
The Big Tech Show: Phallic rockets and fake astronauts: the case for space with Leo Enright
Leo Enright, space commentator, former RTE and BBC correspondent joins Adrian on the Big Tech Show.
Adrian began the conversation by asking was there any scientific merit to the Blue Origin New Shephard rocket which last week made a sub-orbital flight with an all-female crew to the edge of space and back. The space commentator stated that there was next to no scientific value in the Jeff Bezos backed space exploration.
However, Leo Enright did point out that Gail King was the first American journalist in space and he is hopeful that she will once again popularise space exploration amongst the American public.
You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts.
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The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Two Chinese scientists charged by FBI for smuggling ‘dangerous biological weapon into US' with ‘agroterrorism fungus'
TWO Chinese scientists have been charged for allegedly attempting to smuggle a toxic fungus into the United States. Authorities have claimed this fungus could be used as a "potential agroterrorism weapon". 3 Jian denied that she was aware of her boyfriend's intent to smuggle the pathogen Credit: University of Michigan 3 The toxins Fusarium graminearum gives off can lead to vomiting, liver damage and reproductive defects in humans and livestock if consumed Credit: United States District Court 3 Prosecutors claim Liu tried to smuggle the fungus through Detroit Airport Credit: AP Researchers Jian Yunqing, 33, and Liu Zunyong, 34 face charges of smuggling goods, conspiracy, visa fraud and providing false statements, the US Attorney's Office for the eastern district of Michigan announced on Tuesday. Prosecutors claim Liu tried to smuggle the fungus through Detroit Airport so he could study it at a University of Michigan laboratory. Jian, Liu's girlfriend, works at this lab, the prosecutors added. The FBI says the Fusarium graminearum is classified as a "potential agroterrorism weapon" that can cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock. read more in world news This fungus causes billions of dollars worth of damage to livestock and crops globally each year. Officials have also alleged that Jian's research on the fungus in China got Chinese government funding - and that she is a member of the Chinese Communist Party. FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X: "This case is a sobering reminder that the CCP is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences... putting American lives and our economy at serious risk. "Your FBI will continue working tirelessly to be on guard against it." Most read in The US Sun Liu is alleged to have initially lied about attempting to bring the pathogen into the country in July 2024 before admitting it. The complaint claims that Jian and Liu had previously studied the fungus in China . Trump doubles steel and aluminium tariffs and threatens China and its 'shoddy' exports in latest trade war escalation A scientific article was found on Liu's phone titled "Plant-Pathogen Warfare under Changing Climate Conditions", according to the FBI. Messages between the couple suggest Jian was already studying the pathogen prior to Liu's arrival at the airport, the authority added. The university does not have the required federal permits to handle the pathogen. A statement from the university says the institution as not received "funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals". It adds: "We strongly condemn any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university's critical public mission." What is Fusarium graminearum? Fusarium graminearum is a fungal pathogen that can be devastating to livestock and crops. It can ruin a large number of crops, and can cause bight in wheat and barley - making it a major cause for concern. The pathogen is understood to lead to billions of dollars in losses worldwide each year. It can also cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in both humans and livestock. The potential for large scale crop losses is why is is deemed to be a potential "agroterrorism" agent. Jian appeared in court yesterday and was returned to jail to await a bond hearing - which is set for Thursday. The attorney who was assigned only for her initial appearance declined to comment, according to the Associated Press. But as the US does not have an extradition treaty with China, Liu's arrest is seen as unlikely unless he returns. US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr called the allegations a "national security" concern. He said: "These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a 'potential agroterrorism weapon' into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme." It comes after Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged to "aggressively" revoke the visas of Chinese students in the US. This move, which is part of a broad crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration, has been condemned as "discriminatory" by the Chinese government. China makes up the second largest number of foreign students in the United States , only after India.


RTÉ News
5 days ago
- RTÉ News
What is CTE and why does it matter for Irish athletes?
Analysis: Brain injuries in sport are a growing public health issue that affects players at all levels, from local community teams to seasoned professionals By Chris Greene, RCSI Whether it's a clash of heads during a rugby tackle, a late hit in Gaelic football, or a crunching collision on the soccer pitch, head impacts in sport are unfortunately part of the game. But what are the long-term consequences? And what should we be doing about them, especially here in Ireland? Brain injuries in sport aren't just a concern for elite athletes or international stars, they're a growing public health issue that affects players at all levels, from local community teams to seasoned professionals. In the United States alone, an estimated 1.6 to 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur every year. But not all head knocks result in a full-blown concussion. In fact, many more go under the radar as "sub-concussive" impacts, blows that might not cause obvious symptoms but still impact the brain. There is mounting evidence that it is the cumulative effect of these repeated, lower impact hits; not just the number of concussions, that plays a key role in the development of a serious condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). From RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin, Ombudsman waiting eight years for children's sport concussion policy What is CTE? CTE is a progressive brain disease linked to repeated head injuries. It's been seen in boxers, American footballers, rugby players, and increasingly in other contact sports like soccer or MMA. At present, it can only be definitively diagnosed after death, during an autopsy. Neuropathologists look for an abnormal build-up of a protein called tau, which clusters around small blood vessels in the brain. This build-up appears to damage nearby brain tissue and over time may lead to memory loss, mood swings, and confusion. Because diagnosing CTE in living individuals remains a challenge, researchers have developed a set of clinical guidelines called Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (TES). Think of TES as a way to spot red flags like memory problems or changes in behaviour in people with a history of head injuries. These criteria, updated by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in 2021, were developed by studying confirmed CTE cases. While TES does not provide a definitive diagnosis, it indicates the possibility of trauma-related brain injury. Ongoing international projects, like DIAGNOSE CTE, are trying to find ways to detect signs of the disease earlier, but we're not quite there yet. From CNN, Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains the causes and symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy What's the role of the blood-brain barrier? One of the most important and least understood players in this story is something called the blood-brain barrier (BBB). It's a kind of security gate that protects the brain from harmful substances in the bloodstream. Disruptions to the BBB have been seen in many neurological disorders, including traumatic brain injury. In CTE, researchers have found that the protective barrier may start to leak, allowing toxic proteins or inflammatory molecules to seep into brain tissue. Our research group, alongside others, has found that athletes exposed to repetitive head injury, even without a diagnosed concussion, can show signs of this barrier breaking down. It's not just in American football or boxing; similar patterns are being investigated in Irish rugby and GAA players too. Ireland isn't just watching from the sidelines. A collaborative project between RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, and St James's Hospital is exploring how repeated head trauma affects the blood-brain barrier and how this might contribute to memory issues or cognitive decline in later life. The project, funded by Research Ireland, uses advanced imaging techniques, such as dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, to measure BBB health in retired athletes. What's striking is that even years after leaving the sport, some former players still show signs of brain changes. The next step is to understand how this relates to things like depression, memory loss, or dementia. Why it matters Traumatic brain injuries have been linked with a higher risk of conditions like dementia, mood disorders, and even suicide. In the US, retired American footballers are five times more likely to develop dementia. But this isn't just an American story. A Scottish study found that former professional soccer players were 3.5 times more likely to die from a neurodegenerative disease. Swedish studies have shown similar findings. While Irish data is still emerging, there are real concerns for former rugby players here at home. Rugby only turned professional in the mid-1990s, so we're just beginning to understand the long-term impacts on those who played at the top level. From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne, Consultant Neurologist at the Mater Professor Tim Lynch on concussions in sport A game of balance Sport is a vital part of Irish life. From weekend GAA matches to the roar of the Aviva on a Six Nations Day, it brings people together, builds community, and supports mental and physical health. But with this passion must come responsibility. Protecting brain health isn't about taking the joy out of sport, it's about ensuring that players can enjoy those benefits long after the final whistle. That means better awareness, smarter rules, improved protective equipment, and ongoing research into how to detect and treat brain injuries early. It also means listening to former players, parents, coaches, and medical professionals as we build a safer future for the next generation of Irish athletes.

The Journal
6 days ago
- The Journal
Three-quarters of Irish universities fall in global rankings - but TCD still best in the country
THREE-QUARTERS OF Irish universities have fallen in global rankings, but Trinity College Dublin is still rated the best in the country. The rankings are based on quality of education, employability, quality of faculty, and research. Ireland's overall slip in the Global 2000, which is released today, is mainly due to research performance amid intensified global competition from well-funded institutions, the Centre for World University Rankings said. University College Dublin (UCD) is the only Irish university that ranked higher on the list than it did last year. Here's how they're all faring: Trinity College Dublin – 259th (250th in 2024) University College Dublin – 299th (301st last year) University College Cork – 545th (542nd) University of Galway – 707th (668th) University of Limerick – 926th (925th) Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – 1013rd (no change) Dublin City University – 1151st (1134th) Maynooth University – 1323rd (1287th) Advertisement Harvard is the top university in the world for the fourteenth year in a row. However, other US institutions have declined in some areas amid slashed government funding and disputes over academic freedom and free speech. In the top ten, Harvard is followed by two other private US institutions, MIT and Stanford. The UK's Cambridge and Oxford are the world's highest-rated public universities, coming fourth and fifth. The rest of the global top ten are also private American universities: Princeton, Pennsylvania, Columbia, Yale, and Chicago. For the first time, China has surpassed the US as the country with the most universities in the Global 2000. While Oxford and Cambridge maintain their high rankings, the overall outlook for Britain is unfavourable, as 75% of universities have fallen down the list. The top ten universities in Europe this year are: Cambridge (UK, 4th), Oxford (UK, 5th), PSL (France, 19th), UCL (UK, 20th), Imperial College London (UK, 28th), Paris City University (France, 29th), ETH Zurich (Switzerland, 32nd), Paris Saclay (France, 34th), Institut Polytechnique de Paris (France, 35th), and Copenhagen (Denmark, 38th). Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal