'secret sauce' enterprise parties can apply to push the envelope with innovation.
Forbes
8 hours ago
- Forbes
FDA-Cleared App Leads The Hormone-Free Birth Control Shift
When Dr. Elina Berglund Scherwitzl helped discover the Higgs boson at CERN in 2012—a breakthrough that later won the Nobel Prize in Physics—she thought she'd reached the pinnacle of her career. But with the Large Hadron Collider, the particle accelerator she used, closing for upgrades, she began to wonder what was next. The answer came from a personal need: a safe, effective, non-hormonal birth control option. After years on a hormonal implant, she wanted a break before trying for children. The pill had caused side effects, and other methods didn't fit her lifestyle. Research revealed that body temperature changes throughout the menstrual cycle. That sparked an idea. Scherwitzl began tracking her data and developing an algorithm to predict fertility, with her physicist husband, Dr. Raoul Scherwitzl, helping refine it. 'We realized this was a huge unmet need,' she points out. In 2013, they launched Natural Cycles, the first FDA-cleared digital contraceptive. Contraception: A Growing And Rapidly Changing Market In 2024, the global contraceptive market was worth about $31 billion and is on track to hit $44 billion by 2030. Trends are reshaping this growth: the FDA's 2023 green light for Opill, the first birth control pill available over the counter; a more affordable and convenient morning-after pill, Cadence OTC; expanded telehealth access, such as Pandia; a painless IUD; and the rise of women's health tech solutions like wearable-integrated fertility trackers. It's within this context that Natural Cycles has carved out a niche—at the intersection of non-hormonal birth control and digital contraception. The company has raised $100 million. 'Elina, Raoul, and the team have built a science-led, consumer-first platform that's helping reshape how women manage fertility and long-term health,' explains Carolina Brochado, Head of EQT Ventures & Head of Growth US. 'Natural Cycles pioneered a new category in women's health, a space we believe has been historically overlooked and underfunded, combining a proprietary algorithm with intuitive tech. At EQT Ventures, we back bold, generation-defining companies, and we're proud to be part of their journey.' FDA-Cleared Birth Control Medical Device FDA-Cleared Birth Control Medical Device Natural Cycles works on the principle that body temperature rises after ovulation due to an increase in progesterone. By monitoring small changes over time, the app's algorithm flags 'green days,' when the risk of pregnancy is low, and 'red days,' when a user is likely fertile or there isn't enough data—signals to use condoms or avoid sex. In 2018, the app became the first non-hormonal birth control app to receive FDA clearance, classifying it as a medical device. Today, it's available in over 60 countries, with more than four million registered users. In the U.S., users can also pair the app with wearables like the Oura Ring or Apple Watch for automatic temperature tracking. 'Our effectiveness is 93% with typical use and 98% with perfect use,' Scherwitzl notes. 'That's similar to the pill and more effective than condoms.' But less effective than an IUD or implant. The company has been profitable for several years, thanks to a subscription business model. 'We've always said: this is a medical device. The user is our customer. We don't run ads [in the app] and we don't sell data,' she explains. 'That's been important for trust.' From Contraception To Pregnancy And Perimenopause Support Natural Cycles started as a tool for birth control but has steadily expanded its scope. Users can now switch to modes for pregnancy planning, pregnancy tracking, and postpartum recovery. In October, the company will launch a perimenopause mode to help women navigate hormonal shifts later in life. 'We've expanded beyond birth control to support women through every reproductive stage,' Scherwitzl says. The decision reflects both market demand and the company's data advantage: years of anonymized temperature and cycle data from millions of users worldwide. This evolution also aligns with broader contraceptive market trends. Hormone-free methods are gaining traction, wearable tech is becoming mainstream, and reproductive healthcare is moving online. 'Wearable integration is a game changer,' Scherwitzl adds. 'It removes the friction of daily measurement and makes the method more convenient.' ŌURA, one of Natural Cycles' most important partners, sees this integration as essential. 'At Oura, we believe in the power of partnerships to extend the value of our product and provide members with better tools to understand their health,' describes Dorothy Kilroy, Chief Commercial Officer at ŌURA. 'Natural Cycles is one of the most innovative companies in the women's health space with a similar mission to empower women with science-backed, personalized insights, and together, we're redefining how technology can support women throughout their journey.' Overcoming Regulatory And Market Barriers Breaking ground in a brand-new category came with plenty of hurdles. Regulatory pathways for digital contraception didn't exist when Natural Cycles launched, so the team had to help define them. 'It wasn't clear how a device like ours should be treated,' Scherwitzl points out. The company's strength lay in its science: 26 published clinical studies, robust datasets, and the ability to analyze subsets of users when regulators had questions quickly. Another challenge has been differentiating Natural Cycles from simple period trackers, which many people mistakenly use for contraception. 'We are often compared to period trackers, even though we've gone through rigorous clinical validation and regulatory clearance,' she says. Perhaps the most delicate obstacle has been media coverage of unintended pregnancies, which happen with every contraceptive method. 'In the beginning, we put our heads in the sand,' she admits. 'That was not the right strategy. Now, we fight for the facts. Every time we see misinformation, we follow up with journalists to ensure what's written is factually correct.' Natural Cycles also faces constraints typical of women's health companies: digital ad restrictions. Advertising on Meta and Google limits targeting and tracking for women's health-related products, reducing the efficiency of paid marketing. 'Unfortunately, this makes it harder for companies like ours to drive business and, by extension, innovation,' Scherwitzl says. On the policy front, there's a significant opportunity. Under the Affordable Care Act, U.S. insurers must cover at least one form of each FDA-approved contraceptive method. That includes Natural Cycles—but the reimbursement process is clunky. 'Right now, users can get reimbursed, but they have to pay up front,' she reports. 'We're working to make the insurance flow smoother, so ideally the user doesn't have to pay first.' Science Meets Women's Health Tech Jumping from particle physics to women's health might seem like an unlikely career move, but Scherwitzl sees the link. Both, she says, require the same rigorous, methodical approach to tackling challenging problems. 'At CERN, we were trying to understand the universe. With Natural Cycles, we're trying to understand and support the female body. Both require precision, data, and persistence,' she describes. Her work reflects a bigger change underway. As birth control options expand, non-hormonal birth control and other medical-grade digital tools are becoming trusted choices—standing alongside the pill, IUDs, and implants as real alternatives. By blending personal need with scientific expertise, Scherwitzl has helped create a new category in a market with explosive growth. For her, the mission is far from over. 'There's still so much room to innovate in women's health,' she says. 'We've only just begun.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Local residents develop ranches of unusual species to revive coral reefs: 'We've raised thousands'
Local residents develop ranches of unusual species to revive coral reefs: 'We've raised thousands' It might look like a pickle or simply a brownish lump, but don't let the unassuming appearance of a sea cucumber fool you. For the coastal ecosystems of the Philippines, the cucumbers are critical for marine life, local economies, and food supplies. But overfishing in the 1970s and '80s depleted their populations, throwing entire ecosystems out of whack well into the 2000s. To address the problem, an unlikely fleet of heroes has arisen with the development of sea cucumber ranches, the BBC reported. These ranches serve as nurseries and breeding grounds for the marine species from larval through mature ages. For perspective, the daily catch per person in the small town of Bolinao was up to 220 pounds a day in the 1980s. By 2002, that had plummeted to fewer than 6 pounds. "When I was a child, I used to see loads of them, but now that I'm older, they've become so little," said Aweng Caasi, a 61-year-old widow and one of the key ranchers and guardians of the sea cucumbers in Bolinao. "We want to restore them so they can multiply." The cucumbers are eaten for food and used in medicine, but they provide even more value in their natural environment. They're often nicknamed the janitors of the sea, cleaning up the seafloor by munching on bacteria and decaying organic matter. This recycles beneficial nutrients into the environment, making waters more hospitable to a variety of fish species. They were even found to be linked to lower disease rates among corals, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications. Humans benefit tremendously from a healthier marine environment, too. In Bolinao, the reef provides protection from storms, fish to sell and eat, and a major draw for tourists. "This is a big help for us fisherfolk," Gemma Candelario told BBC. Gemma and Marivic Carolino raise mangroves near Bolinao, and they began monitoring and guarding sea cucumbers in their area in 2022. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "The sea cucumbers would eat waste [cleaning the ecosystem] so that's why more fish would appear. Some fish would lay eggs in our mangroves and other animals would appear such as crabs and shrimp." The program is mostly managed by women and children, who raise the cucumbers in hatchery tanks at the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) before transferring them to the ranches. There, they guard their protected areas against poachers. Aweng Caasi, for example, regularly spends hours at a time sitting in a wooden hut over Bolinao's waters. The program has been tremendously successful; in its first 19 months, the local sea cucumber population grew more than 13 times its original size, from 400 individuals in 2007 to over 5,500 in 2009. "It makes me happy to see the ones I've cared for grow bigger, and to see more of them," Candelario said. "We've raised thousands and we see them clearly during the monitoring period. I can't help but be glad to see how many they've grown to become." Following its remarkable success, the provincial government approved an ordinance in January to officially declare several of the dedicated areas as protected sea cucumber reserves. The law also prohibited harvesting or trading sea cucumbers below a certain weight to maintain mature reproductive populations. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
