Researchers develop game-changing tool to predict deadly natural disasters: 'Of paramount importance'
A recent study published in the Water Resources Research journal discussed using a new deep learning framework — known as Long Short-Term Memory Station Approximated Models, or LSTM-SAM — to predict the state of water levels during extreme weather events, in order to better forewarn and evacuate nearby civilians.
With Atlantic hurricane seasons lending themselves to more frequent and intense storm surges over the past decade, the impact of today's hurricanes could prove devastating for individuals and homes that aren't prepared. In particular, the coastal flooding associated with many hurricanes in the Southern U.S. has a history of endangering lives, buildings, and ecosystems.
Led by environmental engineering Ph.D. candidate Samuel Daramola, the researchers used a "transfer learning" technique to quickly and accurately make predictions with LSTM-SAM. While conventional storm prediction models rely on large bodies of weather and ocean data that are inefficient and expensive to assemble, LSTM-SAM estimates flood levels based on broader flood patterns recorded in the past.
One unique appeal of LSTM-SAM, per Phys.org news, is the fact that accurate, high-efficiency storm predictions no longer need to be limited geographically to regions that have access to powerful data-processing facilities. Since LSTM-SAM bases its predictions on storm-flood patterns as a whole, the technology isn't locale-specific and can be applied to regions with minimal prior storm data.
"Other studies have relied on repetitive patterns in the training data," Daramola told Phys.org. "Our approach is different. We highlight extreme changes in water levels during training, which helps the model better recognize important patterns and perform more reliably in those areas."
More Atlantic hurricanes than ever are making landfall, which means the devastation wreaked by these storms cannot be understated. In fact, according to a 2023 report by the Front Page, rainfall flooding was responsible for more than half of the casualties caused by tropical cyclones.
"The need for reliable flood prediction frameworks is of paramount importance," Phys.org continued. "Advanced deep learning tools like LSTM-SAM could become essential in helping coastal communities prepare for the new normal, opening the door to smarter, faster, and more accessible flood predictions associated with tropical cyclones."
While we can't prevent hurricanes altogether, cutting-edge predictive innovations can help minimize the safety risks and allow residents time to plan for an evacuation. Meanwhile, since planet-warming carbon pollution considerably supercharges seasonal storms, we can take small steps to reduce our unfriendly contributions, such as installing home solar panels, repurposing household waste, and switching to an electric vehicle.
What would you do if natural disasters were threatening your home?
Move somewhere else
Reinforce my home
Nothing
This is happening already
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Researchers turn to 'living libraries' in effort to solve growing threat to food supply: 'Pressures on food crops touch every country on our planet'
Imagine if the key to protecting our favorite foods from a changing climate was hidden away in a vault in the Arctic, and we just figured out how to unlock it. That's the real-world promise of a new gene selection technique that could revolutionize the way we grow food. Scientists from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and their global partners have developed a faster, more affordable method for identifying genes that help crops survive extreme weather. A recent study published in Nature Climate Change and reported by reveals that these researchers are looking toward seed banks, sometimes called "living libraries," for solutions. These collections store thousands of plant varieties with unique genetic traits that could make crops stronger and more resilient. "Climate-driven pressures on food crops touch every country on our planet, and this technique holds promise for making more use of our global genebanks," said study co-author Michael Kantar of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, per That means future versions of your favorite foods like coffee, rice, or chocolate might be better equipped to thrive despite rising temperatures. This new method, called environmental genomic selection, combines DNA data with climate models to predict how different plants will perform under future conditions. Instead of growing and testing thousands of plants, researchers can now use a smaller, diverse group to find the best candidates for breeding. By helping farmers grow crops that need less water, resist pests naturally, and thrive without harmful chemicals, this breakthrough could reduce pollution, protect natural resources, and support healthier communities. It also means we may have new ways to protect everyday staples we often take for granted, from the rice in your pantry to the chocolate in your snack drawer. The researchers tested the method on sorghum, a drought-tolerant grain, and found that it works on dozens of other crops as well, including barley, cannabis, and peppers. Their findings also show that countries heavily reliant on one crop may need genetic resources from other regions to stay resilient. What is the biggest reason you don't grow food at home? Not enough time Not enough space It seems too hard I have a garden already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. With Crop Trust reporting more than seven million samples stored in global genebanks, this tool could help scientists turn these collections into real-world solutions, faster and more affordably than ever before. For everyday people and farmers alike, that means more reliable harvests, more nutritious meals, and a stronger food system no matter what the forecast brings. More food innovations, such as vertical farms and drought-resistant crops, are making it easier for people to eat well while reducing pollution. To help build a more sustainable food system, people can turn to plant-based food alternatives or even grow their own food, as well as compost food scraps. 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.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Researchers develop game-changing tool to predict deadly natural disasters: 'Of paramount importance'
A recent study published in the Water Resources Research journal discussed using a new deep learning framework — known as Long Short-Term Memory Station Approximated Models, or LSTM-SAM — to predict the state of water levels during extreme weather events, in order to better forewarn and evacuate nearby civilians. With Atlantic hurricane seasons lending themselves to more frequent and intense storm surges over the past decade, the impact of today's hurricanes could prove devastating for individuals and homes that aren't prepared. In particular, the coastal flooding associated with many hurricanes in the Southern U.S. has a history of endangering lives, buildings, and ecosystems. Led by environmental engineering Ph.D. candidate Samuel Daramola, the researchers used a "transfer learning" technique to quickly and accurately make predictions with LSTM-SAM. While conventional storm prediction models rely on large bodies of weather and ocean data that are inefficient and expensive to assemble, LSTM-SAM estimates flood levels based on broader flood patterns recorded in the past. One unique appeal of LSTM-SAM, per news, is the fact that accurate, high-efficiency storm predictions no longer need to be limited geographically to regions that have access to powerful data-processing facilities. Since LSTM-SAM bases its predictions on storm-flood patterns as a whole, the technology isn't locale-specific and can be applied to regions with minimal prior storm data. "Other studies have relied on repetitive patterns in the training data," Daramola told "Our approach is different. We highlight extreme changes in water levels during training, which helps the model better recognize important patterns and perform more reliably in those areas." More Atlantic hurricanes than ever are making landfall, which means the devastation wreaked by these storms cannot be understated. In fact, according to a 2023 report by the Front Page, rainfall flooding was responsible for more than half of the casualties caused by tropical cyclones. "The need for reliable flood prediction frameworks is of paramount importance," continued. "Advanced deep learning tools like LSTM-SAM could become essential in helping coastal communities prepare for the new normal, opening the door to smarter, faster, and more accessible flood predictions associated with tropical cyclones." While we can't prevent hurricanes altogether, cutting-edge predictive innovations can help minimize the safety risks and allow residents time to plan for an evacuation. Meanwhile, since planet-warming carbon pollution considerably supercharges seasonal storms, we can take small steps to reduce our unfriendly contributions, such as installing home solar panels, repurposing household waste, and switching to an electric vehicle. What would you do if natural disasters were threatening your home? Move somewhere else Reinforce my home Nothing This is happening already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. 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.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Newsweek
The Key to Better Sleep Is in Your Gut, Says Gastroenterologist
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Around 25 million U.S. adults suffer from insomnia. At the same time, more than 3.9 million Americans are taking probiotics, usually for gut health, according to the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). And gut health could be the key to better sleep. A study published in the journal Engineering examined a specific probiotic strain called Lactobacillus helveticus CCFM1320. This probiotic produces a compound known as SAM (S-adenosylmethionine), which helps regulate the body's internal clock and supports the production of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep. The researchers found that this probiotic could significantly improve sleep quality. The Gut as a Second Brain Neuroscientist Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, the head of sleep at Wesper, a national home sleep disorder diagnostics company, told Newsweek: "The gut essentially acts as a secondary nervous system and creates and releases many crucial neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, which also help to regulate nervous system activity. "This allows for two-way communication between the gut and the brain, called the gut-brain axis. Healthy gut microbes are essential to keeping the gut healthy and functioning, and there is ample evidence that gut microbiota dysregulation can negatively impact the activity of the gut-brain axis. Because the brain is highly sensitive, this can lead to poor sleep quality." Stock image of a woman taking pills from her nightstand before bed. Stock image of a woman taking pills from her nightstand before bed. Liudmila Chernetska/iStock / Getty Images Plus Is CCFM1320 a Game-Changing Strain? To test the effectiveness of CCFM1320 in humans, scientists from Jiangnan University conducted a four-week study with 60 volunteers who experienced sleep difficulties. Participants were divided into two groups: one received the probiotic, while the other took a placebo. Results showed that those who consumed the probiotic had better sleep scores, lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and a healthier balance of gut bacteria. Additionally, the probiotic boosted the expression of genes involved in producing and utilizing SAM, a key factor in sleep and overall health. Strain-Specific Benefits Dr. Michel Bass, a board-certified gastroenterologist and the Founding Medical Director at Oshi Health in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, emphasized the importance of strain specificity: "Not all probiotics are created equal. This study identified CCFM1320 as uniquely beneficial for sleep quality. This isn't a generic 'take-any-probiotic' situation—it's about strain-level specificity," Bass told Newsweek. "That's where a lot of public messaging needs to evolve. Just like different medications target different conditions, different strains do different things. And this one appears to enhance melatonin synthesis via SAM methylation—a novel pathway." Probiotic Supplements vs. Fermented Foods Stock image of an assortment of fresh vegetables and meats. Stock image of an assortment of fresh vegetables and meats. esilzengin/iStock / Getty Images Plus While fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, and kefir are beneficial for general gut health, Bass explained that they may not provide targeted probiotic strains at therapeutic levels. "If someone wants to improve things like sleep quality or reduce stress hormones like cortisol, a strong, well-researched supplement—especially one with proven strains like CCFM1320—is usually more effective," he said. "That said, eating fermented foods is still a great daily habit and can complement targeted probiotic supplements." Jason Eastty, owner of Healthspan Longevity in Westborough, Massachusetts, and a nutrition specialist, added that overall good nutrition can combat poor sleep. "Having a nutrient deficiency—like low iron, magnesium, or vitamin D—can throw off your gut microbial balance, leading to poor sleep. Clinical trials have shown that correcting these deficiencies helps microbial diversity and improves sleep efficiency," Eastty said. He also emphasized that a whole-foods diet rich in fiber—from fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains—is essential to feeding the "good" bacteria in your gut.
