NPR News: 12-11-2024 1PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 11, 2024, 1 PM EST

Hosted by NPR

The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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Southern California Franklin Fire Escalates

Timestamp [00:18]
NPR's Lakshmi Singh reports on the devastating Franklin fire in Southern California, which has rapidly expanded to nearly 4,000 acres and is currently about 7% contained. The blaze has severely impacted Malibu, resulting in significant property damage and community distress.

Timestamp [00:45]
[Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath] expresses empathy for the affected residents:
"Our evacuated households are waiting with bated breath. A second night without power or cell service is extremely difficult for those not under evacuation. Thank you for checking in on one another. Thank you for remaining vigilant as we get this fire under control."

The fire has forced over 2,000 people to evacuate and disrupted the lives of 3,000 students at Pepperdine University, who have been instructed to shelter in place. As damage assessment continues, the cause of the Franklin fire remains under investigation.

AI Predicts Continued Global Warming

Timestamp [01:04]
A groundbreaking study utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) has provided new insights into future climate change trajectories. The research indicates that despite global efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the Earth is projected to continue warming in the coming years.

Timestamp [01:31]
NPR's Alejandro Varunda explains:
"Humans have pumped vast amounts of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. That drives global warming. And since 2015, most countries in the world have agreed to try to limit warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius and ideally below 1.5. That would be 2.7 Fahrenheit. But that goal is slipping out of reach."

Using AI, researchers from Stanford and Colorado State University have enhanced climate models to provide more precise estimates. Their findings reveal a 50% probability of exceeding the 2 degrees Celsius threshold, highlighting the urgent need for more effective climate interventions.

Escalation in Israel-Gaza Conflict

Timestamp [02:17]
Tensions escalate as rockets were launched from central Gaza toward Israel, leading the Israeli military to issue additional evacuation orders for Palestinians in the targeted areas.

Timestamp [02:27]
NPR's Aya Batrawi reports:
"Palestinians are bracing for Israeli attacks on parts of central Gaza after militants not with Hamas claimed responsibility for rockets fired at southern Israel. Meanwhile, Palestinian hospital officials in civil defense say two families have been killed in the past 48 hours in Northern Gaza by Israeli airstrikes."

Significant casualties include the Al Kahlout family, with at least 25 members killed, and the Abbot Arabish family, where an airstrike resulted in 30 individuals sheltering in a home, though only two bodies were recovered. Additionally, a mother and her two children were lost in an airstrike at a hospital in north Gaza. Israel maintains that its intensified offensive targets Hamas militants, although non-Hamas affiliated groups have also been implicated in the recent attacks.

U.S. Economic Updates: Inflation and Corporate Moves

Timestamp [03:14]
Lakshmi Singh updates listeners on the U.S. economy, noting that consumer prices rose by 2.7% over the past year. While inflation has cooled compared to previous years, the decline is described as slow and inconsistent, with pivotal areas like housing and food continuing to see price increases.

In corporate news, the grocery chain Albertsons has terminated its $24.6 billion merger agreement with Kroger. Albertsons alleges that Kroger failed to adequately secure regulatory approval for the merger and has announced plans to sue the company.

Breakthrough in Understanding Human Digestion

Timestamp [04:05]
NPR's John Hamilton covers a pioneering study published in the journal Nature, which uncovers how specific brain cells in the abdomen regulate digestive functions. Researchers from Caltech employed genetic techniques to analyze all cells within a particular cluster, revealing two distinct neuron types.

Timestamp [04:21]
Yukioka, a member of the research team, elaborates:
"Digestive related functions are controlled by one major cell type. Another class of neurons is involved in gut motility."

These neurons are responsible for regulating bile acid production and the propulsion speed of food through the intestines. Oka from the research team adds that the organization of these neurons in the body mirrors the complex structures found in the brain, offering new avenues for understanding and potentially treating digestive disorders.

Stock Market Brief: Nasdaq Closes Higher

Timestamp [04:46]
The Nasdaq Composite experienced a significant uptick, climbing 341 points and ending the session up 1.7% at 20,027. This positive movement reflects investor confidence amidst ongoing economic and geopolitical developments.

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This summary is based on the NPR News Now episode released on December 11, 2024, at 1 PM EST.

Transcript

[Carvana]

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Damage inspection teams are expected to have a better count on fire losses in the coming hours in Southern California, where the Franklin fire quickly grew in size in the last 24 hours hours. It's closing in on 4,000 acres and it's about 7% contained. Much of the devastation is in Malibu. Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath says she knows a community is hurting.

[Lindsey Horvath]

Our evacuated households are waiting with bated breath. A second night without power or cell service is extremely difficult for those not under evacuation. Thank you for checking in on one another. Thank you for remaining vigilant as we get this fire under control.

[Lakshmi Singh]

As many as 18,000 people in the affected zone are under alert. More than 2,000 people were forced to evacuate. The fire also forced about 3,000 students on the campus of Pepperdine University to shelter in place. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. A new study using artificial intelligence to predict future climate change concludes the Earth will continue to heat up in coming years. NPR's Alejandra Burunda has more.

[Alejandro Varunda]

Humans have pumped vast amounts of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. That drives global warming. And since 2015, most countries in the world have agreed to try to limit warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius and ideally below 1.5. That would be 2.7 Fahrenheit. But that goal is slipping out of reach. Exactly when that 1.5 level will be passed and how hot it'll get after. Scientists have to use complicated computer models to figure that out. And now they're using AI, too. Researchers from Stanford and Colorado State University tapped AI to pin down estimates about future warming. Even with the most ambitious climate efforts, there's a 50% chance of exceeding 2 degrees Celsius. Alejandro Varunda, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Rockets were fired from central Gaza toward Israel, prompting the military to order another evacuation order for Palestinians in areas the attack was launched. From NPR's Aya Batrawi has more.

[Aya Batrawi]

Palestinians are bracing for Israeli attacks on parts of central Gaza after militants not with Hamas claimed responsibility for rockets fired at southern Israel. Meanwhile, Palestinian hospital officials in civil defense say two families have been killed in the past 48 hours in Northern Gaza by Israeli airstrikes. One attack killed at least 25 members of the Al Kahlout family on Tuesday, while an airstrike Wednesday hit a home sheltering up to 30, 30 people from the Abbot Arabish family, with some heard screaming for help under the rubble before neighbors could recover just two bodies. Also in north Gaza, hospital officials say a mother and her two kids were killed in an airstrike at its gates. Israel says its intensified offensive on the north is aimed at Hamas militants. Aya Botraoui, NPR News, from Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This is NPR. Last month, consumer prices in the U.S. rose 2.7% from a year earlier. Inflation cooled substantially from levels last year and even earlier this year, but it's easing slowly and inconsistently as it continues to exhibit some stubbornness. Among the key items that increased last month were the costs of housing and food. The grocery chain Albertson says it's terminating its $24.6 billion merger agreement with Kroger, and added it plans to sue Kroger for allegedly not doing enough to secure regulatory approval for the merger. New research finds certain human digestive functions are controlled by two types of brain cells found in the abdomen. NPR's John Hamilton reports on a study in the journal Nature.

[John Hamilton]

A team at Caltech wanted to know how a cluster of brain cells in the abdomen was able to regulate both the gut and other organs involved in digestion, so they used genetic techniques to study all the cells in the cluster. Yukioka says the team found two distinct types of neurons.

[Yukioka]

Digestive related functions are controlled by one major cell type. Another class of neurons is involved in gut motility.

[John Hamilton]

Some neurons determined how much bile acid to make, while others decided how fast food should be propelled through the intestinal tract. Oka says the findings suggest that some neurons in the body are organized very much like neurons in the brain. John Hamilton, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Nasdaq has climbed 341 points. It's up 1.7% at 20,027. This is NPR News.

[Carvana]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR NewsNow [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.