Saturday - January 6 2024, 13:57 UTC - 10 months ago

Microsoft has introduced a new feature called "Copilot key" for Windows 11 PCs, designed to make it easier to use AI functionalities on their computers. The Copilot is an AI feature brand under Microsoft to consolidate its AI-powered companions. The "Copilot key" will be visible on various new Windows 11 PCs and upcoming Surface devices starting in late February 2024, running on Intel and ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, accompanied by Neural Processing Units (NPUs). It is a step towards facilitating increased involvement in the ongoing transformation of technology driven by artificial intelligence.

Saturday - January 6 2024, 09:31 UTC - 10 months ago

MIT researchers recently developed a method of controlling the parameters related to metal nanoparticle exsolution through ion irradiation. This method provides better control over exsolution to realize its full potential and enables the production of nanostructured oxides from a single-step reductive or oxidative treatment. It can also be used to reduce the size of nanoparticles down to 2 nm, and tailor nanoparticle composition from unitary metal to metal alloy. The nanocatalysts produced have shown superior catalytic activity towards water-splitting reactions than those produced using conventional exsolution methods.

Saturday - January 6 2024, 05:05 UTC - 10 months ago

John Francis Brady ’48, SM ’50 was a 16-year-old first-year student at MIT in September 1945. He was accepted into the Air Force ROTC programme and completed his MIT master's degree in 1950. After his master's degree, he took a job at the Naval Torpedo Station in Newport, Rhode Island and rose quickly from director of research to director of development. He earned a PhD from the University of Rhode Island and spent the rest of his career at Raytheon helping to develop its torpedo division. In 1991 at age 63, Brady retired and dedicated himself to sailing, skiing, and spending time with his 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Saturday - January 6 2024, 00:34 UTC - 10 months ago

In a recent study, it was discovered that societal acceptability for digital resurrection is drastically higher when the deceased has given consent. Moreover, most respondents disagreed with their own digital resurrection and 40% of respondents did not find any kind of digital resurrection socially acceptable, even with expressed consent. Thus, highlighting the necessity for ethic and legal work surrounding digital resurrection.

Friday - January 5 2024, 20:04 UTC - 10 months ago

For the start of a new year, many people aim to develop a healthier approach to their lifestyle. Conventional wisdom suggests resisting unhealthy temptations by thinking about long-term consequences, such as diabetes and obesity, however our combined research suggests that thinking about the immediate effects is more effective. We suggest three approaches, backed by research, to help you stick to healthier habits including, focusing on the immediate effects, reframing how we think about healthy foods and making healthy options quick and easy to access.

Friday - January 5 2024, 15:10 UTC - 10 months ago

New theoretical research suggests that dark matter mini-halos scattered throughout the cosmos can act as probes of primordial magnetic fields. If magnetic fields are indeed primordial then it could cause an increase in dark matter density perturbations, forming mini-halos of dark matter. The growth in baryon density gravitationally induces the growth of dark matter perturbations without the possibility of subsequent cancellation, thus being a possible indication of primordial magnetic fields.

Friday - January 5 2024, 10:37 UTC - 10 months ago

Duncan has found his calling in palindromes, writing with an enthusiasm that he could not have imagined as a teenager with lessons from his dad. Despite having no real example to follow, Duncan kept working at it and eventually achieved such proficiency that he could compose palindromes on just about any subject. His writing process begins with the letters of the alphabet on the top of the page, followed by brainstorming words and shaping them into a phrase or sentence. He counts the number of letters and cuts them down to size, and reads the palindrome aloud to check for any errors in structure or meaning.

Friday - January 5 2024, 05:46 UTC - 10 months ago

In 2022, Sawaka Kawashima Romaine became the first female president of the MIT Club of Japan. In 2023, she organized a series of nine events across Asia to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Ellen Swallow Richards graduation from MIT. The events featured talks about women leading the way in STEM and a STEM workshop in Japan for female students in grades 5 to 7.

Friday - January 5 2024, 00:52 UTC - 10 months ago

Avangrid has reached a milestone in the Vineyard Wind 1 project, having installed the first five turbines and staying on the path to reduce carbon emissions with the help of the offshore wind farm. Despite a slight delay in the initial power delivery timeline, Avangrid remains committed to powering 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts by mid-2024.

Thursday - January 4 2024, 20:45 UTC - 10 months ago

In 2023, AI growth has triggered a global risk of extinction due to its complexity, lack of understanding, and the effect of people's perceptions on AI models. To mitigate the risk, governments have pledged cooperation, while researchers focus on making sure AI models are aligned with human values. AI originates from a mathematical definition by neurophysiologist Warren McCulloch and logician Walter Pitts, and is intertwined with the cognitive sciences, neuroscience and computer science.

Thursday - January 4 2024, 15:57 UTC - 10 months ago

A new study conducted by Japanese researchers has shown impressive remission rates for rheumatoid arthritis patients taking JAK inhibitors, a new form of treatment, with many long-term patients still on the medication after six months.

Thursday - January 4 2024, 11:01 UTC - 10 months ago

Investors have put in over $5 billion in an effort to establish quantum computing. Researchers have recently made breakthroughs that make noise suppression, mitigation and cleanup of quantum errors possible, and IBM has released a cloud-enabled 54-qubit processor. Quantum computing has the potential to simulate molecules, optimize logistics and more.

Thursday - January 4 2024, 06:13 UTC - 10 months ago

As part of an effort to fill out new squadrons with uncrewed systems, the United States Marine Corps has reached a critical milestone of 100 trained pilots for its General Atomics MQ-9 "Reaper" drones. This milestone will allow the Corps to extend its drone-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and equip new squadrons with unmanned systems. To continue expanding their drone program, the Corps plans to set up the MQ-9A Fleet Replacement Squadron in Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Thursday - January 4 2024, 01:16 UTC - 10 months ago

Scientists have devised a new way to identify habitable planets based on the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, by comparing it with neighboring planets. The method requires current facilities using infrared light to observe, and helps show environmental tipping points. The lead author of the research is Amaury Triaud, Professor of Exoplanetology at the University of Birmingham.

Wednesday - January 3 2024, 20:22 UTC - 10 months ago

Lenore Blum is a pioneering mathematical scientist, social activist, and educational advocate, with a career spanning mathematics, computer science, logic, cryptography, and computation. Her many advocacy efforts include founding the Association for Women in Mathematics and developing many programs to help support women students. She has also worked with her husband Manuel Blum on several initiatives, including a mathematical model of consciousness. Quanta spoke with Blum about her career and advocacy work.

Wednesday - January 3 2024, 15:34 UTC - 10 months ago

An analysis in Clinical Psychological Science challenges the notion that trigger warnings can provide individuals with a heads-up to emotionally brace themselves or avoid content that may resonate with past traumas. This research showed that distress levels remained consistent, whether participants were forewarned or not, due to a "forbidden fruit" effect, which could make potentially aversive material more tempting to viewers. It suggests that emotional regulation training could be more meaningful in helping people use these warnings to better prepare themselves beforehand.

Wednesday - January 3 2024, 10:29 UTC - 10 months ago

Two UK inventors ingeniously transformed a simple recliner sofa into a comfortable vehicle through clever engineering tricks, documented via a 3-year-old video. It boasted 3D modeling and the use of basic equipment, such as a Briggs and Stratton 9 horsepower motor. Remarkably maneuverable and enjoyable-to-ride, the sofa executed drifting maneuvers, and showcased the joy of open-top driving, making it a tribute to garage innovators.

Wednesday - January 3 2024, 05:34 UTC - 10 months ago

USC Viterbi's Information Sciences Institute (ISI) researchers Dong-Ho Lee and Jay Pujara have developed an innovative method that boosts the performance of moderating content in live streams by 35%. They used a dataset of 4,583 norm-violating comments on Twitch moderated by human channel moderators, and their model successfully facilitated the curation of conversations into communities that share similar interests and values. It takes into account factors such as how words are used and where they are positioned in the context of a conversation, and achieved an accuracy rate of 90%.

Wednesday - January 3 2024, 00:48 UTC - 10 months ago

Researchers at Osaka University have identified a protein, HKDC1, that plays a key role in maintaining two subcellular structures, mitochondria and lysosomes, thereby helping to prevent cellular senescence. This discovery opens new avenues for therapeutic approaches to age-related diseases.