Drone Catches Spectacular Ray Shoal

Daily Upsider on January 24, 2024

Emerging drone enthusiast Daniel Lukic captured a spectacular migration of cownose rays near Forster Beach in Australia. Being in the right place at the right time, Lukic recorded an impressive aerial video showcasing hundreds of rays, resembling a vibrant display of scattered confetti on the water.

Lukic, describing the scene, estimated the ray count to be approximately 400 or 500, resulting in a visually captivating spectacle. Expressing his enthusiasm, he remarked, “I get pretty excited when I see this sort of stuff because it’s a single moment in time where you just had to be there.”

Marine biologists interviewed by ABC News AU speculated that the substantial gathering of rays, referred to as a ‘fever,’ might function as a protective measure. Despite this, the conservation status of cownose rays remains uncertain, marked as “data deficient” by the IUCN.

Normally observed in fevers of around 100 individuals, Lukic’s recording of such a sizable group prompts questions about the event’s rarity or the limited scientific knowledge about their habits. Biologists recognized that Lukic’s footage has the potential to significantly contribute to advancing the understanding of these marine creatures.

Beyond the ray migration, Lukic has also documented other intriguing marine scenes, including dolphin pods swimming alongside sharks, featured on his channel.

Check out this footage he got! It is enchanting.

S&P 500 Bull Market?

Daily Upsider on January 24, 2024

The S&P 500 stock index reached a historic milestone last Monday, as it scaled to a new all-time high. This accomplishment signifies the onset of a bull market, by two different definitions. In the past year, the S&P 500 surged by over 20% from its most recent low, and as of the previous Friday, it crossed another key bull market threshold by surpassing its previous peak.

For investors looking to participate in this remarkable growth, there’s good news: investing in a fund that tracks the S&P 500 index is a readily accessible strategy.

However, experts always caution that while the past performance has been exceptional, it should not be taken as a guarantee of future returns. Although the S&P 500 had a stellar year in 2023, finishing up 26% when considering dividends, it might not necessarily be the winning strategy by the end of 2024.

What is the S&P 500 Index?
The S&P 500 consists of approximately 500 large-cap equity stocks. This index operates on a market capitalization-weighted basis, meaning each company’s weight within the index is determined by its market capitalization, which is the total value of all its outstanding shares.

The top companies with the highest weights in the index include Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Alphabet (with two share classes), Meta, Tesla, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan Chase.

How Can You Invest in the S&P 500?
Today, investors have various options to invest in the S&P 500, including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the index. Some of the largest ETFs tracking the S&P 500 are SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, iShares Core S&P 500 ETF, and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF.

You can access these ETF’s through many apps and website that trade stocks, like Vanguard, Schwab, Fidelity, and TD Ameritrade.

Experts suggest that for stock investors seeking simplicity, this approach can be effective. Over time, passive strategies like index-based funds have demonstrated better returns compared to actively managed funds. Additionally, the costs associated with these passive funds are considerably lower than those of active strategies, making them an appealing choice for many.

The extent of a portfolio’s exposure to the S&P 500 index determines how much its balance is affected by the index’s fluctuations. That’s why experts typically recommend a 60/40 split between stocks and bonds, which can be adjusted to 70/30 or even 80/20 if an investor’s risk tolerance and time horizon permit.

Putting all your investments into the S&P 500 may not be advisable, especially if other segments of the market outperform it in 2024. Most experts advice some sort of split between stocks and bonds. Depending on your age, putting money into bonds may not be the best move.

It is also generally advised to have some diversification into stock categories besides U.S. large-cap stocks. With all of these caveats in place, starting your investing journey with the S&P 500 is not a bad move.

We are not financial advisers. Please do your one research before investing.

Game-Changing Cancer Test

Daily Upsider on January 23, 2024

An ongoing human study suggest that a new experimental cancer test can accurately detect up to 18 early-stage cancers. But how does it work? And maybe even more importantly, how much will it cost?

The new cancer test works by analyzing blood proteins, instead of tumor DNA, and showed this style of test may accurately detect up to 18 early-stage cancers. The US biotech firm, Novelna, presented trial results involving 440 individuals with 18 different cancers, using blood plasma samples from each patient and 44 healthy donors.

The Novelna team achieved high sensitivity and specificity by analyzing trace proteins in the blood. The test, which also considers sex-specific proteins, identified 93% of male and 84% of female cancers at stage I with 99% specificity. The researchers proposed the test as a foundation for a cost-effective, accurate, multi-cancer screening on a population-wide scale, covering major human organs.

Acknowledging the trial’s small size, the team stresses the need for larger trials to confirm accuracy. Despite this, they highlighted the significance of detecting low-level proteins in blood samples for early tumor identification. Implementing such tests could improve survival rates, especially for cancers like breast cancer, and contribute to global efforts in combating the substantial impact of cancer, which currently accounts for one in every six deaths worldwide.

Novelna also anticipates that the test will be much cheaper than current option, with the estimated cost to be below $100. Current tests, like the Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) tests, can often cost close to $1,000.

Related articles: How to Cut Your Risk of Prostate Cancer by a Third and a novel Saliva Test for Breast Cancer

Human Life Expectancy Gap Decreases

Daily Upsider on January 23, 2024

A recent study has revealed a surprising new global trend in the life expectancy gap between men and women.

People are living longer all over the world, from regions in Africa to areas like California. However, the situation is not as straightforward as everyone living longer.

The study from Spain’s Universidad de Alcalá has revealed a global trend: the life expectancy gap between men and women is narrowing. The researchers categorized world populations into five clusters and found that each area has experienced longer life expectancies and reduced gender disparities in the last 30 years. The data also suggests that these trends will continue into the next decade.

Workplace safety improvements have led to fewer male job-related deaths. However, aspects of closing the life expectancy gap between men and women remains a challenge due to risks linked to the Y chromosome and potential non-communicable diseases. But examining data from 1990 to 2000, researchers found increased longevity in many countries.

Related Article: How to Add Years to Your Life

Grouping nations into five clusters based on mortality trends from 1990 to 2010, the study revealed rising life expectancies and decreasing male-female mortality gaps across all clusters. These positive trends are expected to continue into 2030, indicating a global shift toward improved longevity and more equal mortality rates between genders.

Africa has shown the most significant improvements in mortality indicators. Lead author Professor David Atance emphasized the worldwide growth in aging processes, even in well-performing high-income countries, albeit at a slower rate.

The lessening of the gender longevity gap, seen in both cluster and country analyses, is also attributed to the shift away from past “harmful” blue-collar lifestyles.