Monday - April 22 2024, 09:14 UTC - 7 months ago

Volunteers led by hydrobiologist Jari Ilmonen are working to protect the endangered Saimaa ringed seals of Finland's Lake Saimaa. Due to climate change, the seals' natural snow shelters are no longer reliable, so the team constructs artificial snowbanks to provide a safe haven for seal pups. Thanks to these efforts, the seal population has increased from 100 in the 1980s to 400 today. The team is made up of a diverse group of individuals, all dedicated to saving these rare creatures.

Monday - April 22 2024, 04:28 UTC - 7 months ago

Boston Dynamics has retired its hydraulic Atlas robot and debuted a fully electric version. The new Atlas is capable of new contorting movements and features a more friendly design. While most upgrades are improvements, it's unclear how the new form will fare in terms of strength and power compared to the previous hydraulic version.

Sunday - April 21 2024, 23:31 UTC - 7 months ago

Researchers have identified that depletion of mitochondria in axons can lead to abnormal protein accumulation in neurons, a key feature of neurodegenerative diseases. The team also found that this is caused by upregulation of eIF2β, a protein involved in the initiation of protein production. Artificially suppressing levels of eIF2β was found to restore protein recycling and neuron function, providing potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

Sunday - April 21 2024, 18:40 UTC - 7 months ago

Humanoid robots are becoming increasingly agile, but there have been few real-world applications. Researchers are now using sim-to-real reinforcement learning to teach robots the fundamentals of movement and navigate various environments. This technique involves training AI models in simulations before deploying them to robots in the real world, resulting in faster learning. Successful experiments have been conducted, with robots now able to stand, walk, and pick up objects. The focus is now on making robots more adaptable and robust for everyday usage.

Sunday - April 21 2024, 14:07 UTC - 7 months ago

Despite February 2024 being the warmest February globally, North America, Asia, and parts of Europe experienced record-breaking cold temperatures due to the Warm Arctic-Cold Continent (WACC) phenomenon. A study by the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology found that WACC events will continue to intensify until the 2020s and then sharply decline, leading to milder winters but potentially more severe consequences when extreme cold snaps occur. This trend will continue until the WACC phenomenon nearly disappears by the late 21st century, bringing new extreme weather events. The study emphasizes the need for updated climate models to accurately predict and prepare for the impacts of WACC events.

Sunday - April 21 2024, 09:14 UTC - 7 months ago

Claude Sonnet, an AI by OpenAI, analyzed a picture of a SpaceX Starship refueling in space and provided insights into the future of space exploration. Its understanding highlighted advancements in technology and the importance of sustainability. Although limited, Claude's ideation capabilities make it a valuable tool for space exploration.

Sunday - April 21 2024, 04:09 UTC - 7 months ago

A little-known connection between MSG and computer chips has caught the attention of researchers and policymakers. A Japanese company controls over 90% of a crucial material used in chipmaking, prompting a race to find an alternative. Government funding and the intricate nature of chipmaking make breaking the monopoly a challenge. China's push for self-sufficiency in the face of a US-led blockade adds another level of urgency.

Saturday - April 20 2024, 23:52 UTC - 7 months ago

Tesla has a massive 400 Exaflop compute power from their confirmed 100,000 H100 order, which is expected to grow to 1200 Exaflops by 2024. This will drive the development of self-driving technology and robotaxi, as confirmed by multiple sources and discussed in a presentation in April 2024.

Saturday - April 20 2024, 18:58 UTC - 7 months ago

Advancements in neuromorphic computing aim to mimic the power efficiency and associative processing of the human brain. Research from UC San Diego and UC Riverside is exploring the use of disordered superconducting loops to store and transmit information. This has the potential to significantly reduce power consumption and increase processing speed.

Saturday - April 20 2024, 14:49 UTC - 7 months ago

Graph neural networks (GNNs) are widely used in recommendation systems, but their scalability becomes a challenge with increasing graph size. Researchers have proposed strategies such as parallelization and simplification to improve scalability and also achieve better performance and generalization.

Saturday - April 20 2024, 10:13 UTC - 7 months ago

Neuralink's implant, named Telepathy, featured a paralyzed man playing computer chess with his mind. Companies in the field aim to decipher brain activity for communication, and classify devices based on invasiveness. Greater invasiveness results in greater risks but also higher-resolution data. Companies like Neuralink and Paradromics hope to decode speech. Blackrock Neurotech leads in experience, with their Utah array being used in dozens of people and forming the basis of their MoveAgain device.

Saturday - April 20 2024, 05:17 UTC - 7 months ago

The discovery of neutrino oscillations in 1998 revealed that these elusive particles have a small mass, challenging the standard model of particle physics. Scientists are now using complex experiments to measure the exact mass of neutrinos, providing insights into the existence of new physics and potentially revealing the secrets of dark matter and cosmic rays.

Saturday - April 20 2024, 00:21 UTC - 7 months ago

Researchers have successfully created a 2D version of gold called "goldene" using a technique borrowed from Japanese knife makers. This atomically thin material promises a range of applications in chemistry, electronics, and optics. Its unique properties could open up new possibilities for this already versatile material, and the potential for even more exotic capabilities is an exciting prospect for researchers.

Friday - April 19 2024, 19:22 UTC - 7 months ago

In order to reach emissions reduction goals, rail transportation must find new energy sources. California has implemented regulations requiring all new passenger and freight locomotives to be zero-emissions. There is ongoing debate about the best technology to decarbonize railroads, with hydrogen currently emerging as the top choice. However, installing overhead wire as an alternative would require consent from major freight carriers and come with significant costs.

Friday - April 19 2024, 14:23 UTC - 7 months ago

A patient with severe liver damage has received an injection that could grow a mini liver inside their body, potentially providing an alternative to organ transplantation. The treatment involves injecting healthy liver cells into lymph nodes, and if successful, could also benefit those with kidney failure or diabetes. This approach differs from traditional regenerative therapies and has already shown success in animal models.

Friday - April 19 2024, 09:34 UTC - 7 months ago

Researchers have created a probabilistic computer prototype that combines traditional and quantum bits for more efficient and faster computing. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize industries such as artificial intelligence, cryptography, and financial modeling.

Friday - April 19 2024, 05:31 UTC - 7 months ago

ESA's Gaia mission has uncovered a massive dormant black hole, named Gaia BH3, with a mass of 33 times that of the Sun, challenging current theories on black hole formation. The discovery was made possible by data from the Gaia mission and other telescopes, and its composition suggests it was formed by a massive star with few heavy elements. This is the third dormant black hole found by Gaia and its high mass makes it a unique and exciting discovery for scientists. Further research may provide insights into the formation of dormant black holes.

Friday - April 19 2024, 00:53 UTC - 7 months ago

On June 23, 1993, the future of NASA's space program hung in the balance with a tied vote in the House of Representatives to cancel the space station project. Thanks to the convincing efforts of NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin, a last minute vote by Representative John Lewis saved the day, ultimately leading to the launch and continued operation of the International Space Station.

Thursday - April 18 2024, 19:55 UTC - 7 months ago

The fear of judgment in professional settings can lead to a lack of diversity in ideas and hinder creativity and innovation. It's crucial for senior colleagues and managers to create a safe and inclusive environment where team members feel comfortable expressing themselves. Studies have shown that psychological safety leads to higher levels of creativity, productivity, and job satisfaction.