James' World 2

Click the link below the picture

.

More than one in 10 Americans takes a GLP-1 medication for weight loss. As more people take a GLP-1, or glucagonlike peptide 1, receptor agonist, such as Wegovy, so, too, do more older adults—and those numbers are set to skyrocket.

Last week the Trump administration launched the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, a new initiative that would set the cost of three weight-loss medications— Wegovy, the KwikPen version of Zepbound (tirzepatide) and Foundayo (orforglipron)—at $50 a month. That may be welcome news for the estimated 38.9 percent of adults aged 60 and up in the U.S. who are living with obesity. But it could also supercharge an ongoing and risky experiment in growing old on weight-loss drugs.

For years, clinicians have had few good options to safely treat obesity in older adults. But while GLP-1s, long used to treat diabetes, are now approved for weight loss, the evidence supporting their use in the age-60-and-older population is limited. Someone in their 70s may benefit as much from weight loss as a person in their 30s but may respond very differently to these drugs’ side effects; we simply don’t have enough evidence yet to make informed conclusions, experts advise.

“Eligibility doesn’t mean benefit automatically,” says Ruchi Gaba, an associate professor of endocrinology at Baylor College of Medicine. “We have to individualize.” And within the 60-and-older group, there is huge variety: a healthy, active 68-year-old with obesity and sleep apnea is a very different patient than an 88-year-old who’s frail, has poor appetite and is at risk of falls, Gaba says.

Older adults are underrepresented in the clinical trials for GLP-1 drugs. Despite the high prevalence of obesity among this age group, only about one in 10 participants in early GLP-1 trials was age 65 or older, says Alissa Chen, a primary care physician and a researcher at the Yale School of Medicine, who specializes in obesity. Older adults are more heterogeneous than people in younger age groups in terms of chronic conditions and multiple medications, Chen says, which can pose challenges with both prescriptions and side effects.

“We need to be more critical about who we’re starting on these medications and thinking about all those chronic conditions and thinking about those medicines, thinking about the benefit there is to be gained,” she says. “We have to think about ‘What does weight loss get us in that age group?’”

GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking the glucagonlike peptide 1 hormone, which the body naturally releases after eating to signal satiety. The hormone stimulates insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon—preventing the hormone from causing the liver to release too much sugar into the bloodstream —and slows gastric emptying. These effects create a prolonged feeling of fullness that drives weight loss.

GLP-1s don’t tend to interact with other drugs directly, but their effects can create cascading risks, Gaba says. Slow gastric emptying can worsen constipation—a common complaint in older adults. It can also cause nausea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration. In turn, dehydration can cause orthostatic hypotension and falls in people who also take medications for blood pressure. Diabetic patients taking a sulfonylurea, a class of medications that lower blood sugar, have heightened hypoglycemia risk on GLP-1s, Gaba says.

Lean muscle loss is another well-known side effect of GLP-1s. That could make older adults more at risk of serious injury if they fall. At the same time, older patients may respond to medications differently than their younger counterparts because of their body composition and reduced liver and kidney function.

Functional ability, rather than a number on a scale, should be the determining factor in whether to prescribe a GLP-1 or not, Chen says. “Success for a senior might mean being able to walk longer distances without knee pain or getting on the floor to play with their grandchildren,” she says. “If a senior loses weight but also loses significant muscle mass, is the treatment really a success?”

GLP-1s are meant for indefinite use—otherwise the weight returns. The new Trump administration Medicare program is temporary; it currently runs for just 18 months. But once someone starts taking one of these drugs, stopping is far from ideal, Chen says. “These are medications that should be taken for the long term.”

If a person is already eating well and exercising, Chen says, she’s often reticent to prescribe a drug that will make them lose more weight. “We know exercise is very good at keeping people healthy and helping them live long and improving cardiovascular fitness,” she says.

The purpose of weight loss is to do that same thing. But if a patient is already making choices that improve those things, “it’s questionable to me how much more weight loss will help them,” Chen adds.

For patients with other underlying conditions, there’s evidence that GLP1s can improve healthspan, which in turn may affect lifespan. In those older than age 65, however, lifestyle interventions remain the first line of obesity management.

Although GLP-1 drugs are often used as long-term maintenance therapy because stopping them commonly leads to weight regain, there is still limited data on their effects over a full lifespan in older adults, especially frail older adults. Analyses to date show that, in older adults, GLP-1 drugs are associated with fewer cardiovascular events and, in some studies, lower all-cause mortality. But there is no direct evidence that they extend lifespan.

Chen’s research shows that side effects can affect as many as 40 percent of people taking weight-loss drugs. Older adults tend to abandon treatment because of these effects. And when they do, they regain lost weight, which can worsen any underlying health conditions such as cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes.

Resistance exercises and higher protein intake could ensure some of that regained weight is in the form of muscle, not fat. But “if you’re not doing those things, you could be having higher adiposity after than you were before you ever started the medication,” Chen says.

.

Jon Challicom/Getty Images

.

.

Click the link below for the complete article:

.

__________________________________________

Click the link below the picture

.

Over the last decade or more, the number of kids diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder has increased significantly. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about one in 31 children have autism, making it the most common neurodevelopmental condition in the U.S.

But this increase doesn’t mean that autism is growing faster than what should be expected. Instead, experts explain that increased awareness, wider research, and clearer diagnostic criteria are likely responsible for the increase—along with adults who are receiving diagnoses later in life.

“While we don’t understand the rise in cases in its entirety, the increase is due largely to greater awareness, improved screening, and more willingness among parents and professionals to seek and accept a diagnosis,” says Clain Udy, the father of a son with autism, founder of First Ascent, and author of Rebranding Autism: A Guide to Seeing Strength on the Spectrum. “Additionally, more adults are being diagnosed as they recognize autistic traits in themselves.”

What Is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how kids experience the world around them, says Ivy Chong, PhD, BCBA-D, a licensed psychologist and chief clinical officer at Little Leaves Behavioral Services. 

“We refer to ASD as a spectrum because it looks different for everyone, and each person has a distinct set of strengths and challenges,” says Dr. Chong. “As the saying goes, ‘If you’ve met one child with autism, you’ve met one child with autism,’ emphasizing the uniqueness of each individual’s experience.” 

Some individuals with autism can speak and live entirely independently, while others may need to communicate through gestures or augmentative devices and require lifelong support to remain safe, she says. “Additionally, a large proportion—around 70%—experience at least one comorbid condition, and about 40% experience two or more co-occurring conditions.”2

How Does Autism Develop?

Autism develops from a combination of genetic and environmental influences, explains Dr. Chong. The CDC reports that 60% to 90% of autism cases have a genetic component, involving multiple genes rather than a single one, she says. 

“Unlike conditions like Down syndrome, where a specific gene can be pinpointed, autism’s genetic factors are more complex,” she says.

Environmental factors, like parental age, maternal diabetes, exposure to specific air pollutants, low birth weight, and birth complications, also can increase risk of autism, especially when combined with genetic factors. It’s unlikely these factors would cause autism independently, though.3

“Autism doesn’t discriminate,” says Dr. Chong. “It occurs in individuals of all races, cultures, socioeconomic statuses, and geographic locations.”

How Does Autism Present in Children?

Because autism is a spectrum disorder, signs or traits can vary from child to child, says Fadiyla Dopwell Louis-Obike, MD, a board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatrician at Pediatrix Medical Group in Dallas. This means autism looks different for every person diagnosed with the condition. Here are some traits that may be present with autism:4

• Communication differences
• Sensory differences
• Stimulation differences 
• Learning differences

This nonlinear spectrum applies to strengths as well, says Udy. Some examples include attention to detail, pattern recognition, memory, spatial awareness, and deep focus, to name a few. All are hallmark characteristics that, when recognized and supported, can lead to a recognition of incredible strengths, he says. 

“So instead of framing autism in terms of ‘symptoms,’ let’s reframe it as a unique pattern of cognitive strengths and differences,” says Udy. “This perspective shift moves us from deficit to distinction.”

How Is Autism Diagnosed?

Autism is diagnosed through a series of assessments. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends health care providers screen for regular developmental delays at 9 months, 18 months, and 30 months, says Dr. Chong.5

“Autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as 18 to 24 months,” she says. “However, if you have concerns about your child’s development at any time, you should seek advice from your pediatrician. Some children have been diagnosed as early as 11 or 12 months.” 

According to Dr. Chong, a combination of tools, including parent interviews, direct observations, and standardized assessments, are used for diagnosis. There also isn’t one simple test or biological marker; rather, a combination of developmental screenings and evaluations, she says. 

“If a pediatrician or parent notices a concern, [your] child may be referred for a comprehensive evaluation, which includes interviews and observations conducted by professionals,” she says. “The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule is considered the gold standard for diagnosis. Early diagnosis is critical for accessing early intensive intervention, to addre

ss the diverse symptoms, particularly when a child does not speak.”

What Experts Say About the Rise in Cases

The rise in autism diagnoses is likely influenced by multiple factors, including increased awareness, expanded diagnostic criteria, and improved screening practices, says Theresa Haskins, EdD, MA, a TEDx speaker and award-winning professor specializing in neurodiversity and disability inclusion.

“But, the numbers are not telling an accurate story,” says Dr. Haskins. “It’s not that we are seeing more autism—it’s that we are better at identifying autistic people. For years, kids in marginalized communities were overlooked or misdiagnosed, usually because they lacked the resources to get adequate assessment and care.” 

Today, more parents are advocating, more professionals are trained, and children are being identified earlier, she says. “This rise in autism rates reflects progress in awareness and access—not necessarily an epidemic. I think we need to be careful only to make comparisons of data under current diagnostic criteria. Looking back too far provides an inaccurate assessment of the situation.”

Likewise, children who might have previously been diagnosed with something else like intellectual disability, language disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are now more often being diagnosed with ASD, says Dr. Chong. 

Combatting Misconceptions and Falsehoods About Autism

Despite the advances in understanding autism and its causes, there still are an alarming number of misconceptions. Here are some important facts to know in the face of myths that pervade.

.

Credit: Parents/Getty Images

.

.

Click the link below for the complete article:

.

__________________________________________

Hmmmm … The Trump Administration seems to be full of unthinking Idiots!

Click the link below the picture

.

President Trump has yet again circumvented the legislative branch as he orders American forces back into combat in the Middle East, weeks after both chambers of Congress rebuked him for waging war with Iran without authorization.

The collapse of the cease-fire and resumption of hostilities has inflamed a debate on Capitol Hill over war powers just as the administration is seeking tens of billions of dollars to pay for the conflict.

That has presented Republicans with a political worst-case scenario months before midterm elections in which their majorities are at stake: They are being asked to vote to fund an unpopular war over which they have had no meaningful oversight, and which they have never voted to approve.

“The greatest fighting force on the planet, the last great superpower must be fully equipped, and that’s the job of Congress to make sure it’s done,” Speaker Mike Johnson told CNN’s Manu Raju last week at the Capitol. The administration last month requested $87.6 billion in supplemental funding that would include $67.1 billion in extra military spending this year.

Asked whether it wasn’t also the job of Congress to authorize the war, Mr. Johnson replied: “We’re going to supply the needs for America’s national security.”

The position amounts to the latest instance of Republicans ceding power to the executive branch, as they sidestep a debate over the conduct of the war and try to rally support within their ranks for a filibuster-proof, party-line bill to pay for it with no strings attached.

It is all the more remarkable coming weeks after bipartisan majorities in both the House and Senate voted to reassert Congress’s constitutional role over matters of war, a slap on Mr. Trump’s wrist four months into a conflict that he had said would last a matter of weeks.

Democrats who worked for months to rally support for such a reproach have followed it up by refusing to allow consideration of the annual defense policy bill or back legislation to fund the military. They have argued that Congress cannot separate its power of the purse from its constitutional authority over war, demanding that the administration share more information about its strategy and plan for the war before they consider voting to bankroll it.

.

Speaker Mike Johnson at the Capitol last week. He said it was “the job of Congress to make sure” the U.S. military was “fully equipped.” Credit…Alex Kent/The New York Times

.

.

Click the link below for the complete article:

.

__________________________________________

.

.

“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king, the palace instead becomes a circus. — Turkish proverb,”

 

Hmmmmm…History is repeating itself yet again!

 

Isaiah 59:14

New Living Translation

.

__________________________________________

Click the link below the picture

.

You might find these videos enlightening!

.

A. R. Bernard: one of many

.

.

Click the link below for the videos:

https://www.youtube.com

.

__________________________________________

Click the link below the picture

.

Much of the U.S. is shrouded in smoke. Wildfires burning across Canada have sent plumes of air pollution to the Midwest and the Atlantic Coast. As of the time of writing, Chicago, Detroit, and Washington, D.C., topped a ranking of the worst air quality in the world.

The smoke has serious health consequences. Even distant wildfire smoke can be dangerous to human health—and possibly much more so than other forms of air pollution.

In one 2021 study, researchers analyzed respiratory hospitalizations in southern California and determined that residents’ exposure to particulates in wildfire smoke appeared to be 10 times more dangerous than exposure to other forms of particulate matter of the same size, smaller than 2.5 microns—that’s small enough to enter the bloodstream. It’s unclear if the smoke is so much more dangerous because of its unique chemical composition, the way that it burns, or another reason, the authors wrote.

And in a February study, researchers estimated that, between 2006 and 2020, wildfire smoke caused more than 24,000 deaths per year in the U.S. The authors wrote that there was “no evidence of a ‘safe’ threshold” of exposure to wildfire smoke—any exposure corresponded with an increase in all-cause mortality.

As wildfire smoke travels across vast distances, it can react with sunlight and urban air pollutants to produce ozone, a primary ingredient of smog. In a June study published in Science, researchers estimated that the number of deaths resulting from ozone produced by wildfires has increased by more than 300, on average, each year since 2013.

Some evidence suggests wildfire smoke, like air pollution in general, puts a strain on mental health. As Scientific American reported in 2023, wildfire smoke, smog, and other toxic air have been linked to lower test scores in schoolchildren and higher rates of stress and depression. But these kind of studies are rare, and it’s unclear what exact effect wildfire smoke has on the brain.

What is clear, however, is that climate change has made wildfires both more frequent and more deadly. Droughts and heat waves have become more common and more severe, leading to a greater amount of dry vegetation at risk of burning.

As dangerous as wildfire smoke is, there are several ways you can stay safe. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends people remain inside in accordance with local advisories, keep windows and doors closed, and consider using an air filter indoors if possible.

People who have underlying conditions such as asthma and heart disease or who are pregnant, as well as children, are at an increased risk and should be extra cautious, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you do go outside, the CDC recommends wearing an N95 mask or P100 respirator for the best protection. Avoid exercising outdoors—it remains to be seen what that means for this weekend’s World Cup final.

Experts also recommend checking your area’s Air Quality Index (AQI) to understand what the air conditions are like near you. Here’s a helpful guide on how to read the AQI.

.

.

.

Click the link below for the complete article:

.

__________________________________________

Click the link below the picture

.

It was the triumph of an idea, an identity. Of an unshakable and patient faith. And when it was over, Spain’s new generation, having emulated the one from the 2010 World Cup- all of those legendary names, there was simply delirium for them.

Spain were the only team that turned up to play this World Cup final, from the first whistle to the last in extra time. Argentina were damned by their lack of ambition even before they had Enzo Fernández sent off towards the end of the regulation time. It was extraordinary to report that they did not have an attempt on goal until the 115th minute.

Spain did not let them play. Just as they have barely let any of their opponents do so during the course of this tournament. Their miserly defence has been the cornerstone of everything. They have been breached just once in their eight matches.

The question that came to pound concerned their ability to find a way through the sky blue and white ranks. It was the only question. Spain stayed true to their style; to who they are. The possession. The cohesive movements. The control. When they found the answer, it was the moment when they knew that a second World Cup triumph was about to become gloriously real.

The goal came in the 106th minute, and it was nothing less than they deserved. Pedro Porro crossed deep, and it was a wonderful header back by the substitute Nico Williams. It teed up another replacement, Ferran Torres, for the opportunity of his lifetime. The finish was high and true.

The Argentina manager, Lionel Scaloni, looked ready to cry. It was a white-knuckle ride that carried his team to this stage, defined by late goals and a never-say-die spirit. At no point in any of their knock-out games were they ahead in the 90th minute.

Argentina flickered in the very closing stages. The substitute, Guiliano Simeone, lashed a half chance high. But there would be no successful defence of the title they won in 2022; no fairytale sign-off for Lionel Messi. He could not suppress the tears as he gazed at the Argentina support afterwards.

Messi and his team had won their previous three tournaments – two Copa Américas either side of the last World Cup. They had not lost a knockout tie since the 2019 Copa América. They got what they deserved here. There was an ugly flashpoint after full time when Leandro Paredes, who had come on as a substitute, was given a red card for grabbing the Spain replacement Eric García by the throat.

Argentina’s reaction in defeat was shameful. They turned their backs on the Spain players as the trophy was presented, preferring to keep their eyes on the fans behind one of the goals. Donald Trump, who did not want to leave the stage as the Spain captain, Rodri, got his hands on those six kilograms of solid gold bliss, was not the only person to make a spectacle of himself.

It was quite the show overall in the land of the spectacular show. It started with a ceremony, one to officially close the most bloated tournament there has been, which took in all manner of performances. Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of the US anthem before kick-off was certainly something; ditto Tom Cruise’s speech about the beautiful game. We kicked off six minutes late. There was plenty more at half-time. The action on the field did not keep pace.

Argentina had one flicker in the early running when the Spain goalkeeper, Unai Simon, left his line to deal with a Julián Álvarez throughball for Messi. The clearance was straight to Álvarez, but his first touch was poor. That was pretty much it from them in forward-thinking terms.

The game was all about Spain’s dominance of the ball. Nobody cherishes it quite like them. Rodri set the tempo at the back of the midfield while Lamine Yamal had a few eye-catching moments. He went close at the outset. Spain finessed their patterns. They tried to wear Argentina down.

Did anybody enjoy the half-time show? It was a strange detail that Madonna, one of the headline acts, did not actually perform on the pitch. Instead, there was big-screen video of her singing in the back of a car, which was driven by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.

Spain pressed high. They forced turnovers. They probed. Argentina could not free themselves from the choke hold. The chances started to come for Spain after the hydration break in the second half of normal time, and Argentina were indebted to their goalkeeper, Emi Martínez. He finished with 11 saves, some of them excellent. Were Argentina trying to win the World Cup without taking a shot? Scaloni could scarcely have built a lower block, although he doubled down still further in the 101st minute when he introduced Marcos Senesi for Álvarez and went to 5-3-1.

Scaloni restructured in midfield, introducing Paredes in the holding role for the left-winger Nico González. The Argentina manager wanted his players to get closer to their opponents. It was not long before Paredes barged Rodri off the ball and was booked.

Fernández was guilty of losing his composure. Booked in the 83rd minute for dissent, he was asking for trouble when he left something in on Pau Cubarsí to send the Spain defender spinning. Argentina just about reached extra time when Martínez dived to repel a Lamine Yamal free-kick. His best saves before that had denied Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte and Williams.

Spain turned the screw in extra time. Martínez continued to resist, saving once again from Williams. Spain were denied when Mikel Merino, on as a substitute, was adjudged to have fouled another replacement, Nicolás Otamendi, moments before Williams swept home. It was a generous decision for Otamendi, who appeared to throw himself to the ground. Merino glanced wide from a Williams cross when gloriously placed.

Spain’s pressure reached the point when the breakthrough felt inevitable. Torres provided the release, the joy. He would also run through in the 113th minute to beat Martínez again, only to be pulled back for offside. The goal he did score was all that mattered. Luis de la Fuente’s unstarry team have a second one on their shirts.

.

Rodri, Spain’s captain and player of the tournament, lifts the World Cup trophy alongside teammates as they celebrate winning the World Cup. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters

.

.

Click the link below for the complete article:

.

__________________________________________

Click the link below the picture

.

The Pentagon said on Sunday that a third member of the American military had died during a weekend of intense exchanges of attacks with Iran, as the war escalated and the United States began sending more warplanes to the Middle East.

The soldier was killed in northern Iraq during the disposal of a downed Iranian attack drone on Saturday, the Pentagon said. There was no sign of diplomacy between the two sides, and the U.S. military said Sunday evening Eastern time that it had begun conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran for the ninth consecutive night.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Monday that two oil tankers had been disabled after they tried to traverse the Strait of Hormuz via a route that Tehran has warned ships not to use. “Both vessels exploded and were forced to cease movement,” the Guards said in a statement, without providing details or directly claiming responsibility for strikes on the ships. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a monitoring group, earlier reported a vessel on fire off the coast of Oman.

The U.S. military said it had completed another round of strikes against Iran on Sunday night, marking the ninth consecutive night of attacks. U.S. forces’ targets included Iranian military command centers, surveillance sites, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks, Central Command said on social media.

The U.S. Embassy in Manama, Bahrain’s capital, said early Monday that it had “information to suggest that Iran may seek to target unspecified locations in central Manama” and urged Americans to “remain vigilant.” Earlier, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry warned residents to head to safe spaces while sirens were sounding but provided no other details. The embassy’s warning came soon after the U.S. military said it was attacking Iran.

A vessel was on fire early Monday local time about eight nautical miles off of the coast of Oman, according to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a monitoring group run by the British navy. The cause of the fire has not yet been verified, the agency said, noting it had receved the information from unspecified “military authorities” and advising vessels “to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity” while the incident was being investigated. The warning from the maritime authority came shortly after the U.S. military said it was launching attacks on Iran for the ninth consecutive night and Iranian state media reported firing missiles at “enemy targets.

”U.S. Central Command said on Sunday evening that it had begun conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran for the ninth consecutive night to degrade “Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”Kuwaiti air defenses were intercepting drone attacks by Iran, the Kuwaiti military said on social media early Monday local time. Sirens have also sounded in Bahrain, according to its Interior Ministry.

Oil prices cross $90 a barrel as the U.S.-Iran conflict widens.

Oil prices rose, and U.S. stock futures were little changed on Sunday evening after a weekend of fighting between the United States and Iran that left at least three American service members dead in Jordan and Iraq.

The United States has also begun sending more warplanes to the Middle East, signaling that the war may soon ratchet up further, an ominous sign for both oil and stock markets.

The U.S. military said that forces implementing the renewed blockade against Iranian ports, which began again on Tuesday, had as of Sunday redirected six commercial vessels and disabled one to ensure “full compliance.” The blockade was reinstated amid escalating hostilities with Iran, just a few weeks after the two sides reached a truce. During the initial American blockade, from April 13 to June 18, U.S. Central Command said that its forces had “redirected” more than 140 vessels and disabled nine ships that had attempted to get past the blockade.

.

A satellite image of the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, in Azraq, Jordan, which came under Iranian fire last week. Credit…Planet Labs Pbc, via Reuters

.

.

Click the link below for the complete article:

.

__________________________________________

Click the link below the picture

.

By adding just one minute to their daily car commutes, U.S. drivers could be saving more than $20 million—and preventing nearly 60,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions—every day, a new study finds.

The fact that speeding increases fuel use isn’t new, says study co-author Will Northrop, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Minnesota. As a car speeds up, the air resistance pushing against it increases and forces the engine to work harder, using more fuel to achieve the same speed. But we hadn’t put numbers to this effect, which is where Northrop’s team and a dataset of car trajectories from the U.S. came in.

“What’s unique about our work and what motivated us was that we had availability of this very large dataset, which allowed us to really understand the real impact of the vehicle trajectories and speeding on fuel economy,” he says.

The team used a raw dataset collected from vehicle manufacturers that tracked the locations and speeds of cars all over the country every three seconds on four separate days at different points of the year. From there, the researchers mapped the locations onto speed limits and studied the vehicle trajectories; they anonymized the specific GPS coordinates after they made the speeding calculations.

Out of 120 million trips, 43.2 percent included some speeding. Using a supercomputer, Northrop’s team modelled a hypothetical version of each trip without speeding—an intimidating data-processing task that took years.

When the authors extrapolated their findings to an entire year of driving, they estimated that by forgoing speeding, drivers would have saved $22 million per day, based on 2021 gas prices. In a recent analysis adjusted for 2026 gas prices, the daily cost rose to $26 million.

Though the study, published on Thursday in Communications Sustainability, emphasizes the “sheer magnitude of the savings on a daily basis,” Northrop says, further research questions remain. His team is curious about the fuel effects of acceleration and aggressive driving, and other air pollutants that might increase with speeding. This study also doesn’t account for the real-life circumstances around speeding, such as traffic patterns, he adds, which can make it more difficult to stop the habit altogether.

“We don’t have a social solution; we’re engineers,” Northrop says. “We’re putting the data out there for people to know that this is what speeding causes.”

.

James Osmond/Getty Images

.

.

Click the link below for the complete article:

.

__________________________________________