Nepal Says Amateur Climbers Are No Longer Permitted on Mount Everest

Selfie-hunting influencers are being banned from scaling Mount Everest under a new law aimed at deterring amateur climbers from searching for the perfect photo. Mountaineers will now have to prove that they have climbed a 22,900-foot peak before attempting the world’s tallest mountain. In addition, all climbers will have to provide proof of insurance. The law also allows authorities to declare missing climbers legally dead after one year. Overcrowding has been an issue for a number of years at Mount Everest, with a record 1,263 attempts in 2024. This has led to lines on the mountainside and left it littered with trash and discarded gear, while questions of safety have been raised. This problem has been exacerbated by under-prepared thrill seekers looking for so-called “extreme tourism” and influencers attempting to tackle the monumental climb without proper training. The government of Nepal hopes that tighter regulation on Mount Everest will prevent the need for rescues and will promote other mountains for commercial climbing.

 

 

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AI Reads Brain MRIs in Seconds and Flags Emergencies

A newly developed artificial intelligence system from the University of Michigan can analyze brain MRIs and deliver a diagnosis in a matter of seconds. The model identified neurological conditions with 97.5% accuracy and was also able to assess how urgently patients needed medical care. Researchers say this first-of-its-kind technology has the potential to reshape how brain imaging is handled across health systems in the United States. The system was designed to notify the most appropriate sub-specialist, such as a stroke neurologist or neurosurgeon. Feedback becomes available immediately after a patient completes imaging. Each year, millions of MRI scans are performed worldwide, many of them focused on neurological disease. Researchers say the demand for these scans is growing faster than the availability of neuroradiology services. This imbalance has contributed to staffing shortages, diagnostic delays, and errors. Depending on where a patient receives a scan, results may take days or even longer to return. Researchers emphasize that the work is still in an early evaluation phase. Future research will focus on incorporating more detailed patient information and electronic medical record data to further improve diagnostic accuracy.

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A Drink That's Good for Your Bones and Brain

If you want to sip on something good for your bones that boosts your brain, put the kettle on and brew yourself a cup (or four) of tea. According to nutritionists, the major bone benefits of drinking tea are due to its powerful antioxidants such as polyphenols, catechins, and flavonoids. Polyphenois found in tea have been shown to help increase bone mineralization, delay bone mineral density reduction, and increase levels of Vitamin D. Catechins help to protect bone building cells in the body, and flavonoids have estrogen-like properties that help to prevent bone loss, as well as reducing LDL cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol. To reap these benefits, drink black, green or oolong tea, as these are the types of teas the studies on tea and bone health looked at. Keep in mind that tea is excellent for maintaining many other bodily functions as we age, including your heart, brain, focus, and even your mood.

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Larry, the First Feline, Marks 15 Years as Britain’s Political Top Cat

In turbulent political times, stability comes with four legs, whiskers and a fondness for napping. Larry the cat recently celebrated 15 years as the British government’s official rodent-catcher and unofficial first feline, a reassuring presence that has served under six prime ministers. “Larry the cat’s approval ratings will be very high, and prime ministers tend not to hit those numbers,” said Philip Howell, a Cambridge University professor who has studied the history of human-animal relations. “He represents stability, and that’s at a premium.” The gray-and-white tabby’s rags-to-riches story has taken him from stray on the streets to Britain’s seat of power at 10 Downing Street, where he bears the official title Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. Adopted from London’s Battersea Dogs and Cats Home by then-Prime Minister David Cameron, Larry entered Downing Street on Feb. 15, 2011. His duties include greeting guests, inspecting security defenses, and testing antique furniture for napping quality. Larry roams freely and has a knack for upstaging world leaders arriving at 10 Downing Street's famous black door, to the delight of news photographers. Reports of Larry’s rodent-catching skills vary, though he has been photographed snagging the occasional mouse — and, once, a pigeon, which promptly escaped. Larry is in the neighborhood of 18-19 years old, so he has slowed down a bit, but still continues to patrol his turf and sleep on a window ledge above a radiator inside the front door. He is British power in feline form, so a cat-hating prime minister would be certain political suicide.

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