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Former NASA Chief Astronaut Patrick Forrester Retires

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2 years ago

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WASHINGTON, July 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — NASA astronaut Patrick G. Forrester retired June 29, after a career spanning 31 years of service and three spaceflights. He went on to become chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office, and most recently served as an advisor to the associate administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Forrester joined the agency in 1993 as an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and was selected to become an astronaut in 1996. He dedicated his early career to the assembly of the International Space Station, spending 40 days in space and completing four spacewalks totaling 25 hours and 30 minutes.

“Pat’s dedication and commitment to the advancement of human space exploration over the past three decades has been an inspiration, not just to the Johnson workforce, but the Artemis generation as well,” said NASA’s Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche. “I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Pat for his outstanding contributions. His legacy will continue to impact the agency and the next generation of explorers for many years to come. Many congratulations to Pat; I wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Forrester launched to the space station for the first time in August 2001 aboard space shuttle Discovery in support of STS-105. Forrester was the mission’s prime robotics operator, helping to install the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module that would help deliver 2.7 metric tons of supplies to the station. He flew again with STS-117 in June 2007 aboard space shuttle Atlantis, delivering the orbiting laboratory’s second starboard truss and its third set of solar arrays. His final spaceflight, STS-128 aboard Discovery, launched in August 2009. As prime robotics officer, Forrester again installed Leonardo and the crew transferred 18,000 pounds of supplies.

Forrester continued to support the astronaut corps through numerous leadership positions, serving as technical assistant to the director of Flight Crew Operations. He was a crew representative of robotics development on the space station and shuttle training and onboard crew procedures. Forrester also held the role of spacecraft communicator, or CAPCOM, for both station and shuttle missions.

In 2017, Forrester became chief of the Astronaut Office, overseeing the first flights of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and helping develop the initial architecture for the agency’s Artemis campaign. In 2020, he stepped down from his chief position, handing over to NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman.

“Pat’s leadership was instrumental during a time where NASA was just starting to launch our astronauts from American soil again,” said Norm Knight, director of flight operations at NASA Johnson. “I admire his courage, his tenacity, and his character during such a dynamic time in our history, and I thank him for laying a strong foundation, not just in his role as chief astronaut, but through his career in human spaceflight. To me, he is a mentor and a friend, and I wish him all the best.”

At the time of his retirement, Forrester supported the Space Operations Mission Directorate, serving as the director of the Cross-Directorate Technical Integration Office and an adviser to the directorate’s associate administrator and fellow NASA astronaut Ken Bowersox.

“Pat is an incredible leader who has provided invaluable service to NASA’s astronaut corps and human spaceflight during his career,” said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for space operations at NASA. “In the Space Operations Mission Directorate, his influence will be felt long after his departure as we continue to work every day in low Earth orbit and prepare for the future near Earth, at the Moon, Mars and into the solar system.”

An El Paso, Texas, native, Forrester earned a bachelor of science degree in applied sciences and engineering from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York, and a master of science in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. A retired colonel in the U.S. Army, Forrester logged more than 5,300 hours of flight time in over 50 different aircraft as an operational aviator and test pilot, retiring in 2005.

“It has been an honor to serve our nation as a member of the NASA family. Many of the stories I will tell for the rest of my life will be related to my experiences here,” said Forrester. “I look forward to watching my friends and colleagues circle the Moon and eventually land on its surface – with the help of all those serving faithfully on the ground. I am forever grateful.”

Read Forrester’s full biography at:

https://go.nasa.gov/45NnfUA

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SOURCE NASA

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Genedata Expands AI Discovery Workflows with NVIDIA BioNeMo Open Models, Including the New RFD4-Proteina Release

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16 minutes ago

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October 22, 2026

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Bringing next-generation binder design models into production discovery

BASEL, Switzerland, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Genedata, a Danaher company, and the leading provider of enterprise software solutions for biopharmaceutical R&D, today announced the addition of the new RFD4-Proteina binder design model into Genedata’s AI-enabled discovery workflows, following the model’s introduction at NVIDIA GTC Berlin. As an early ecosystem partner, Genedata is among the first companies to make RFD4-Proteina available within its production discovery workflows. By connecting AI-generated molecular designs, scientific data, and laboratory results, Genedata helps researchers transform AI predictions into continuous learning cycles that accelerate biologics discovery.

The workflow begins with scientists defining target characteristics and required properties using Genedata’s AI co-scientist. NVIDIA’s open protein design models then generate and evaluate candidate binders within Genedata. As candidates move into laboratory testing, results are captured and linked back to the original designs, helping scientists refine and rank the next round.

“Advances in AI are creating unprecedented opportunities for protein and antibody discovery, but unlocking their full value requires more than access to powerful models alone,” said Othmar Pfannes, Ph.D., President of Genedata. “Researchers need a way to connect molecular design, experimental execution, and scientific data into a continuous learning process. Genedata serves as the digital backbone that brings these elements together, helping scientists evaluate more candidates before testing, preserve the scientific context behind each outcome, and build knowledge from one discovery cycle to the next.”

While advances in generative AI are rapidly expanding what scientists can design, many organizations still struggle to operationalize these models within production scientific research workflows. Genedata provides the orchestration, governance, and scientific data foundation needed to deploy NVIDIA BioNeMo open models, including RFD4-Proteina, directly within the discovery workflows scientists use every day. Researchers can apply AI-generated designs within established processes while maintaining lineage, traceability, and scientific context across the discovery lifecycle.

Within Danaher’s autonomous laboratory initiative, these capabilities connect AI, automation, and scientific data in a closed-loop discovery framework where each experimental outcome informs the next design cycle, creating a continuous learn-and-improve process that advances science while keeping scientists in control.

About Genedata
Genedata, a Danaher company and the leading provider of enterprise software solutions for biopharma R&D, transforms biopharma data into intelligence. Our innovative solutions combine deep science, technology, and AI domain knowledge. Leading biopharma organizations and cutting-edge biotechs partner with Genedata to digitalize and automate complex data workflows. Our advanced analytics and embedded AI enable data-driven decisions. From early discovery through development to the clinic, Genedata solutions drive innovation and maximize ROI being trusted by customers worldwide for more than 25 years.

www.genedata.com
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About Danaher
Danaher is a leading global life sciences and diagnostics innovator, committed to accelerating the power of science and technology to improve human health. Through our connected ecosystem of industry-leading businesses, we work side by side with customers to solve their most complex scientific and clinical challenges—helping move innovations from discovery to delivery faster for patients who depend on them. Powered by the Danaher Business System, our advanced science and technology and proven ability to innovate help enable faster, more accurate diagnoses and reduce the time, cost, and risk required to discover, develop, and deliver life-changing therapies. Through continuous improvement and operational excellence, our approximately 60,000 associates worldwide are focused on delivering lasting impact and improving quality of life around the world, while building a healthier, more sustainable tomorrow. Explore more at www.danaher.com.

Disclaimer

The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties related to contract cancellations, developing risks, competitive factors, uncertainties pertaining to customer orders, demand for products and services, development of markets for the Company’s products and services. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

All product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

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SOURCE Genedata

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Bybit AI Empowers Users with Their Personal Financial Edge, Adding Personalization and Memory

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16 minutes ago

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October 22, 2026

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DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, the New Financial Platform trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, has announced new personalization and memory features for Bybit AI, its in-app intelligent conversational layer. Bybit AI now builds a profile from each user’s assets, positions, behavior and risk profile, connecting wealth, markets and trading across the Bybit ecosystem.

Launched in September, Bybit AI organically unifies Bybit’s core services within a single chat interface. The newly added features extend its capacity from responding to individual requests to maintaining a continuous understanding of the user, giving each user their personal financial edge.

Putting the user at the center, Bybit AI is evolving on three pillars:

Personalized: With permissions granted and limits set, Bybit AI analyzes actual account information, including financial behavior and risk profile alongside assets and positions, to generate outputs tailored to the individual.Connected: Bybit AI links Markets, Trading, Earn, Card and other Bybit products, drawing on the full picture of a user’s holdings and activity rather than a single product.Remembered: Users can proactively share their preferences with Bybit AI, which retains this context through long-term memory so that each conversation builds on the previous one.

The release also introduces Featured, a set of customized entry points for specific use cases. Each entry point offers predefined prompts, such as generating a wealth management plan based on a user’s assets and risk tolerance, and returns structured analysis with key data, clear insights and suggested next steps.

Bybit AI supports main account operations while giving users the option to deploy it within a dedicated Bybit AI sub-account. The AI-powered assistant is built on a security-first architecture. Outputs are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Instructions are executed in chats only after customer authorizations.

Bybit expects to introduce further updates to Bybit AI as it continues to build toward AI-native financial services, with conversational intelligence positioned as core infrastructure.

To explore Bybit AI and learn more about how it works, users may visit: Bybit AI  – Learn how to use Bybit through conversation.

#Bybit  / #NewFinancialPlatform 

About Bybit

Bybit is The New Financial Platform.

We believe every person should have access to every financial opportunity on earth. That’s why we’re building the first intelligent platform that connects anyone, anywhere to the world’s finance.

Trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, Bybit brings together investing, trading, payments, and wealth-building in a single secure and intelligent ecosystem. Through the combination of AI-powered technology, deep global liquidity, robust security, and transparent operations, Bybit makes global finance more accessible, efficient, and empowering for everyone.

Built for everyone. Powered by intelligence. Open to the world.

Learn more at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com

For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

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Poq is now a Shopify Certified Technology Partner

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16 minutes ago

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October 22, 2026

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LONDON, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —  poq, the native mobile app platform for retail brands, today announced it has been recognised as a Shopify Certified Technology Partner. Shopify’s certification is reserved for app partners that meet Shopify’s standards for quality, security, performance and support. poq is now listed in the Shopify Technology Partner Directory and the Certified Technology Partner App Store Collection, making it easier for enterprise Shopify merchants to find and adopt a proven native app platform.

poq already powers native iOS and Android apps for joint customers including Ardene, Steve Madden UK, e.l.f. Beauty (globally), Horze (pan-European), Mamas & Papas (UK) and ECO. Modern Essentials (ANZ and UK). Across the poq platform, shoppers convert at 1.8 times the rate of mobile web, based on the median across 21 brands from January 2025 to January 2026.

“Certification from Shopify is independent validation that poq meets the high standard Shopify sets for its technology partners,” said Jay Johnston, CEO of poq. “Our customers use their apps to build loyalty and drive repeat purchases from their most valuable shoppers. This recognition means more Shopify merchants can launch a high-performing native app with confidence, on a platform already proven at scale across four continents.”

Results for Shopify Brands

European equestrian retailer Horze moved to Shopify and chose to stay with poq for its native app. “After choosing to continue working together, I can confidently say that this was absolutely the right decision. The level of motivation, ownership, and commitment the poq team demonstrated throughout the project was truly impressive,” said Dominik Schlag, CFO of Horze.

In the UK, Mamas & Papas uses its poq app to make shopping easier for busy parents. “Our poq app makes shopping with us quick and easy wherever they are, and drives loyalty and repeat purchases,” said Jo Molineux, Digital Director at Mamas & Papas.

About poq

poq is a leading Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that empowers retailers and brands to create and maintain engaging, high-performance native mobile apps. With a focus on driving customer engagement and revenue, poq’s platform enables seamless integration, powerful personalisation, and an enhanced shopping experience for businesses worldwide. Learn more at poqcommerce.com.

Media contact
Emma Williams, Marketing Lead
emma.williams@poqcommerce.com  

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SOURCE Poq

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