The World Health Organization (WHO) condemned a US-funded vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau, Africa, as unethical, citing the withholding of a safe and potentially lifesaving hepatitis B vaccine from some newborns. The trial, which has drawn widespread criticism from health experts since December, is inconsistent with established ethical and scientific principles, according to the WHO.
The WHO's formal statement, released Friday, detailed several reasons the trial was deemed harmful and of low quality. The trial's design involves withholding the established vaccine from a portion of newborns.
In other news, Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, is facing scrutiny as several engineers and co-founders have departed, with some citing concerns about the company's disregard for safety. According to a former employee who spoke to The Verge, at least 11 engineers and two co-founders have left xAI following the announcement that SpaceX is acquiring the company. One source told The Verge that employees have become increasingly disillusioned by the company's disregard for safety. Musk himself suggested the departures are part of an effort to organize xAI more effectively.
Meanwhile, NASA is working to resolve fueling problems with its Space Launch System rocket before the Artemis III mission, which is slated to be the first crewed mission to land on the Moon in over 50 years. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Saturday the agency is looking at ways to prevent the issues before the Artemis III mission. For Artemis II, which remains on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida after missing a launch window earlier this month, NASA is preparing for a second countdown rehearsal as soon as next week to confirm whether technicians have resolved a hydrogen fuel leak that cut short a practice countdown run on February 2.
In the realm of fashion technology, Jenny Wang, founder of Alta, is expanding her company, which allows users to create digital closets and try on clothes with virtual avatars. Alta raised $11 million in a round led by Menlo Ventures last year. The company is similar to the technology seen in the movie "Clueless," where Cher styles outfits using computer technology.
Finally, in a different tech-related development, a reporter from The Verge went on four dates with AI companions at a pop-up dating café on a frigid February evening.
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