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Forbes
7 minutes ago
- Forbes
Decoding The Molecular Benefits Of Exercise
There has always been a dream that there could be a pill to replace exercise. New research suggests a molecule called betaine, naturally produced by the kidneys, may do just that. According to a new study published in Cell, it may mimic many of the health-protective effects of exercise. This suggests that it could help protect against aging-related decline, even in individuals who are unable to maintain regular physical activity. Betaine is produced by the kidneys. Previous research has linked it to cardiovascular health and liver function, but its role in geroprotection has been underappreciated. This research shows the kidney acts as a command center in exercise-driven rejuvenation. Betaine directly inhibits key drivers of inflammation, silencing 'inflammaging'—chronic inflammation that accelerates cellular aging. This links movement at the gym to age-defying changes in cellular Molecular Language of Movement Decades of research have linked regular exercise to longer lifespans and reduced risk for inflammation-driven diseases. Therefore, we know exercise is beneficial, but the mechanisms—what actually changes at the microscopic level—are not well understood. For example, activities such as running, cycling or resistance training have a positive effect on metabolism and heart health. Recent advances now enable us to investigate the molecular changes underlying these improvements. This new study presents a systematic, cell-by-cell analysis. It looks at how both acute and sustained exercise drive rapid shifts in molecular signatures, redefining our understanding of 'exercise as medicine'. The study tracked 13 healthy human volunteers over periods of rest, a single 5-km run, and long-term training in the form of 25 days of running. During these periods, samples were collected. These examined how the body's cells and molecules responded. More specifically, the study went beyond general health markers. It used advanced techniques, such as single-cell sequencing, to determine which genes are activated in individual cells during exercise. It also measures proteins, small molecules related to metabolism and it studies the gut microbiome. To explain this in simpler terms, you might compare this to a car tune-up. Even short, regular sessions of exercise prompt the body to 'fix' and 'upgrade' its cellular machinery, leading to wide-ranging health improvements. The study's use of sophisticated technology is like opening the hood and not just checking the oil, but inspecting every engine part for improvement. These tests and samples provide an unprecedented, detailed insight into the body's inner workings in response to exercise. The findings show that a single workout triggers a short burst of inflammation, described as 'metabolic chaos,' that helps the body adjust to sudden physical stress. Sustained exercise, on the other hand, reprograms the body towards youthfulness, reshapes the gut microbiome, enhances antioxidant activity, promotes DNA stability in immune cells and elevates betaine Path Forward in Understanding the Molecular Benefits of Exercise These results build upon prior work linking exercise to reductions in cellular senescence, tissue inflammation, and metabolic disease—all key hallmarks of aging. What distinguishes this research is the identification of a single, kidney-derived metabolite that can orchestrate what is known as systemic geroprotection. Consider the case of elderly patients facing joint pain or disability. They are often unable to engage in adequate physical activity. Betaine supplementation, pending further clinical validation, could potentially offer a pharmacological lifeline to healthspan extension, helping these individuals maintain independence and quality of life without the barrier of vigorous exercise. That said, the study tested only a small, similar group of people, so we can't be sure the results apply to everyone. The limited sample size and lack of participant diversity mean that the findings may not be generalizable to broader populations. Still, the early results are promising. As research moves from bench to bedside, we approach an era where the secrets of exercise may be unlocked—and replicated—to benefit all.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
IBM, Google claim quantum computers are almost here after major breakthroughs: ‘It doesn't feel like a dream anymore'
The decades-long quest to create a practical quantum computer is accelerating as major tech companies say they are closing in on designs that could scale from small lab experiments to full working systems within just a few years. IBM laid out a detailed plan for a large-scale machine in June, filling in gaps from earlier concepts and declaring it was on track to build one by the end of the decade. 'It doesn't feel like a dream anymore,' Jay Gambetta, head of IBM's quantum initiative, told Financial Times. 'I really do feel like we've cracked the code and we'll be able to build this machine by the end of the decade.' Google, which cleared one of the toughest technical obstacles late last year, says it is also confident it can produce an industrial-scale system within that time frame, while Amazon Web Services cautions that it could still take 15 to 30 years before such machines are truly useful. Quantum computing is a new kind of computing that doesn't just think in 0s and 1s like today's computers. Instead, it uses qubits — tiny quantum bits — that can be 0, 1, or both at the same time. This lets quantum computers explore many possibilities at once and find answers to certain complex problems much faster than normal computers. Quantum computing could speed up the discovery of new drugs and treatments, make artificial intelligence systems faster and more capable and improve the accuracy of market predictions and fraud detection in finance. It could also dramatically improve efficiency in areas like traffic routing, shipping, energy grids and supply chains while driving green innovation by helping design better batteries, cleaner energy systems and more sustainable technologies. But scaling them up from fewer than 200 qubits — the quantum version of a computing bit — to over 1 million will require overcoming formidable engineering challenges. Qubits are inherently unstable, maintaining their special quantum states for only fractions of a second, and adding more of them can create interference that scrambles calculations. Even if the fundamental physics problems are solved, the industry still faces the task of industrializing quantum technology. This means building chips that can house large numbers of qubits, and developing much bigger refrigeration units to keep the systems at near absolute zero. Systems using superconducting qubits, like those from IBM and Google, have made some of the fastest progress but require extreme cooling and are difficult to control. Meanwhile, some companies are betting on radically new qubit designs. Amazon and Microsoft claim to have harnessed a new state of matter to produce more reliable components, although these are still in early development. 'Just because it's hard, doesn't mean it can't be done,' Mark Horvath, an analyst at Gartner, told FT.
Forbes
37 minutes ago
- Forbes
AI And The Future Of Work: Andrew Yang's Caution Vs. Labor's Optimism
Andrew Yang, technology policy advocate and former presidential candidate, has been sounding alarms about automation's impact for years. At the Ai4 conference in Las Vegas, he was interviewed by Nancy Scola on his views of AI and universal basic income, while at another session, Taylor Stockton, Chief Innovation Officer at the U.S. Department of Labor shared the administration's plans to deal with AI and workforce disruption. The two offered sharply different takes on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the workforce, and what should be done about it. While Yang urges caution on AI-accelerated job disruption, Stockton says those predictions are missing the bigger story. Both see AI reshaping the labor market. They just disagree on what's needed to support the changing labor market. Yang: The Displacement Is Already Happening Yang doesn't speak in hypotheticals. He says CEOs have told him directly they've frozen hiring and started layoffs because AI tools are now doing work once assigned to humans. That shift isn't theoretical. It's already showing up in revised job numbers. From May to July, the bulk of new jobs came from healthcare, an industry still difficult to automate. Other sectors are seeing a slow drain. In his words, a 'tidal wave' is rolling through the economy while Washington stands 'inert or unresponsive.' He expects millions in call centers, retail, and food service to be hit, along with white-collar professionals who assumed they were safe. 'Anyone who thinks that the white-collar blood bath is nonsense is going to be wrong,' he said, warning it may only take months for skeptics to see the scale. The human cost, Yang added, doesn't always make headlines. 'If you're a 50-year-old executive who has lost a job, that's not a really sympathetic narrative to the population at large,' he noted. 'But that's a real impact for the family, and then you multiply that times 100,000 and we have a real problem.' His solution is to share the gains. If AI drives GDP per capita from $82,000 into six figures, part of that should reach households directly. He points to universal basic income and expanded child tax credits as ways to keep people afloat during upheaval. For Yang, it's not just about paychecks. Once the link between effort and reward breaks, he says, people stop trying. Younger generations, he warns, are already showing drops in conscientiousness and agreeableness. Some of that, he fears, can't be reversed. US Department of Labor: AI as an Engine for Opportunity Stockton's starting point is different. He doesn't buy into visions of empty offices and shuttered plants. 'The fear of mass job displacement is deeply overstated,' he says. History shows that major technology shifts, from mechanized farming to the Internet, ended with more jobs, not fewer. AI, in his telling, is following a similar pattern. He points to roles emerging right now such as AI prompt engineers and governance analysts, many of which don't require a traditional degree. In healthcare, AI is producing clinical notes so physicians can spend more time with patients. On factory floors and construction sites, sensors catch hazards before they become accidents. The Department of Labor's plan hinges on agility, tracking AI's impact on jobs in real time, using that data to adjust policy, and running pilot programs for rapid retraining. Stockton wants apprenticeships to become a core path into careers, targeting one million active placements in critical fields such as advanced manufacturing and AI infrastructure. He also wants AI literacy baked into education from K-12 to adult retraining. Stockton shared an emphasis on apprenticeships and alternatives to the traditional 4-year college education as a path to relevance in the AI-powered economy. A study he cited showed 52 percent of the Class of 2023 unemployed or underemployed a year after graduation. 'The College for All movement has failed,' he told the audience. 'A bachelor's degree no longer guarantees access to professional employment. Apprenticeships offer a faster, debt-free alternative…and combine paid job experience with training that directly maps to employer needs.' The federal approach isn't just reactive. In July, the White House released the 'America's AI Action Plan,' a 90-point blueprint under three main headings: Accelerating AI Innovation, Building American AI Infrastructure, and Leading in International AI Diplomacy and Security. It calls for streamlining permits for data centers and chip plants, strengthening the electric grid, creating regulatory sandboxes, and exporting a full-stack AI package to allies, while keeping U.S. values embedded in the technology. Stockton sees the plan as a wind at the back of his workforce push. Common Ground, Clear Differences Both Yang and Stockton agree AI's advance is fast and the pace will unsettle certain jobs. They see healthcare and other people-focused work as relatively safe for now. Both stress that while AI can handle parts of a process, people must decide what the system should aim for. Where they diverge is in the first move. Yang wants immediate income support to keep families stable while the market finds its footing. Stockton believes the priority is rapid adaptation including AI literacy, nimble training programs, and routes into new careers. Yang points to struggling college grads and laid-off mid-career workers. Stockton thinks some of those losses are more about post-pandemic corrections or strategic shifts than about AI alone. Studies fuel both arguments. McKinsey pegs the annual global productivity boost from generative AI at up to $4.4 trillion. PwC reports that jobs exposed to AI have grown 38 percent in the U.S. since the tech's arrival, though roles with less exposure have grown faster. News stories document both companies replacing whole teams with AI systems and companies using AI to amplify human work. In high-risk industries, AI has improved safety and output, which mirrors Stockton's vision in action. In customer service or routine analysis, AI is consolidating headcount, exactly what Yang warns about. What's Likely Ahead Over the next five years, productivity gains are likely to show up before job growth does. Companies that adopt AI early will push output higher without adding staff. Jobs will keep blending human skills with AI tools, making Stockton's AI literacy agenda more pressing. And if wages lag profits for too long, political pressure for income-based solutions could build quickly. Both men see high stakes. Stockton imagines a workforce ready to keep pace. Yang doubts the system can pivot fast enough. A blended strategy including training and adaptation alongside income support could prove the safest bet. Whether it's adopted may depend on whether policymakers, business leaders, and educators can keep up with the technology's acceleration. AI isn't waiting. Neither can the people whose jobs it touches.
