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The Hill
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
You cannot ‘restore' high scientific standards if they are already in place
President Trump's executive order 'Restoring Gold Standard Science' provides a directive to restore a higher standard for scientific research and discovery. Yet despite the concerns it raises, the very standards that it describes already exist and are widely applied. Section one of the order describes why the administration believes that it is needed. Some of it focuses on the responses to the COVID pandemic. Many now agree that many facets of the response were off-base. The reason for this is much more than the biases noted in this section. Scientific discovery often takes thoughtful reflection, which can be time consuming, fraught with missteps that guide and refocus the research process. The challenge during the COVID pandemic is that real-time policies could not be evaluated as quickly as the public health needs demanded. The net effect was less than ideal solutions and outcomes. With 20-20 hindsight, it is easy now to throw those who were offering guidance 'under the bus.' A parallel to this situation can be found when US Airways flight 1549 lost both its engines upon takeoff from NYC's LaGuardia Airport due to a bird strike. Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger was forced to use his best judgment and experience to safely land the airplane in the Hudson River. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board initially found that the airplane could have landed safely at LaGuardia or Teterboro airports. However, when a 35 second delay was inserted into the decision-making process, paralleling the real-life situation, testing on flight simulators demonstrated that Captain Sullenberger's decision was indeed the right one, saving countless lives. Much of what the executive order espouses is already embedded in the scientific method, a systematic approach to discovering new knowledge. Whether this knowledge is acquired through data collection and analysis, by physical experimentation, or using mathematical analysis based on axiomatic principles, the result is new understandings and insights. Built into the scientific method is the need for reproducibility. This means that if one group of researchers makes a discovery following principles using the scientific method, then another group of researchers who follow the same principles should be able to make the same discovery. The scientific method also allows for incremental discovery, whereby researchers can build upon known results to obtain new insights or stronger conclusions. Yet new knowledge can only provide benefit if it can be widely disseminated, ideally in archival journals. This is where the peer review process comes into play. There are estimated to be more than 30,000 academic journals in existence, not all of which provide equal value. The quality of the editorial board and the integrity of the review processes are critical to assess the novelty, correctness, and value of the research being reported. There are obstacles to such research-archiving. Predatory journals provide rapid dissemination with thin review processes. Their goal is to collect publication fees from unsuspecting researchers who wish to disseminate their findings quickly and with little resistance. Often, researchers early in their careers, or more seasoned researchers whose work is not meeting the peer-review standard of well-respected journals, fall prey to these. The internet also provides an avenue for dissemination. For example, ArXiv allows researchers to post their unpublished manuscripts prior to peer review, allowing them to lay claim to their ideas. It also permits unscrupulous researchers to take others' ideas and publish them as their own in peer-reviewed journals, creating a wild west environment for research dissemination. The executive order also cites a growing number of publication retractions. In 2023, more than 10,000 papers were retracted from research journals. But a deeper dive into these numbers suggests that the problem in the U.S. is not as severe as the executive order suggests. Of the 10,000 papers retracted, 80 percent were from a single publisher. Although the absolute number of papers retracted appears large, the retraction rate is under 0.25 percent, or less than one in 400 papers. Then there is the issue of where the authors of the retracted papers reside. The U.S. is not in the top eight, with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Russia, and China topping the list. Even then, the retraction rate in each of these countries was below one in 330 papers. Scientific research is messy. The scientific method provides guardrails around it. There is nothing wrong with what the executive order espouses. Yet much of what it includes is already imbedded in the scientific method and the research integrity principals that are widely adhered to in academia, industry and government. However, what is 'good for the goose must also be good for the gander.' That means any reports issued by the administration — such as the recent MAHA report by the Department of Health and Human Services — should adhere to the same standards. This places a high standard for any policies put forth by the administration that affect health, economics, technology, and science. It also opens the door for greater scrutiny of such policies and encourages ample feedback from the academic community, who are under currently attack by the administration. What the Restoring Gold Standard Science executive order actually does is give academic, industry, and government researchers the opportunity to take a victory lap, given that much of it outlines the ideal that we all already aspire to. Sheldon H. Jacobson, Ph.D., is a professor of computer science in the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He applies his expertise in data-driven risk-based decision-making to evaluate and inform public policy.
News18
18-06-2025
- Business
- News18
Who Is Robert Isom? Air India CEO Faces Backlash For ‘Plagiarising' His Speech Post Plane Crash
A person criticised the similarities between Campbell Wilson's and Robert Isom's statements, noting that such crises demand authenticity over scripted responses. Last week's tragic Air India crash has left the nation in shock. Flight AI 171, which departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, went down within a few seconds after take-off. The disaster has sent ripples across the country, with Air India facing both emotional fallout and mounting public scrutiny. Now, a fresh controversy has erupted. This time, over the speech by Air India CEO Campbell Wilson. Campbell Wilson released a video statement after the crash, where he addressed the tragedy in a sombre tone. But social media users noticed something unusual. Parts of his speech appeared to be almost identical to a message delivered by American Airlines CEO Robert Isom after a crash in the US earlier this year. This led to accusations of plagiarising the message. These remarks closely mirror those made by Robert Isom in his January statement following a fatal collision between an American Airlines flight and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C. that claimed at least 67 lives. My perspective on the plagiarized message used by Air India CEO & MD Campbell Wilson in the aftermath of the deadly, tragic plane crash of Air India Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad #publicrelations #corporatecommunications — Karthik 🇮🇳 (@beastoftraal) June 16, 2025 Who Is Robert Isom? Robert Isom is the CEO of American Airlines and also leads its parent company, American Airlines Group. He took over as CEO in March 2022 and also serves on the airline's board of directors. Before becoming CEO, Robert was the President of American Airlines from 2016 to 2022. During that time, he was in charge of the airline's commercial and day-to-day operations. The website further mentioned that he had also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at American and had held the same roles at US Airways as well. Before joining US Airways, Robert Isom held senior roles across various domains, including finance, strategy, operations, and international business, at companies like GMAC, Northwest Airlines and America West Airlines. He began his professional journey at Procter & Gamble. He is currently involved in many key airline industry groups. He is the Chairman of the oneworld Alliance Governing Board, Vice Chair of the Airlines for America Board of Directors and a member of the International Air Transport Association Board of Governors. He also serves on the Airlink Governor's Council. Robert has a strong academic background too. He holds two undergraduate degrees, one in mechanical engineering and another in English from the University of Notre Dame. He also earned an MBA from the University of Michigan. Plagiarism or Coincidence? The similarities between Air India CEO Campbell Wilson and Robert Isom's speech have sparked strong reactions online. A social media user wrote, 'So Air India boss even copied the condolence message? What competence!" 'Is it plagiarism, or perhaps they both used the same consultants/AI?" asked a person. 'Crisis communication demands authenticity. The striking similarities between Campbell Wilson's statement and Robert Isom's speech raise serious concerns about corporate messaging. In times of tragedy, sincerity matters more than scripted responses," a comment read online. But some felt that such speeches are common and usually follow a standard format during tragic events. 'Is it really plagiarism? The SOPs in such situations are common, and if standard procedures are common, using similar/same verbatim to express thoughts is common too. There could and must be multiple things to criticise Air India, but this, in my opinion, is far-fetched," said someone. top videos View all An individual said, 'These are standard communication guidelines followed by leaders during such unforeseen accidents. We should rather focus our thoughts and prayers on the grieving families. For the curious minds: how such an accident happened despite tech advancements is where we need to focus." Of the 242 people on board the ill-fated Air India flight, only one survived. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Ahmedabad Plane Crash Air India crash viral news Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: June 18, 2025, 10:29 IST News viral Who Is Robert Isom? Air India CEO Faces Backlash For 'Plagiarising' His Speech Post Plane Crash
Time of India
15-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Air India plane crash: Did electrical failure of 'more-electric' B787 cause both engines of AI 171 to fail?
Kalpeshbhai Patni faints while waiting for the body of his younger brother to be brought home. Akash, 14, was sleeping under a tree near the family-run tea stall when AI 171 debris fell on him MUMBAI: Competing theories about what caused AI 171 to crash have generated a new set of possible explanations. Among them is the question that since Boeing's 787 replaced conventional pneumatic and hydraulic systems with electrical systems - to make the aircraft lighter to save fuel and maintenance costs - whether there was an electrical system failure. There's no consensus. But as pilots continue to look for answers, electrical system failure has emerged as one of the latest attempts, by some, to explain the tragedy. All theories start from the premise that the lone survivor heard a boom, which may indicate a single engine failure. That wouldn't have caused a modern aircraft to crash? So what else went wrong? Did the second engine fail or was it something else? Dual engine failures are rare events: seven instances have been recorded in the past seven decades, the world over. The causes were bird strikes (US Airways Hudson river landing in 2009), wrong engine shutdown (1989 British Midland flight 92, technical issues led to the mistaken shutdown of the good engine) and fuel contamination or starvation. The possibility of bird strike has been largely ruled out in case of the AI 171 crash on June 12. But B787 is a "more-electric" aircraft. So, pilots and experts are looking at this accident differently. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Egypt (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo A senior B787 commander said: "The boom sound indicates it's highly likely one of the two engines had a partial or complete shutdown." But what happened after that? Did the pilots shut off the good engine, like in an earlier crash? But many pilots said that the process of shutting off fuel to the malfunctioning engine begins only at 400 feet and it takes some time to execute - the aircraft had crashed before that could be completed. Did the "startle effect" - pilots' involuntary reaction to a sudden, unexpected event - make the pilots forget they had to retract the landing gear? Or, were the flaps (devices on a wing's trailing edge that, when lowered, generate lift at lower speeds) retracted instead of the landing gear? But as the B787 commander said: "Even if that had happened, with one engine intact, the aircraft could have climbed out safely to come back and land". It's the both-engines-down scenario that's making some pilots think of electrical failure. "Preliminary assessments indicate that at some point during the take-off one or more VFSGs (Variable Frequency Starter Generators: these start engines and provide main electrical power during flight) may have failed or become electrically isolated, resulting in partial or total loss of engine control," said a senior Airbus commander, who has flown Boeing wide-body aircraft.
India Today
12-06-2025
- General
- India Today
From Mayday to SOS: 5 emergency distress signals and how they are used
An Air India Boeing7878 (Flight AI171), bound for London with 242 souls, issued a Mayday call shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on Thursday. The plane crashed near the airport, plummeting into buildings and engulfing the Meghani area in thick black smoke. Emergency services raced in as the crew's urgent signal transformed a routine flight into a tragic event has brought renewed focus on aviation distress signals -- those urgent calls like 'Mayday' and 'Pan-Pan' that can mean the difference between life and death. Here are five such signals you should know about along with how they began and well-known use cases:advertisement1. MAYDAYIntroduced: 1923 at Croydon Airport (UK), and adopted universally in 1927. Why it's used: Repeated thrice -- 'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday'—it instantly commands absolute priority from all communication use: On US Airways Flight 1549 in 2009 ('Miracle on the Hudson'), Captain Sully Sullenberger declared Mayday before landing on the Hudson, saving all onboard.2. PANPANIntroduced: Standardised in 1927 alongside it's used: Signals an urgent situation -- not yet life-threatening, but needing attention (like engine trouble or medical issues).Famous use: Swissair Flight 111 declared 'PanPan' due to electrical fire before issuing Mayday, ensuring correct escalation of the situation.3. SOSIntroduced: International Morse code distress call in 1908 (first proposed in 1905).Why it's used: A repeated Morse pattern (...---...) easily recognised under duress, it remains iconic in maritime use: Titanic radio operators used both CQD and then SOS after hitting an iceberg in 1912, signalling nearby ships for emergency rescue.4. CQDIntroduced: 1904 by Marconi as the first radio distress it's used: 'CQ' meant 'calling all stations,' and adding 'D' meant use: SS Republic sent a CQD in 1909. Titanic used the CQD alongside SOS.5. SCURITIntroduced: Standard voice call alongside Mayday/ it's used: Warns of safety information (weather alerts, navigational hazards), not use: Regularly used during maritime exercises and safety broadcasts. It's rarely seen in dramatic news, but it's vital for safe distress signals created a universal language for emergencies -- cutting through panic with clarity. Whether it's a jet in flames or a ship sinking, one word can at times save lives.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Starlux: Taiwanese airline company plans to launch non-stop Phoenix-Taipei flights
The Brief Taiwan's Starlux Airlines intends to operate non-stop flights from Phoenix to Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan. The route is scheduled to be launched in early 2026, pending government approval. This marks the first time there have been direct flights between Sky Harbor and Asia since the early 1990s. PHOENIX - Officials with the City of Phoenix announced that an airline company could soon offer flights between Sky Harbor and Asia. What we know Per a statement released on May 20, Starlux Airlines intends to begin non-stop flights between Sky Harbor and Taoyuan Airport. According to Starlux's website, plans to launch the company were announced in 2016, and the company received its air operator certificate and air route certificate from Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration in December 2019. The company flew its inaugural flights in January 2020. Per a statement Starlux released on Feb. 11, 2025, the airline has routes from Asia to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle, with a route to Ontario, Calif. scheduled to launch on June 2. What's next "The service, pending final government approvals, would begin early next year, with three to four flights a week," read a portion of the statement released by the City of Phoenix. "Service will initially begin with an A350-900 aircraft that has 306 seats. Tickets will go on sale once government approval is formalized." Dig deeper Taoyuan Airport is located in Taipei, which is the capital city of Taiwan. The Asian country is also known as the Republic of China. According to an unrelated Associated Press report published on April 18, Taiwan is a self-governed island with a democratic form of government, despite claims by the People's Republic of China that Taiwan is its territory, to be retaken by force if necessary. The backstory While city officials are calling this the "first nonstop air service to Asia for Phoenix and Arizona," this is not the first time there have been services between Phoenix and Asia. According to a brief statement from Sky Harbor Airport, America West Alines used to operate non-stop flights between Phoenix and Honolulu, and between Honolulu and Nagoya, Japan. Per a post the airport made on its X account in 2024, the routes were discontinued in the 1990s. America West would merge with US Airways in 2005, and US Airways would go on to merge with American Airlines in 2013. Dig deeper Per Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport's website, nonstop service is currently offered to dozens of destinations outside the United States. They include: Calgary, Canada Cancún, Mexico Culiacán, Mexico Edmonton, Canada Guadalajara, Mexico Hermosillo, Mexico Kelowna, Canada London (Heathrow Airport), United Kingdom Loreto, Mexico Manzanillo, Mexico Mazatlán, Mexico Mexico City, Mexico Monterrey, Mexico Montreal, Canada Paris (Charles de Gaulle Airport), France Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Regina, Canada San José del Cabo, Mexico Saskatoon, Canada Tijuana, Mexico Toronto, Canada Vancouver, Canada, Winnipeg, Canada Zijuatanejo/Ixtapa, Mexico
