August Current Events 2024: Science & Technology News
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The world is a very busy place, and it's hard to stay on top of everything. Infoplease has got you covered. Here are the Science & Technology news events you need to know so far for August 2024.
- Apple Reports Better Sales And Improved Revenue Following Period Of Uncertainty
- Novel Gene Therapy Technology Considered For Curing Blood Disorder
- Swedish Health Agency Reports Deadly Case of Mpox
- Lecanemab Rejected For Treatment Of Alzheimer’s In The U.K.
- Nvidia Struggles With Falling Shares Despite Its Increasing Sales Record
Apple Reports Better Sales And Improved Revenue Following Period Of Uncertainty
Friday, August 2, 2024 – Apple's sales went up again this spring, even though they were down in China and iPhone sales went down. This was good news for the financial markets, which were already feeling shaky.
The tech giant said it made $85.8bn (£67.3bn) in sales in the three months ending in June, which is up 5% year-over-year.
This is the first growth since the beginning of 2024. The three main US stock market indexes all finished down at the same time as the story. In after-hours trade, buyers sold off big names like Amazon.
Bets on AI have rattled markets in recent weeks, as investors become tired of the high cost of such investments, and corporations seen to be falling behind in the AI race are heavily hurt. Intel is one of the companies that has fallen out of favor as corporations shift to competitor Nvidia, which is recognized for its sophisticated AI processors.
Sources: BBC
Novel Gene Therapy Technology Considered For Curing Blood Disorder
Thursday, August 8, 2024 – The first gene-editing medicine will be available on the NHS, marking a "revolutionary breakthrough" for patients. It will be utilized as a possible treatment for the blood condition beta-thalassemia.
Stem cells that produce blood will be taken, reprogrammed to treat the illness, and reintroduced to the patient's body.
People with beta thalassemia fail to generate enough hemoglobin. It is a hereditary disorder and is caused by flaws in the body's instructions for producing hemoglobin.
The gene-editing process is based on a technology known as CRISPR, which earned the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2020. It's effectively a satnav linked to a pair of scissors; one component targets the correct region of DNA, while the other does the edit.
The NHS England will pay less than the stated price of £1.6 million per patient. An estimated 460 persons over the age of 12 will be eligible for the treatment, which will be available at seven specialized sites in the coming weeks.
Source: BBC
Swedish Health Agency Reports Deadly Case of Mpox
Thursday, August 15, 2024 – Sweden's public health ministry has reported the first instance of a more serious variant of mpox outside Africa. According to the CDC, the individual got sick while visiting a region of Africa where a big epidemic of mpox Clade 1 is presently underway.
The announcement comes only hours after the World Health Organisation (WHO) proclaimed the mpox epidemic in areas of Africa to be a public health emergency requiring worldwide attention. There are two varieties of Clade 1, and the Swedish example is classified as Clade 1b.
There are now many mpox epidemics occurring at the same time, which are being fed in part by the newer and more dangerous variant of Clade 1b, which was diagnosed in September of last year.
WHO/Europe said that it is now involved in discussions with Sweden's health authorities over the most effective approach to handle the first reported instance of mpox Clade 1b. It called on other nations to promptly and openly act, following Sweden's example.
Source: BBC
Lecanemab Rejected For Treatment Of Alzheimer’s In The U.K.
Thursday, August 22, 2024 – The UK's health authority has rejected a medicine that may halt the advancement of Alzheimer's disease, citing insufficient benefits to justify the price of the treatment and strict monitoring of patients for symptoms of "serious side effects." Lecanemab, administered twice a month, eliminates sticky clumps of protein amyloid beta from the brain, which are thought to be a characteristic of the condition.
Approved in the United States, China, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, and South Korea, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the UK's pharmaceuticals authority, approved the medicine, however, the health authority, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), has also ruled out supplying the medicine on the NHS.
NICE cites the clinical literature that shows that Lecanemab can decelerate cognitive decline for a duration of four to six months. However, the available information about its long-term benefits remains limited. Based on estimates, around 70,000 individuals residing in England would have met the criteria for receiving treatment.
Source: The Guardian
Nvidia Struggles With Falling Shares Despite Its Increasing Sales Record
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Thursday, August 29, 2024 – Chip giant Nvidia said that its sales for the three months ending in July had increased by more than two times compared to last year, reaching a new high of $30 billion (£24.7 billion). Yet, the company's shares plunged by almost 6% in New York after the revelation.
The sky-high expectations are fuelled by its valuation, which has increased ninefold in less than two years because of its domination in the artificial intelligence chip industry. Profits skyrocketed over the period, with operating income increasing 174% from the same time the previous year to $18.6 billion. Nvidia exceeded analysts' sales and earnings projections for the eighth consecutive quarter.
The philosophy of Nvidia is that AI will be the face of the future, and this has benefitted the business so far, but it may potentially harm its worth if AI fails to deliver after corporations have spent billions of dollars on the technology.
Source: BBC
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