Photo courtesy of Xfinity

With hurricane season officially underway, experts are urging residents to ensure their home technology is ready for severe weather.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently released its 2025 forecast, predicting an active season with above-average water temperatures in the Atlantic setting the stage for future storms. NOAA’s outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season, which goes from June 1 to November 30, predicts a 60% change of an above-normal season.

In addition to hurricane kits with medical supplies, food, and water, residents in southeast Texas are urged to make sure their home technology is ready to weather the season.

“Preparation is key,” says Foti Kallergis, senior director of public relations at Comcast Texas, who emphasized the importance of protecting home technology ahead of any severe storm.

“Using surge protectors for TVs, modems, and cable boxes can prevent damage from lightning strikes and power surges,” Kallergis says. “And moving hardware off the floor helps safeguard against flooding.”

After Hurricane Beryl hit southeast Texas last year, millions were left without power, highlighting the essential role of internet access during disasters. Kallergis noted that restoring electricity takes priority, but once power crews finish their work, Comcast teams stand ready to reestablish Xfinity services.

To further assist residents during emergencies, Xfinity offers several tools designed to maintain connectivity:

  • Pro WiFi extender: This keeps you connected even during power outages. This includes a storm-ready device and battery backup to help keep your home online for up to four hours through network and power outages with unlimited cellular data on a 4G LTE cellular network.
  • Enroll in text alerts: Update your contact info through the Xfinity app or Xfinity.com to receive text alerts about service interruptions. Simply text START to 266278 (COMCST).
  • Download the Xfinity Stream app: The Xfinity Stream app lets you watch live local news reports on any device, so you can stay informed no matter where you are.
  • Check your data plan: The Xfinity Mobile app allows you to adjust or upgrade your data plan, turning your phone into a hotspot if needed.

Hurricane season runs through November, with peak activity typically occurring between August and October. Kallergis encourages residents to visit their nearest Xfinity store for guidance on setting up storm-ready tech.

"Now is the perfect time to prepare," he says. "Staying informed and connected can make a big difference when severe weather strikes."

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Axiom Space-tested cancer drug advances to clinical trials

mission critical

A cancer-fighting drug tested aboard several Axiom Space missions is moving forward to clinical trials.

Rebecsinib, which targets a cancer cloning and immune evasion gene, ADAR1, has received FDA approval to enter clinical trials under active Investigational New Drug (IND) status, according to a news release. The drug was tested aboard Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) and Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3). It was developed by Aspera Biomedicine, led by Dr. Catriona Jamieson, director of the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute (SSCI).

The San Diego-based Aspera team and Houston-based Axiom partnered to allow Rebecsinib to be tested in microgravity. Tumors have been shown to grow more rapidly in microgravity and even mimic how aggressive cancers can develop in patients.

“In terms of tumor growth, we see a doubling in growth of these little mini-tumors in just 10 days,” Jamieson explained in the release.

Rebecsinib took part in the patient-derived tumor organoid testing aboard the International Space Station. Similar testing is planned to continue on Axiom Station, the company's commercial space station that's currently under development.

Additionally, the drug will be tested aboard Ax-4 under its active IND status, which was targeted to launch June 25.

“We anticipate that this monumental mission will inform the expanded development of the first ADAR1 inhibitory cancer stem cell targeting drug for a broad array of cancers," Jamieson added.

According to Axiom, the milestone represents the potential for commercial space collaborations.

“We’re proud to work with Aspera Biomedicines and the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute, as together we have achieved a historic milestone, and we’re even more excited for what’s to come,” Tejpaul Bhatia, the new CEO of Axiom Space, said in the release. “This is how we crack the code of the space economy – uniting public and private partners to turn microgravity into a launchpad for breakthroughs.”