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According to the Center for Biological Diversity, climate change is projected to cause the extinction of over a third of the species of plants and animals in the world in 25 years. But scientists at genetics laboratory Colossal Biosciences are claiming they may have a solutionone they say has resulted in the birth of the first dire wolves in over 10,000 years. Colossals website proclaims the lab to be the worlds only company working on de-extinction, which it defines as the process of generating an organism that both resembles and is genetically similar to an extinct species by resurrecting its lost lineage of core genes; engineering natural resistances; and enhancing adaptability that will allow it to thrive in todays environment of climate change, dwindling resources, disease and human interference. Breakthroughs have seemed promising so far. In March, it introduced the world to the first ever woolly mice, a stepping stone to the larger goal of eventually bringing back the woolly mammoth. Now, Colossal has announced that it’s brought back the dire wolf. Male dire wolf pups Romulus and Remus were born six months ago, followed by female pup Khaleesi three months later. A statement from Colossal CEO Ben Lamm explained that scientists at Colossal began the process of reconstructing the species by analyzing the DNA from a 13,000 year old tooth and a 72,000 year old skull. Comparing the dire wolf DNA to the DNA of its cousin, the grey wolf, the scientists pinpointed 20 differences in 14 genes that caused what they determined to be the most distinguishing features. And by manipulating DNA in the nuclei of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from grey wolves using CRISPR technology, they could cause the pups to express traits such as a white coat or a larger and stronger body, or change the sound of their howl. The scientists then extracted the edited nuclei and inserted them into denucleated grey wolf egg cells. Those egg cells were then placed in the wombs of a couple of dogs, eventually leading to the births of Romulus, Remus, and later, Khaleesi. At six months old, Romulus and Remus are already four feet long and 80 lbs and have the potential to reach six feet long and 150 lbs. That is around 50 lbs heavier than the average male grey wolf. All three pups are a bright, snowy white. Romulus and Remus at age one month. [Photo: Colossal] But while the pups certainly look the part, many are skeptical about whether the dire wolf has actually been resurrected. A research paper on the lineage of dire wolves published in the leading science journal Nature states that dire wolves were a highly divergent lineage that split from living canids around 5.7 million years ago. In other words, the last common ancestor between grey wolves and dire wolves lived around 5.7 million years ago. To put that in context, humans were thought to have evolved only around 315,000 years ago. In fact, the researchers found that grey wolves were more genetically similar to African wild dogs than they were to dire wolves. The paper mentions that one hypothesis for why the two species seem to have similar features is not based on actual genetic similarity, but convergent evolution, a process where species that are not closely related to each other evolve similar traits to respond to similar ecological pressures. This is the same reason why sharks, a type of fish, and dolphins, which are mammals, evolved to have similar body shapes. Beth Shapiro, chief scientific officer at Colossal, said in an interview with NewScientist that grey wolves and dire wolves share 99.5% of their DNA. However, in the context of the grey wolf genome having over 2.4 billion base pairs, that 0.5% difference actually suggests a difference of over 12 million base pairs. Can Colossal really argue, then, that it brought back the dire wolf species with only 20 modifications? In fact, Shapiro argued, how we define species is quite arbitrary. Species concepts are human classification systems, and everybody can disagree and everyone can be right . . . We are using the morphological species concept and saying, ‘if they look like this animal, then they are the animal.'”
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E-Commerce
The National Weather Service (NWS) has paused language translation services of its products for non-English speakers living in the U.S., including emergency alerts.“Due to a contract lapse, NWS paused the automated language translation services for our products until further notice,” Michael Musher, public affairs specialist and a meteorologist for The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service told Fast Company in an emailed statement. According to a 2022 report from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 68 million people in the U.S. speak a language other than English. Of them, around 42 million speak Spanish. As the Trump administration continues to seek major cuts to federal agencies, such as NOAA, the National Weather Service has been stretched thin, meaning translation services had to take a back seat. After recent Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts, the Associated Press reported that National Weather Service offices have a 20% vacancy rate. The administration hasn’t commented on translation services or whether they plan to ensure they make a comeback amid its cuts to the NWS. Where should non-English speakers get weather alerts? Norma Mendoza-Denton, a professor of anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles, said, per AP News, alerts are the difference “between life and death” during severe weather. And what’s even more frightening is that there aren’t a ton of other places non-English speakers can get translated weather updates, even when severe weather strikes. While there are many apps that provide weather alerts, few offer built-in translation services. One that does is AccuWeather. In 2021, AccuWeather partnered with Rubric, a translations company, for global weather updates in over 100 languages and dialects. Online, Accuweather has a 24/7 livestream, and provides “notifications of government issued watches, warnings, advisories, statements and other alerts that are issued by the relevant countrys government weather or civil protection services,” the site reads, noting that users can customize the types of alerts they receive.A representative for AccuWeather told Fast Company, “A localized description of the type of severe warning is displayed in the language the user has selected on their device. For example, a Spanish-language-app user will receive a warning description for flash-flooding in their area in the language they selected on their device.” The representative added, “We have no indication at this time that the changes at NOAA will impact AccuWeathers services. We remain committed to providing the highest levels of service to the public, the media, and our clients.” The AccuWeather app is available for iPhone and Android in the App Store and on Google Play.In 2022, the Weather Channel launched a free 24/7 Spanish-language weather streaming service, the Weather Channel en Espaol. But last year, Allen Media Group pulled the plug on the channel. AMG spokesperson told Media Moves at the time, As part of Allen Media Groups extensive cost-cutting measures, the Weather Channel en Espaol will cease operations on December 31, 2024. While there is currently not a national weather channel offering non-English weather reports in the U.S., residents should also look to their local news outlets, as some may offer news apps with translated weather updates and alerts.
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E-Commerce
Low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines has reportedly signed a deal with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) to start flying deportation flights from Arizona this May, a move the company’s CEO has acknowledged is controversial, according to the Associated Press. Avelo CEO Andrew Levy said, we realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic,” but the airline’s flights would be part of a long-term charter program to support the DHS’ deportation plans, which would help with expansion and protect jobs. Meanwhile, some upset customers are taking to social media in protest. On Bluesky, one user posted, “Nope. They fly a route I take and its closer to home but Ill travel further and fly American.” Many others used the hashtag “#BoycottAveloAirlines to register their dismay. Fast Company has reached out to Avelo Airlines for comment on the backlash. In addition, more than 4,000 people have signed a Change.org petition to boycott the budget airline until it halts plans to carry out deportation flights. Avelo said it will use three Boeing 737-800 planes out of Mesa Gateway Airport, near Phoenix for those flights. The online Change.org boycott petition was created by New Haven Immigrants Coalition, which is located in the same town as Avelo’s main East Coast airport hub, Tweed New Haven Airport. The AP reported that the city’s Democratic Mayor Justin Elicker has also called Levy and urged him to reconsider the flights.
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E-Commerce
China said Tuesday it would fight to the end and take countermeasures against the United States to safeguard its own interests after President Donald Trump threatened an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports. The Commerce Ministry said the U.S.s imposition of so-called reciprocal tariffs on China is completely groundless and is a typical unilateral bullying practice. China, the world’s second-largest economy, has announced retaliatory tariffs and the ministry hinted in its latest statement that more may be coming. The countermeasures China has taken are aimed at safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, and maintaining the normal international trade order. They are completely legitimate, the ministry said. The U.S. threat to escalate tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake and once again exposes the blackmailing nature of the U.S. China will never accept this. If the U.S. insists on its own way, China will fight to the end,” it added. Analysts and traders worry about a global trade war Trump’s threat Monday of additional tariffs on China raised fresh concerns that his drive to rebalance the global economy could intensify a financially destructive trade war. Stock markets from Tokyo to New York have become more unstable as the tariff war worsens. Trumps threat came after China said it would retaliate against U.S. tariffs he announced last week. If China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated! If Trump implements his new tariffs on Chinese products, U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods would reach a combined 104%. The new taxes would be on top of the 20% tariffs announced as punishment for fentanyl trafficking and his separate 34% tariffs announced last week. Not only could that increase prices for American consumers, it could also give China an incentive to flood other countries with cheaper goods and seek deeper relationships with other trading partners, particularly the European Union. Chinese people worry, but keep faith with their country On the streets of Beijing, people said they found it hard to keep track of all the announcements, but expressed belief in their country’s ability to weather the storm. “Trump says one thing today and another tomorrow. Anyway, he just wants benefits, so he can say whatever he wants,” said Wu Qi, 37, who works in construction. Others were less sanguine. Paul Wang, 30, who sells stainless accessories, including necklaces, bracelets, and tongue studs to Europe, said the European market was now more important after the extra U.S. 50% tariffs and he would be watching to see which other firms in his field would be competing in that space. Jessi Huang and Yang Aijia, whose companies import chemicals from the U.S., said the tariffs, including potential Chinese retribution, could force them to close up shop. It would be very hard and very likely to have a layoff, maybe even closing, Huang said, I might not be able to find another job if I get laid off. China isn’t out of options to retaliate China still has a range of options to strike back at the Washington, experts said, including suspending cooperation on combating fentanyl, placing higher quotas on agricultural products and going after the U.S. trade in services in China such as finance and law firms. U.S. total goods trade with China was an estimated $582 billion in 2024, making it the top trader in goods with the U.S. The 2024 deficit with China in goods and services trade was between $263 billion and $295 billion. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian appeared to give short shrift to talk of dialogue with the Trump administration. I don’t think what the U.S. has done reflects a willingness for sincere dialogue. If the U.S. really wants to engage in dialogue, it should adopt an attitude of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, Lin said. In Hong Kong, where stocks were slightly higher Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee blasted the latest U.S. tariffs as bullying, saying the ruthless behavior has damaged global and multilateral trade and brought great risks and uncertainties to the world. Lee said the city would link its economy closer to Chinas development, sign more free trade agreements, attract more foreign companies and capital to Hong Kong, and support local enterprises in coping with the impact of the tariffs. Associated Press writers Chris Megerian, Josh Boak, Fu Ting, Christopher Bodeen, and Kanis Leung contributed to this report.
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E-Commerce
The U.S. stock market is careening through a second straight day of stunning swings Tuesday as uncertainty reigns about what whether President Donald Trump will ease up on his trade war, which is scheduled to kick into a higher gear after midnight. The S&P 500 lost an early gain of 4.1%, which had it on track for its best day in years, and slumped 1.7% with about an hour left in trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 403 points, or 1%, after giving up its earlier surge of 1,460 points, while the Nasdaq composite was 2.4% lower, as of 3:13 p.m. Eastern time. Stocks globally had rallied much more earlier in the day, with indexes up 6% in Tokyo, 2.5% in Paris and 1.6% in Shanghai. But even after those jumps, analysts had been warning to expect more swings up and down for financial markets not just in the days ahead but also the hours. The big question remains centered on how long Trump will keep his stiff tariffs on other countries, which would raise prices for U.S. shoppers and slow the economy. If they last a long time, economists and investors expect them to cause a recession. But if Trump lowers them through negotiations relatively quickly, the worst-case scenario can be avoided. Hope still remains on Wall Street that negotiations may be possible, and Trump said Tuesday that a conversation with South Korea’s acting president helped them reach the confines and probability of a great DEAL for both countries.” Their top TEAM is on a plane heading to the U.S., and things are looking good, Trump said on his Truth Social platform. We are likewise dealing with many other countries, all of whom want to make a deal with the United States. Japanese stocks led global markets higher after the countrys prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, appointed his trade negotiator for talks with the United States. It was based on an agreement between Ishiba and Trump, Japanese officials said. But investors should still remain cautious, said Sameer Samana, a senior global market strategist for Wells Fargo Investment Institute. He pointed to how the key countries continue to escalate, rather than de-escalate. China said it will fight to the end and warned of countermeasures after Trump threatened on Monday to raise his tariffs even further on the worlds second-largest economy. That led White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to say Trump’s threats of even higher tariffs on China will become reality after midnight, when imports from China will be taxed at a stunning 104% rate. That would coincide with Trump’s latest set of broad tariffs, which are scheduled to kick in at 12:01 a.m. And Trump has made clear that he does not intend to have any exemptions or exclusions in the tariffs, according to the country’s top trade negotiator, Jamieson Greer. The U.S. trade representative also said in testimony before a Senate committee that roughly 50 countries have already been in contact, and he’s told them: “If you have a better idea to achieve reciprocity and to get our trade deficit down, we want to talk with you, we want to negotiate with you. Trumps trade war is an attack on the globalization thats shaped the world’s economy and helped bring down prices for products on store shelves but also caused manufacturing jobs to leave for other countries. Trump has said he wants to narrow trade deficits, which measure how much more the United States imports from other countries than it sends to them as exports. On Wall Street, health insurers gained ground after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a stronger-than-expected increase in Medicare Advantage payments for next year. Humana jumped 9.6%, United Health climbed 5.9%. On the losing end were companies that import many of the products they sell. Ralph Lauren sank 6.8%, for example. It sourced about 15% of its products from China last fiscal year. Best Buy doesn’t import many products directly from China, but the electronics industry in general has a complex supply chain that heavily depends on the country. Best Buy estimates vendor imports from China make up about 55% of the products it purchases, and the retailer’s stock fell 8.5% In the bond market, Treasury yields mostly rose for a second straight day to recover more of their sharp losses from prior months. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.22% from 4.15% late Monday and from just 4.01% late Friday. Yields tend to rise with expectations for the U.S. economys strength and for inflation. Stan Choe, AP business writer AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
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E-Commerce
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