Trial of world’s first AI-designed vaccine begins in Oxford

A vaccine designed with the help of artificial intelligence has entered human trials in what scientists are calling a world first for medical research and drug development.The vaccine, developed by researchers at the University of Oxford in partnership with biotechnology company Basecamp Research, is being tested against a disease called Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a potentially deadly virus that is primarily spread by tick bites. Researchers believe this project could demonstrate how AI can dramatically speed up the process of creating vaccines and treatments for emerging infectious diseases.The trial is an important step forward for a technology that many experts believe could reshape the future of medicine, reducing years of laboratory research to months, while helping scientists respond more quickly to global health threats.The vaccine has been developed to protect against Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, a disease that causes severe bleeding, organ failure and, in some cases, death.The virus is found in parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe and is considered one of the priority pathogens with pandemic potential by the World Health Organization. Mortality rates can reach 40% in severe outbreaks, and there is currently no widely approved vaccine available for human use.The researchers chose CCHF because it represents exactly the type of emerging infectious threat that may be difficult to deal with using traditional vaccine development methods. The virus also evolves and varies in different regions, making it a challenging target for scientists.The Oxford-led team hopes the new vaccine can provide broad protection against multiple strains of the virus, improving preparedness for future outbreaks.Unlike traditional vaccine development, which often relies on years of laboratory experimentation, the new approach used artificial intelligence to analyze large amounts of genetic and biological data.Basecamp Research, which specializes in using AI to study biological information, supplied one of the world’s largest databases of genetic sequences collected from ecosystems around the world. The machine-learning system then examined these datasets to identify the parts of the virus that are most likely to trigger a strong immune response.Scientists used that information to design vaccine components capable of targeting multiple versions of the virus simultaneously.The researchers say the AI ​​was not responsible for creating or testing the vaccine, but played a key role in identifying promising targets far more quickly than traditional methods.The project demonstrates how artificial intelligence can act as a powerful research tool, helping scientists discover hidden patterns within huge datasets that would be difficult for humans alone to analyze.The first phase of clinical trials is currently underway oxford vaccine Group, part of the University of Oxford.The study will primarily investigate whether the vaccine is safe and whether it produces the desired immune response in healthy volunteers. Early-stage trials are designed to assess safety before researchers move on to larger studies testing effectiveness.Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, whose work on the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine brought her international prominence during the pandemic, has highlighted the potential of AI-assisted vaccine development to speed up the response to future disease outbreaks.Researchers involved in the project say the trial represents the first known example of a vaccine reaching human testing through this type of AI-driven biological discovery process.Scientists believe that the importance of this project goes beyond that of a disease.Traditional vaccine development can take years of laboratory work, data collection and testing before a candidate reaches human testing. By identifying promising biological targets much earlier, AI can help reduce both costs and development timelines.Researchers say this technology could prove particularly valuable in tackling emerging diseases, pandemic threats and viruses that currently receive limited scientific attention due to funding or logistical challenges.The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of rapid vaccine development. Many experts now see artificial intelligence as one of the most promising tools to prepare the world for future health emergencies.While the Oxford trial is in its early stages and many hurdles remain before any vaccine can reach approval, the project has already achieved something important. For the first time, a vaccine designed with the help of artificial intelligence has gone from computer models and biological databases into the arms of human volunteers.If successful, it could mark the beginning of a new chapter in medicine, where algorithms help scientists design vaccines that protect future generations.

New Delhi: Senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Firhad Hakim on Friday resigned from the post of mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), citing his “inability to function properly”.He stepped down “with his head held high” after getting the consent of the Trinamool supremo and former West Bengal chief minister. Mamata Banerjee.At a press conference before the resignation, the Kolkata Port MLA reflected on his nearly 7.5-year tenure as mayor, and thanked KMC officials and Kolkata residents for their support during major crises including cyclone Amphan and the COVID-19 pandemic.“With the cooperation of KMC officials and city citizens, we successfully overcame these challenges,” Hakim told reporters.He said, “I wanted to go with my head held high. I asked permission from my leader and she (Mamata Banerjee) gave me permission.”Recalling his appointment as Mayor of Kolkata in November 2018, Hakim noted his initial uncertainty about matching the legacy of previous civic leaders including Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das.He said, “I never thought that I could become a worthy successor to stalwarts like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, who once held this chair.”A key minority face of the TMC and a key figure in its urban organisation, Hakim’s resignation came amid continuing political unrest within the party following its defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections, which saw it lose power in the state after 15 years.His exit comes at a time when there is organizational tension within Trinamool and a wave of councilors’ resignations in recent weeks, adding to the uncertainty in the party’s civilian structure.The corporation, under TMC control since 2010, remains one of its most important institutional bases.Hakim also created history as the first Muslim mayor of Kolkata after independence.(With PTI inputs)

Confucius (Image: Wikipedia)

Some quotes remain relevant because they describe a habit that seems almost timeless. Words related to Confucius do exactly that. Long before social media, televised debates, or modern politics existed, Confucius was pondering something that still sounds familiar today: people often find it easier to find faults in others than to examine their own faults.The quote does not deny that wrongdoings exist in the world. This is not to suggest that people should ignore harmful behavior or pretend that injustice is acceptable. Instead, it shifts the focus to a different starting point. Before looking outward, it asks people to look inward.This idea seems simple. In practice, this may be difficult.Most people can identify habits, decisions, or attitudes of others that they dislike. It is a natural part of being human. The hardest thing is to apply the same level of scrutiny to yourself. Personal weaknesses are often less visible on the inside. They come up with explanations, excuses, and justifications that don’t always extend to other people.Perhaps that’s why this quote continues to circulate centuries after it was first attributed to Confucius. It touches on a trend that is visible in everyday life, whether in families, workplaces, friendships or public discussions.The challenge it presents is not about perfection. It’s about honesty.

today’s thought by confucius

“Instead of attacking the evil in others, attack the evil within yourself.”

Understand the meaning behind Confucius’ quotes

Basically this quote is about introspection.=Confucius is drawing attention to a general imbalance. People often spend significant energy identifying the problems of other individuals while spending little time examining their own behavior. The quote suggests reversing that order.The phrase “the evil within you” is not necessarily referring to dramatic wrongdoing. It can also be understood as personal flaws, harmful habits, prejudice, dishonesty, arrogance or other traits that negatively influence behavior.Most people have blind spots. They may become impatient when criticizing someone else for being rude. They may expect understanding from others while offering little of themselves. These contradictions are common because humans generally judge themselves and others by different standards.The quote encourages a different approach.Instead of focusing first on what others are doing wrong, it suggests starting with personal responsibility. This does not solve every problem, but it changes the direction of attention. The emphasis moves from accusation to contemplation.There is a quiet discipline in that thought. It asks people to spend less time blaming and more time understanding their role in situations.

Looking inward is often harder than looking outward

Most people do not wake up with the intention of avoiding introspection.The difficulty is that examining individual flaws can be inconvenient. It requires admitting mistakes, recognizing weaknesses, and accepting that some problems may originate closer to home than we want to admit.It is usually easy to find fault in others.The evidence appears to be external. The conduct is someone else’s. There is no need to question personal assumptions or face inconvenient truths.Self-examination works differently.This requires honesty that is often difficult to maintain consistently. People must ask questions that they may not enjoy answering. Was that reaction appropriate? Was that criticism fair? Could the situation have been handled differently?These questions rarely produce immediate comfort.Yet they often provide insights that criticism alone cannot provide.Perhaps this is one reason why Confucius gave so much importance to self-cultivation. Personal growth begins when people become willing to evaluate themselves with the same seriousness that they apply to others.

Everyday life provides constant examples

The wisdom of the quote becomes apparent when viewed through common experiences.Consider differences between friends. One person may focus entirely on what the other did wrong. They replay observations, decisions, and mistakes in their mind. The other person’s behavior becomes the center of the story.Sometimes that assessment is partially correct.Yet conflicts are rarely shaped by one person alone. Misunderstandings, assumptions, and reactions often come into play on both sides.The same pattern is visible in workplaces too. Employees can complain about managers. Managers can complain about employees. Colleagues may criticize each other’s decisions.In some cases, the criticism is justified.Yet, meaningful improvement often begins when individuals ask what they themselves could do differently. This question does not erase responsibility elsewhere, but creates room for progress.Without it, the conversation can become an endless exchange of blame.

Confucius placed character at the center of life

The quote reflects themes that appear in the teachings associated with Confucius.He had a keen interest in character, conduct and personal responsibility. Rather than focusing solely on laws or punishments, he stressed the importance of developing moral habits within individuals.His thinking suggested that strong communities begin with strong character.If people develop honesty, humility, respect, and self-discipline, the benefits extend beyond the individual. Families function more effectively. Communities become more stable. Relationships improve.This perspective explains why self-improvement holds such an important place in Confucian thought.The goal is not self-criticism for its own sake. The goal is continuous improvement.A person who recognizes weaknesses can work to overcome them. The person who refuses to accept weaknesses often remains trapped in them.

The quote reflects that idea directly and memorably.

Modern culture often rewards criticismOne reason this quote feels surprisingly current is that modern life provides endless opportunities to judge others.People comment on public figures, coworkers, neighbors, and strangers online. Opinions are shared instantly. Decisions come quickly.Criticism itself is not a problem. Holding people accountable can be important. Healthy societies depend on inquiry and discussion.The challenge arises when criticism becomes easier than reflection.It is possible to spend hours analyzing the mistakes of others while paying little attention to individual behavior. In that situation, the balance advocated by Confucius begins to disappear.The quote almost acts like a reminder to stop and reconsider priorities.Before asking if someone else needs to change, it asks if there is something within ourselves that deserves attention first.This question remains relevant regardless of the era.

Self-improvement is rarely dramatic

Popular culture often presents personal growth as a dramatic transformation.Reality is calm.People get better with small adjustments repeated over time. They become more patient. They learn to listen more carefully. They identify habits that cause problems and gradually work to change them.These changes are rarely dramatic enough to attract attention.Yet they often have a significant impact on daily life.The quote is consistent with that slow understanding of reform. It does not encourage big announcements. This encourages ongoing effort.The focus remains on what individuals can control rather than what they cannot.That perspective can be surprisingly insightful. People may have limited influence on the behavior of others, but they generally have greater influence on their own actions.Confucius draws attention to that area of ​​responsibility.

Why does this quote still resonate today?

There’s a reason these words continue to appear centuries after Confucius was alive.They address a habit that remains deeply human.Most people can remember moments when they were quick to notice flaws in someone else while ignoring similar issues in themselves. The experience is so common it almost feels universal.The quote does not imply accusation or condemnation. Instead, it provides a different starting point.Look inside first.Examine individual behavior before rushing to judge others. Focus on the weaknesses in your character before focusing exclusively on weaknesses elsewhere.That approach does not eliminate conflict or disagreement. It doesn’t solve every problem. This can create a strong foundation for understanding, accountability, and growth.Maybe that’s why this quote has stuck around for so long.The world changes. Technology changes. Societies change.Human nature, at least in some respects, remains remarkably familiar.

Other famous quotes from Confucius

New Delhi: When BJP leader JP Nadda had said in 2023 that “regional parties promoting dynasticism and corruption are certain to be wiped out”, no one would have thought that his prediction would come true so soon.In the last three years, many regional satraps have not only lost power but also their influence. In Bihar, Nitish Kumar resigned as Chief Minister, paving the way for the BJP to take power in the state for the first time. Lalu Yadav’s son and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav were literally wiped out in the assembly elections. In Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal’s dream of remaining in power ended in February last year when he lost the 2025 assembly elections to the BJP.The 2026 assembly elections added two more names to the list – DMK’s MK Stalin and TMC’s Mamata BanerjeeTwo regional giants who lost power in their strongholds. But while Stalin has just lost power, Mamata also faces the possibility of losing her party.There is a strange feeling about the ongoing political developments in West Bengal, where Mamata has lost power after 15 years of rule. His Trinamool Congress bursting and seems to be on the way Shiv Sena.Shiv Sena involved in alliance with Congress in 2022 NCP Under Maha Vikas Aghadi, saw rebellion against its leader Uddhav ThackerayWho was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra at that time. This rebellion came from within the party and was led by Eknath Shinde, who was once Uddhav’s trusted lieutenant. Most of the party MLAs came together and ensured that Uddhav not only lost power but also ultimately lost complete control over his party. It was no coincidence that Shinde joined hands with BJP and became the Chief Minister. It is a different story that after two and a half years the BJP is back in power and Shinde is struggling to counter the influence of his key ally. The rebellion started by Shiv Sena MLAs soon spread to the party’s MPs as well.Ironically, months later another party in Maharashtra – the NCP – went through a similar sequence of events that saw Sharad Pawar lose control of his party. The beneficiary was his nephew, the late Ajit Pawar, who later became deputy chief minister in the NDA’s grand alliance government.While the BJP needed Shinde’s support to return to power in Maharashtra and also to take revenge on Uddhav, who had joined hands with the Congress and NCP to keep the saffron party out of power in the state, the NCP split served to weaken the opposition’s position in Maharashtra by reducing Sharad Pawar’s clout.Now, cut to 2026.BJP wins comprehensively in West Bengal. The Trinamool Congress was virtually destroyed, reduced to 80 seats from the 212 it had won five years ago. Mamata herself lost her stronghold to her arch rival Shuvendu Adhikari – her trusted aide turned bitter political rival.But before Mamata could recover from this crushing defeat, her 28-year-old Trinamool Congress was on the way to its end. Here too, as in Maharashtra, it was the party MLAs who came together (or perhaps were brought together) to challenge Mamata’s leadership. While on the surface the rebellion was against Mamata’s nephew and powerful No. 2 in the party, Abhishek Banerjee, the real target was Mamata herself.58 out of 80 MLAs came together to challenge Mamata’s leadership and overturn her decisions. He used the numbers to appoint his own nominee as leader of the opposition in the state assembly.The fact cannot be denied that there was pent-up frustration and anger among the people against Abhishek Banerjee. Mamata’s nephew was a strong power center in the party and his every word was like an order to its leaders.Now there are reports that some Trinamool MPs are also ready to join the rebels and create trouble. Veteran Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Roy has hinted that the rebellion that rocked the party’s legislature wing may eventually resonate among its MPs as well.Roy said, “I have never seen nearly 60 MLAs quitting in such a short period of time. What I am saying is that a similar reaction is likely to happen in the Lok Sabha also.” TMC currently has 28 members in the Lok Sabha and 13 in the Rajya Sabha.Similarly, 4 years ago there was rebellion between Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra. It started in the Assembly, spread to Parliament and ultimately led to a split in both the parties.Therefore, it would not be surprising if in the near future Mamata loses complete control over the Trinamool Congress and is forced to start from scratch once again.And while Mamata is battling an existential crisis, MK Stalin, the other regional satrap who suffered a shocking electoral defeat in the 2026 assembly elections, has been luckier and perhaps wiser too. It is fortunate because BJP currently does not have as much stake in Tamil Nadu as in West Bengal. Wise because there are reports that the DMK is open to a positive relationship with the ruling BJP at the Centre. If this indeed happens going forward, perhaps it would be a way for the DMK to catch up with its former ally Congress, which left the Dravidian party soon after the assembly results were announced.One regional leader who will be keeping a close eye on all the developments is Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav – who faces a tough electoral battle with the BJP in Uttar Pradesh next year.For starters, Akhilesh has already scrapped his party’s contract with the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) – the political consultancy firm that was linked to Mamata’s Trinamool Congress and has been in the government’s crosshairs.Akhilesh is aware of the importance of taking the right steps ahead of next year’s assembly elections – lest he find his name in the list of defeated regional satraps.

Bhopal: Under a major conservation threat, 24 of Madhya Pradesh’s 26 wildlife sanctuaries remain without final notification even though many were declared protected areas four decades ago.According to a complaint submitted to the Chief Secretary citing official forest department records, it has been alleged that most of the sanctuaries in the state are stuck in “initial notification limbo” under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, leaving critical habitats facing legal uncertainty and conservation safeguards, including the implementation of eco-sensitive zones (ESZs), are being weakened.Citing records of the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), complainant and wildlife activist Ajay Dubey claims that ecologically important sanctuaries like Ratapani and Singhori – initially notified in 1976, are still awaiting final notification. Similar pending cases exist in Ghatigaon, Ken Gharial (1981), and National Chambal Sanctuary (1982), with official records reportedly showing no final notification.The complaint describes delays resulting from decades-long inaction by the district administration in settlement of land and community rights. Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, the District Collector acts as the Forest Settlement Officer and has to complete verification of existing rights before the state government issues the final notification under Section 26A.Even when the final notification was finally issued, the delay was extraordinary, the complaint says, citing the Kheoni Sanctuary, which reportedly received the final notification only in 2006, almost 24 years after its initial announcement in 1982.This representation links a long-standing legal bond to ecological risks on the ground. Citing an official communication from the office of the area director of the Satpura Tiger Reserve, it is alleged that untreated sewage and solid waste from the Pachmarhi Cantonment Board area is being released into the Wainganga stream, which flows through the Pachmarhi sanctuary.The complainant warned that pollution of natural water bodies inside protected habitats could put wildlife, including tigers, at risk of disease and pointed to the 2018 epidemic in Gir National Park, where more than 20 Asiatic lions died in a short period. No immediate response was available from the state government.

It’s easy to imagine the Great Pyramid of Giza standing isolated against the sand and heat, as if it always belonged to a desert that never changed. That image has shaped how the monument has been discussed for centuries, particularly the question of how such heavy stone blocks reached the plateau. The Nile River today lies several miles away, separated from the site by dry land that seems too wide to be practical for ancient transportation. Nature Studies changes that distance in quiet but unsettling ways, revealing that the landscape was not always arranged this way. Traces buried in the soil point to a waterway that has long since disappeared, something that once flowed much closer to the pyramids than a modern river.

Traces of hidden wetlands beneath the sand of the Great Pyramid of Giza

Beneath the baked surface to the east of the Giza Plateau, layers of sediment hold fragments of the old environment. A team working through these deposits identified microscopic plant remains that do not fit present desert conditions. They included species that are typically tied to marshes and slow-moving water, to species that inhabit the banks of river systems rather than open sand.According to the study published titled ‘Nature’The now abandoned Egyptian pyramid series Ahramat was built along the Nile branch‘, the presence of these remains is consistent with the idea that an ancient branch of the Nile River once passed near the pyramid areas. In modern research it has been named the Khufu Branch, although at the time it may have been another part of the river system. The suggestion is not that the Nile River was entirely separate, but rather that one of its channels has since shifted or disappeared, leaving only faint geological traces behind.

What tiny pollen grains tell us about a forgotten branch of the Nile

The work behind this photo doesn’t rely on anything dramatic at first glance. Instead, it comes from narrow cores dug into the ground, pulling up columns of sediment thousands of years old. Inside those thin specimens are pollen grains that are small enough to be missed without careful sorting.What stands out is not a single plant type but a mixture that is related to wet conditions. Papyrus, sedge-like plants and other vegetation associated with river banks appear together in a way that suggests the presence of continuous water rather than a brief flood event. Pollen taken alone tells very little. Gathered together in layers, they begin to sketch a changing environment. In this case, that points to a functioning waterway near the pyramid complex during the eras of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure.

Ancient logs suggest easy water transport to Giza

The second thread comes not from clay but from papyrus. Fragments of records kept by an official named Merer, found in the Red Sea region in Wadi al-Jarf, describe teams carrying limestone under organized supervision. The writing is practical, almost routine in tone, concerned with delivery and transportation rather than ceremony or politics.What makes it relevant is the passage contained in those notes. Stones quarried at Tura are recorded being transported by boat to the Giza area. This simply means only if navigable expanses of water reach close enough to the pyramid site to be useful. Logistics have their own implications. Heavy blocks, barges, a working water corridor that connects the mine and construction lands without the need for long land haulage.When juxtaposed with environmental evidence, the writing begins to feel less like an isolated administrative record and more like a snapshot of a working landscape whose shape has changed.

what was the climate doing in the background

The existence of the now extinct indigo branch is a result of widespread environmental change. North Africa did not always have the arid character that it has today. During a wetter phase thousands of years ago, much of what is now the desert was supported by grasslands, lakes, and seasonal water systems.That period gradually ended as long-term changes in solar patterns altered precipitation across the region. Water sources retreated, vegetation diminished, and channels that once had steady flows began to weaken or disappear. The Khufu branch appears to have been part of a slow return to pyramid-building over the centuries before becoming extinct.There is no sharp break visible in the record. It feels like a drawn-out contraction, a river system gradually losing strength until only the main Nile channel remains dominant.

How waterways may have shaped pyramid building

The image of pyramid construction often assumes a fixed background, as if the geography of Giza had always been stable. What this evidence suggests instead is a setting that was still in transition when the monuments were built.The nearby water route may have changed the practical rhythm of construction. Stone arriving by boat rather than being dragged over long desert trails changed not only efficiency but the entire scale of what was possible. The plateau would have been less isolated, more directly tied into the functioning river network.

what lives under the sand

Today, the Nile River is far from the pyramids, and the space between them seems fixed. Yet the subsurface record tells a different story, where water once reached deep and then slowly retreated. The pollen grains and papyrus fragments are not dramatic evidence in themselves, but together they outline a landscape that no longer exists in visual form.The pyramids remain where they were placed, but the river that would have aided in their construction no longer runs through them.

New Delhi: RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi lost their Z-plus security cover after the Bihar government reviewed the security arrangements for VIPs in the state.The move was announced through a notification issued on Thursday, which said that two senior RJD leaders will now get security cover from the Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP). In the review, Y category security provided to Janashakti Janata Dal chief and Lalu Prasad’s elder son Tej Pratap was also withdrawn.Officials said the decision has been taken after assessing the security arrangements provided to various VIP protectees across Bihar.Explaining the withdrawn category, an official said, “Z-plus security consists of a dedicated team of trained personnel equipped with advanced weapons.”Despite demotion, Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi will continue to get security support. Their current arrangement includes two to eight BSAP house guards, two bodyguards from Patna District Force, a pilot vehicle and a bulletproof car.The review has not affected all the members of the first family of RJD. Bihar government retains Y-Plus security cover provided to opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav.The notification further said that the existing security arrangements for Rajya Sabha MP Misa Bharti, Lalu Prasad’s elder daughter and Rajshree Yadav, wife of Tejashwi Yadav, will continue unchanged.Just a few days before this, Rabri Devi had challenged Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary to oust her from her government bungalow, which she has occupied for more than a decade, and said that she would not voluntarily vacate the premises.The RJD leader reacted sharply when reporters questioned him about the recent order issued by the state building construction department allotting 10, Circular Road residence in Patna to Dairy and Fisheries Minister Nand Kishore Ram.RJD president Lalu Prasad’s angry wife said, “Yes, I can see that Samrat Chaudhary, who has recently become the chief minister, is very excited. Let him evict me by force. I am not going to vacate the premises.”Rabri Devi was talking to reporters at the Patna airport after returning from Delhi, where she had gone to celebrate her grandson’s birthday. It is understood that her husband Lalu Prasad has gone to Singapore for treatment.The former chief minister, who often points out that Chaudhary started her political career as a minister in her government, addressed the media from inside her vehicle and was clearly upset during the conversation.The bungalow at 10, Circular Road, located close to both the Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister’s residence, was allotted to the family during the previous Nitish Kumar-led government. Over the years, it has served not only as the residence of the RJD’s first family but also as an important political center for the opposition party.Several months ago, before Choudhary took charge as the first BJP chief minister of Bihar, the building construction department had issued an order stating that the residence would henceforth be reserved for the deputy chief minister.