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Business Wire
14-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Zhejiang Qingshanhu Science & Technology City Administration Committee Hosts China-Kazakhstan Sci-Tech Cooperation Symposium
BUSINESS WIRE)--Recently, the International Seminar on Industry-Education Integration and Sustainable Development of the National Academy of Sciences directly under the President of Kazakhstan, hosted by the Zhejiang Qingshanhu Science & Technology City Administration Committee, was held at the Qingshanhu Park of Zhejiang Zhonghe Technology in Qingshanhu Science & Technology City, Hangzhou, China. Guided by the cooperation blueprint outlined at the first China–Central Asia Summit in 2023, China and Kazakhstan are accelerating practical cooperation across multiple fields, including science and technology. At the symposium, representatives from both China and Kazakhstan held in-depth discussions on topics such as policy orientation, industrial demand, educational resource integration, and intelligent transportation. Akylbek Kurishbayev, President of the National Academy of Sciences directly under the President of Kazakhstan, introduced in detail the Spatial-Temporal Intelligence Laboratory, which was jointly established in February 2025 with Zhejiang University of Technology, Zhonghe Technology, and other institutions. The laboratory adopts an integrated industry–academia–research–application model, focusing on the research and development of key technologies including intelligent early warning, smart agriculture, intelligent logistics, and new energy. It also aims to jointly cultivate digital professionals in collaboration with several universities in Kazakhstan. As part of this initiative, an unveiling ceremony for the Strategic Partner of the International College of Low-Altitude Economy under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology was held, marking a commitment to building a strong talent pipeline for the lab's future development. As the birthplace of the Hangzhou West Sci-Tech Innovation Corridor and the main platform of Lin'an District's 'industry-strengthening' strategy, Qingshanhu Science & Technology City has been actively advancing the integrated development of strategic emerging industries focused on new equipment, new materials, and big health. It is seizing new opportunities in the intelligent robotics sector while continuously optimizing its innovation and entrepreneurship policies and financial service infrastructure. The city has already attracted 31 research institutes, 6 national key laboratories, 511 enterprises above designated size, and 522 nationally recognized high-tech enterprises.
Fox News
10-07-2025
- Health
- Fox News
'Food is medicine' movement may be key to reversing health decline: Here's what to eat
As the health of Americans continues to decline, researchers at the University of Florida are urging a national rethink about fruits and vegetables. Their message is that it's time to treat produce not just as food but as medicine. In a recent article published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers endorse the "food is medicine" movement, arguing fruits and vegetables play a crucial role in preventing chronic diseases and improving public health. Yet only one in 10 adults in the U.S. consumes the recommended daily servings – a shortfall researchers claim is fueling the crisis. The article warns that current U.S. agricultural output is insufficient to support a healthy population. To address this gap, the authors advocate for a substantial increase in fruit and vegetable production, with a focus on nutrient-dense produce such as berries, leafy greens and carrots. Danielle Treadwell, an associate professor of horticultural sciences at the University of Florida, spoke to Fox News Digital about her involvement in the study. "In the U.S., we have a healthcare crisis, due in large part to dietary choices," she said. Treadwell defined horticulture as "the art and science of fruit production and vegetable production" — integral to expanding the quantity and quality of produce in the U.S. "Where are all those fruits and vegetables going to come from?" Treadwell said. "Because currently, the United States is only able to produce 50% of what we anticipate we would need if every adult in the U.S. were to follow the dietary advice of eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day." She added, "That is not enough." Treadwell cited common barriers to eating more produce, including the time required to prepare them and limited access — especially in underserved areas. "Here in Florida, we grow fruits and vegetables nine months out of the year [and] many of us have citrus trees in our yard," the horticulturist said. "However, that's not true in other parts of the country." Treadwell also observed that many Americans work "very long hours, sometimes multiple jobs." She added, "All of these things can come together and really [have] an impact on how many servings a day [of produce that] the average adult can take in." "Frozen vegetables, by and large, retain 100% of their nutritional content that they had when they left the field." Treadwell's main advice is to choose what you eat wisely and to start out small. "Remember that a serving is half a cup … so maybe, eat a whole cup at a time," she suggested. "It certainly doesn't necessarily have to be fresh. Frozen vegetables, by and large, retain 100% of their nutritional content that they had when they left the field." So if food can be medicine, which specific fruits and vegetables target certain ailments? Dr. William W. Li, author of the book "Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself," shared some examples with Fox News Digital. He cited pears and strawberries as two fruits that can target specific medical conditions. "Pears contain polyphenols like quercetin and chlorogenic acid that can reduce blood pressure, shrink body fat, improve energy balance and reverse metabolic syndrome," Li said. Strawberries, on the other hand, contain "polyphenols such as ellagic acid and anthocyanins that can decrease insulin resistance in obese persons to improve metabolism." Pears and strawberries are two fruits that can target specific medical conditions. For those with a high amount of "bad" LDL cholesterol and stubborn abdominal fat, the doctor suggested the monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in avocados. Blueberries can also help "reduce body weight, increase insulin sensitivity, shrink visceral fat and improve metabolism," Li said. Yaa Boakye, a dietitian based in Illinois, echoed the notion of the healing powers of fruits and vegetables. "Physiological shifts happen when fruits and vegetables become a daily, consistent part of your life," Boakye told Fox News Digital. "Not once a week. Not a once-a-month juice cleanse, but consistency." "Fruits and vegetables must be a non-negotiable part of our daily diet." She also said that diet is one of many factors in a person's health and encouraged Americans to be well-balanced in their approaches to health. "Stress, sleep, trauma, environment, medications, access — they all matter, too," Boakye said. "If nutrition is your shield, then movement, sleep and emotional regulation are your armor, reinforcements and escape routes." Boakye said Americans should make eating produce a habit. "We are what we repeatedly do," Boakye said. "Eating fruits and vegetables can't be an afterthought or a luxury. They must be a non-negotiable part of our daily diet."
Axios
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
The great poaching: America's brain drain begins
The Trump administration's spending cuts and restrictions on foreign students are triggering a brain drain — and American scientists are panicking. Why it matters: U.S. researchers' fears are coming true. America's science pipeline is drying up, and countries like China are seizing the opportunity to surge ahead. 'This is such a race for being the science powerhouse that you never fully recover,' says Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences. 'You might accelerate back up to 60, but you can't make up for those years when you were at a standstill while the competition was racing ahead.' Driving the news: The National Science Foundation, which funds much of America's fundamental science research, is already doling out grants at its slowest pace in 35 years, The New York Times reports. More cuts to science could come with the "big, beautiful bill." Universities are also watching with bated breath as the administration tries to limit the number of foreign students studying in the U.S.. Harvard is pushing back, but could face a total ban on recruiting internationally. The Trump administration says it will " aggressively revoke" visas for Chinese students studying in "critical fields." By the numbers: While American universities are rescinding offers to incoming PhD students, other countries are recruiting heavily from U.S. labs. The journal Nature analyzed data from its jobs platform to track where scientists are looking for work. In the first few months of the Trump administration, there were jumps in the the number of U.S. applicants looking for jobs in Canada (+41%), Europe (+32%), China (+20%) and other Asian countries (+39%), compared to the same period in 2024. U.S. jobs saw fewer applications from candidates in Canada (–13%) and Europe (–41%). Case in point: France's Aix-Marseille University, which made headlines for earmarking millions of dollars for U.S. scientists, closed its application window after receiving a flood of apps. After American Nobel laureate Ardem Patapoutian's federal grant was frozen, he got an email from China offering 20 years of funding if he relocates his lab, The New York Times' Kate Zernike writes. He declined. 'This is a once-in-a-century brain gain opportunity,' the Australian Strategic Policy Institute wrote in a brief. The other side: The White House argues that its changes to the system will usher in a golden age of science and rebuild public trust. President Trump has also suggested that spots freed up by rejecting international students could be filled by American applicants. But professors say this isn't entirely realistic. "In hard sciences, in astronomy and physics and computer science, for example, there's no way you would fill that hole with local applicants of comparable quality," says Chris Impey, an astronomer at the University of Arizona. What to watch: 'The optimistic part of all of us thinks science is strong enough to outlast one administration, and for a while I thought that, but the hit to young people is at the center of the whole enterprise,' Impey says. 'It's like pulling the rug out from under the whole thing." It's not just brain drain of existing talent, he says. Students who are in high school and college now and thinking about a career in research might reconsider. "There's plenty of things smart kids can do. They don't have to go into science." At the same time, McNutt says she tells students: "If you went into graduate school in the fall of this year, by the time you get your PhD, this madness may be over. You come out with your new PhD ready to fill the gap."
Politico
04-06-2025
- Health
- Politico
A plan to preserve U.S. science leadership
PROBLEM SOLVERS National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt made a plea to the nation's science research community during her second annual State of the Science address in Washington on Tuesday: Course-correct or lose to China. We're in the midst of a 'radical new experiment,' McNutt explained, in which the U.S., by pursuing budget cuts, canceling grants and adopting restrictive research policies, serves as the treatment group, while China is the control. Unforced errors made during the pandemic eroded many Americans' trust in science. But there's still at least one point of agreement: 'Everyone, whether it's scientists or nonscientists alike, wants U.S. science to be the world leader.' To remain a world leader in science innovation, McNutt laid out a plan. Among her key suggestions: — Build on a culture of innovation. McNutt worries that budget cuts will fuel overly conservative project selection and lead to less funding for high-risk, high-reward research. To course-correct, the U.S. should do a data-informed analysis of various peer-review approaches to ensure 'truly innovative' proposals succeed. — Create a national research strategy. 'No sensible business person would attempt to run a multibillion-dollar enterprise without a strategy, and yet that is exactly what we are doing with our research enterprise,' she said. In McNutt's view, relying on Congress to tinker with budgets isn't a strategy. Countries like China, Germany, Japan and Norway maximize research and development investment through strategic planning, primarily with apolitical non-government organizations, McNutt added. — Improve science education. The U.S. is already failing to produce enough STEM students to fill available jobs in science. The Trump administration's clampdown on visas will make it even more difficult for immigrants to fill those jobs. Beyond filling jobs, having science-literate lawyers, politicians and workers in manufacturing and transportation strengthens the nation's scientific enterprise. — Don't retreat from international collaboration. Some cutting-edge research facilities require resources from more than one nation. And when international students return home, their U.S. connections drive further international collaboration. 'We squander opportunities by not taking advantage of the fact that international colleagues want to work with us, and we only disadvantage ourselves,' McNutt said. — Cut red tape. Regulations divert time and money away from science, McNutt argues. And since the Trump administration has prioritized reducing regulations, McNutt hopes that push extends to research regulations. Still, in the Department of Government Efficiency era, that's not a given. 'I worry that the emphasis right now on waste, fraud and abuse only leads to more regulations, as everyone is assumed guilty until proven innocent.' The elephant in the room: The National Academy of Sciences is 'preparing for a fairly radical downsizing' amid the Trump administration's science cuts, McNutt told Stat News last month. A budget shortfall of roughly $40 million resulting from terminated contracts means the organization might have to lay off 250 employees in addition to the 50 members of the 1,000-person staff who have already been let go. WELCOME TO FUTURE PULSE This is where we explore the ideas and innovators shaping health care. Pope Leo XIV wants to stop artificial intelligence from playing God. Like his namesake, Pope Leo XIII, who promoted workers' rights during the industrial revolution, the new pope is positioning himself as a guardian in the face of unchecked modern technology, POLITICO's Hannah Roberts reports. Share any thoughts, news, tips and feedback with Danny Nguyen at dnguyen@ Carmen Paun at cpaun@ Ruth Reader at rreader@ or Erin Schumaker at eschumaker@ Want to share a tip securely? Message us on Signal: Dannyn516.70, CarmenP.82, RuthReader.02 or ErinSchumaker.01. WORLDVIEW England's National Health Service has launched an internal review into an artificial intelligence model being trained on data from 57 million patients in England, our POLITICO colleagues across the pond scooped. Called Foresight, the generative AI model was touted as a 'world-first pilot project' to pinpoint high-risk patient groups and facilitate early interventions. Foresight was trained on de-identified data from millions of people in England, including a large-scale dataset called the General Practice Extraction Service Data for Pandemic Planning and Research. But doctors have serious misgivings about the model being trained on their patient records without proper authorization. What the docs say: Last month, representatives from the British Medical Association and Royal College of General Practitioners wrote to Ming Tang, chief data and analytics officer at NHS England, expressing 'serious concerns about the lawfulness of the data use and the apparent absence of strict governance arrangements,' according to an email seen by POLITICO. The bone of contention is whether NHSE took patient data solely intended for Covid-19 research and incorporated it into an all-purpose AI model. NHSE's guidelines state that applications for accessing patient data must undergo additional review by its Professional Advisory Group. The advisory group approved the British Heart Foundation consortium's use of the primary care data specifically for Covid-related research during the pandemic but was never consulted about large language model training. The official line: An NHSE spokesperson said: 'Maintaining patient privacy is central to this project, and we are grateful to the Joint GP IT Committee for raising its concerns and meeting with us to discuss the strict governance and controls in place to ensure patients' data remains secure.' What's next: The Joint GP IT Committee, which advises on IT matters related to general practice medicine, plans to write to the Information Commissioner directly, a person familiar with the situation told POLITICO. In addition to demanding that the British Medical Association be called as a witness to the Information Commissioner, the joint commission wants 'explicit governance' over future uses of AI and an undertaking that any future emergency measures permitting the use of general practitioners' data contain a sunset clause if doctors haven't been consulted, the person said.
E&E News
04-06-2025
- Business
- E&E News
‘State of the science' under Trump? National Academies president plays it safe.
The U.S. is falling behind as a global science leader. Research funding has lagged for years, compounded by current cuts to staff and budgets under President Donald Trump. Those were the grim highlights of the second annual State of the Science address Tuesday by Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences. But the country can change course, she said, by funding education, pursuing international collaborations and advancing national research strategies. Advertisement Despite her stark warnings, McNutt took an understated approach to the chaos consuming U.S. research.
