Latest news with #SeanJordan
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
How Venus-Like Exo-Planets Can Help Map Nearby Habitable Zones
Surface of Venus. Hot lava flows on Venus. 3d illustration The old adage that it's easier to prove a negative could play a crucial role in characterizing nearby exoplanets that could harbor life. The idea is that looking for earth-like planets is tough enough without wasting time on false positives. Yet the authors of a recent paper appearing in the journal Science Advances propose using the detection of sulfur dioxide in the atmospheres of extrasolar Venus-like planetary hellholes to serve as a negative chemical marker for water and life as we know it. It's really difficult to look at the exoplanet population and identify habitable planets that have liquid surface water, Sean Jordan, the paper's lead author and a planetary scientist at ETH Zurich, tells me at the recent European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2025 in Vienna. But if you can identify sulfur dioxide in their atmospheres, that is a negative sign for water, says Jordan. That's a telltale sign that that, at least for now these planets don't have liquid water and are not going to be a great place to look for life, he says. We show that the inner edge of the habitable zone can now be mapped among exoplanets using their lack of surface water, which, unlike the presence of water, can be unambiguously revealed by atmospheric sulfur, the authors write. For instance, sulfur dioxide is abundant in our own Venus's atmosphere compared to Earth but the authors note is expected to be scrubbed from habitable planetary atmospheres by precipitation. These types of searches would also enable planetary astrophysicists to finally define the inner edge of habitable zones around dozens of nearby M-dwarf spectral type stars. Such stars range in size from about a tenth to a half the mass of our own G-type star. And, perhaps most importantly for astrobiology, have exceedingly long lifetimes on the so-called main sequence, as hydrogen burning stars. Not only are red dwarf stars the most common stars and planetary systems in the galaxy, but they are geometrically favorable because they're smaller, so we get higher planet to star size ratios, says Jordan. This gives us a bigger signal when these planets transit in front of their parent stars, he says. Until now, a key challenge has been defining a given solar system's so-called habitable zone, the most simplistic definition of which is where a given terrestrial planet can harbor liquid water on its surface. Whether planets orbiting these M dwarf stars can even hold on to atmospheres at all remains an open question, says Jordan. That's because they're being blasted with so much extreme ultraviolet and X ray radiation, he says. In truth, given its size and mass, our planet Venus is virtually an astrophysical twin to our own Earth. But that's where most of the comparisons end, since Venus' surface is hot enough to melt lead and its atmospheric pressures are more than 90 times that of our own. Yet as is oft repeated, if we can't understand the planet next door, what hope do we have of understanding the thousands of new extrasolar planetary systems that have been discovered by astronomers in the last three decades? Estimates of the inner edge of the habitable zone depend heavily on modeling assumptions and whether or not a planet has evolved from a 'hot start' or a 'cold start,' the authors note. Models of slowly rotating planets initialized with surface water oceans (a cold start) can maintain habitable conditions well inside the traditional Venus zone of a star via a cloud-climate feedback, they write. With NASA's Webb Space Telescope, the critical next step in testing the origin and prevalence of life on nearby exoplanets lies in mapping the inner edges of habitable zones around M-dwarf host stars, the authors note. Positively identifying a Venus-like atmosphere, with a surface too hot to support liquid water, is imperative in constraining habitability among the rocky exoplanet population, they write. We can't say yet with any certainty whether Venus was born dead, and water only ever existed as steam in a really hot atmosphere that was eventually lost, or whether it was habitable, says Jordan. But the question of whether our Venus could have ever been habitable in the past will have sweeping implications for the possible habitability of Venus-like exoplanets, he says. As for Earth? We're very fortunate to have a planet where all of these stabilizing climate feedbacks are occurring, but we don't know how prevalent that is in the universe, says Jordan.
Reuters
13-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Google seeks to limit reach of US judge's digital ads ruling
May 13 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google has asked a federal judge in Texas not to adopt the reasoning of his counterpart in Virginia who ruled last month that the tech giant illegally dominates markets for online advertising technology. In a filing, opens new tab on Monday, Google told U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan in Plano, Texas that the decision last month should not influence his rulings in a related case before him accusing the company of violating antitrust law. Texas and other U.S. states sued Google in 2020, accusing it of illegally dominating advertising markets and violating laws against deceptive trade practices. In the Virginia case, filed after the Texas lawsuit, the U.S. Justice Department, Virginia and other states also sued Google over its digital advertising business practices. Texas and its lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and neither did Google. Google argued that an April 17 ruling by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia that found the company held an illegal monopoly was 'neither preclusive nor persuasive,' and that the company will appeal it. 'It is not the task of this court to decide whether the decision of its co-equal court is correct,' Google's attorneys told Jordan in Texas federal court. Texas and the other states countered in a filing, opens new tab that Brinkema 'rejected Google's key arguments decisively.' Google had tried unsuccessfully to consolidate the antitrust cases in Virginia and Texas before a judge in New York who is weighing related antitrust claims. The Texas lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial, unlike the Justice Department's case in Virginia. In the Virginia litigation, Brinkema in September will begin considering what remedies should be imposed to restore competition to online advertising. The case is State of Texas et al v. Google LLC, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, No. 4:20-cv-00957-SDJ. For plaintiffs: W. Mark Lanier of The Lanier Law Firm; and Ashley Keller of Keller Postman For defendant: R. Paul Yetter of Yetter Coleman; Eric Mahr of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; and Daniel Bitton of Axinn Veltrop & Harkrider Read more: US seeks breakup of Google's ad-tech products after judge finds illegal monopoly Google could use AI to extend search monopoly, DOJ says as trial begins Google's antitrust woes mount in US cases over search, apps, ads Google defeats part of US shareholder class action over digital ads
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Biden's rule to bar medical debt from credit reports could soon end. What to know
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seeking to erase a Biden-era rule that would ban the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. The consumer protection agency sided with two trade groups − the Consumer Data Industry Association and Cornerstone Credit Union League − in an April 30 motion that asked a federal judge in Texas to vacate the medical debt rule. The medical debt rule, finalized in the waning days of the Biden administration, would ban medical debt on credit reports and prohibit lenders from using a person's medical debt history to make lending decisions. The rule was scheduled to take effect in March, but the two trade groups sued the CFPB to halt the rule, and a U.S. District Court judge in the Eastern District of Texas issued a 90-day stay, effectively delaying the rule's start date to June 15. Rather that defend the rule, the CFPB joined the two trade groups in a joint motion that asked U.S. District Court Judge Sean Jordan to vacate the medical debt rule "because it exceeds the bureau's statutory authority." Consumer groups have sought to intervene in the case to defend the medical debt rule. In an order on April 30, Jordan said he would give the consumer groups and the trade groups and the CFPB another week to file legal paperwork before deciding next steps. The CFPB also is the subject of another court challenge from its employees who are fighting the Trump administration's effort to effectively close the consumer protection agency. The fight over the CFPB's future casts doubt on efforts to rein in bank overdraft fees and oversight of digital payments apps. Consumers advocates worry the CFPB's choice to abandon the medical debt rule could strip away an important layer of consumer protection. "I'm disappointed for the 15 million Americans who have medical bills on their credit reports and have to suffer the consequences of poor credit scores because of it," said Patricia Kelmar, senior director of health care campaigns at the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. However, the Consumer Data Industry Association, which represents credit bureaus, cheered the CFPB's choice to not defend the medical debt rule. The medical debt rule would have "prohibited lenders from considering complete and accurate information when making lending decisions," said Dan Smith, president and CEO of the association. "Our member companies remain committed to providing complete and accurate information to support lenders and help consumers access financial products." Medical bills accounted for more than half of debt collection on consumers' credit records, according to a 2022 report from the CFPB. The three largest credit reporting companies already have removed several forms of debt from credit reports: paid medical debts, unpaid medical debts less than a year old and medical debt less than $500. Even if the medical debt rule doesn't survive this court challenge, Kelmar said there is bipartisan support in the concept of sparing consumers from credit demerits due to old medical bills. "Medical debt is a nonpartisan issue," Kelmar said. "It affects middle income Americans more (because) they have to pay more in out-of-pocket costs." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump asks court to end Biden medical debt rule Sign in to access your portfolio
USA Today
01-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Biden's rule to bar medical debt from credit reports could soon end. What to know
Biden's rule to bar medical debt from credit reports could soon end. What to know Show Caption Hide Caption Survey finds millions of Americans racked up billions in medical debt A West Health-Gallup Healthcare survey showed 31 million Americans accumulated $74 billion in medical debt in 2024. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seeking to erase a Biden-era rule that would ban the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. The consumer protection agency sided with two trade groups − the Consumer Data Industry Association and Cornerstone Credit Union League − in an April 30 motion that asked a federal judge in Texas to vacate the medical debt rule. The medical debt rule, finalized in the waning days of the Biden administration, would ban medical debt on credit reports and prohibit lenders from using a person's medical debt history to make lending decisions. The rule was scheduled to take effect in March, but the two trade groups sued the CFPB to halt the rule, and a U.S. District Court judge in the Eastern District of Texas issued a 90-day stay, effectively delaying the rule's start date to June 15. Rather that defend the rule, the CFPB joined the two trade group in a joint motion that asked U.S. District Court Judge Sean Jordan to vacate the medical debt rule "because it exceeds the bureau's statutory authority." Consumers fight to keep medical debt rule Consumer groups have sought to intervene in the case to defend the medical debt rule. In an order on April 30, Jordan said he would give the consumer groups and the trade groups and the CFPB another week to file legal paperwork before deciding next steps. The CFPB also is the subject of another court challenge from its employees who are fighting the Trump administration's effort to effectively close the consumer protection agency. The fight over the CFPB's future casts doubt on efforts to rein in bank overdraft fees and oversight of digital payments apps. Consumers advocates worry the CFPB's choice to abandon the medical debt rule could strip away an important layer of consumer protection. "I'm disappointed for the 15 million Americans who have medical bills on their credit reports and have to suffer the consequences of poor credit scores because of it," said Patricia Kelmar, senior director of health care campaigns at the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. However, the Consumer Data Industry Association, which represents credit bureaus, cheered the CFPB's choice to not defend the medical debt rule. The medical debt rule would have "prohibited lenders from considering complete and accurate information when making lending decisions," said Dan Smith, president and CEO of the association. "Our member companies remain committed to providing complete and accurate information to support lenders and help consumers access financial products." Medical bills accounted for more than half of debt collection on consumers' credit records, according to a 2022 report from the CFPB. The three largest credit reporting companies already have removed several forms of debt from credit reports: paid medical debts, unpaid medical debts less than a year old and medical debt less than $500. Even if the medical debt rule doesn't survive this court challenge, Kelmar said there is bipartisan support in the concept of sparing consumers from credit demerits due to old medical bills. "Medical debt is a nonpartisan issue," Kelmar said. "It affects middle income Americans more (because) they have to pay more in out-of-pocket costs."
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Federal Court 'Vacates in Its Entirety' the FDA's Costly and Onerous Lab Test Rule
A federal district court has struck a blow for medical innovation and patient empowerment by overruling the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) misbegotten effort to regulate laboratory-developed (LDTs) and in vitro testing. LDTs are diagnostic in vitro tests for clinical use that are designed, manufactured, and performed by individual laboratories. They can diagnose illnesses and guide treatments by detecting relevant biomarkers in saliva, blood, or tissues; the tests can identify small molecules, proteins, RNA, DNA, cells, and pathogens. For example, some assess the risks of developing Alzheimer's disease, detect the presence of cancers, or guide the treatment of breast cancer. Last May, the agency adopted extensive new rules aimed at regulating those tests for the first time. This is the same agency whose bureaucratic acumen in 2020 massively screwed up COVID-19 diagnostic testing as the pandemic rolled in. As I reported at the time, out of the billions of tests given annually, the FDA sought to justify imposing its burdensome oversight by citing problematic medical device reports and unconfirmed "allegations" for a grand total of nine and four different tests respectively between 2009 and 2023. The remaining examples cited by the FDA are tests that had actually been submitted to the agency for analysis and were subsequently rejected or revised as recommended. Various clinical and professional organizations including the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) and the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) strenuously opposed the FDA's regulatory overreach. Subsequently, they sued the agency in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Now, Judge Sean Jordan has ruled in favor of the laboratory representatives, setting aside the case "in its entirety" and remanding the matter to the secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), now Robert F. Kennedy Jr., for further consideration. In his opinion memorandum, Judge Jordan pointedly notes that the FDA actually admits that administering its new LDT regulatory scheme would be costly and slow. FDA recognizes that the final rule will impose major burdens on laboratories. In fact, the new requirements will initially affect about 79,114 existing tests offered by 1,181 existing laboratories. AR318. Going forward, it will continue to affect about 10,013 new tests every year. The final rule also substantially increases FDA's workload. Even assuming that FDA will adhere to its non-binding enforcement discretion policies, FDA estimates that it will need to review an additional 103 premarket applications, 1,090 premarket notifications, and 267 de novo classification requests each year—an across-the-board increase that includes more than doubling the number of premarket applications subject to review. FDA estimates that the compliance costs for laboratories will total well over $1 billion per year. Over the next two decades, FDA projects that total costs associated with the rule will range from $12.57 billion to $78.99 billion. Without going too deeply into the legal details, Judge Jordan accepted the industry arguments that the existing Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) had established the appropriate and adequate system for regulating the quality, safety, and efficacy of LDTs and that the FDA has no statutory authority over LDTs. "The court's ruling ensures that clinical laboratories can continue to focus on their primary mission—offering innovative and reliable diagnostics that save and improve the lives of millions of patients every day," said ACLA President Susan Van Meter in a press release. "This is a victory that protects patient access to critically needed testing services and removes burdensome regulations that would have undermined the clinical laboratory system in this country." RFK Jr. should accept the court's ruling and immediately instruct the FDA to halt any further efforts to regulate LDTs and in vitro tests. The post Federal Court 'Vacates in Its Entirety' the FDA's Costly and Onerous Lab Test Rule appeared first on
