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Brave Software releases Origin for a paid, bloat-free browsing experience

Brave Software has announced the public release of Origin, a paid minimalist, bloat-free version of its browser that strips out cryptocurrency, AI, rewards, and other monetization-focused features.

The browser maker says Brave Origin is designed for users who want a more streamlined, privacy-focused browser without the company’s optional revenue-generating services and integrations.

“Today, Brave is announcing the release of Brave Origin, a paid version of the browser for users who don’t need all of Brave’s out-of-the-box features, but still want the privacy that only Brave offers,” the company explains.

Hola Browser for Windows compromised to deliver cryptominer

The Windows version of the Hola Browser has been compromised in a supply chain attack that delivered an undeclared executable identified by researchers as a cryptocurrency miner.

The compromise was uncovered during periodic certification checks on Hola Browser as part of its AppEsteem certification testing procedure, which it had previously passed.

Hola is an Israeli company best known for Hola VPN, a service that allows users to route internet traffic through other users’ devices or through paid proxy infrastructure to bypass geographic restrictions and access content from different countries.

Polis declares statewide drought emergency

Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday declared a statewide drought emergency, citing the record-low snowpack and prolonged warmer temperatures across Colorado.

He also activated the next phase of the state’s drought response plan. Polis had placed Colorado under Phase 2 in March.

“Today, I am issuing a statewide drought emergency to support Coloradans, our economy, farmers and ranchers, and outdoor enthusiasts in the face of one of the most severe droughts in Colorado’s recorded history. With every county in the state experiencing drought conditions, activating Phase 3 of our Drought Response Plan allows us to better coordinate agencies, prepare for worsening conditions, and support Colorado communities, agriculture, water users, and our environment,” he said in a statement. “State agencies will do their part to reduce water usage at state facilities and I encourage every Coloradan to use water wisely.”

Alzheimer’s gene map expands to 91 loci, revealing 16 previously unknown risk regions

An international collaboration of genetic researchers has identified more than 90 genetic regions associated with the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The large-scale meta-analysis reveals new biological insights into the disease, highlighting the important roles of immune processes, beta-amyloid and tau biology, and lipid metabolism.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide, and its development is influenced by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Understanding the genetic architecture of the disease is essential for improving diagnosis, risk prediction, and the development of targeted therapies.

In this study, researchers combined genome-wide association data from nearly a million individuals of European ancestry, including over 128,000 Alzheimer’s disease cases and nearly 850,000 controls.

Brain circuit that times a state of low metabolism could have implications for space travel

You have gone without food for days, and the temperature drops to near freezing. What do you do? For some animals, the answer is influenced by the brain’s circadian clock. Hummingbirds, bats, and mice are among the animals that can enter torpor, which reduces body temperature and metabolism. Scientists suspected that the brain’s circadian clock controls the timing of torpor, but until now the exact mechanism was not known.

Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan have identified the specific neural circuit responsible for this survival strategy. They have shown that the brain’s circadian clock, a small cluster of neurons located in the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, sends silencing signals through this circuit to a nearby temperature-regulating region, suppressing torpor during the day. The findings were published in Nature Communications.

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