Source: phys.orgThe rains may have abated, but floodwaters continued their assault on southern Brazil Monday, with hundreds of municipalities in ruins amid fears that food and drinking water may soon run out.

Source: phys.orgScientists at UC San Diego have developed a machine learning algorithm to simulate the time-consuming chemistry involved in the earliest phases of drug discovery, which could significantly streamline the process and open doors for never-before-seen treatments.

Domino’s launched a promotion that rewards customers with $3 off a future online delivery order for every $3 or more they tip a Domino’s delivery driver. “Domino’s wants to say ‘thanks for the tip’ by tipping you back.”The promotional strategy serves several purposes for Domino’s. Tip fatigue is a problem for both Domino’s delivery drivers, who make a meaningful portion of their income from tips, and Domino’s business model. Domino’s delivery drivers’ pay is linked to tips. But the Domino’s driver said they were “grateful” Domino’s promotional campaign exists, and were fearful hours would be cut or earnings would go down if Domino’s raised wages.

Source: phys.orgAn international team, led by researchers from Australia, have developed a system using nanotechnology that could allow people with diabetes to take oral insulin in the future. The researchers say the new insulin could be eaten by taking a tablet or even embedded within a piece of chocolate.

The death count from rains in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul rose to 57, local authorities said on Saturday afternoon, while dozens still have not been accounted for. In Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, the Guaiba lake broke its banks, flooding streets. Rio Grande do Sul is at a geographical meeting point between tropical and polar atmospheres, which has created a weather pattern with periods of intense rains and others of drought. Heavy rains had already hit Rio Grande do Sul last September, as an extratropical cyclone caused floods that killed more than 50 people. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Climate change is a worse health threat than we thinkOpinionBy Manica Balasegaram, exclusive to the Sunday Times, Sri LankaGENEVA – It is widely believed that climate change is the single biggest threat to human health. But the situation may in fact be far worse, because the current forecasts fail to account for the inevitable increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Climate change could have a profound effect on AMR, as evidence increasingly indicates that adverse weather and rising temperatures can facilitate the emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens. For example, the latest Lancet Countdown report on health and climate change makes no mention of AMR, drug resistance, or antibiotics. The international community is severely underestimating the impact of climate change on people’s health and our ability to treat them.

Source: phys.orgReforestation efforts to restock depleted forests are important for addressing climate change and for both capturing and restoring carbon from the Earth's atmosphere. These types of solutions to mitigate carbon emissions are critical after 2023 proved to be the warmest year on record. However, some models have been found to be inaccurate.

My Red Comrade: Beyond the glorification of the leftOpinionBy Professor Theodore Warnakulasuriya"The lead actor in my film “My Red Comrade” suffered violent years in a concentration camp, lived very much with tormented memories, and yet dedicated his life to a worthy cause, taking pride in his limited bookish knowledge. The movie "RED COMRADE" is about a person who belongs to a left-wing political group leading a hidden life. The title of Sugath Mahadivulwewa's latest film, "My Red Comrade," connotes so-called bookish lefties who have knowledge but are limited to books. Sugath acknowledges that the film "Red Comrade" was made in four days on a shoestring budget with only two main characters. The words and various long and close shots in the dialogue of the film "Red Comrade" are carefully picked.

Forty four Lankans in UAE prisons receive pardonNewsForty four Sri Lankans who were in different prisons across the United Arab Emirates have been pardoned by a Royal order. These forty four Sri Lankans who have received the Royal pardon will be repatriated to Sri Lanka by the Government of the United Arab Emirates in due course. The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi will collaboratively coordinate with the United Arab Emirates Government authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka to ensure their safe repatriation. The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi Udaya Indrarathne wishes to extend his deep appreciation to the Government of the United Arab Emirates, and its Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior for making arrangements to pardon these Sri Lankans. “The Embassy of Sri Lanka appreciates the empathy and generosity shown by the leadership of the UAE in this regard”, the Press release said.

Sri Lanka Veterinary Association celebrates World Veterinary Day under the theme of “Veterinarians are essential health workers’’HealthThe Sri Lanka Veterinary Association (SLVA) marked World Veterinary Day on April 27, 2024, with a social media campaign emphasising the critical role veterinarians play in safeguarding public health. “Veterinarians are often unseen activists in safeguarding public health,” stated Dr. Mohamed Ijas, President of Sri Lanka Veterinary Association. The human-animal bond was another key area addressed by the Sri Lanka Veterinary Associations. They also advocate for responsible antimicrobial use in animals to minimise drug resistance, which has public health implications for humans. Established in 1940, the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association (SLVA) stands as the professional body dedicated to serving and representing the interests of the veterinary profession in Sri Lanka.

Source: phys.orgPrecisely measuring the energy states of individual atoms has been a historical challenge for physicists due to atomic recoil. When an atom interacts with a photon, the atom "recoils" in the opposite direction, making it difficult to measure the position and momentum of the atom precisely. This recoil can have big implications for quantum sensing, which detects minute changes in parameters, for example, using changes in gravitational waves to determine the shape of the Earth or even detect dark matter.

Move to outsource on-arrival visas at BIA led to controversyNewsPlans to hand over the issue of on-arrival visas through a private company at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) have run into a controversy forcing the Immigration Department to take over the duties again. However, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka was quick to deny reports that an Indian company has taken over visa issuance at the BIA. “Any reference to India in this context is unwarranted,” a Press release from the High Commission said. With the revision, the online visa fee, previously set at $52, has now been increased to $75. Consequently, the total visa fee now stands at $100.77.

Source: phys.orgThe pace of discovery in the oceans leaped forward thanks to teamwork between a deep-sea robot and a human occupied submarine leading to the recent discovery of five new hydrothermal vents in the eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean.

Source: phys.orgCornell researchers and collaborators have developed a new framework that allows scientists to predict crop yield without the need for enormous amounts of high-quality data—which is often scarce in developing countries, especially those facing heightened food insecurity and climate risk.

Source: phys.orgA new computer model uses a better artificial intelligence process to measure snow and water availability more accurately across vast distances in the West, information that could someday be used to better predict water availability for farmers and others.