Nag Ashwin’s sci-fi film “Kalki 2898 AD” has grossed over $84 million worldwide, debuting at No. 3 globally. With a $72 million budget, it’s among the most expensive Indian films. Set in a dystopian future, it follows Bhairava (Prabhas), a warrior entangled in an ancient prophecy. Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, and Kamal Haasan co-star. The film blends Indian mythology with futuristic technology. Ashwin’s fascination with combining mythological elements and sci-fi began after his 2018 film “Mahanati.”
Read more at: https://variety.com/2024/film/asia/kalki-2898-ad-part-2-director-nag-ashwin-prabhas-amitabh-bachchan-kamal-haasan-1236060614/
Hurricane Beryl, now a category 3 storm with winds up to 120mph, is hitting the Cayman Islands after causing severe damage in Jamaica, Grenada, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. The hurricane has led to thunderstorms and gale-force winds in the Cayman Islands. Earlier, Beryl forced Jamaican airports to close and displaced nearly 1,000 people. The storm caused widespread flooding, roof damage, and power outages in Jamaica. Meteorologists advise staying sheltered until the all-clear is given.
Read more at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/04/hurricane-beryl-cayman-islands-jamaica-hurricane
Health officials in Las Vegas warn of a growing mosquito problem as the holiday weekend approaches. A North Las Vegas woman shared that her husband contracted West Nile virus in mid-June, experiencing severe fatigue and debilitating headaches. Living near Ann and Clayton, she didn’t realize the mosquito issue could worsen until her husband fell ill. He was taken to the hospital on June 21 after showing severe symptoms.
Read more at: https://www.ktnv.com/news/its-not-like-him-north-las-vegas-woman-shares-story-after-husband-is-diagnosed-with-west-nile
A 13-year study in Italy found that the Mediterranean diet, rich in fish, olive oil, and vegetables, significantly benefits cancer survivors. Those who adopted the diet post-treatment had a 32% lower risk of premature death and a 60% reduction in heart-related mortality. Researchers tracked 800 survivors’ dietary habits over 13 years, concluding that the diet’s high antioxidant content contributes to increased longevity.
Read more at: https://nypost.com/2024/07/04/lifestyle/mediterranean-diet-helps-cancer-survivors-live-longer-groundbreaking-new-study-uncovers/
The CDC urges clinicians to monitor symptoms and inquire about recent travel due to a global surge in dengue cases. While Georgia residents should protect against mosquito bites, experts say dengue is unlikely to spread locally; West Nile virus is more common, with 81 cases from 2018-2022. Most U.S. dengue cases are travel-related, primarily from tropical regions. Nearly 1,500 locally acquired U.S. dengue cases have been reported this year, mostly in Puerto Rico. Mosquito-borne diseases spread through bites from infected mosquitoes.
Read more at: https://www.ajc.com/gdpr.html
The US reported its fourth human case of bird flu in a Colorado dairy worker who had close contact with H5N1-positive cows. The worker experienced only eye symptoms, took antiviral medication, and has recovered. The CDC is sequencing the virus to check for mutations. Over 780 people have been monitored, with 53 tested for H5N1, mostly in Michigan. Colorado has the highest number of affected herds, and a cat there also tested positive. The previous US human case was in 2022. Officials plan to increase H5N1 vaccine supply and expand testing.
Read more at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/04/bird-flu-case-us-humans-cows
Florida carpenter ants, or Camponotus floridanus, can perform leg amputations on each other, determining the necessity based on wound location, a study in Current Biology reveals. These ants, often injured in territorial battles, use amputation as an effective wound treatment. The process, taking about 40 minutes, involves one ant chewing off the affected leg while another cleans the new wound. Researchers in Switzerland observed that the ants selectively conduct these amputations.
Read more at: https://abcnews.go.com/International/ants-perform-leg-amputations-needed-study/story?id=111638736
A new study reveals that hippos can get airborne when moving at high speeds on land, lifting all four limbs off the ground. Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College analyzed videos of 32 hippos and found that the fastest ones spend about 15% of each stride off the ground. Study lead John Hutchinson noted that hippos are difficult to study due to their aquatic lifestyle, aggression, and nocturnal activity. The study also found that hippos almost exclusively trot, unlike other mammals that change gaits with speed.
Read more at: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/04/science/hippo-airborne-study-scli-intl-scn/index.html
Six NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station sent a Fourth of July message to Earth. Mike Barratt, Matt Dominick, Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Jeanette Epps, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore each shared thoughts on the holiday. Epps highlighted the ongoing fight for freedom, while Dyson emphasized the courage of the forefathers. Barratt showcased copies of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, calling them “sacred words” for all Americans.
Read more at: https://www.space.com/nasa-astronauts-iss-july-4-message-2024
The James Webb Space Telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) captured a vibrant image of the protostar inside the nebula L1527, located 460 light-years away in Taurus. Released on Independence Day, the image shows a 100,000-year-old star in an hourglass-shaped gas cloud, consuming material and expelling it in jets. NASA describes this as a young star forming in a protoplanetary disk. Stars evolve over millions of years, emitting material through stellar feedback as they develop from dust clouds to fusion-powered plasma orbs.
Read more at: https://www.livescience.com/space/james-webb-space-telescope-celebrates-independence-day-by-showcasing-dazzling-cosmic-fireworks-460-light-years-away