Mom Working from Home with Baby

Dealing With The ‘New Normal’ Living in Lockdown

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Many people are now living in a state of lockdown, with children off school, non-essential business closed and many people off work for an indefinite period of time. As the pandemic continues to evolve, what is clear is that to survive this crisis mentally, a complete shift in mindset is needed.

Living in lockdown is a very strange situation for most people and it can take some time to get used to. It is very different choosing to work from home, as these days can often feel enjoyable and motivation can be high, with people thinking ‘yeh, I could get used to this!’ I actually had a work from home day the week before lockdown began and remember feeling the delight at being able to work from my sofa with the telly on in the background and none of the distractions that come with office life. It felt like a treat.

But that was then and boy, have things changed since then! It is funny how when that choice is taken away from you, the feelings experienced in exactly the same situation are completely different. Following Boris Johnson’s lockdown announcement in March 2020, suddenly, the office I worked from daily was shut until further notice and all work from that point onwards would resume from home until further notice. Although this was a very strange situation to find myself in, this initial transition was made palatable by the fact that my children were still at school. I was still able to focus on my work during set hours at home without any distraction (ok, perhap I did get sucked into the odd TV program once or twice) and although the ‘novelty’ of having a work from home day had dwindled, I was still able to be relatively productive given the circumstances.

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Fast forward a couple of weeks and all UK schools were then closed until further notice, along with non-essential businesses. Suddenly, those working from home with children also needed to try and follow their school learning program, keep them entertained and remain highly focused on work. All of this while ensuring the cupboards remain sufficiently stocked and the house resembles some sort of order and cleanliness. With social media blaring out images of the ‘perfect’ household full of baking, yoga and other wonderous activities from the so-called ‘Wonder-mums of Instagram’, the bar was set unattainably high.

If you haven’t worked this out already then this is a recipe for disaster. It is simply not possible to continue ‘business as usual’, become a full time school teacher and keep all those other domestic balls up in the air. And with no end date in sight, you can’t even plan ahead to know how long this is all going to last for. And I couldn’t even have a Costa to make me feel better. Nightmare.

What is clear is that this is our ‘new normal’. Although a temporary situation, this is not going to be over within the next few weeks. We are looking at several months of disruption, along with a period of recovery which could take even longer. This realisation has led to many memes online about writing off 2020 and looking forward to 2021.

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In the meantime, life goes on. If you are lucky enough to have retained your job and can work from home then deadlines will continue to come in, alongside the educational requirements for the children and all of your other responsibilities. It is going to go on for too long to simply just ‘wing it’, you’re going to need a plan.

Accepting the current situation is likely to be this way for a good few months now (let’s put a pin in June shall we) is key to moving forward with this new normal. Understanding that there is going to need to be some compromise in all areas of your life is the next step. You’re not going to be able to complete that assignment whilst also helping a 4 year old with their english work and a 12 year old with their ridiculous science project. You are going to continually feel like you are being pulled from pillar to post and failing at everything if you keep trying to do things as you did before the coronavirus had even arrived on your home soil.

You’re going to need to work less hours, or at least spread them across your day differently. The kids will not get through all of the work they’ve been set, you probably won’t get to do all of the exercise you intended to do with the kids. You’re probably going to eat more too and maybe even drink more than you normally would. Don’t beat yourself up about it. These are crazy times and the most important thing is that you maintain your mental and physical health and that your family feel safe and secure. The rest really can just wait.

National Theatre

National Theatre Provides Free Live Streams of Theatre Shows During Coronavirus Lockdown

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With the close of all public events and entertainment venues, the much loved world of live theater was well and truly put on ice for the foreseeable future. To help bridge the gap, the National Theatre is offering access to a range of breathtaking theater productions on YouTube for free over the coming months, allowing every theater lover to get their cultural fix from the comfort of their own home!

As part of their new initiative ‘National Theatre at Home’, every Thursday night from the 2nd April onwards, the National Theatre will be making a new production available for viewing at zero cost to the viewer. People can tune in from all over the world and stream the productions for free, while students and teachers will also have access to the National Collection Theatre at home.

The first production to be released will be Richard Bean’s One Man Two Guvnors which features a Tony Award-winning performance from James Corden, best known in the US for presenting The Late Late Show. Each production will be available to watch on demand for seven days. Further releases include Sally Cookson’s stage adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island Shakespeare’s classic comedy Twelfth Night featuring Tamsin Greig as Malvolia. And for those who are interested in finding out a little more, there will be a host of additional content available including cast Q&As and post-stream talks.

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In a bid to assist with home education, The National Theatre Collection is also being made available as an online resource for schools, universities, libraries and the wider education sector. This will be available for the entire period that schools are closed and includes 24 productions. There are also exclusive productions from the National Theatre’s archive which have not previously been released. Organized through Bloomsbury Publishing, schools and academic institutions can request login details which can then be shared with pupils at home. The free offer will be available until the end of May and can be accessed by anyone in the global education community.

It is hoped that during this time, many people who have not been to live theater productions before may gain a new love for it and want to see more once the theaters reopen. There are many reasons why people don’t visit the theater, from costs to distance to simply never experiencing it previously so not knowing what to expect. It provides the perfect opportunity to experience some of the best productions in the industry and to do it from the comfort of your own home.

For students, it can help them to proceed with core aspects of their coursework or studies and teachers will be able to shape virtual lesson plans around the productions in order to maximise the educational aspects associated with watching the production.

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For young people, it provides the perfect opportunity to expand their cultural awareness and appreciation whilst also forming the basis for educational activities and tasks. Older children can be encouraged to watch a play and write a detailed review about it. Or you may be able to find a series of questions which they can answer based on the production that they watched, critiquing the plot or the execution of the story, how close it was to the original text, what the importance of the adaptations were and how this enhanced the story when performed live.

For much younger children, small sections of the play can be watched and then discussed afterwards. They could perhaps write a short explanation of what they saw, or draw a picture of one of their favourite characters. If the segment includes a strong storyline or plot, you can ask them to predict what might happen next and then continue watching to see if they guessed correctly.

Or perhaps it could be a welcomed distraction for adults after a hectic time trying to work from home or educating the children. It could even form part of a ‘date night’ with a partner, as they settle down to watch it and imagine they were enjoying it at the theater for real. And for older people, it could provide a couple of hours of escapism and allow them to fully immerse themselves in the world of theater, despite not being able to leave their homes.

Whatever the motivation, there is no doubt that this offering by the National Theatre is nothing but positive and will help many people to pass the time over the coming months as social distancing continues to keep our much loved leisure outlets closed. It could also mark a pivotal moment in how live theater is consumed by the masses in the future, as many organizations begin to fully realize the potential that the digital world has to offer.

Debenhams

UK Department Store Debenhams Enters Bankruptcy Due To Coronavirus

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The retail sector has been devastated by the impact of coronavirus and it appears that much loved UK department store Debenhams has become its latest victim as news circulates of possible bankruptcy.

Debenhams has been a familiar face on the UK high street for over 200 years, having originally launched in 1813 as a single store in London. However, they have been facing difficulties in recent years as the retail sector has evolved and competition has intensified. Last year, the company fell into administrations before it was rescued by its lenders and continued to trade, albeit at a reduced capacity. Currently, the business employs around 22,000 staff but it appears that coronavirus has delivered the final blow and it now seems that bankruptcy is inevitable.

Although the decision has not been finalised just yet, it has been reported that they are considering filing a formal notice of intention to appoint administrators next week. This is the first stage in the process and provides a brief window of opportunity for around 10 days, where creditors are not legally allowed to call in debts and is designed to provide time to find an appropriate rescue deal which could allow the company to continue trading.

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It is expected that the administration task will be handled by one of the ‘big four’ accounting firms, KPMG, who were involved in the highly publicised restructure of the company last year. It was taken over by a collective of financial backers including US hedge funds Silver Point and GoldenTree. Rents were then cut and unprofitable stores were closed as part of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA). In total around 22 stores were cut after the previous restructure with a further 28 planned to close in the coming months. This would have left around 113 stores still in operation.

A spokesperson for Debenhams was quoted as saying that all of those involved were ‘highly supportive’ of actions to help preserve the business, but it’s long term future remains unknown at this stage. For the meantime, the Debenhams website is fully operational and people can still place orders, submit product returns and spend gift vouchers. However, as with all precarious positions, it would be advisable to spend any vouchers or request returns as soon as possible to ensure that these can be processed as usual. Often, the final decision to cease business is made swiftly and without notice, so it is advisable not to leave and risk being left out of pocket.

Many experts are predicting that other retailers are likely to follow suit in the coming months as the uncertainty of coronavirus continues to impact the entire economy for at least the next few months. Very few retailers are likely to have sufficient funds to survive extended periods of store closures, and the government’s business interruption loans and staff retention schemes are unlikely to be enough to keep many above water. Another big name from the UK high street John Lewis has also said that it may keep a number of its stores permanently closed after lockdown after reports suggested that they lost around 65% of profits. House of Fraser also shut seven of its 59 branches prior to the lockdown announcement, so there are also fears that they too will fail to emerge on the other side of the crisis.

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Many retailers with strong online offerings are hoping that the continued postal and delivery services will help to retain sales during lockdown, but it is inevitable that the high street will be experiencing significant pain at this time. It was already a difficult sector to be in with rising rents and falling footfalls placing greater pressure on retailers to find ways to remain profitable. I think it is highly likely that the world we re-enter at the end of this outbreak is going to be very different to the one we left behind in March, in many ways.

Sadly, we probably need to accept that some of our much loved retailers, cafes, bars and restaurants simply aren’t going to be able to survive and we’ll need to bid our farewells. That said, the market will recover once the virus has run its course and there will be new and exciting opportunities for emerging brands and businesses to take their place. Whilst the retail market is unforgiving, it remains a strong and thriving sector with much opportunity. Smaller, more flexible retailers may well emerge and there is likely to be a significant national effort to support the regrowth of all sectors. Whether the big names will play a part in this remains to be seen, but there is little we can do at the moment but to sit and wait as the coronavirus continues to work its way mercilessly through our society.

Research Studies COVID-19

New Trial Drug Shows Promising Signs of Tackling Early Stage COVID-19

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In the race to find a cure or a treatment for COVID-19, a trial drug has been found to effectively block how SARS-CoV-2 infects its host.

An international team led by Dr. Josef Penninger from the University of British Columbia has revealed the potential for a treatment which could stop the early infection of novel coronavirus, and interfere with how it interacts on a cellular level, effectively stopping the virus from entering the body and multiplying. Most notably, it also impacted how the virus infected blood vessels and the kidneys, where it is known to cause some of the most fatal manifestations.

The team behind the pioneering discovery included a vast array of academic researchers and companies including Dr. Ryan Conder’s gastrointestinal group at STEMCELL Technologies in Vancouver, Nuria Montserrat in Spain, Drs. Haibo Zhang, Art Slutsky from Toronto and Ali Mirazimi’s infectious biology team in Sweden. All have been working around the clock to try and study this virus in intricate detail in order to better understand how it affects the body. Such intricate knowledge is needed in order to devise the best solutions to reduce the impact of the virus, or ideally, stop it in its tracks.

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Most research is currently focussed on the ACE2 protein which lives on the surface of the cell membrane. This protein is sticky and enables the virus to easily attach itself and infect its host. Put in its most simplest terms, finding a way to turn off this ‘stickiness’ could help to prevent the virus from taking hold. Research into this area is already extensive as it is this protein which was identified as a key receptor in the previous SARS virus, which caused the 2003 outbreak. Although SARS was considered a global issue, it was by no means as wide-reaching as COVID-19. However, despite research into this area for several years, there has so far been no clinically proven antiviral therapy that effectively targets the ACE2 receptor at a molecular level, which has meant that medical professionals have no available treatment for COVID-19 and can only at best manage the symptoms as the body tries to fight off the virus itself.

This new research has helped to provide evidence that a drug called PN01 (human recombinant soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 — hrsACE2) could hold the key to tackling the highly elusive and devastating ACE2 protein. There are now plans to begin clinical trials of the drug with the view to it being used as an antiviral therapy for COVID-19 if they prove successful. This will still take time though as there are many hoops to pass through before any new drug can be approved for mass use in human medicine.

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To help speed up this process, the current study looked at how the virus infected human blood vessels and kidneys using ‘organoids’ which are engineered replicas grown from human stem cells. It showed that the virus infects and replicates easily within these tissues, which goes some way to explain why severe cases are resulting in multiple organ failure and why patients also display cardiovascular damage. Critically, these tests also showed that hrsACE2 was able to inhibit the coronavirus load by a factor of 1,000-5,000. hrsACE2 also reduced the level of SARS-CoV-2 in these tissues. The fact that ACE2 was identified so quickly as the entry gate has led to the understanding that a soluble form of ACE2 could be used to essentially stop the virus in its tracks. It essentially shuts off the pathway the virus needs to actually infect the body and could have transformational results for the future treatment of COVID-19.

Organoids are increasingly being used to help test new treatments, as they help to speed up this crucial time between research and human trials. They are particularly useful when facing a time critical health crisis such as the novel Coronavirus, where time really is of the essence. The speed at which this research was conducted was expedited thanks to emergency funding from the Canadian federal government which was providing funds specifically to help speed up the development, testing and implementation of measures which contribute directly to the fight against COVID-19.
Many scientists are racing against time to find a cure or a treatment for COVID-19 as it continues to cause the premature deaths of tens of thousands of people across the world. As global infection rates soar past the 1 million mark, it is impossible to know which treatment will pass the post first, but any progress towards this ultimate goal is positive and takes us one step closer to beating this invisible killer. We continue to wait with baited breath for a vaccine or treatment which can help to reduce the severity of the symptoms.

UK vs Virus

First Death From Coronavirus Occured in the U.K. Much Earlier Than Thought

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New data suggest that coronavirus may have been more prevalent in the U.K. much earlier than experts first thought.

According to figures from NHS England, the first coronavirus-related death is thought to have occured on 28th February which is almost a full week before what was previously acknowledged. The first official death was reported on the 5th March.

The revelations come as there is growing pressure to understand the exact pattern of the virus, given that there are some inconsistencies with the data being reported. This has been put down to the sheer logistics of reporting the daily deaths and infection rates, along with the cut off points on certain dates for obtaining the necessary data. If certain figures are late, it can cause the daily figure to appear skewed, painting a less severe picture of daily deaths followed by a second spike day as the numbers catch up. There has also been concerns that deaths in non-hospital settings, such as care homes, are not included in the daily figures, so they can only be taken as an indicator at best of the current position.

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Whilst it is accepted that the figures are not totally accurate, they do help to show the pattern of deaths with regards to age groups. It shows that over half of the patients who have died so far were over 80 years of age, with a further 40% falling between 60-79 years, 7% occurring between 40 and 59 years and less than 1% being under 40 years. The youngest reported death in the U.K. was of a 13 year old boy in London. There is growing acceptance from medical experts and the general public that although the recovery rate remains very good for the vast majority, some people will suffer adversely and subsequently die, and that from time to time this does include people who are seemingly ‘low risk’. Some experts have indicated that this is in fact also the case with traditional flu, but this risk is rarely discussed publicly to any significant degree. Thousands of people die from seasonal flu each year, so there is some risk associated with this, although there is a vaccine for both Influenza A and B strains and more understanding of how to treat it. The trouble with COVID-19 is that there is still only a few months of research into this new virus and its effects on the body are still not fully understood. There is no vaccine and no treatment, so all that can be done is to manage the symptoms and make the patient as comfortable as possible whilst it tries to fight the virus.

Another sticking point in the evaluation of deaths caused by coronavirus is the issue of testing. The U.K. is far behind many other countries when it comes to testing patients, with priority being given to critically ill patients first. Now that there is surplus demand within this category, the test is now being made available to frontline NHS workers to help determine which of those displaying symptoms and self-isolating do in fact have the virus. Testing negative would enable these workers to return to work even if their symptoms have not completely disappeared, as it could be concluded that the cause of them is not coronavirus. But there are currently no tests for those outside of these groups, including those who have died at home or in other care facilities. There could therefore be much higher numbers of coronavirus related deaths occurring that we simply don’t know about.

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Whilst the WHO has emphasized that testing is the only way to fully understand the virus, the U.K. government is keeping an open mind with regards to how it progresses with mass testing. There are currently several different types of test being considered in addition to the current test which looks for evidence of the virus within the body right now. The other type of test being explored is an antibody test which would help to show whether someone had previously had the virus and was now essentially immune. This immunity may however be temporary as it is not yet known how long a person will remain immune to the virus. Until this is known in more detail, the U.K. is reluctant to proceed with any kind of immunity ‘certification’, which would enable those who had contracted and recovered from the virus to return to work safely in the knowledge that they would not be able to pass the virus onto anyone else.

Many experts are in agreement that the full scope and impact of the virus will only be fully realised at the end of the epidemic, when historic data can be analysed in detail and the entire progression mapped out. At present, we are right in the midst of the outbreak and the future is completely out of sight for the moment. All that we can do at this stage is follow the scientific advice and take all the steps we can to flatten the curve as much as possible, so that fewer people contract the virus and even fewer end up needing critical care support in hospitals.

British Airways Plane

British Airways Grounds Flights and Suspends Over 35,000 Staff Due to Coronavirus

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Major airlines across the world have been left effectively paralysed by the widespread effects of Coronavirus and British Airways in no exception. In the latest blow to the aviation industry, the company has announced that it will be suspending around 36,000 staff and grounding flights as the aviation industry grinds to a halt and the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on global economies.

The exact details of the suspension are yet to be revealed as the airline is currently in talks with the Unite union, which is the second largest trade union in the U.K. The union’s priority will be to ensure that workers are treated fairly during the crisis and do not lose their jobs unfairly. It is thought that the suspension will affect around 80% of the current workforce at British Airways and it is expected that staff will continue to be employed by the company and can therefore claim 80% of their salary under the government’s coronavirus job retention plan, up to a maximum of $3,100 per month.

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The suspension comes after it was revealed that British Airways pilots had agreed to taking two weeks’ of unpaid leave alongside a 50% pay cut in April and May. This was following news that the airline would be suspending all flights from London Gatwick, which has been quoted as being its ‘second biggest hub’. And although commercial flights have been cancelled, it has been reported that BA flights are still being used for repatriation flights to help bring British people home after being left stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.

British Airways is not the only airline to be hit by the crisis, with the recent collapse of domestic airline Flybe and EasyJet grounding its entire fleet in recent weeks. Virgin Atlantic has also been in the public eye recently after it requested a billion dollar bailout from the UK government, which has been met with much criticism from both the general public and the media. Many have been quick to point out that Richard Branson is worth around 4bn dollars, owns his own private island and even once tried to sue the NHS for a breach of contract, so could show some compassion for his employees at this time of national crisis. Others have questioned where his apparent ‘philanthropic’ values are given that there has been no word of support from the Branson camp since the outbreak began, despite many celebrities and other high profile individuals donating money to various causes.

Thankfully for British Airways it would appear that they have sufficient resources within the business to remain afloat without the need for a cash injection from the government. That said, the aviation industry trade body has suggested that around $200 billion of state money will be needed to help the aviation industry survive this unprecedented crisis.

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British Airways has a long and proud history which spans over 100 years. It’s roots lie in a company called Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited (AT&T) who launched the world’s first international scheduled air service in August 1919 and took place between London and Paris. The very first flight left from Hounslow Heath, which is situated close to the current Heathrow Airport and on it was just one passenger with a large cargo of goods which included newspapers, Devonshire cream, jam and grouse. British Airways PLC as a brand name came into existence in 1974 after British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) fused with British European Airways (BEA) and their associated companies. Although originally state owned, it was privatized in 1987 and has remained a major player within the commercial aviation industry ever since.

It is fair to say that British Airways has long had a strong and positive reputation for being a good and ethical company and its commitment to try and ensure that no staff lose their jobs during the coronavirus outbreak is commendable. With many airlines facing financial ruin, there is undoubtedly panic across the entire industry and the uncertainty about when flights may resume only adds to the stress and worry about what the future may hold. Naturally any company that is operating during this turbulent time is likely to face the same problems which is why regular communication and internal stakeholder dialogue is essential to keeping everyone informed and updated. The situation is changing daily and given the fact that the world has not faced a health crisis like this since the Spanish Flu, situations are changing daily. As more is known and understood about the virus, the future path of emerging from this crisis will become apparent. For the moment however, it is a case of following the guidelines regarding social distancing, washing hands regularly and avoiding the spread of infection.

Positive COVID-19 Test

The Growing Number of Celebrities Who Have Caught Coronavirus

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Despite us knowing full well that celebrities are not superhumans who are immune to the evil in this world, it always comes as a shock when we hear about a much loved person who has been struck down with an illness.. The progression of the global coronavirus pandemic is no different, and many people are voicing genuine concern and worry for celebrities who have been revealing that they have coronavirus.

In the U.K. there was hysteria from fans when it was revealed the actor Idris Elba has contracted the virus while filming. He released the information on social media after deciding to get tested following the knowledge that someone he had been in contact with now had the virus. In his post, he mentioned that due to having asthma, he was actually worried about how it may progress, although he was in fact asymptomatic. He was joined by his wife, Sabrina, who was also self-isolating with him and subsequently tested positive for the virus too. Idris did not suffer any complications and both have now recovered.

Although not a celebrity per se, Prince Charles also sparked concern after revealing that he too had the virus, having been involved in many public events over the past few weeks. Whilst he had refrained from hand shaking at many of his most recent events, it is clear that at some point he was infected and this was subsequently discovered when he started to show symptoms at home. Although his wife The Duchess of Cornwall, tested negative for the virus, they were both self-isolating at home, with the prince conducting his first official engagement since coming down with the virus by video link, it was the opening of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital in London.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson was also diagnosed with the virus after beginning to suffer symptoms and has been self-isolating in his flat at Downing Street ever since. He wasn’t the first politician to come down with the virus and a number of others, including the Chief Medical Officer also withdrew from public duties after the onset of symptoms. Despite now passing the initial 7 day period, it has been reported that Boris still had symptoms and was therefore continuing to remain locked away in his flat. However, he has still been working hard behind closed doors to continue leading the country’s fight against the virus.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were one of the first celebrity couples to announce they had contracted the virus, whilst Hanks was in Australia filming. They have been self-isolating whilst in Australia and thanked all of the people ‘down under’ who were taking such good care of them. Although no further details have been released about the couple’s condition, they were reported to have been taking things ‘one day at a time’.

Frozen 2 actress Rachel Matthews also announced she had contracted the virus in March and explained that she had been in self-quarantine for several days. She hoped that her experiences could potentially help others who were suffering or worried about the symptoms and said that she would be happy to answer any questions that people may have about her particular experiences of the virus.

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Actor Daniel Dae Kim also revealed on Instagram that he had tested positive for the virus whilst in New York filming for the NBC series New Amsterdam. The production of the show was subsequently postponed, as has been the case with many TV shows and films. It is thought that Daniel suffered mild symptoms and has now recovered.

Younger actress Debi Mazar started to feel unwell around mid-March and was reported as saying that her symptoms appeared to ‘come and go’. She used her exposure on Instagram to help share the message to stay at home in order to try and help combat the spread of the virus.

Famous opera singer Plácido Domingo announced via Facebook that he had contracted the virus and was now in self-isolating along with his family. He reassured fans that he was in good health although he had experienced the trademark cough and fever associated with the virus. Sadly, seven days later he was admitted to hospital but after responding well to treatment is now back home and recovering well.

As more celebrities reveal that they have also caught the virus, it is worth noting that the health advice continues to be to stay at home unless you have an urgent need to leave the house. Remember to keep a safe distance from others (2 meters) and wash your hands frequently. If you start to suffer from symptoms, stay at home and practice self-isolation for a period of 7 days, longer if the symptoms continue. It is also important for family members to also self-isolate for a period of 14 days, as it can take several days for the virus to begin to cause symptoms.

5G

The 5G Future

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As 5G starts on its rising journey, rolling out across countries around the world. What could it mean for the future and is it more than the next generation of mobile networking?

It is likely that you have already heard of 5G, the next instalment in an ever-improving world of connectivity. Tech Radar defined 5G as: ‘Combining cutting-edge network technology and the latest high-specced [sic] devices, 5G should offer connections that are multitudes faster than current hookups, with average download speeds of around 1GBps expected to soon be the norm. The networks are expected to supercharge Internet of Things technology, providing the infrastructure needed to carry huge amounts of data that allows for a smarter and more connected world.’ To put the predicted speeds of 5G into context, currently the fastest 4G networks provide an average of approximately 45Mbps (megabits per second). 5G has the potential to go even faster at 10 to 20 times speedier than current 4G networking and predicted to reach a rate of 10GBps.

Expected to support up to one million devices per square kilometre, already mobile service providers across the US, such as Verizon, Sprint, T-mobile and AT&T have invested in 5G and are establishing connections in many cities. For the individual, 5G would naturally provide a more reliable form of mobile connectivity and convenience delivering: ‘Faster download and upload speeds, smoother streaming of online content, higher-quality voice and video calls, more reliable mobile connections’ and a ‘Greater number of connected IoT devices.’ All of which seem like a given in this day and age, so why are these seemingly organic improvements in mobile networking gaining so much attention?

Stronger and more reliable connections in mobile networking will have a knock-on affect with other developing technologies. Advanced and futuristic technologies from self-driving cars and smart cities to virtual reality gaming and drones will all be better implemented with the establishment of 5G. Thus, the developments in technologies that 5G will enhance is where the network capabilities really become exciting.

In an article from the BBC, Ian Fogg from OpenSignal, a mobile data analytics company stated: ‘Whatever we do now with our smartphones we’ll be able to do faster and better. Think of smart glasses featuring augmented reality, mobile virtual reality, much higher quality video, the internet of things making cities smarter. But what’s really exciting is all the new services that will be built that we can’t foresee.’

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According to Forbes the improvement in networking will have a profound effect on businesses, technologies and services across the spectrum: ‘Not only will 5G be instrumental for many industries, including retail, entertainment, automotive, manufacturing, and logistics, but it will also help speed up tech advancements. These advancements will enable connected cars and autonomous driving; smart cities with connected logistics, transport, and infrastructure; enhancement in connected healthcare from robotics to blockchain use cases to wearable telemetry; industrial internet of things and smart factories; and the more extended use of augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality.’

Some areas that will be enhanced by 5G are:

Driverless Cars
The concept and development of self-driving cars has been a much anticipated and exciting prospect for a long time. Testing and rigorous developments to ensure this technology can be safely rolled out is well underway but relies on a multitude of factors. The impact of 5G in this area is prominent as stronger and dependable mobile connections will allow cars to essentially communicate and quickly and effectively process masses of data from other vehicles. Cars can analyse road conditions, risks up ahead and prevent collisions among much else all via vehicle to vehicle communications. Thus, making these cars safer and more reliable.

Smart Cities and the Internet of Things
Smart cities will essentially utilise a vastly connected network of sensors and the ‘internet of things (IOT) in order to vastly increase operational efficiency. 5G will be a connecting force in allowing these sensors to communicate. Utility companies can track usage and collect data, surveillance cameras will become more reliable. Warning sensors can send direct messages to companies when problems occur, such as streetlight failures and so forth. Even parking spot sensors will be able to communicate exact locations of available spaces to drivers.

The Internet of things ‘refers to smart, web-enabled devices that have more of a fixed functionality, as compared to general purpose smartphones’ as defined in SmartCitiesWorld and will have a widespread effect on cities, businesses and the home. In the home, just a few examples include thermostats, door locks, kitchen appliances that can be controlled via a smartphone.

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Remote control
According to Digital Trends: ‘Since 5G has remarkably low latency, remote control of heavy machinery will become a reality. While the primary aim is to reduce risk in hazardous environments, it will also allow technicians with specialized skills to control machinery from anywhere in the world.

For both security, business and pleasure, drones have seen a significant increase in popularity. By tapping into 5G network the capabilities of drones will drastically improve. They would be able to transmit high definition footage in real time, utilise AI more effectively to complete complex tasks and become more precise in tracking, control and landings, according to Business Insider.

Health care
Healthcare could be fundamentally improved with 5G. As Digital Trends outlines ‘Expect to see improvements in telemedicine, remote recovery, and physical therapy via AR, precision surgery, and even remote surgery in the coming years.’

Healthcare developments with 5G could mean that patients are able to benefit from remote monitoring. Healthcare professionals can receive real-time data that will improve patient care. It can improve AI technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of patients, speed up MRI and imaging data transmission and enable remote surgery that will allow patients to be treated by highly-skilled doctors that would not normally be geographically available to them.

Golden Oscar Award

Oscar Nominations for ‘Marriage Story’ and ‘The Irishman’ Are a Huge Win for Netflix

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Netflix creates plenty of award-winning television shows, but during 2019 they truly outdid themselves in the film category. Two (technically three) Netflix films earned nominations at the Academy Awards, becoming one of the studios with the most nominations. Here’s why Netflix’s Oscar-win for Best Documentary and Laura Dern’s Best Supporting Actress win are so important for this streaming platform.

Marriage Story proved to be a milestone for this streaming platform, first enjoying its theatrical run for a month before premiering on the streaming platform. Although it was only available in select theaters, the exposure caused the Netflix original to later become a trending topic on Twitter.

Fans commented on everything from Adam Driver’s singing to Laura Dern ordering a kale salad, with the actress later becoming a starring topic of the Spirit Awards. Additionally, Laura Dern of Marriage Story walked away with her first-ever Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actress category. (She also earned a Golden Globe in the same category.)

“Noah wrote a movie about love and about breaching divisions in the name and in the honor of family and home, and hopefully for all of us, in the name of our planet,” Laura Dern said during her Oscar acceptance speech.

Adam Driver earned a nomination for Best Actor for his role in this film, while earned the nomination for Best Actress. The director behind Marriage Story, Noah Baumbach, earned the nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Complete with new anti-aging technology, Netflix premiered The Irishman in 2019. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this movie also enjoyed a short theatrical run, before becoming available to Netflix subscribers.

Along with Joker and 1917, The Irishman was one of the movies with the most nominations at this award show. It earned Academy Award nominations in the Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Director categories.

The film did not walk away with an Oscar or a Golden Globe, although it also received multiple nominations at that award show. However, that does not make the nominations any less important for Netflix.

According to CNET, “Netflix entered the 2020 Oscars ceremony with 24 nominations on its scorecard — more than any other studio.” These nominations, of course, are not the first Netflix originals to earn recognition from the award show.

This was, however, the first time a Netflix Original won an Oscar for acting. Netflix and its documentary, American Factory, won the Oscar for best feature documentary. This film told the story of an Ohio plant reopened by a Chinese billionaire.

While Netflix has since created itself a handful of critically acclaimed television shows, (Stranger Things, Queer Eye, and The Crown just to name a few,) this award show illustrates the platform’s slow, but steady, step into the biggest film award shows.

 

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Molecular Switch Mechanism Explains How Mutations Shorten Biological Clocks

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Understanding the molecular mechanisms of our internal clocks may enable the development of therapies for sleep disorders and other effects of clock disruption.

A new study of molecular interactions central to the functioning of biological clocks explains how certain mutations can shorten clock timing, making some people extreme “morning larks” because their internal clocks operate on a 20-hour cycle instead of being synchronized with the 24-hour cycle of day and night.

The study, published February 11 in eLife, shows that the same molecular switch mechanism affected by these mutations is at work in animals ranging from fruit flies to people.

“Many people with sleep phase disorders have changes in their clock proteins,” said Carrie Partch, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UC Santa Cruz and a corresponding author of the paper. “Generally, mutations that make the clock run shorter have a morning lark effect, and those that make the clock run longer have a pronounced night owl effect.”

 

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