Wednesday - November 8 2023, 16:37 UTC - 1 year ago

EPFL researchers have developed a new distributed algorithm called Quepaxa that solves one of the key performance and reliability problems of the currently-deployed consensus protocols. Quepaxa is an asynchronous consensus protocol that is just as fast and efficient as the widely deployed leader-based protocols under normal network conditions and automatically switches to its asynchronous properties to keep working if the network or leader fails.

Wednesday - November 8 2023, 12:29 UTC - 1 year ago

A team of scientists is developing the world's first finger-prick diagnostic for identifying brain tumors, a non-invasive method that provides an early warning of a tumor's potential return. Developed by Nottingham Trent University in collaboration with the University of Sheffield, this lateral flow test has the potential to save millions of lives around the world and improve survival rates for brain cancer patients.

Wednesday - November 8 2023, 07:53 UTC - 1 year ago

The world of computing is edging closer to the world of artificial intelligence, but the hardware requirements needed are still a challenge. Researchers from Purdue University, University of California San Diego (USCD) and École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles (ESPCI) in Paris, France, have found a new way to rework hardware by mimicking the synapses of the human brain using vanadium oxides. Neuromorphic architectures require lower energy consumption and have the potential for enhancing computation, native learning and pattern recognition.

Wednesday - November 8 2023, 03:06 UTC - 1 year ago

Data brokers in the US are selling sensitive private data about active-duty military members and veterans for as little as $0.12 per record. This data includes their names, home addresses, geolocation, net worth, and religion, and information about their children and health conditions. The researchers are calling on Congress to pass a comprehensive privacy law that restricts the data broker industry.

Tuesday - November 7 2023, 22:28 UTC - 1 year ago

The powering up of the world’s largest fusion reactor in Japan shows long-term, government-run projects still have a lead. The JT-60SA experimental reactor is currently being tested and results from this machine will guide the development of the much larger ITER reactor being built in France. Fusion power startups have emerged with much more aggressive schedules and are expected to have a working fusion power plant up and running by the early 2030s.

Tuesday - November 7 2023, 17:49 UTC - 1 year ago

Oneka Technologies, a Canadian startup, has unveiled their environment-friendly desalination technology that uses wave energy instead of electricity to provide drinking water to countries without worrying about its climate impact. This technology is more marine life-friendly as it does not emit carbon and releases the processed wastewater back into the sea safely.

Tuesday - November 7 2023, 13:02 UTC - 1 year ago

The executive order of the White House is a big bet on watermarking and content authentication methods as a way to fight AI-generated misinformation. The Department of Commerce will be establishing standards and best practices for detecting AI-generated content and authenticating official content. Researchers have recently published a paper outlining principles for deploying AI-content authentication. The order doesn’t require companies to adopt these technologies, but could have a big impact on how it’s used in the future.

Tuesday - November 7 2023, 08:48 UTC - 1 year ago

In June 2023, Vast launched its Orbiter SN3 mission aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. The mission was undefined due to an orbital spinning speed issue. The incident caused Vast to delay its SN5 mission until February 2024, as well as initiated the hiring of a former NASA astronaut advisor. Additionally, Axiom Space was granted the capability to connect its modules to the International Space Station, and Vast was provided with agreements from NASA to create artificial gravity stations. Combined, companies like Vast and Axiom Space continue to push research and exploration of space through its commercial space station efforts.

Tuesday - November 7 2023, 04:11 UTC - 1 year ago

Recent research pushes against the depiction of the Middle Ages as ignorant and superstitious by providing evidence of the consistency and rationality of Dark Age medical practices. This period saw the emergence of a medical philosophy that championed manipulating the physical world for religious duty. During this time, religious institutions and manuscripts provided a framework for research and religious orthodoxy was integrated with medical knowledge. The rise of vulture medicines was based on a long tradition of remedies derived from plants, animals, and minerals, as detailed in ancient texts which are still referenced today.

Monday - November 6 2023, 23:19 UTC - 1 year ago

Human brains have two processing methods, System 1 (fast) and System 2 (slow) thinking. Researchers gave OpenAI LLMs a battery of tests to exhibit cognitive biases to prompt System 1 responses. Later versions, like GPT-3, showed capability of engaging in more strategic, careful problem-solving, suggesting the ability to "slow down" similarly to how System 2 operates in the human brain.

Monday - November 6 2023, 19:00 UTC - 1 year ago

The Foresight Workshops in 2022 and 2023 discussed topics related to the advancements of Molecular Nanotechnology. Talks were given on topics such as making a lattice of DNA origami, molecular printing, and the use of hydrogels and carbon nanotubes. Lastly, work is also being done to improve the accuracy of software simulations in order to help develop nanorobotics.

Monday - November 6 2023, 14:20 UTC - 1 year ago

The global carbon market is in trouble due to increasing evidence of its lack of credibility. Investigative stories have shown that its 'offsets' are often not what they are claimed to be and do not benefit the climate, and large companies have begun to back away from offsets. Data from the Voluntary Registry Offsets Database shows a sharp decline in demand for riskier credits, particularly UN-developed REDD+ forestry credits.

Monday - November 6 2023, 09:22 UTC - 1 year ago

Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand, has become the global capital of spam with the .tk domain usurped by spammers. Though the groundwork for this situation was laid long ago due to its unique history and circumstance, the country is now trying to clean up the damage and reputation inflicted by the domain as its international standing and even its sovereingty rely on doing so.

Monday - November 6 2023, 04:24 UTC - 1 year ago

In this article, researchers demonstrate that the energy of liquid molecular thermal motion can be converted into electrical energy by a novel harvesting device, the molecular thermal motion harvester (MTMH). This device is highly stable and efficient in the conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy and opens new insights into the development of mini- and micro-scale energy sources.

Sunday - November 5 2023, 23:41 UTC - 1 year ago

Tesla is using its cars to enable AI computing up to 500 ExaOPS (8 bit integer operations) and is estimated to double every two years. This AI computing capability called xAI Grok, comes with real-time knowledge of the world via 𝕏 platform, and is designed to answer questions with wit and a rebellious streak.

Sunday - November 5 2023, 19:02 UTC - 1 year ago

The Big Burn of 1910 was a major fire disaster in the Northern Rocky Mountains of Idaho and Montana, and recent fires suggest that the climate is changing further. To study how and why ecosystems changed in the past, paleoecologists tracked how often forest fires occurred across the Northern and Southern Rockies over the past 2,500 years. The research suggests that high-elevation, or subalpine, forests of the Northern Rockies can withstand even the most extreme fire seasons, while those of the Southern Rockies are becoming increasingly vulnerable.

Sunday - November 5 2023, 14:30 UTC - 1 year ago

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is hosting political and tech leaders at the inaugural global AI safety summit to discuss global priorities for AI in the next five years. The summit includes representatives from governments, academia, civil society, and companies at the forefront of AI, such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind and Microsoft. Additionally, the G7 powers have agreed on a code of conduct for the use of AI in areas including healthcare, transportation and surveillance services.

Sunday - November 5 2023, 09:59 UTC - 1 year ago

xAI, a cutting-edge tech company, is set to release its first AI - a large language model system like ChatGPT - to a select group of investors and scientists. It is believed to be the best that currently exists and has been conceptualized by Elon Musk to create a superior computer coding companion. News reports also indicate that xAI will launch versions of its AI in popular software development applications like Visual Studio, paving the way for more AI-powered relationships and helping us build better and more reliable software.

Sunday - November 5 2023, 05:43 UTC - 1 year ago

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a serious virus affecting infants and toddlers and, despite the new shot, Nirsevimab, being available, it is currently in short supply due to high demand. Sanofi is working with AstraZeneca to restock supplies, while the monoclonal antibody, Palivizumab, is reserved for babies born prematurely or with chronic lung/heart disease.