Thursday - April 11 2024, 07:38 UTC - 9 months ago

Harvard scientists have created a metafluid, a liquid made up of tiny, stretchy spheres that can deform under pressure, allowing it to change its properties and shape. This programmable liquid has endless potential applications, from robotics to optics.

Thursday - April 11 2024, 03:05 UTC - 9 months ago

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse occurred over North America, visible to millions of Americans. Earth-observing satellites captured stunning views of the Moon's shadow and the Sun's active outer atmosphere. The path of totality covered parts of 14 US states, and the next total solar eclipse to cross the entire lower 48 states will be in 2045.

Wednesday - April 10 2024, 22:41 UTC - 9 months ago

A study led by Professor Alfred Brendel from TU Dresden explored the influence of chatbot design on user reactions to unsatisfactory answers. The results showed that while human-like design may increase user satisfaction, it does not prevent aggression towards chatbots. Developers should carefully consider the positive and negative effects of human-like design elements.

Wednesday - April 10 2024, 18:27 UTC - 9 months ago

A new study suggests that breaking and repairing DNA in neurons may pave the way for long-lasting memories. Surprisingly, inflammation in certain neurons in the brain’s hippocampal region is essential for making these memories. The hippocampus is a key brain region for encoding memories, and scientists have long believed that rewiring the brain's connections is a fast and unstable process. However, the study found that a subset of neurons alter their connections to encode long-lasting memories, by recruiting proteins that usually fight off bacteria and cause inflammation. This process, called synaptic plasticity, allows for rapid changes in overall neural connections and helps memories form.

Wednesday - April 10 2024, 13:34 UTC - 9 months ago

Scientists have been trying to understand how life began on Earth. Recent research suggests that cracks in rocks, such as those found in early Earth's volcanic and geothermal systems, may have played a key role in purifying the building blocks of life. There are also competing theories on which biomolecule came first - RNA or amino acids - but the search for answers continues with advancements in technology and research.

Wednesday - April 10 2024, 09:00 UTC - 9 months ago

A new study by a Yale-led research team suggests that 'Snowball Earth' events, in which the entire planet was covered in ice, may have been triggered by large asteroid impacts. Using a sophisticated climate model, the team found that in certain climate scenarios, an asteroid strike could have pushed Earth into a 'Snowball' state in just 10 years. This could explain the dramatic climate shifts that occurred during the Neoproterozoic era. The study challenges existing theories about declining greenhouse gases and offers a new perspective on past climate events on Earth.

Wednesday - April 10 2024, 04:11 UTC - 9 months ago

Tesla's FSD feature is set to be out of beta testing in April, with several developments and potential catalysts that could significantly impact Tesla's valuation. These include OEM licenses for FSD, a shift in perception from a car company to a software/AI company, and the potential for a PE multiple shift in the long term.

Tuesday - April 9 2024, 23:23 UTC - 9 months ago

Combinatorial optimization problems (COPs) involve finding the optimal solution from a set of possible combinations or arrangements. These problems are relevant and challenging in various industries. Quantum computers have the potential to solve COPs efficiently due to their ability to handle large amounts of data and explore multiple solutions simultaneously. However, quantum decoherence is a challenge that needs to be addressed. Overall, solving COPs using quantum computers can lead to significant improvements and advancements in various fields.

Tuesday - April 9 2024, 18:27 UTC - 9 months ago

Dragoș Tudorache played a key role in negotiating the AI Act, the first sweeping AI law in the world, as a member of the European Parliament. Although it has been met with criticism, Tudorache believes it strikes a necessary balance between regulating AI and promoting innovation. However, the field of AI is constantly evolving and there is much more to be done in terms of regulation.

Tuesday - April 9 2024, 13:42 UTC - 9 months ago

AI models are consuming vast amounts of energy, with predictions that they will surpass the entire human population by 2040. However, computer scientists at the University of Copenhagen have proposed a benchmark collection of energy-efficient models, with the potential to reduce energy consumption by up to 80% without significant performance loss. By considering energy efficiency from the design stage, we can also decrease the carbon footprint of AI hardware production and combat climate change.

Tuesday - April 9 2024, 09:21 UTC - 9 months ago

xAI, a language processing AI company, is making waves with its innovative technology and impressive list of backers such as Gigafund and Steve Jurvetson. Owned by Elon Musk, xAI is releasing Grok 1.5, a language AI that rivals GPT4, and working on training Grok 2 to surpass GPT4 and Claude 3. If xAI's valuation reaches that of OpenAI, it would be worth over $80 billion.

Tuesday - April 9 2024, 04:29 UTC - 9 months ago

A dairy worker in Texas tested positive for avian influenza, the second reported case in the United States. The virus is still mainly a bird virus and there is no evidence of easy person-to-person transmission. Scientists are working on creating genetically engineered animals resistant to the virus, but for cattle, options are limited. While there is no need to panic, caution is still advised as the virus has the potential to evolve into a major threat to human health.

Monday - April 8 2024, 23:41 UTC - 9 months ago

In 2024, researchers used CSIRO's Murriyang telescope to make an unprecedented discovery: unusual radio pulses coming from magnetar XTE J1810-197, the closest known magnetar to Earth at 8,000 light years away. This magnetar emits circularly polarized light, suggesting complex interactions at its surface, and a superheated plasma acting as a polarizing filter. The discovery was made possible by CSIRO's cutting-edge receiver, and studying magnetars can provide insights into extreme and unusual phenomena in the Universe.

Monday - April 8 2024, 19:08 UTC - 9 months ago

Professor Jeongho Kwak from DGIST has developed an optimized learning model and resource allocation technology for 6G vision services, reducing computational requirements by up to 50% while maintaining high accuracy. This has the potential to greatly impact industries and fields such as healthcare, transportation, and artificial intelligence. Professor Kwak's work has been recognized and his technology has shown promising results in various applications.

Monday - April 8 2024, 14:29 UTC - 9 months ago

The upcoming solar eclipse on April 8 is a must-see event, and here's how to safely watch and photograph it. Make sure to plan ahead and check the weather forecast, secure proper eye protection, and use a filter on your camera. You can also join in on livestreams if visibility is poor. Enjoy this rare and exciting celestial event!.

Monday - April 8 2024, 09:33 UTC - 9 months ago

AI is teaching robots to smile in a more human-like and genuine way by analyzing slight facial changes and predicting human expressions. This helps build trust between humans and robots as they enter our world for various purposes such as customer service, dangerous jobs, and assisting the elderly. However, there are concerns about the potential impact on human relationships and blurring the lines between humans and machines.

Monday - April 8 2024, 04:44 UTC - 9 months ago

A new study has uncovered a potential link between the gut microbiome and cardiovascular disease. Researchers found that a species of bacteria called Oscillibacter may help lower cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of heart disease. The discovery could lead to targeted interventions to manipulate the microbiome and improve heart health. Further research is needed to understand the full impact of the microbiome on overall well-being.

Monday - April 8 2024, 00:07 UTC - 9 months ago

Large language models are complex and powerful tools in AI, but scientists still struggle to understand how they work. These models have shown impressive results in natural language tasks, but also raised concerns about potential biases and harmful language. Researchers are exploring ways to make these models more transparent and interpretable, while companies are increasingly using them in various applications such as chatbots and virtual assistants.

Sunday - April 7 2024, 19:35 UTC - 9 months ago

Threads, a short text post platform created by Meta and connected to Instagram, succeeded in Taiwan due to its smaller user base and the country's political climate. Its success is a rare win for Meta, as replicating it in other countries will be a challenge.