How to see the letters X and V on the moon tonight
Article content
Article content
As the photo shows, the lunar X appears about a third of the way from the bottom of the moon, while the Lunar V is a little above the centre. Both features straddle the line between the light and dark sides of the moon, known as the terminator, with the X appearing a little into the dark side, and the V closer to the light side.
Article content
Why do the letters appear?
Article content
Article content
They're not really there on the surface, and you can't see them at any other time. What you're looking at is called the 'clair-obscur' effect, in which the play of light and shadow on the surface creates the appearance of shapes; in this case, giant letters, formed by the partially lit edges of craters.
Article content
According to British astronomer Mary McIntyre, the effect kicks off tonight at about 7:30 p.m. ET, and should last about four hours. That means by the time the sun has set and the moon is at its brightest, you should be able to get a good look, clouds permitting.
Article content
What's the best way to see them?
Article content
Naked eye is a little tricky, since they are quite small. But decent binoculars (or better yet a small telescope) should bring them into focus.
Article content
Humans have been looking at the moon since we were human, and through telescopes since they were invented, so it's not surprising that other transient shapes have been noticed and given evocative names, including the jewelled handle, Cassini's moon maiden, Plato's hook and the eyes of Clavius, not to mention the so-called 'man in the moon' that many people see in the full moon.
Article content
McIntyre has a chart of when to look for them, while BBC's Sky at Night Magazine has a nice picture that shows their locations. The best part about all this is that if you miss them, they'll come back again every 28 days, forever.
Article content
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
2 hours ago
- National Post
ImmunoPrecise Validates LENSai Epitope Mapping Platform Across Broad Range of Unseen Therapeutic Targets Beyond Training Data
Article content New benchmark confirms LENS ai 's ability to accurately predict binding on 17 previously unseen antibody-antigen complexes, achieving near-crystallography precision without prior training data. Article content AUSTIN, Texas — ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. (NASDAQ: IPA) ('IPA' or the 'Company'), an AI-powered biotherapeutics company, today announced a new validation study supporting the generalizability of its proprietary epitope mapping platform, LENS ai, powered by IPA's patented HYFT® technology. The newly released benchmark shows that the platform consistently delivers high predictive performance, even on complexes not used during training. Article content 'It's generally assumed that AI can only make accurate predictions if it has seen similar data before,' said Dr. Jennifer Bath, CEO of ImmunoPrecise. 'But this benchmark proves otherwise: LENS ai accurately mapped antibody binding sites on entirely new antibody – protein complexes-none of which were used in training. Not the antibodies. Not the targets. Not the complexes. And the predictions aligned with wet-lab results. This is a major breakthrough in generalizing AI for therapeutic discovery, made possible by our proprietary technology, which captures functional meaning instead of memorizing shapes. It shows that AI doesn't always need massive data to be powerful and accurate – it just needs the right kind.' Article content LENS ai Epitope Mapping uses artificial intelligence to pinpoint where antibodies are most likely to attach to disease-related proteins – helping scientists design better treatments faster. Unlike traditional methods that take months and require lab work, LENS ai delivers results in hours – using just the digital sequences – cutting timelines, eliminating the need to produce expensive materials, reducing guesswork, and unlocking faster paths to new treatments. Article content In a new benchmark study, LENS ai was tested on 30 antibody-protein pairs, 17 of which the platform had never seen before. Despite having no prior exposure to these molecules, LENS ai achieved prediction scores nearly identical to those from its original training data. This score, known as AUC (Area Under the Curve), is a widely accepted measure of accuracy in computational biology. Article content The consistent performance on entirely new, unseen complexes confirms that LENS ai 's artificial intelligence can reliably analyze and predict antibody binding – even for molecules outside its training set. This breakthrough demonstrates LENS ai 's power to generalize across diverse biological structures, making it a valuable tool for accelerating real-world drug discovery. Article content Why This Benchmark Matters Article content In the new study, LENS ai delivered high accuracy results on 17 antibody-protein complexes the platform had never seen before as it did on familiar training examples – proving true generalization, not memorization. Because no new wet-lab work or x-ray structures were required, researchers gain speed, reproducibility, and major cost savings, while freeing scarce lab resources for confirmatory or downstream assays. Article content What It Means for Partners and Investors Article content With LENS ai already embedded in collaborations across big pharma and biotech, ImmunoPrecise is scaling access through secure APIs and custom partnerships. The platform helps researchers compress discovery timelines, reduce risk, and unlock previously unreachable targets – positioning the company and its investors at the forefront of AI-driven antibody therapeutics. Article content For more technical detail and full benchmark results, explore two complementary case studies that illustrate the power and flexibility of LENS ai Epitope Mapping. Article content ai Article content 's breakthrough ability to accurately map binding sites on a completely Article content 'unseen' target Article content , with no prior exposure to the antibody, the antigen, or their structure. Article content These examples underscore how LENS ai performs both in well-characterized systems and in novel, previously untrained scenarios—validating its generalizability and real-world readiness. Article content About ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. Article content ImmunoPrecise (NASDAQ: IPA) is a global leader in AI-powered biotherapeutic discovery and development. Its proprietary HYFT technology and LENSai™ platform enable first-principles-based drug design, delivering validated therapeutic candidates across modalities and therapeutic areas. IPA partners with 19 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies and is advancing next-generation biologics through data-driven, human-relevant models. Article content Forward-Looking Statements Article content This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'anticipates,' 'believes,' or similar expressions, or by statements that certain actions, events, or results 'may,' 'will,' 'could,' or 'might' occur or be achieved. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the performance, scalability, and broader application of the LENSai™ and HYFT® platforms; the generalizability of the Company's AI models to novel therapeutic targets; the role of AI in accelerating antibody discovery; and the Company's future scientific, commercial, and strategic developments. Article content Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, assumptions, and projections about future events. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied due to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. These factors include, but are not limited to, the pace of scientific and technological innovation, risks related to model validation and generalizability in real-world settings, intellectual property protection, strategic partner adoption, regulatory pathways, and market demand for AI-driven therapeutic platforms. Article content Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied herein. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F, as amended, for the year ended April 30, 2024 (available on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at Article content Article content and EDGAR profile at Article content Article content ). Should any of these risks materialize, actual results could vary significantly from those currently anticipated. Article content Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Investor Relations Contact Article content Article content Article content Article content
Cision Canada
3 hours ago
- Cision Canada
/R E P E A T -- Media advisory - Minister Joly to provide remarks at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry/ Français
SAGUENAY, QC, July 2, 2025 /CNW/ - The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, will be delivering remarks at the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie Saguenay-Le Fjord. Date: Thursday, July 3, 2025 Time: 9:30 a.m. (ET) Location: Saguenay, QC Members of the media are asked to contact ISED Media Relations at [email protected] to receive event location details and confirm their attendance. Stay connected Find more services and information on the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada website. Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media. X (Twitter): @ISED_CA, Facebook: Canadian Innovation, Instagram: @cdninnovation, SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Contacts: Isabella Orozco-Madison, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, [email protected]; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, [email protected]; Lanie Dufour, Public Affairs Advisor for the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie Saguenay-Le Fjord, Catapulte Communication, [email protected]
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
There is no safe amount of processed meat to eat, according to new research
The equivalent of one medium-size hot dog was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer and Type 2 diabetes in a new study. (RiverRockPhotos/iStockphoto/Getty Images via CNN Newsource) There is strong evidence that there is 'no safe amount' of processed meat to eat, nutrition experts say in response to a new study on the connection between diet and the risk of major diseases, including cancer, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The researchers also found elevated risks from the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and trans fatty acids. Researchers analyzed data from more than 60 previous studies on the relationship between processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages and trans fatty acids in a person's diet and their risk of Type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer and ischemic heart disease, which reduces blood supply to the heart and cuts off oxygen and nutrients, according to the study published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine. 'Habitual consumption of even small amounts of processed meat, sugary drinks, and trans fatty acids is linked to increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease and colorectal cancer,' said lead author of the study, Dr. Demewoz Haile, a research scientist at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle. The data showed that people who ate as little as one hot dog a day when it comes to processed meats had an 11% greater risk of Type 2 diabetes and a 7% increased risk of colorectal cancer than those who didn't eat any. And drinking the equivalent of about a 12-ounce soda per day was associated with an 8% increase in Type 2 diabetes risk and a 2% increased risk of ischemic heart disease. 'This current research has shown, yet again and consistent with prior research … that to achieve health gains it is best to avoid or minimize the habitual consumption of each of processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and industrially produced trans fatty acids (TFAs),' said Dr. Nita Forouhi, head of nutritional epidemiology at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. She was not involved in the research. The risk increased as consumption increased; and for processed meat consumption, the data showed that there is no 'safe amount,' she added in an email. A stronger association than it may appear At first glance, the increase in risk seems modest and might look like the association is weak, said Dr. Mingyang Song, associate professor of clinical epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He was not involved in the research. 'When we look at the actual data there, it's really remarkably consistent and remarkably strong, and even in the lower dose of consumption, we can still see an increased risk of disease,' he said. The researchers examined dozens of earlier findings on diet and disease using a burden-of-proof method: a newer form of meta-analysis that not only tries to quantify an association across multiple studies but also accounts for the quality of each, Song said. 'One caveat is it tends to give very conservative results,' he added. It's also important to note that the studies included in the analysis were observational, meaning that the data can only show an association between eating habits and disease –– not prove that what people ate caused the disease. They also relied on people recalling their dietary patterns, which can leave room for misremembering or misreporting, said Dr. Gunter Kuhnle, professor of nutrition and food science at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. He was not involved in the study. Utilizing even 'the most sophisticated techniques does not really solve the problem that the information about diet is rather limited – which is obviously a big problem in nutritional epidemiology in general,' he said. Why meats, drinks and fats are linked to disease There are many reasons why such foods could be associated with health problems. Sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meat –– such as sausages, bacon, salami and burgers –– can increase inflammation, which plays a big part in a variety of chronic diseases, Song said. Processed meats are also often cured with nitrite, which is converted to carcinogenic nitrosamines in the stomach, Kuhnle said. The problem with sugary drinks is that they are a quick way to consume large amounts of sugar, he added. Not only can that cause weight gain, but it also influences metabolic pathways that affect heart disease and diabetes risk, Kuhnle said. Trans fatty acids reduce levels of good cholesterol and increase the bad, which is known to increase the risk of plaque buildup in arteries and heart disease, he added. Other potential connections to consider are that people who are more likely to eat processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages and trans-fats are often also at a higher risk of diseases because of 'lifestyle factors (smoking, lack of exercise), but also social factors such as education and income, chronic stress and limited access to health care,' Kuhnle said. 'It is very difficult to take these apart.' What to avoid and what to add Although the data can't say reducing your consumption of these foods and drinks will cause a lower risk of the diseases, it does suggest that a reduction is a good idea, Song said. A sensible approach is to follow a varied and balanced diet that avoids excess, Kuhnle said. That means people who drink a lot of sugary drinks should cut back, he said. It can also be helpful to avoid excess amounts of processed meats and avoid hydrogenated fats where possible –– although they are no longer as common as they used to be, he said. 'The goal shouldn't be perfection but rather a healthy and sensible dietary pattern that allows room for enjoyment,' Kuhnle said. A good diet isn't just about what to avoid. It's also important to get good nutrients, Forouhi said. 'Wider research has shown us that overall dietary patterns that include higher consumption of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and fermented dairy products like yogurt are good for health and longevity,' she said. 'My general advice: don't panic,' Kuhnle said in an email. 'Food is not just (a) source of nutrients –– it plays a central role in culture, pleasure, family life, and social connection. Reducing it solely to a list of health risks misses the bigger picture.' By Madeline Holcombe, CNN
