Latest news with #UniversityofSouthernCalifornia
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Science
- Straits Times
Rising seas and shifting sands attack ancient Alexandria from below
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt - From her ninth-floor balcony over Alexandria's seafront, Eman Mabrouk looked down at the strip of sand that used to be the wide beach where she played as a child. "The picture is completely different now," she said. The sea has crept closer, the concrete barriers have got longer and the buildings around her have cracked and shifted. Every year 40 of them collapse across Egypt's second city, up from one on average a decade ago, a study shows. The storied settlement that survived everything from bombardment by the British in the 1880s to attacks by crusaders in the 1160s is succumbing to a subtler foe infiltrating its foundations. The warming waters of the Mediterranean are rising, part of a global phenomenon driven by climate change. In Alexandria, that is leading to coastal erosion and sending saltwater seeping through the sandy substrate, undermining buildings from below, researchers say. "This is why we see the buildings in Alexandria being eroded from the bottom up," said Essam Heggy, a water scientist at the University of Southern California who co-wrote the study published in February describing a growing crisis in Alexandria and along the whole coast. The combination of continuous seawater rises, ground subsidence and coastal erosion means Alexandria's coastline has receded on average 3.5 metres a year over the last 20 years, he told Reuters. 'For many people who see that climatic change is something that will happen in the future and we don't need to worry about it, it's actually happening right now, right here," Heggy said. The situation is alarming enough when set out in the report - "Soaring Building Collapses in Southern Mediterranean Coasts" in the journal "Earth's Future". For Mabrouk, 50, it has been part of day-to-day life for years. She had to leave her last apartment when the building started moving. "It eventually got slanted. I mean, after two years, we were all ... leaning," she told Reuters. "If you put something on the table, you would feel like it was rolling." BARRIERS, BULLDOZERS, CRACKS Egypt's government has acknowledged the problem and promised action. Submerged breakwaters reduce coastal wave action and truckloads of sand replenish stripped beaches. Nine concrete sea barriers have been set up "to protect the delta and Alexandria from the impact of rising sea waves," Alexandria's governor, Ahmed Khaled Hassan, said. The barriers stretch out to sea, piles of striking geometric shapes, their clear curves and lines standing out against the crumbling, flaking apartment blocks on the land. Authorities are trying to get in ahead of the collapses by demolishing buildings at risk. Around 7,500 were marked for destruction and 55,000 new housing units will be built, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told a crowd as he stood on one of the concrete barriers on July 14. "There isn't a day that passes without a partial or complete collapse of at least one building that already had a demolition order," Madbouly said. Some are hopeful the measures can make a difference. "There are no dangers now ... They have made their calculations," coffee shop owner Shady Mostafa said as he watched builders working on one of the barriers. Others are less sure. Alexandria's 70-km (45-mile) long coastal zone was marked down as the most vulnerable in the whole Mediterranean basin in the February report. Around 2% of the city's housing stock – or about 7,000 buildings – were probably unsafe, it added. Every day, more people are pouring into the city - Alexandria's population has nearly doubled to about 5.8 million in the last 25 years, swollen by workers and tourists, according to Egypt's statistics agency CAPMAS. Property prices keep going up, despite all the risks, trackers show. Sea levels are rising across the world, but they are rising faster in the Mediterranean than in many other bodies of water, partly because the relative shallowness of its sea basin means it is warming up faster. The causes may be global, but the impacts are local, said 26-year-old Alexandria resident Ahmed al-Ashry. "There's a change in the buildings, there's a change in the streets," he told Reuters. "Every now and then we try to renovate the buildings, and in less than a month, the renovations start to fall apart. Our neighbours have started saying the same thing, that cracks have started to appear." REUTERS
Reuters
5 hours ago
- Science
- Reuters
Rising seas and shifting sands attack ancient Alexandria from below
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, July 23 (Reuters) - From her ninth-floor balcony over Alexandria's seafront, Eman Mabrouk looked down at the strip of sand that used to be the wide beach where she played as a child. "The picture is completely different now," she said. The sea has crept closer, the concrete barriers have got longer and the buildings around her have cracked and shifted. Every year 40 of them collapse across Egypt's second city, up from one on average a decade ago, a study shows. The storied settlement that survived everything from bombardment by the British in the 1880s to attacks by crusaders in the 1160s is succumbing to a subtler foe infiltrating its foundations. The warming waters of the Mediterranean are rising, part of a global phenomenon driven by climate change. In Alexandria, that is leading to coastal erosion and sending saltwater seeping through the sandy substrate, undermining buildings from below, researchers say. "This is why we see the buildings in Alexandria being eroded from the bottom up," said Essam Heggy, a water scientist at the University of Southern California who co-wrote the study published in February describing a growing crisis in Alexandria and along the whole coast. The combination of continuous seawater rises, ground subsidence and coastal erosion means Alexandria's coastline has receded on average 3.5 metres a year over the last 20 years, he told Reuters. 'For many people who see that climatic change is something that will happen in the future and we don't need to worry about it, it's actually happening right now, right here," Heggy said. The situation is alarming enough when set out in the report - "Soaring Building Collapses in Southern Mediterranean Coasts" in the journal "Earth's Future". For Mabrouk, 50, it has been part of day-to-day life for years. She had to leave her last apartment when the building started moving. "It eventually got slanted. I mean, after two years, we were all ... leaning," she told Reuters. "If you put something on the table, you would feel like it was rolling." Egypt's government has acknowledged the problem and promised action. Submerged breakwaters reduce coastal wave action and truckloads of sand replenish stripped beaches. Nine concrete sea barriers have been set up "to protect the delta and Alexandria from the impact of rising sea waves," Alexandria's governor, Ahmed Khaled Hassan, said. The barriers stretch out to sea, piles of striking geometric shapes, their clear curves and lines standing out against the crumbling, flaking apartment blocks on the land. Authorities are trying to get in ahead of the collapses by demolishing buildings at risk. Around 7,500 were marked for destruction and 55,000 new housing units will be built, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told a crowd as he stood on one of the concrete barriers on July 14. "There isn't a day that passes without a partial or complete collapse of at least one building that already had a demolition order," Madbouly said. Some are hopeful the measures can make a difference. "There are no dangers now ... They have made their calculations," coffee shop owner Shady Mostafa said as he watched builders working on one of the barriers. Others are less sure. Alexandria's 70-km (45-mile) long coastal zone was marked down as the most vulnerable in the whole Mediterranean basin in the February report. Around 2% of the city's housing stock – or about 7,000 buildings – were probably unsafe, it added. Every day, more people are pouring into the city - Alexandria's population has nearly doubled to about 5.8 million in the last 25 years, swollen by workers and tourists, according to Egypt's statistics agency CAPMAS. Property prices keep going up, despite all the risks, trackers show. Sea levels are rising across the world, but they are rising faster in the Mediterranean than in many other bodies of water, partly because the relative shallowness of its sea basin means it is warming up faster. The causes may be global, but the impacts are local, said 26-year-old Alexandria resident Ahmed al-Ashry. "There's a change in the buildings, there's a change in the streets," he told Reuters. "Every now and then we try to renovate the buildings, and in less than a month, the renovations start to fall apart. Our neighbours have started saying the same thing, that cracks have started to appear."
Straits Times
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Paralympian Ezra Frech eyes ‘biggest party of all time' as LA28 approaches
Find out what's new on ST website and app. American Paralympian Ezra Frech is confident that Los Angeles will deliver an unparalleled spectacle in 2028. – For American Paralympian Ezra Frech, the countdown to the LA28 Paralympic Games is an all-consuming passion as he prepares for what he calls a transformative moment for the city and the world. 'I lay in bed at night and that's all I think about. I get up in the morning and that is all I think about. It goes through my head 24-7,' he told Reuters on the red carpet of the ESPYs on July 16, where he was nominated for Best Athlete with a Disability. Frech, a track and field athlete who competed at the Tokyo and Paris Games, is confident that Los Angeles will deliver an unparalleled spectacle in 2028. 'LA28 will be literally the biggest party of all time,' added the Los Angeles native, who competes at the University of Southern California. 'This city knows how to throw a party, and it knows how to throw a sporting event.' Frech, who was born with congenital limb differences, captured two gold medals in Paris – winning the 100m and high jump in the T63 category for athletes with a single above-the-knee leg amputation. The Paris 2024 Paralympics set a high bar, he acknowledged, but he believes Angelenos are ready to take the event to new heights. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking Singapore Singapore, Vietnam agree to step up defence ties, dialogue between leaders Asia Malaysia govt's reform pledge tested as DAP chief bows over unresolved 2009 death of political aide Tech Singapore to increase pool of early adopters in AI to complement data scientists, engineers Singapore Prosecution says judge who acquitted duo of bribing ex-LTA official had copied defence arguments Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving 'Paris set a great foundation. They showed us what a Paralympic Games can be, and now we as Angelenos have to take it to the next level,' he said. Frech is featured in the documentary Adaptive, which will be released on US streaming service Peacock on July 28. The show follows him, swimmer Jamal Hill, and women's wheelchair basketball players Courtney Ryan and Josie Aslakson, as they navigate the road from Tokyo to Paris. 'It's raw, it's emotional, it's gritty,' Frech said. 'There's laughter, tears, highs, lows, and then ultimately, the ultimate peak, which was Paris for me.' Looking ahead to 2028, he is resolute about his goals. He has said he is gunning for the treble crown in LA – retaining his two titles from Paris and adding a long jump gold to his collection. 'One hundred per cent I plan to compete, and I guarantee I'm winning all golds in LA,' the amiable 20-year-old said with a smile. Beyond personal achievements, Frech also emphasised the ongoing fight for Paralympians to be recognised alongside their able-bodied counterparts. 'We are not asking for pity claps. We're not asking people to celebrate us just because we're disabled,' he said. 'We're out here competing on the highest level.' The LA28 Paralympics are scheduled to take place from Aug 15 to 27, 2028. In other news, Paris on July 18 installed the first of 10 statues of pioneering French women displayed during the 2024 Olympics in a northern district of the capital. The 10 statues featured as part of the French capital's boundary-breaking opening ceremony for the Summer Games last July. They include Simone Veil, who spearheaded the legalisation of abortion in France, and the feminist writer Simone de Beauvoir. The first of them, a golden representation of the campaigning lawyer Gisele Halimi, was set up in the capital's northern La Chapelle district. REUTERS, AFP
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business
- Business Insider
IBM and Researchers Are Now Closer to Practical Quantum Computers
Quantum researchers are getting closer to proving that quantum computers can solve problems much faster than regular computers. Indeed, a team at the University of Southern California, led by Dr. Daniel Lidar, ran a special test known as Simon's problem using IBM's (IBM) latest quantum hardware and software. Published in Physical Review X, they showed that as the problem became bigger, the quantum computer solved it much faster than a regular one, up to a certain point. Once the problem reached a size above 58 qubits, the noise from the quantum hardware allowed regular computers to catch up. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Make smarter investment decisions with TipRanks' Smart Investor Picks, delivered to your inbox every week. Still, this is one of the first real-world examples of a quantum computer demonstrating such a significant speed boost without relying on estimates about the limitations of classical computers. For reference, Simon's problem is a kind of puzzle where one has to try to figure out a hidden pattern. However, because today's machines are still noisy, the team had to make adjustments. Indeed, they used IBM's Qiskit tools to make the circuits shorter, added special pulses to reduce errors while the machines were waiting between steps, and corrected mistakes made when reading results. With all that in place, the quantum computer solved the puzzle faster until the problem became too large and noise interfered. Even though this puzzle doesn't have a real-world use, it's closely related to other quantum problems that do. It's also proof that today's quantum computers—especially IBM's—can already show a clear advantage in certain cases. This matters because earlier examples only showed small improvements. Now, we're seeing real progress on hardware that's already available. As a result, it gives researchers more confidence that practical quantum computing isn't just theory anymore. What Is the Target Price for IBM? Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Moderate Buy consensus rating on IBM stock based on nine Buys, five Holds, and two Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. Furthermore, the average IBM price target of $287.53 per share implies 1% upside potential.
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Ryan Gerard and Rico Hoey share the Barracuda Championship lead
TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Gerard holed a 20-foot flop shot for birdie on the final hole for a share of the lead with Rico Hoey on Saturday in the Barracuda Championship, the only PGA Tour event that uses the modified Stableford scoring system. 'Hit a great shot and was lucky that it found the hole,' Gerard said. 'It's pretty special. Really nice way to finish. Hopefully, it's a good omen for tomorrow.' Players receive eight points for a double eagle, five for eagle and two for birdie. A point is deducted for bogey and three for double bogey. In breezy conditions at Tahoe Mountain Club, Gerard had a 12-point round and Hoey birdied four of the last six in an eight-point day. Both winless on the PGA Tour, they had 34 points, one more than 2021 winner Erik van Rooyen. 'Just keep believing in myself and see what happens,' Hoey said. Gerard is playing for the sixth straight week — a string that began with the U.S. Open and took him to Scotland last week. 'I love this golf course. I love playing in this area. I like playing golf,' Gerard said. 'So, I got in at 2:30 in the morning on Tuesday.' The 25-year-old former North Carolina player, fifth in the event two years ago, was ninth and second in consecutive events in Texas in April. The 29-year-old Hoey was the second-round leader. He was born in the Philippines, grew up in California and played at the University of Southern California. 'Struggled early but kind of caught fire on the back, so it was nice to end that way,' Hoey said. 'I just was praying the putter would get hot because the putter was really cold.' Van Rooyen, from South Africa, eagled the par-5 third in an eight-point round. Tom Vaillant of France was two points back at 32 after a nine-point day. 'Just staying steady as much as I can and trying to avoid mistakes,' Vaillant said. 'Keep the ball in the right spot and stay patient.' Hayden Springer and Vince Whaley had 29 points. Ben Martin, the first-round leader with 16 points, had his second zero-point round to drop into a tie for 55th. Played opposite the British Open, the tournament is co-sanctioned by the European tour. The winner gets into the PGA Championship but not the Masters. ___
