Equities researchers at StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Calithera Biosciences ( NASDAQ:CALA – Get Free Report ) in a research note issued to investors on Sunday. The firm set a “hold” rating on the biotechnology company’s stock. Calithera Biosciences Price Performance Shares of CALA opened at $0.01 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $0.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $0.01. Calithera Biosciences has a 12 month low of $0.00 and a 12 month high of $0.12. Calithera Biosciences Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Read More Receive News & Ratings for Calithera Biosciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Calithera Biosciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck announced Saturday that he will forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the 2025 NFL Draft. Beck, 22, led the Southeastern Conference with 28 touchdown passes and finished third in the SEC with 3,485 passing yards. He also led the conference in interceptions, however. Beck will be a spectator for the Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff after undergoing surgery Monday to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right (throwing) elbow. Gunner Stockton is in line to guide No. 2 seed Georgia into the CFP, starting with the Bulldogs' quarterfinal game against No. 7 seed Notre Dame at the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday in New Orleans. "There's unfinished business still this season and I'll be here to support however I can, finish strong!" Beck said in a statement posted on social media. Beck, a fifth-year senior, finished with a 24-3 record in his career with Georgia. "The past five years at the University of Georgia have been nothing short of a dream come true and I will forever cherish the memories that have been made. Thank you Dawg Nation for the time I've been here and to those who've supported and believed in me, thank you," Beck wrote on social media. "It's been an incredible journey and all these moments have ultimately led me to take the next step in my football career. With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft. Go Dawgs!" Beck, the Bulldogs' starter all year, was replaced in the second half of the SEC title game with the injury. Stockton helped to guide the Bulldogs to a 22-19 overtime win over Texas and clinch a first-round bye in the first 12-team playoff. --Field Level Media
Donald Trump had the right idea about education during his first administration: Judge potential employees by their skills and experience, not their degrees. Open up a world of bright futures to people who don’t have a bachelor’s degree but crave training and work hard. In fact, aside from starting up Operation Warp Speed to accelerate the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, Trump’s most worthwhile official act was probably signing the rule that federal jobs should not require a bachelor’s degree unless it’s really needed. Trump and other Republicans saw that the education vision President Obama had pushed — consisting of a vague Common Core public school curriculum followed by “college for all” — had alienated working-class Americans. Well-paid manufacturing jobs had all but disappeared, and people were looking for a new middle-class future. The growth of tech indicated to Obama’s education advisors that success would depend on a university education, preferably in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, fields. But that wasn’t a message that many working-class people wanted to hear. It struck them as an elitist judgment that they’re nothing without a four-year degree. Obama was right to some extent: The greatest growth in well-paid jobs will be among those that require a college degree. But Trump was right too: 45% of those holding a bachelor’s are underemployed even a decade after they graduate, working in jobs that don’t require a degree, and 28% of people with a two-year associate’s degree earn more than the average four-year-college graduate. More than a third of college students, meanwhile, don’t complete a degree within six years, and almost none of those students ever finish their education. The problem is that high schools have become so college-focused that students who don’t plan on higher education usually get little to no guidance on what careers they might consider, according to a recent Gallup poll . There is a wide and rapidly expanding variety of possibilities. So although Trump’s opening of federal jobs to more people without degrees was a start, schools can do far more to prepare young people to be both citizens and members of the workforce. That would be a far more productive path for Trump to take on education during his second administration than the issues he’s been batting around lately — especially because he will have some trouble realizing his ambitions even with a compliant Congress. Shutting the U.S. Education Department, as the president-elect has threatened to do , would require congressional approval, and eliminating a Cabinet-level agency would be tough to get past even some Republican lawmakers. Its responsibilities could be returned to the Interior Department — where they originated before the Education Department was created, in 1979 — but what would be the point? The laws requiring equal treatment of girls and women in education would still have to be administered; college financial aid applications would still have to be processed; Pell Grants and student loans would still have to be overseen. No matter where the necessary personnel are placed, the work would need to be done. Even as Trump vows to get the federal government out of the schools — though really, now that the No Child Left Behind Act is dead and gone, the Education Department does little to interfere with public education — he wants to meddle more by pulling funding from any schools that teach about LGBTQ+ issues or “critical race theory.” While these subjects make for provocative talking points, they’re not a major part of learning in most districts. These are decisions to be made at the state and local levels, and voters who don’t like what their school board decides can throw its members out at the next election. They very rarely do so. Another pillar of Trump’s platform, school choice, appears to be facing public resistance. All three statewide votes on the subject this fall went against choice , two of them in conservative states. Nebraska voters overturned an earlier state decision to spend taxpayer dollars to enable parents to send their children to private schools. Parents rely on and support their local schools more than elected Republicans might understand. Trump tends to favor disruption over constructive policymaking, but he has already made non-college pathways a signature education statement, and the idea has become popular with both parties. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of that. His administration could use corporate tax credits and public-private partnerships to help create apprenticeships, landing young people in white-collar jobs with a future, as Switzerland has done for years. Instead of deconstructing education, his education appointees could rebuild it through more relevant and exciting curricula with practical applications. The president-elect’s pick for Education secretary, former pro wrestling executive Linda McMahon, has so far remained quiet about her priorities, though vouchers are likely to be among them. But just before her appointment was announced, she praised Switzerland’s system of white-collar apprenticeships for high school students, which lead to executive and professional jobs. I’ve long thought the United States should emulate the model; a small but very successful program in Denver does so. Both Presidents George W. Bush and Obama saw education as an important part of their administrations but stumbled on the issue because of sometimes harsh and unrealistic policies. No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top ultimately did very little to improve learning, excite students or close achievement gaps. Trump has a chance to build on what he has already said he believes and become a true education president.Algoma University's annual Celebration of International Learning gala has big year
After a string of sales misses from its recent games lineup, it looks like Square Enix has hit it big with its latest Dragon Quest RPG. Instead of just re-releasing older games in their original formats ad infinitum, Square Enix had the unique idea to supercharge classic RPGs with a mix of both old-school and new-school graphics. The result is a charming visual style that appeals to anyone who grew up in the 80s and 90s, the kind of warm and magical style found in Octopath Traveller. Square has turned this new reinvigorated lens to one of its best-selling franchises of all time: Dragon Quest. Fans have showed up for the new Dragon Quest III HD-2D release en masse. The game has sold more than 2 million copies combined across PS5, Xbox Series consoles, and PC, which bodes well for Square Enix. Typically, these HD-2D projects cost less to produce and ship than big AAA projects like Final Fantasy XVI. Square plans to release the new HD-2D remakes of Dragon Quest I & II as a 2-in-1 release sometime next year. Check below for more info on the game, or click here to check the Steam listing.In the ever-evolving world of consumer electronics, has firmly established itself as a leading retailer known for its vast selection of products, exceptional customer service, and competitive pricing. From cutting-edge tech gadgets to home appliances and expert advice, Best Buy has become a trusted name for millions of consumers seeking quality and value. In this article, we will explore what makes Best Buy a premier destination for tech enthusiasts, shoppers, and families alike, as well as how the company continues to innovate and maintain its dominant position in the retail industry. Founded in 1966 as Sound of Music by Richard M. Schulze, small audio electronics store in St. Paul, Minnesota. Over the years, the company rebranded as in 1983 and expanded its product offerings to include home appliances, computers, mobile devices, and entertainment electronics. With a focus on customer service and a wide selection of products, Best Buy quickly grew to become one of the largest electronics retailers in the US. Today, Best Buy operates over 1,000 retail locations across North America and offers online shopping with free shipping and flexible return policies. The retailer is known for carrying a wide variety of brands, from premium labels like Apple and Sony to affordable options from other manufacturers. Best Buy’s dedication to providing quality products and personalized service has earned it a loyal customer base. As technology continues to advance, Best Buy is adapting to meet the needs of modern consumers. Here are a few ways the company is shaping the future of retail: While Best Buy remains one of the top electronics retailers, it faces strong competition from several other players in the industry. Here’s a look at how Best Buy compares to its competitors: has solidified its position as the leading retailer in the consumer electronics space due to its comprehensive product selection, excellent customer service, competitive pricing, and commitment to innovation. With a focus on providing expert advice, tech solutions, and an integrated shopping experience, Best Buy continues to be a top destination for anyone in search of the latest gadgets, appliances, and tech services. Whether you’re upgrading your home entertainment system or looking for a new laptop, Best Buy remains a trusted source for all your electronics needs.
Bayern Munich's Michael Olise netted a second-half double as they came back from conceding an early goal to win 5-1 against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday to earn their first away victory in this season's competition. Bayern's third successive win moves them up to eighth into the automatic qualification places on 12 points, while Shakhtar are 27th with four points, three points off the playoffs. Bayern had suffered defeats in both of their previous away games in the competition and went behind after five minutes when Oleksandr Zubkov's through ball found Kevin, who cut inside Kim Min-jae before sending his shot into the far corner. The German side were on level terms just six minutes later. Olise lost possession in the area but the ball fell kindly to his teammate Konrad Laimer who took a touch to control it and then smashed his effort into the roof of the net. Shakhtar had the chance to go back in front but Georgiy Sudakov put his shot wide after an excellent pass from Kevin had teed him up almost from the penalty spot. Bayern went down the other end, Jamal Musiala took the ball into the box and laid a pass off to Thomas Mueller who made no mistake with a simple slotted finish on the stroke of halftime. Shakhtar put pressure on Bayern at the start of the second half but were unable to find a second goal before the visitors eased to victory. Bayern thought they had extended their lead when Musiala volleyed home from a corner but the goal was chalked off for a foul on the keeper. However, minutes later the referee pointed to the spot for a foul by Alaa Ghram on substitute Sacha Boey. Olise stepped up in the 70th minute and although keeper Dmytro Riznyk went the right way the ball was powered into the top corner to put Bayern well and truly in the driving seat. Musiala got the goal he deserved for an excellent performance three minutes from time, collecting a loose ball in the box and firing past Riznyk. There was still time for some Olise magic in added time as he skilfully weaved his way through the Shakhtar defence before coolly finding the bottom corner with his shot. Bayern Munich's Michael Olise netted a second-half double as they came back from conceding an early goal to win 5-1 against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday to earn their first away victory in this season's competition. Bayern's third successive win moves them up to eighth into the automatic qualification places on 12 points, while Shakhtar are 27th with four points, three points off the playoffs. Bayern had suffered defeats in both of their previous away games in the competition and went behind after five minutes when Oleksandr Zubkov's through ball found Kevin, who cut inside Kim Min-jae before sending his shot into the far corner. The German side were on level terms just six minutes later. Olise lost possession in the area but the ball fell kindly to his teammate Konrad Laimer who took a touch to control it and then smashed his effort into the roof of the net. Shakhtar had the chance to go back in front but Georgiy Sudakov put his shot wide after an excellent pass from Kevin had teed him up almost from the penalty spot. Bayern went down the other end, Jamal Musiala took the ball into the box and laid a pass off to Thomas Mueller who made no mistake with a simple slotted finish on the stroke of halftime. Shakhtar put pressure on Bayern at the start of the second half but were unable to find a second goal before the visitors eased to victory. Bayern thought they had extended their lead when Musiala volleyed home from a corner but the goal was chalked off for a foul on the keeper. However, minutes later the referee pointed to the spot for a foul by Alaa Ghram on substitute Sacha Boey. Olise stepped up in the 70th minute and although keeper Dmytro Riznyk went the right way the ball was powered into the top corner to put Bayern well and truly in the driving seat. Musiala got the goal he deserved for an excellent performance three minutes from time, collecting a loose ball in the box and firing past Riznyk. There was still time for some Olise magic in added time as he skilfully weaved his way through the Shakhtar defence before coolly finding the bottom corner with his shot.Today, AI is becoming a crucial part of our interactions and is the thing that influences us even in unnoticeable ways. It is fast becoming a huge part of our lives, and catching up might be quite the ride. It has several benefits that aim to make life easier for its users and help them get things done. That’s why, in this piece, we’ll examine the different uses of artificial intelligence in our daily lives. Now, you won’t have to worry about catching up. The world is more inclined to creating content across different digital platforms. AI powers tools like Canva, Grammarly, etc. that can help you seamlessly move from the ideation stage to the execution stage. It can also help you analyse content ideas and posts in ways that align with the social platform of your choice. You know, the way one posts on LinkedIn differs from TikTok because they are designed differently. So, AI can help you analyse your page and fill up the lacking spaces. Also, ensure that you don’t leave all the work to AI. The human element in your work is what makes room for authenticity and relatability. You know how you visit websites, and you need to get an activity done; you can get a quick response powered by AI to make your experience smooth and seamless. You may need to inquire, subscribe to a newsletter, order something, or complain about a product; artificial intelligence has covered you. Imagine entering a bank with your complaints or a walk-in store to inquire about a purchase and having personnel listen to you and propose solutions based on your needs. That’s exactly the experience you and I get using artificial intelligence daily. Who gets stranded with Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa at their beck and call? These AI-powered devices make life easier for you, day in and day out. Do you have questions or simple day-to-day tasks? All you need to do is give the command, and you’ll have what you’re asking for. Many homes have smart gadgets powered by artificial intelligence to make tasks around the house easy. Do you need to turn on the lights, open/shut the gate, or have security cameras do something? Do you need to turn on the heater, turn off the AC, or switch on the TV? Name it, and you’ll get it done in no time. Another efficient use of artificial intelligence in our daily lives is the use of AI-enabled trackers like the Apple Watch to monitor one’s health and how one’s lifestyle impacts it. While you face the hustle and bustle of life, allow AI to help you lead a healthy life. While you face the hustle and bustle of life, allow AI to help you lead a healthy life. It’ll monitor your activities closely and give you a rundown of what you’re doing and how it affects your health. It could also help you set fitness goals and achieve them. For instance, it can keep you posted on how many steps you’ve taken over a period, how many calories you’ve burned, or your pulse rate. Other times, it could measure your sleeping patterns and heart rate. Above all, contrary to the belief that AI is here to displace people, it is here to make life easier and positively impact you. Other uses of artificial intelligence in our daily lives are for weather forecasts, travel, traffic navigation, or language translations. So, use it to your advantage. Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel now
Top Dem warns Trump has plot to 'steal' from federal programsDallas 34, Washington 26
A fugitive gains fame in New Orleans eluding dart guns and netsEvery day millions of people share more intimate information with their accessories than they do with their spouse. Wearable technology — smartwatches, smart rings, fitness trackers and the like — monitors body-centric data such as your heart rate, steps taken and calories burned, and may record where you go along the way. Like Santa Claus, it knows when you are sleeping (and how well), it knows when you're awake, it knows when you've been idle or exercising, and it keeps track of all of it. People are also sharing sensitive health information on health and wellness apps, including online mental health and counseling programs. Some women use period tracker apps to map out their monthly cycle. These devices and services have excited consumers hoping for better insight into their health and lifestyle choices. But the lack of oversight into how body-centric data are used and shared with third parties has prompted concerns from privacy experts, who warn that the data could be sold or lost through data breaches, then used to raise insurance premiums, discriminate surreptitiously against applicants for jobs or housing, and even perform surveillance. The use of wearable technology and medical apps surged in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, but research released by Mozilla on Wednesday indicates that current laws offer little protection for consumers who are often unaware just how much of their health data are being collected and shared by companies. "I've been studying the intersections of emerging technologies, data-driven technologies, AI and human rights and social justice for the past 15 years, and since the pandemic I've noticed the industry has become hyper-focused on our bodies," said Mozilla Foundation technology fellow Júlia Keserű, who conducted the research. "That permeates into all kinds of areas of our lives and all kinds of domains within the tech industry." The report "From Skin to Screen: Bodily Integrity in the Digital Age" recommends that existing data protection laws be clarified to encompass all forms of bodily data. It also calls for expanding national health privacy laws to cover health-related information collected from health apps and fitness trackers and making it easier for users to opt out of body-centric data collections. Researchers have been raising alarms about health data privacy for years. Data collected by companies are often sold to data brokers or groups that buy, sell and trade data from the internet to create detailed consumer profiles. Body-centric data can include information such as the fingerprints used to unlock phones, face scans from facial recognition technology, and data from fitness and fertility trackers, mental health apps and digital medical records. One of the key reasons health information has value to companies — even when the person's name is not associated with it — is that advertisers can use the data to send targeted ads to groups of people based on certain details they share. The information contained in these consumer profiles is becoming so detailed, however, that when paired with other data sets that include location information, it could be possible to target specific individuals, Keserű said. Location data can "expose sophisticated insights about people's health status, through their visits to places like hospitals or abortions clinics," Mozilla's report said, adding that "companies like Google have been reported to keep such data even after promising to delete it." A 2023 report by Duke University revealed that data brokers were selling sensitive data on individuals' mental health conditions on the open market. While many brokers deleted personal identifiers, some provided names and addresses of individuals seeking mental health assistance, according to the report. In two public surveys conducted as part of the research, Keserű said, participants were outraged and felt exploited in scenarios where their health data were sold for a profit without their knowledge. "We need a new approach to our digital interactions that recognizes the fundamental rights of individuals to safeguard their bodily data, an issue that speaks directly to human autonomy and dignity," Keserű said. "As technology continues to advance, it is critical that our laws and practices evolve to meet the unique challenges of this era." Consumers often take part in these technologies without fully understanding the implications. Last month, Elon Musk suggested on X that users submit X-rays, PET scans, MRIs and other medical images to Grok, the platform's artificial intelligence chatbot, to seek diagnoses. The issue alarmed privacy experts, but many X users heeded Musk's call and submitted health information to the chatbot. While X's privacy policy says that the company will not sell user data to third parties, it does share some information with certain business partners. Gaps in existing laws have allowed the widespread sharing of biometric and other body-related data. Health information provided to hospitals, doctor's offices and medical insurance companies is protected from disclosure under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known as HIPAA, which established federal standards protecting such information from release without the patient's consent. But health data collected by many wearable devices and health and wellness apps don't fall under HIPAA's umbrella, said Suzanne Bernstein, counsel at Electronic Privacy Information Center. "In the U.S. because we don't have a comprehensive federal privacy law ... it falls to the state level," she said. But not every state has weighed in on the issue. Washington, Nevada and Connecticut all recently passed laws to provide safeguards for consumer health data. Washington, D.C., in July introduced legislation that aimed to require tech companies to adhere to strengthened privacy provisions regarding the collection, sharing, use or sale of consumer health data. In California, the California Privacy Rights Act regulates how businesses can use certain types of sensitive information, including biometric information, and requires them to offer consumers the ability to opt out of disclosure of sensitive personal information. "This information being sold or shared with data brokers and other entities hypercharge the online profiling that we're so used to at this point, and the more sensitive the data, the more sophisticated the profiling can be," Bernstein said. "A lot of the sharing or selling with third parties is outside the scope of what a consumer would reasonably expect." Health information has become a prime target for hackers seeking to extort healthcare agencies and individuals after accessing sensitive patient data. Health-related cybersecurity breaches and ransom attacks increased more than 4,000% between 2009 and 2023, targeting the booming market of body-centric data, which is expected to exceed $500 billion by 2030, according to the report. "Nonconsensual data sharing is a big issue," Keserű said. "Even if it's biometric data or health data, a lot of the companies are just sharing that data without you knowing, and that is causing a lot of anxiety and questions."
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras will be out for six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Zegras had surgery Thursday, the team announced. Zegras was injured last week on a fairly innocent-looking play during the Ducks' 4-1 loss to Vegas in Anaheim. Zegras and William Karlsson only briefly got their skates and stick blades entangled, but Zegras needed help to get off the ice after taking a fall. Zegras' torn meniscus is his third major injury in just over a year, although a torn meniscus is likely a fortunate outcome for a knee injury that could have been much worse. He was limited to 31 games last season by two injury setbacks, including a broken ankle that required surgery. Zegras has four goals and six assists in 24 games this season for Anaheim, which had lost four straight heading into its road game against Toronto on Thursday night. The Ducks surprisingly activated forward Robby Fabbri from injured reserve before they faced the Maple Leafs. Fabbri had arthroscopic knee surgery on Nov. 15 and is progressing much faster than his initial predicted timeline of six to eight weeks. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHLA Department of Justice (DoJ) investigation aimed at finding leakers during Donald Trump’s first presidency resulted in invasive searches of congressional staffers’ phone and email records, often without specific cause or the prior approval of the attorney general, a report published on Tuesday has found. In findings that may trigger concerns of how Trump’s incoming administration will behave, the department’s inspector general concluded that DoJ lawyers overreached their authority in their inquiries aimed at discovering who was leaking classified information in 2017, in the early phases of the president-elect’s first stint in the White House. The phone records of two Congress members and 43 staffers – including 21 Democrats and 20 Republicans, along with two holding non-partisan roles – were sought in an aggressive effort to find the source of leaks following the firing of James Comey, the former FBI director, who was ousted by Trump. Although Michael Horowitz’s 96-page report did not identify those whose records had been searched, CNN reported that they included Kash Patel, whom Trump has nominated to be the next FBI director. Patel was a staff member of the House of Representatives’ intelligence committee at the time of the DoJ leak inquiry. Others included the then House member, and recently elected Democratic senator, Adam Schiff – branded as an “enemy within” by Trump in his successful recent presidential election campaign – and Eric Swalwell, another Democratic representative. DoJ prosecutors also sought the records of journalists from the New York Times, Washington Post and CNN as part of the investigation. The subpoenaing of reporters’ records during the first Trump administration has been previously reported and was described as “simply, simply wrong” by Joe Biden in 2021, leading to the DoJ announcing it would no longer seek a legal process to find out journalists’ sources. Since his first presidency, Trump has pledged to jail reporters who do not divulge their sources on stories he considers to have national security implications – a threat now carrying greater weight with his imminent return to the White House. Horowitz said many of the congressional records had been obtained without just cause and, as such, put Congress’s constitutional oversight function of the executive branch at risk. “[D]ozens of congressional staffers became part of the subject pool in a federal criminal investigation for doing nothing more than performing constitutionally authorized oversight of the executive branch,” he wrote. “We believe that using compulsory process to obtain such records when based solely on the close proximity in time between access to the classified information and subsequent publication of the information – which was the case with most of the process issued for non-content communications records of congressional staff in the investigations we examined – risks chilling Congress’s ability to conduct oversight of the executive branch.” The report said DoJ prosecutors did not take into account important constitutional principles governing the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches. The subpoenas requested records of whom staff had spoken to and for how long, rather than the content of their conversations. However, even such limited requests amounted to an encroachment on Congress’s constitutional powers, the report suggested. It stated: “Even non-content communications records – such as those predominantly sought here – can reveal the fact of sensitive communications of members of Congress and staffers, including with executive branch whistleblowers and with interest groups engaging in First Amendment activity.” Criticism of the department for over-zealousness during Trump’s first administration seems ironic given his insistent claims that it was weaponised against him after he left office to press criminal charges that he has dismissed as a political witch-hunt and which he has demanded be purged. It may also foreshadow developments in his forthcoming presidency after he nominated a staunch loyalist, Pam Bondi, as attorney general, after his original pick, Matt Gaetz, stepped aside amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to bring the DoJ under direct White House control, in contrast with the quasi-independent status it has held since the Watergate era. He has also spoken of using it to pursue his political opponents and enemies.
How money, disadvantage and resources risk holding back our brightest students When Ashton was a toddler, his mother noticed something extraordinary: Her little boy was talking long before other kids his age and his curiosity was off the charts. Soon after turning three Ashton could read and write. He wanted to chat over the complex ideas he read about and his language skills were well and truly up to the task. "Mum was really stimulating me, and all of those things came quite naturally," says Ashton*, recounting trips to museums and behind-the-scenes tours that kept his little brain buzzing. An intelligence test later estimated Ashton's IQ at 149: not quite Australia's " Mozart of maths " Terence Tao, but with the average human clocking in at around 100, Ashton's level of brain power is found in fewer than about one-in-1800 of us, placing his intelligence in the 99.95 percentile. A primary school teacher may encounter a child like Ashton in their classroom only once in a career. But with research showing up to 50 per cent of these high potential, or "gifted", students also underachieve at school, there's another layer to the story of Ashton and kids like him. Most at risk of languishing are those from low socio-economic status families, and gifted programs often still place more boys than girl. What is Australia's obligation to develop the potential of bright students within a stretched education system? Is the system equitable? And what is at stake if their brilliant minds are not cared for in the classroom? What does it mean to be 'gifted'? Humans are remarkably predictable. Cognitive intelligence tests are designed so that scores fall across a symmetrical bell curve with 50 per cent above the benchmark of 100, and 50 per cent below. An IQ score between 85 and 115 is considered average and is reported 68 per cent of the time. This pattern is repeated in the classroom with most students clustering around the centre of the curve. Those on the lower end are likely to need extra help and those at the other are the "bright sparks", the kids who consistently bubble towards the top of the grade. But how should we teach the top 10 per cent, the group considered "high potential", with an IQ above 120? Geraldine Townend, a researcher with UNSW's Gifted Education Research and Resource Information Centre (GERRIC), has spent years looking for the answer. "Everyone has abilities," she says, noting some humans display exceptional capacity in a range of spheres, from art and music, to sport, or emotional and social intelligence as well as intellectual and academic. Townend says academically gifted students learn at a pace and complexity significantly higher and deeper than somebody with an average IQ. Just over four million students are enrolled in schools across Australia. It means as many as 400,000 of them will have a cognitive ability of 120 and above including about 80,000 who have IQs over 130, Townend says. That's higher than 98 per cent of the population. Raising a child with exceptional academic potential, perhaps destined solve the world's most pressing problems, sounds exciting. From Matilda to Young Sheldon , culture and entertainment reflects our fascination with child geniuses. Many parents anticipate the school years will be a breeze. Yet as the stories of Matilda and Sheldon also show, these "gifties" — as they are known among parents who lurk in social media groups seeking out others who understand — often have a difficult school life. In 1955, an American psychology professor described gifted students as the most neglected children in the education system . Almost 70 years later, Townend believes not enough has changed, arguing these top 10 percenters need as much differentiation in learning as a child in the bottom 10 per cent. "If I'm working with a student with an IQ of around 130, they're 30 points above the average. Imagine the speed at which you're capable of learning compared with how things are being taught. Very often these students switch off," Townend says. "Thirteen years of school is a long time to be working at such a different level." But there is a view out there that gifted kids should be left to their own devices, Townend says. The argument goes they have enough brains to sort themselves out, and focusing on these children is elitist when so many others are struggling. In reality, high ability children are at risk of disconnecting from school. The world's most famous dropout is surely Albert Einstein who left high school at 15 without graduating and later wrote: "It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry". Like Einstein, some gifted students leave school having never been recognised by the narrowly focused assessments favoured by educational systems the world over, says Michelle Ronksley-Pavia, a senior lecturer in inclusion and special education at Griffith University. The result is that up to half of gifted students fly under the radar, uninspired and even ignored, they never reach their potential . Some become disruptive, the class clown, and others simply give up: as many as 20 per cent never finish high school and 40 per cent never complete a tertiary degree. Townend goes further. She argues failing to identify gifted children, or leaving them to fend for themselves, is a loss not just to the child but to society. At a time when the world is grappling with complex questions from climate change to pandemics, global conflict and AI, Townend says our brightest students are a resource from where Australia's next generation of scientists, politicians, artists and entrepreneurs could be drawn. What are we doing to find them? Why do so many gifted students underperform? In November, a group of about 300 academics and teachers from across the education sector came together to hear an address from a charming and eccentric 84-year-old Canadian psychologist, Professor Françoys Gagné. For five decades Gagné has been among the world's most influential voices on educating gifted and talented students. His Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT) is used in most Australian states and territories to underpin gifted education policies. Appearing on Zoom from his office in Montreal, with "my feet in my slippers needing just a nice shirt and tie to appear professional", Gagné talked participants through his theory that explains how the development of academic and other skills relates to the interaction between natural ability, chance, personal qualities and the environment in which a child is raised. The symposium — organised by Ronksley-Pavia from Griffith University — heard that high performing students fell into two categories: those with innate intelligence, the gifted, who would receive high marks on an IQ test. And those with high academic performance, the talented, whose skills would return high scores on, for example, a NAPLAN test. Gagné's message: please do not confuse them as the same thing. All gifted students have capacity to be talented, Gagné emphasised. But not all talented students are gifted. In a group of 100 students, 50 gifted and 50 talented, as few as 20 would be both gifted and talented, once again highlighting the large numbers who underachieve. A student with ability but who does not achieve at school should concern Australian parents and educators, Gagné believes. It can be the hallmark of a learning environment that fails to recognise the student's needs , or of a student who has emotionally checked out: less Young Sheldon, more Matt Damon's genius janitor in Good Will Hunting . The goal must be to find gifted students, with a sharp eye for identifying that underachieving cohort, and clear a path for them to develop their talents, Gagné says. Ronksley-Pavia says Australia's education system is deeply rooted in social justice and inclusive education that enshrines the idea no child is left behind. Yet she believes too often that philosophy does not extend to gifted kids. "Truly inclusive education means supporting all learners across the full range of abilities. Talent development is the ultimate goal of gifted education," she says. But there is wider impact, too, when gifted kids underperform. Australia's stagnation — or fall, depending on how you interpret the figures — in international rankings for things like maths, science and literacy could reflect, in part, the fact that that too many gifted students are not reaching their potential and their talents are not being expressed. On the one hand a solution for this underachievement must be found in the classroom: how are gifted children identified, how is their learning differentiated. On the other, research points to an uncomfortable truth: many of those underachievers are from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Researchers are increasingly discovering that high ability but low-SES children are the most likely to miss out on the education they need. Gender stereotypes have an impact too, with girls less likely than boys to be found in classes for gifted children. A study released last week suggests that Australia is also showing a worsening gender gap. Girls have fallen further behind boys in both maths and science subjects with Australia ranked worst among 58 countries. It's about equity, not elitism A child's ease of access to the education they need raises questions that go to the heart of concerns about educational equality in Australia, and makes access to gifted education an issue of equity, not elitism. Children from low-SES areas or from less advantaged backgrounds — including First Nations and refugee students — are at risk of not even being offered opportunities in gifted programs. Research into the subject noted that teachers who are not trained in how to identify gifted students are more likely to recognise it in well-behaved children from a dominant culture and less likely to see it in disadvantaged or minority groups. US research showed smart kids from low-SES areas were less likely to be identified as gifted or nominated for extension programs than equivalent students at schools with average or above SES. And this was true even after controlling for achievement in standardised maths and reading tests. In Australia, education policies are attempting to address these problems and offer guides on how to identify gifted students . But the outcomes are imperfect. Ashton grew up in a low-SES home and knows he could have been one of those statistics: the smart kid who missed out. It was only his mother's relentless advocacy on his behalf that ensured the government schools he attended acted on his potential. However, the solution — to push him faster and faster through the curriculum, joining classes of children much older than he was — came with unanticipated collateral damage that reflects the mental health risks that can emerge when education systems get the balance wrong. But more on that later. Whatever background a child is from, making gifted education policies work in the real world is complex. Part of the reason is that each state and territory approaches it differently — using strategies including selective schools or classes, streaming, enrichment through special projects or excursions and grade skipping specific subjects or entire year groups. The Catholic school system offers the Newman Gifted Program and independent schools typically have capacity and resources to provide a variety of approaches to gifted students that can be individually tailored. The variety of approaches can feel scattered and overwhelming, leaving parents — and kids — wondering what will work best for them while balancing an individual child's social development. Social media groups are full of parents asking anxious questions about how to take the right step forward. Ashton moved between two Australian states seeking the right mix. But there's another problem. Who anoints the smart? While the gifted policies are research-backed using theories like Gagné's DMGT, agreeing on which kids are gifted learners is less straightforward and typically left to individual teachers and principals. Some may be highly trained and motivated, having taken on additional study in gifted education. And states and territories are looking for solutions with updated programs such as in NSW where gifted education is set to be offered at every school. But unlike special needs — which has compulsory units in teacher training — training to identify gifted students is generally not a core part of teacher training in Australia. Through no fault of their own, many teachers have no formal training in the traits of gifted students and how to identify them. However elective units and post-graduate degrees in gifted ed are offered at universities including UNSW and Griffith where Townend and Ronksley-Pavia work. There can be clashes of opinion between educators and families. And while the reasons are vast and can include unrealistic expectations from pushy parents, the result is that comparatively large numbers of gifted children are removed from formal education altogether and homeschooled . It's a story advocates for gifted education interviewed for this story have heard plenty of times before, with many noting that a lack of formal pathways to identify high potential children contributes to a perception of elitism. "What very often happens is a systematic program in a particular school is based on one teacher who may or may not have had training in gifted education and has the enthusiasm and the time to be able to do a load of extra work to deliver a gifted program," says Townend from UNSW. "But when that teacher leaves, the risk is that the programme dies." Until the 1980s primary-aged students were commonly given IQ tests to identify children with exceptional academic potential, and then quietly offered extension opportunities related to their results. There is rightly plenty of scepticism about the ability of IQ tests to capture academic intelligence : cultural biases in testing, particularly towards those who are middle class with Western educations, are well-established. The test environment can be stressful for some. It all adds to the risk of skewed results. Teachers identify gifted children from things like classroom behaviour and standardised test results. The result-focused approach also risks missing the large cohort of gifted kids who underachieve as well as bright kids whose ability is masked by neurodiversity. Some parents send their kids off for a psychometric test administered by a psychologist that can identify high cognitive potential, and also flag neurodiversity. It's relatively common for very bright children to also be neurodivergent , a combination known as Twice Exceptional or 2E. But these tests can cost up to $1500 — another blow to the low-SES kids whose families are unlikely to be able to spend so much to prove their child's capacities. Money makes all the difference You can't talk about gifted education in Australia without talking about selective schools. It is a phenomenon that has exploded in NSW that has a network of 17 competitive entry fully selective high schools, far more than any other state or territory. For example, Queensland has three . They have come to represent what many believe gifted education should be. From a pool of around 16,000 applicants, offers are handed out for just over 4000 places in NSW, including to 27 partially-selective schools, with competition for the most prestigious and high performing of these schools far tougher. Selective schools work on the theory that bright kids are grouped together and challenged with advanced work leading to exceptional exam results. It has similarities with Victoria's Selective Entry Accelerated Learning program (SEAL) but rather than a separate school, these classes are run within a comprehensive high school environment. Students have opportunities to zoom through the curriculum or add depth and complexity even completing university level courses. Victoria also has four selective high schools that take students from years nine-12. Other states and territories have different systems again. Yet the important point is that fierce competition for entry means potential students are often tutored for months and even years before the exams, drilling content and exam technique in order to maximise the chance of gaining a place. Applying Gagné's theory suggests competitive entry schools are not always selecting the brightest children, but the ones who are talented and most successful in learning how to tackle the entry exam. Proponents of gifted education question whether these selective programs are effective in identifying gifted students, particularly those whose response to feeling out of place at school is to underperform. In NSW attempts have been made to change the entry test to reduce the advantage of tutored preparation but whether this will be successful is not yet clear. Of course, some extremely gifted or talented children head in for the test and blitz it with no preparation, but the majority do not. And if you a wondering how much that preparation costs, the answer is a lot. Private tutoring often costs around $100 an hour, or a weekly group lesson at a specialist coaching collage can be $800 and above per 10-week term for one three or four-hour lesson a week. Some kids are tutored for a few months in advance of the test. For others, it's a lifestyle that begins from age three . This outlay is perhaps one of the reasons why students who access competitive entry programs like selective schools or the SEAL program typically come from families in Australia's highest socio-economic bands — even higher on average than students from independent private and Catholic schools. And once again, questions about equity emerge: how can gifted students from low socio-economic families possibly participate? Dr Christina Ho from the University of Technology Sydney is an expert on urban inter-cultural relations with a focus on education. She points out gifted students come from all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds but the way access to selective schools is carried out "may disadvantage some people". "The problem is that gifted and talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds simply don't apply," she says. Stimulating high potential children outside school also comes at a cost: Music lessons (upwards of $35 for a 30-minute weekly lesson); school holiday camps in drama, coding or science ($100 a day). And how this gifted economy works against inclusion for children from low-income families doesn't end there. Better-resourced private schools that have capacity to differentiate curriculum delivery for different abilities come at significant cost. Even low-cost government schools with good reputations can drive demand for housing in the catchment that causes prices to skyrocket . And there can be an emotional cost, too At the heart of all this research and strategy around how best to develop and extend gifted and talented students one voice is often silent: how do the children themselves experience the often high-pressure environment of pursuing academic excellence in 2024? For some it is a game changer, a chance to "find their tribe" and finally flourish and feel like they fit in at school. For others, like Ashton, the social isolation of being extracted from a peer group in pursuit of intellectual challenge came at a cost. Now 27, with a higher degree in science and a job he loves, Ashton says the rapid trajectory of his primary and high school years took a toll on his mental health that continues to affect him. At nine and 10, he was in the classroom with 13-year-olds who didn't welcome his presence. At 15 he had graduated from high school and with a special exemption was at university before he turned 16, studying among adults who were not social peers. Academically he was well-catered for in the end, but Ashton believes now that spending his childhood among much older students harmed his emotional development and left him desperately lonely. "I can't think of a time that I was happy for my entire childhood," he says. He believes his experience should be a warning about what can go wrong when the balance between intellectual and social development fails. "The overriding memory I have of my school years was how isolated I felt from my peers," he says. "I've gained a lot of knowledge and skills, and I do think that I am smart, but that feeling crushes any of the benefits of the advanced learning I was attempted to be given. "The lasting damage and genuine trauma those years inflicted make me concerned about the social cost of what I went through, even though it came from the best intentions." He's not alone. Hannah* is another former child giftie. At 12, she spent one day a week at a different school, in a special class for students whose IQ had been assessed at over 130. "I loved that class. It was creative and off-piste and super engaging. I made great friends," she remembers. "But it made things really awkward for me at my actual school. I got hassled a bit by some kids. I was pretty good at shaking it off, but it did upset me." The experience also possibly impacted other areas of her development. "It amped up the pressure I put on myself," she says. "I burned myself out in high school topping the year every year until Year 10. By the time Year 12 came around I had swung the pendulum too far the other way and cruised through without trying. I regret that I didn't engage fully in the learning but by then I'd rebelled against it." An Australian clinical psychologist who works regularly with gifted students but wants to remain anonymous to protect her patients' privacy, says retaining a peer group is vital for children who are still developing social and emotional maturity. "Skipping grades based on academic achievement alone does feel a bit like a sausage factory," she believes. "I've seen people in the mental health system that have been absolutely scarred by it socially and emotionally." Instead of advancing the curriculum, the psychologist — with personal experience of her own gifted education and that of her children — recommends broadening it out. But importantly she argues this broadening does not have to occur only in a school setting. "You might be able to skip ahead academically but you can't skip ahead in your emotional maturity," she says. "If you skip ahead of your peer group for academic purposes you are missing the richest part of school life, the relationships you form with others and learning about yourself." What works? What might a perfect gifted education look like? Gagné urges schools to move beyond the "age-grade lockstep" that restricts most students to a one-step-per-year learning system even when a gifted student may be capable of learning twice as fast as one with average intelligence. And once again the key is how to spot the underachieving gifties in among the talented over-achievers. In 2016 a group of researchers sifted through 100 years worth of research into the impact of ability grouping and acceleration on academic achievement. They found grouping children into small ability-based teams within their regular class was more effective than grouping kids in separate streamed classes. Even better was what's known as cross-grade subject grouping whereby students of different grade levels are grouped based on achievement rather than age while also retaining links to their age peers. This is the system used by Adelaide's Dara School which has developed cult-like status among certain families searching for a different way to educate their giftie. Some families even move states to access this independent school that accepts students from age five until graduation. "Every child at this school is gifted whereas a lot of other schools have special programs tacked on that cater to gifted students," says Dr Lynda McInnes, the principal and co-founder of Dara that opened in 2017. "There are so many myths about gifted children: they will just learn regardless, you can't accelerate gifted children because it will harm them emotionally," McInnes says. "They actually really need to be with like-minded peers. They need to be nurtured just like any other child. They just need to do it faster." Dara uses standardised testing such as NAPLAN, psychological tests, teacher recommendations and parent insights to screen for entry — a deliberate move away from the competitive entry tests relied on by selective schools. Once accepted, students join classes — mostly taken by teachers with specialised gifted training — based on ability, not age, allowing students to shuffle between year groups and subjects according to which best fits their aptitude. "We'll keep moving the student until they get to a stage where the curriculum is relevant and challenging for them," McInnes says, acknowledging the bespoke nature of the school and complex timetabling only works because it remains very small. Fewer than 100 students attend. While hitting many of the gold standard targets gifted research promotes, how Dara performs over time is yet to be tested. It's most recent NAPLAN results show students performing well above state and national averages, perhaps a sign that these gifted students are also displaying their talents. And of course, as a private school, attending Dara comes at a cost. At just over $7000 a year, Dara is modestly priced compared with some private schools, but it again shows that money and access are everything. Overall, the picture that emerges is that all the research and thoughtful policy in the world can't predict how an individual child will respond. For some, advanced and enriched work is the sweet spot. For others social connection with like minds is the most important goal. Either way educators and parents have their work cut out. And the solution will be as unique as the intriguing minds of the individual children it's designed to serve. *Names have been changed Credits Words and production: Catherine Taylor Illustrations: Gabrielle Flood and Lindsay Dunbar ABC
Gaming laptops aren’t built for the same heavy use as desktops, and their lifespan can be even shorter without proper maintenance. This guide details how I have kept my gaming laptop running at peak performance for years – and how you can too. Hardware degradation over time is inevitable, but heat can significantly speed up the process – or even cause the components to fail. I don’t just mean overheating issues , as you should try to minimize heat as much as possible. Try to always keep the temperature below 176°F (or 80°C) for both the CPU and GPU. Use dedicated apps to check the CPU and GPU temperatures . Although there are many ways to decrease PC temperature , using a cooling pad and regularly renewing thermal paste has done wonders for me. Cooling pads are often recommended for overheating issues, but I believe they are also beneficial for regular use with gaming laptops. Gaming laptops commonly hit temperatures over 160°F (71°C). Although these temperatures are considered safe, they still contribute to overall component degradation. Cooling pads help further bring down the temperature for even safer use. They also offer great support for the laptop by elevating it from the surface, allowing even better airflow compared to using it on a table. You can easily use it on your lap without any discomfort from heat. You don’t need anything fancy, as a quiet cooling pad, like the Kootek Cooling Pad , is enough. Don’t wait for the laptop to start showing overheating signs – renew thermal paste on the CPU and GPU on a set schedule. Recommended laptop maintenance suggests changing the thermal paste every two to three years. However, I prefer to renew it within two years to not risk the laptop running for even a short period without proper thermal transfer. In fact, I have renewed thermal paste four times in the last seven years – most recently this week. Renewing thermal paste is an easy process that many people can do on their own. You can bring it to a PC repair shop and have them to help you change the thermal paste for a low fee too. Both the laptop’s external body and internal components collect dust, crumbs, and grime. Not only are they bad for aesthetics, but they can also lead to heating issues and even short circuits in rare cases. Follow this maintenance routine to ensure your laptop stays clean both inside and out: Weekly Cleaning Routine First, tilt your laptop upside down, and gently shake (lightly pat on the back if needed) to remove loose crumbs/debris. A microfiber or a soft lint-free cloth is all you need to clean the laptop . Use the cloth to clean the exterior of the laptop, including the keyboard and the screen. Avoid pressure when cleaning the screen, and clean in a circular motion. This is just some light weekly cleaning, so there is no need to worry about hard-to-reach spots – just clear the visible dirt to prevent it from building up over time. Monthly Cleaning Routine You’ll need a can of compressed air with a fine nozzle for this. Once a month, use the compressed air to blow bursts onto the keyboard and fan vents. Also, use a soft-bristled brush to clean around the vents and eliminate any debris on the keyboard. A soft paintbrush works, but I prefer makeup brushes, as they are softer and more puffy to clean quickly. If you are following the weekly routine, you won’t need to do anything special for the screen. However, if there are any stubborn smudges, lightly dampen the microfiber cloth in distilled water to clean it. Yearly Cleaning Routine You can do this every six months, but yearly works fine for me, as I strictly follow the weekly and monthly routines. Furthermore, if you are not comfortable with messing around with laptop internals, you can utilize the cleaning service from a PC repair shop. You’ll need to open the laptop to get access to all the internals. I recommend following our step-by-step guide on fixing an overheating laptop from the internals . It has all the info to both open and clean the laptop. Personally, I only clean what is visible in front, so there is no need to unscrew and access hidden components. Keep your focus on the fan blades and any dirt on the motherboard. Just because your laptop can, doesn’t mean you need to run everything at max performance. This will just put extra strain on components, decreasing overall life. Try to optimize your setup with these suggestions to only use the resources you need. Balanced performance is enough for most games and will save resources while running most games that should be capable on your laptop. Go to Windows Settings -> System -> Power & battery , and select Balanced next to Power mode . You should also make sure your game FPS matches the laptop screen refresh rate . Your laptop screen can’t show the FPS beyond its refresh rate, so the extra FPS goes to waste while still using resources. You can use V-Sync or G-Sync /FreeSync (if supported) to force the laptop to sync FPS and the refresh rate. For less CPU-demanding games, I like to disable the turbo boost technology, reducing much of the unnecessary stress on the CPU. Although it can be done from BIOS, I prefer using the Throttlestop app to enable/disable it quickly. Just check the Disable Turbo option. You can also check out how to improve the gaming experience on laptops to find more ways to reduce strain on your laptop components for a longer life. The laptop component with the shortest life is the battery, and there is a good chance you’ll have to replace it at least once before other components start showing their age. However, you can still increase the laptop battery’s lifespan with careful maintenance. If your laptop supports smart charging that stops charging at 80%, take advantage of it. Access the BIOS and enable it under battery configuration settings, or use the laptop manufacturer’s software. If your laptop doesn’t have a smart charging feature, try to keep it between 20% and 80% when not gaming by unplugging it manually. Additionally, don’t let the battery frequently drop to 0%, as it can affect overall battery health. As mentioned before, heat is bad for your laptop, especially the battery, as it speeds up the chemical reactions within the battery cells. Make sure you follow the above steps to keep heat to a minimum. If you prioritize your laptop’s lifespan over performance, don’t do experimental stuff that the laptop isn’t meant to do. Yes, I am talking about overclocking , whether you are overclocking the CPU , RAM , or GPU . Overclocking is especially a problem on laptops, due to the limited options to get rid of the extra heat that is generated. On desktops, you can just get some new fans , but that won’t work for laptops. Not only will the overclocking process stress the components, but the extra heat generation will surely speed up the degradation process. Furthermore, even gaming laptops aren’t built to handle continuous use, unlike desktops. I usually have two- to three-hour gaming sessions, with occasional four- to six-hour sessions. Try to take breaks between sessions, even if it means closing the game and doing light web browsing. These maintenance methods will surely extend your gaming laptop’s life and ensure it keeps giving peak performance. Read on to learn about optimizing Windows for gaming performance , as freeing up resources reduces component stress and slows down wear and tear. Image credit: Vecteezy . All screenshots by Karrar Haider. Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox Karrar is drenched in technology and always fiddles with new tech opportunities. He has a bad habit of calling technology “Killer”, and doesn't feel bad about spending too much time in front of the PC. If he is not writing about technology, you will find him spending quality time with his little family.