AI invents potential antibiotics for drug-resistant super bugs
Years of research and clinical trials lie ahead, but researchers say the technology could spark a second golden age of antibiotic discovery.
The researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology say the new drugs could kill drug-resistant gonorrhoea and MRSA, a skin infection.
ABC NewsRadio's Sarah Morice spoke with Jim Collins, a Professor of Medical Engineering & Science at MIT, who worked on this.
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Daily Telegraph
17 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
Tesla backflips on $30k battery repair after Musk steps in
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Elon Musk has personally intervened after his company initially failed to assist a loyal Tesla customer in dealing with a costly recall fault. The drama began when X user Jessica Tetreau posted a tweet asking for a contact at Tesla management after her Tesla's battery seal failed. Jessica claimed that Tesla's warranty and insurance would not cover the issue, and Tesla Service indicated it was not their responsibility, despite her vehicle being under warranty at the time. MORE: Musk threat to leave Tesla, gets $42 billion Jessica claimed that Tesla's warranty and insurance would not cover the issue/AFP 'Does anyone here have a contact with Tesla management?' she wrote. 'My car has a recall on the battery seal and mine failed. Tesla Insurance won't cover it, and Tesla Service says it's not their problem either. 'They want $30k by the end of the week. I'm literally heartbroken and in tears. My car was $150k and this is an enormous stress for me.' Three days later, Elon Musk responded to her post from his personal X account, promising to 'investigate.' MORE: China unveils plan to smash Tesla in Aus Elon Musk responded to Jessica's tweet. Picture: Jessica's Tesla is reportedly worth US$150,000 ($231,000), and from the images shared online, it appears to be a Tesla Model S, a high-end electric sedan. The Model S, along with the Model X, is currently subject to a recall notice in the US for battery seal issues that could allow water to enter the high-voltage battery pack, potentially causing electrical failure. Jessica had a battery fault issue in her Tesla Model S. Picture: X/@JessicaTetreau Tesla wanted to charge Jessica $24,000 to repair her Tesla Model S. Picture: X/@JessicaTetreau MORE: Musk signs $25bn AI deal with tech giant According to Jessica, Tesla initially wanted to charge her US$24,200.98 to repair the battery fault, and before Musk's intervention, social media users criticised Tesla's customer service. 'That's criminal … I'm so sorry, Jessica. Tesla has fallen victim to the same greed they once criticised legacy automakers for,' one wrote. 'As a TSLA shareholder, service problems are a big reason I'm holding and not buying more,' another added. 'They're only going to get worse — they're not even a luxury car,' a third person claimed. After Musk's post, Tesla employees swarmed Jessica's thread, promising to have the car ready by the end of the week. Three days after Musk's promised investigation, Jessica confirmed that the Tesla was returned to working order. The swift resolution after Musk's public reply has ignited fresh debate about Tesla's customer service and whether a high-profile intervention from the billionaire CEO should be the only means for customers to receive adequate assistance. It has become increasingly common for frustrated Tesla owners to post complaints on X in hopes that Musk will see them. Many believe it's the only way to solve major problems related to their Teslas. Jessica with her repaired Tesla Model S. Picture: X/@JessicaTetreau One user on X said, 'It turns out you have a contact through X. Directly to the motha f***ing god of Tesla.' 'Would be nice if there was a way for people who get stuck in these binds to be able to escalate for resolution without requiring X,' another said. This isn't the first time Tesla owners have expressed dissatisfaction with the company's customer service, and it's certainly not the first time Elon Musk has personally intervened to address Tesla matters. Earlier in May, Elon Musk was forced to intervene again after a Tesla customer posted on X criticising Tesla's customer service as a 'failure.' That matter was resolved in just a few hours after Musk's involvement. Originally published as Elon Musk response sparks fury among Tesla community
News.com.au
18 hours ago
- News.com.au
Elon Musk response sparks fury among Tesla community
Elon Musk has personally intervened after his company initially failed to assist a loyal Tesla customer in dealing with a costly recall fault. The drama began when X user Jessica Tetreau posted a tweet asking for a contact at Tesla management after her Tesla's battery seal failed. Jessica claimed that Tesla's warranty and insurance would not cover the issue, and Tesla Service indicated it was not their responsibility, despite her vehicle being under warranty at the time. 'Does anyone here have a contact with Tesla management?' she wrote. 'My car has a recall on the battery seal and mine failed. Tesla Insurance won't cover it, and Tesla Service says it's not their problem either. 'They want $30k by the end of the week. I'm literally heartbroken and in tears. My car was $150k and this is an enormous stress for me.' Three days later, Elon Musk responded to her post from his personal X account, promising to 'investigate.' Does anyone here have a contact with Telsa management? My car has a recall on the battery seal and mine failed. Tesla Insurance won’t cover it and Tesla Service says it’s not their problem either. They want 30k by the end of the week despite all of the warranty and insurance on… — Jessica (@JessicaTetreau) August 4, 2025 Jessica's Tesla is reportedly worth US$150,000 ($231,000), and from the images shared online, it appears to be a Tesla Model S, a high-end electric sedan. The Model S, along with the Model X, is currently subject to a recall notice in the US for battery seal issues that could allow water to enter the high-voltage battery pack, potentially causing electrical failure. According to Jessica, Tesla initially wanted to charge her US$24,200.98 to repair the battery fault, and before Musk's intervention, social media users criticised Tesla's customer service. 'That's criminal … I'm so sorry, Jessica. Tesla has fallen victim to the same greed they once criticised legacy automakers for,' one wrote. 'As a TSLA shareholder, service problems are a big reason I'm holding and not buying more,' another added. 'They're only going to get worse — they're not even a luxury car,' a third person claimed. After Musk's post, Tesla employees swarmed Jessica's thread, promising to have the car ready by the end of the week. Three days after Musk's promised investigation, Jessica confirmed that the Tesla was returned to working order. My Tesla is back home. Thank you for stepping in and saving my car, Elon. â�¤ï¸� âš¡ï¸� — Jessica (@JessicaTetreau) August 11, 2025 The swift resolution after Musk's public reply has ignited fresh debate about Tesla's customer service and whether a high-profile intervention from the billionaire CEO should be the only means for customers to receive adequate assistance. It has become increasingly common for frustrated Tesla owners to post complaints on X in hopes that Musk will see them. Many believe it's the only way to solve major problems related to their Teslas. One user on X said, 'It turns out you have a contact through X. Directly to the motha f***ing god of Tesla.' 'Would be nice if there was a way for people who get stuck in these binds to be able to escalate for resolution without requiring X,' another said. This isn't the first time Tesla owners have expressed dissatisfaction with the company's customer service, and it's certainly not the first time Elon Musk has personally intervened to address Tesla matters. Earlier in May, Elon Musk was forced to intervene again after a Tesla customer posted on X criticising Tesla's customer service as a 'failure.'
News.com.au
19 hours ago
- News.com.au
Donald Trump pushes to shut down climate data-collecting NASA satellites
Donald Trump's administration is moving to shut down two key NASA satellite missions which monitor planet-warming greenhouse gases, in its latest hit to climate science. The missions – which include a freeflying satellite known as OCO-2 and an instrument attached to the International Space Station known as OCO-3 – measure carbon dioxide levels and crop growth around the world, providing critical information to scientists and farmers. But funding for the missions, collectively known as the Orbiting Carbon Observatory, has been scrapped under the President's budget request for fiscal year 2026, starting in October. NASA told AP the missions were being terminated 'to align with the President's agenda and budget priorities'. If decommissioned, OCO-3, would be switched off and remain mounted to the International Space Station. However, freeflying OCO-2 – which already has enough fuel to last through 20240 according to CNN– would be relocated to a lower orbit, where it would remain for years before it eventually burnt up in the Earth's atmosphere. The US Republican-controlled Congress is yet to make a decision on Mr Trump's budget request but David Crisp, a retired NASA scientist who managed the mission, has confirmed the decommissioning planning for both missions is already underway. Dr Crisp told NPR that NASA employees are working on 'Phase F' plans – where teams work out how to end a mission. 'What I have heard is direct communications from people who were making those plans, who weren't allowed to tell me that that's what they were told to do. But they were allowed to ask me questions,' he told the outlet. Other sources also confirmed the decommissioning planning to CNN. Dr Crisp said the missions are 'national assets' and are more accurate than any other systems. He said they have led scientists to discover the Amazon rainforest emits more carbon dioxide than it absorbs and can help monitor drought by detecting the 'glow' of photosynthesis in plants. 'This is really critical. We're learning so much about this rapidly changing planet,' he told AP. Anna Michalak, a climate researcher at Carnegie Science and Stanford University, also pointed out the missions have helped other countries. 'It's not just that these are the only two NASA-funded missions,' she told CNN. 'It's that these have been the most impressive, inspirational missions in this space, globally, period.' Dr Crisp is hoping Congress will vote to maintain funding. However, with Congress currently in recess, a budget may not be adopted before the new fiscal year. In the meantime, the former NASA scientist is among those calling on outside partners, including from overseas, to fund OCO-3, attached to the International Space Station. 'We're going out to billionaires. We're going out to foundations,' he told AP. 'But … it's a really, really bad idea to try and push it off onto private industry or private individuals or private donors. It just doesn't make sense.' A NASA spokesperson told CNN if Mr Trump's proposed budget passes, it 'will be implemented upon the start of the next fiscal year'. US to rewrite its past national climate reports The news comes as the Trump administration announced last week it is revising past editions of the nation's premier climate report. The decision, announced by Energy Secretary Chris Wright on CNN, followed the government's revocation of the Endangerment Finding, a scientific determination that underpins a host of regulations aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions. Asked why previous editions of the National Climate Assessment were no longer available online, former fracking company CEO Mr Wright told the network: 'Because we're reviewing them, and we will come out with updated reports on those and with comments on those.' First published in 2000, the National Climate Assessment has long been viewed as a cornerstone of the US government's understanding of climate science, synthesising input from federal agencies and hundreds of external experts. Previous editions warned in stark terms of mounting risks to America's economy, infrastructure, and public health if greenhouse gas emissions are not curtailed. But in April, the administration moved to dismiss the hundreds of scientists working on the sixth edition. Under the Global Change Research Act of 1990, the government is legally obligated to deliver the climate assessment to Congress and the president. Mr Trump's administration and Congress have pressed forward with their pro-fossil fuel agenda – dismantling clean energy tax credits through the so-called 'Big Beautiful Bill' and opening more ecologically sensitive lands to drilling. Last month's proposed revocation of the Endangerment Finding by the Environmental Protection Agency was accompanied by the release of a new climate study from the Department of Energy, authored by climate change contrarians. The study questioned whether heat records are truly increasing and whether extreme weather is worsening. It also misrepresented the work of cited climate scientists, according to several who spoke to AFP, and suggested that rising atmospheric carbon dioxide could be a net benefit for agriculture.
