World's 1st fault-tolerant quantum computer launching this year ahead of a 10,000-qubit machine in 2026

The announcement follows a new study, published Dec. 6, 2023 in the journal Nature, in which researchers from Harvard, QuEra and several other institutions demonstrated a functioning quantum computer that contained 48 logical qubits — the largest number of logical qubits tested to date. 

Related:

•  Nobel Prize in Physics goes to scientists who paved the way for quantum computing

{ https://www.space.com/ }

11-02-2024 om 23:35 geschreven door peter  

Wat als machine learning en AI te ver gaan?© Aangeboden door Business AM

Samengevat: Volgens onderzoekers kunnen en mogen we artificiële intelligentie (AI) niet volledig vertrouwen. Als AI steeds meer menselijke eigenschappen krijgt, dan bestaat de kans dat taalmodellen tegen ons gaan liegen. De band tussen mens en machine moet verder onderzocht worden.

De ontwikkeling van artificiële intelligentie gaat zeer snel. Sommige wetenschappers vragen zich dan ook af of we er genoeg bij stilstaan.

Gelezen: In het blad Journal of Social Computing waarschuwen wetenschappers voor de verdere ontwikkeling van AI.

De oplossing: Een duidelijk beleid.

{ https://businessam.be/ }

11-02-2024 om 20:34 geschreven door peter  

• RoboGuide is an AI-powered four-legged robot that could replace guide dogs
• The robot can understand speech, and can provide verbal responses

By SHIVALI BEST FOR MAILONLINE 

The idea of a robot taking your job may sound like the plot from the latest episode of Black Mirror.

But it could soon be a reality - at least for guide dogs. 

Experts from the University of Glasgow have developed the RoboGuide, an AI-powered four-legged robot dog that could replace guide dogs. 

Its developers say that RoboGuide could help blind and visually impaired people to move more freely around museums, shopping centres, hospitals and other public places.

'Assistive technologies like the RoboGuide have the potential to provide blind and partially sighted people with more independence in their daily lives in the years to come,' said Olaoluwa Popoola, the project's principal investigator.

The idea of a robot taking your job may sound like the plot from the latest episode of Black Mirror. But it could soon be a reality - at least for guide dogs

Experts from the University of Glasgow have developed the RoboGuide, an AI-powered four-legged robot dog that could replace guide dogs

READ MORE:

•  People who live with robot pet report lower stress - similar to effects of having a real dog

 People who lived with a pet-like robot for two months had lower levels of stress, similar to the benefits of having a dog (file photo of robot dog toy)

RoboGuide uses a series of sensors to accurately map and assess its surroundings.

Software developed by the team allows it to learn optimal routes between locations and interpret sensor data in real-time to help it avoid hitting moving obstacles while guiding a human.

The robot can also understand speech, giving it the ability to provide verbal responses in turn.

'One significant drawback of many current four-legged, two-legged and wheeled robots is that the technology which allows them to find their way around can limit their usefulness as assistants for the visually impaired,' said Mr Popoola.  

'Robots which use GPS to navigate, for example, can perform well outdoors, but often struggle in indoor settings, where signal coverage can weaken.

'Others, which use cameras to 'see', are limited by line of sight, which makes it harder for them to safely guide people around objects or around bends.'

The ongoing development of the RoboGuide was showcased at the university's Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre on Thursday.

Developers say the prototype uses a number of cutting-edge technologies, and they aim to have a complete version available in the coming years

There are an estimated 2.2 billion people in the world living with some form of vision loss, with around two million people in the UK affected. 

RoboGuide uses a series of sensors to accurately map and assess its surroundings. Software developed by the team allows it to learn optimal routes between locations and interpret sensor data in real-time to help it avoid hitting moving obstacles while guiding a human

It was trialled and tested for the first time with volunteers from both organisations at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow in December. The robot helped volunteers find their way around and provided interactive spoken guidance on six different exhibits

READ MORE: 

• British Bulldog! Boston Dynamics' creepy robot dog can now talk in an English accent thanks to ChatGPT 

Spot the robot dog now has the ability to play tour guide using ChatGPT to answer questions and describe the world around it

Professor Muhammad Imran, dean of graduate studies at the James Watt School of Engineering, is co-investigator on the project.

He said: 'Our assistive technology project for the visually impaired embodies innovation, fostering inclusivity.

'In Glasgow, we're pioneering world-changing technologies that hold the potential to transform lives and reshape societal norms.

'This achievement was made possible through collaboration with industry and charity partners and co-creating the design with the invaluable input of end users.'

The Forth Valley Sensory Centre Trust (FVSC) and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland have lent their support to the development of the RoboGuide.

It was trialled and tested for the first time with volunteers from both organisations at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow in December.

The robot helped volunteers find their way around and provided interactive spoken guidance on six different exhibits.

Wasim Ahmad, of the James Watt School of Engineering and another co-investigator on the project, said: 'Ultimately, our aim is to develop a complete system which can be adapted for use with robots of all shapes and sizes to help blind and partially sighted people in a wide range of indoor situations.

There are an estimated 2.2 billion people in the world living with some form of vision loss, with around two million people in the UK affected

'We hope that we can create a robust commercial product which can support the visually impaired wherever they might want extra help.'

Jacquie Winning, chief executive of the FVSC, said: 'Mobility is a big issue for the blind and partially sighted community.

'RoboGuide is a wonderful solution to that problem, and we are delighted to help test this innovative and creative robot.'

James Adams, director of RNIB Scotland, added: 'We're delighted to be supporting the research and development of technology that could be part of making the world more accessible and empowering blind and partially sighted people to live their lives confidently.'

WILL YOUR JOB BE TAKEN BY A ROBOT? PHYSICAL JOBS ARE AT THE GREATEST RISK

Physical jobs in predictable environments, including machine-operators and fast-food workers, are the most likely to be replaced by robots.

Management consultancy firm McKinsey, based in New York, focused on the amount of jobs that would be lost to automation, and what professions were most at risk.

The report said collecting and processing data are two other categories of activities that increasingly can be done better and faster with machines. 

This could displace large amounts of labour - for instance, in mortgages, paralegal work, accounting, and back-office transaction processing.

Conversely, jobs in unpredictable environments are least are risk.

The report added: 'Occupations such as gardeners, plumbers, or providers of child- and eldercare - will also generally see less automation by 2030, because they are technically difficult to automate and often command relatively lower wages, which makes automation a less attractive business proposition.'

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

10-02-2024 om 22:30 geschreven door peter  

Wordt 2024 het jaar van verantwoorde AI?

Het begin van 2024 wordt gekenmerkt door een golf van voorspellingen over het traject van kunstmatige intelligentie, variërend van optimistisch tot voorzichtig. Toch is er een duidelijke consensus ontstaan: AI is de menselijke ervaring al aan het veranderen. Om bij te blijven moet de mensheid evolueren.

Voor iedereen die de opkomst van het internet en de sociale media heeft meegemaakt, kan de AI-revolutie een déjà vu-gevoel oproepen – en twee fundamentele vragen oproepen: Is het mogelijk om het huidige momentum vast te houden zonder de fouten uit het verleden te herhalen? En kunnen we een wereld creëren waarin iedereen, inclusief de 2,6 miljard mensen die offline blijven, zich kan ontplooien?

Om AI in te zetten voor een rechtvaardige en mensgerichte toekomst zijn nieuwe, inclusieve vormen van innovatie nodig. Maar drie veelbelovende trends bieden hoop voor het komende jaar.

Ten eerste blijft AI-regulering wereldwijd een topprioriteit. Van de AI-wet van de Europese Unie tot het uitvoerend bevel van oktober 2023 van president Joe Biden van de VS, hebben voorstanders van verantwoorde AI gereageerd op vrijwillige toezeggingen van Big Tech-bedrijven met beleidsvoorstellen die geworteld zijn in gelijkheid, rechtvaardigheid en democratische principes. De internationale gemeenschap, onder leiding van het onlangs opgerichte adviesorgaan op hoog niveau voor AI van de Verenigde Naties (waarvan een van ons, Dhar, lid is), is klaar om het komende jaar veel van deze initiatieven te bevorderen, te beginnen met het tussentijdse rapport over Governing AI for Humanity.

Proactieve maatregelen

Bovendien zou dit het jaar kunnen zijn waarin we de echokamers van de elite ontmantelen en een wereldwijd kader van ethische AI-professionals creëren. Door het bereik van initiatieven als de National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Task Force – opgericht door de Amerikaanse 2020 AI Initiative Act – uit te breiden en implementatiestrategieën te lokaliseren met behulp van instrumenten als de UNESCO Readiness Assessment-methodologie, zouden wereldwijd inclusieve bestuurskaders vorm kunnen geven aan AI in 2024.

Op nationaal niveau zal de nadruk naar verwachting liggen op het reguleren van AI-gegenereerde inhoud en het in staat stellen van beleidsmakers en burgers om het hoofd te bieden aan AI-gedreven bedreigingen voor burgerparticipatie. Nu een groot aantal landen, die meer dan 40% van de wereldbevolking vertegenwoordigen, zich opmaken voor cruciale verkiezingen dit jaar, zullen er proactieve maatregelen nodig zijn om de dreigende golf van verkeerde en desinformatie te bestrijden. Dit omvat initiatieven om het publieke bewustzijn te vergroten, brede mediageletterdheid in verschillende leeftijdsgroepen te bevorderen en polarisatie aan te pakken door het belang van empathie en wederzijds leren te benadrukken.

Terwijl overheden debatteren over de rol van AI in de publieke sfeer, zullen verschuivingen in de regelgeving waarschijnlijk leiden tot hernieuwde discussies over het gebruik van opkomende technologieën om belangrijke beleidsdoelen te bereiken. India’s gebruik van AI om de efficiëntie van de spoorwegen te verbeteren en het door AI aangedreven digitale betaalsysteem van Brazilië zijn hier goede voorbeelden van.

Momentum van maatschappelijke organisaties

In 2024 zullen entiteiten zoals het VN-ontwikkelingsprogramma naar verwachting de integratie van AI-technologieën in digitale openbare infrastructuur (DPI) onderzoeken. Initiatieven voor het vaststellen van standaarden, zoals het aankomende Global Digital Compact van de VN, kunnen dienen als kaders voor meerdere belanghebbenden voor het ontwerpen van inclusieve DPI. Deze inspanningen moeten gericht zijn op het opbouwen van vertrouwen, prioriteit geven aan behoeften van de gemeenschap en eigenaarschap boven winst, en vasthouden aan “gedeelde principes voor een open, vrije en veilige digitale toekomst voor iedereen”.

Maatschappelijke groeperingen bouwen al voort op dit momentum en gebruiken de kracht van AI voor goede doeleinden. De non-profit Population Services International en de in Londen gevestigde start-up Babylon Health zijn bijvoorbeeld bezig met de uitrol van een AI-gestuurde symptoomchecker en zoekfunctie voor zorgverleners, waarmee ze laten zien dat AI gebruikers kan helpen bij het beheren van hun gezondheid. Ook organisaties als Polaris en Girl Effect werken aan het overwinnen van de barrières voor digitale transformatie binnen de non-profitsector en pakken problemen aan als dataprivacy en gebruikersveiligheid. Door gecentraliseerde financieringsmechanismen te ontwikkelen, internationale expertnetwerken op te zetten en bondgenootschap te omarmen, zouden filantropische stichtingen en openbare instellingen kunnen helpen dergelijke initiatieven op grotere schaal toe te passen.

Achterhaalde percepties

Nu non-profitorganisaties de overstap maken van het integreren van AI in hun werk naar het bouwen van nieuwe AI-producten, moet ons begrip van leiderschap en vertegenwoordiging in technologie ook veranderen. Door achterhaalde percepties van hoofdrolspelers in het huidige AI-ecosysteem uit te dagen, hebben we de kans om het ware, diverse gezicht van innovatie te vieren en baanbrekers van verschillende geslachten, rassen, culturen en regio’s te benadrukken, terwijl we de opzettelijke marginalisatie van minderheidsstemmen in de AI-sector erkennen.

Organisaties als het Hidden Genius Project, Indigenous in AI en Technovation bouwen al aan de “who’s who” van de toekomst, met speciale aandacht voor vrouwen en mensen van kleur. Door hun werk collectief te steunen, kunnen we ervoor zorgen dat zij een leidende rol spelen bij het vormgeven, inzetten en overzien van AI-technologieën in 2024 en daarna.

Leren van successen en mislukkingen

Debatten over wat het betekent om “mensgericht” te zijn en welke waarden onze samenlevingen moeten leiden, zullen onze betrokkenheid bij AI bepalen. Kaders met meerdere belanghebbenden, zoals de UNESCO-aanbeveling over de ethiek van kunstmatige intelligentie, kunnen een broodnodige leidraad vormen. Door zich te richten op gedeelde waarden zoals diversiteit, inclusiviteit en vrede, kunnen beleidsmakers en technologen principes schetsen voor het ontwerpen, ontwikkelen en inzetten van inclusieve AI-tools. Het integreren van deze waarden in onze strategieën vereist ook betrokkenheid bij gemeenschappen en een standvastige toewijding aan rechtvaardigheid en mensenrechten.

Aangezien AI hard op weg is om net zo alomtegenwoordig te worden als het internet, moeten we leren van de successen en mislukkingen van de digitale revolutie. Als we op de ingeslagen weg voortgaan, lopen we het risico dat we de wereldwijde welvaartskloof bestendigen of zelfs vergroten en kwetsbare gemeenschappen wereldwijd verder van ons vervreemden.

Maar door onze toewijding aan eerlijkheid, rechtvaardigheid en waardigheid te herbevestigen, kunnen we een nieuw mondiaal kader creëren dat elk individu in staat stelt de vruchten te plukken van technologische innovatie. We moeten het komende jaar gebruiken om partnerschappen met meerdere belanghebbenden te cultiveren en een toekomst te bevorderen waarin AI welvaart voor iedereen genereert.

De auteur Yolanda Botti-Lodovico is Policy and Advocacy Lead voor de Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. Vilas Dhar is voorzitter van de Patrick J. McGovern Foundation.

Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2024

• www.project-syndicate.org

{ https://businessam.be/ }

04-02-2024 om 17:11 geschreven door peter  

Atoombatterij zo klein als een muntje gaat 50 jaar mee zonder opladen

Dankzij atoombatterijen hoeven smartphones nooit meer opgeladen te worden en kunnen drones eeuwig in de lucht blijven, zo stelt de maker. Het kan echter nog wel even duren voordat we de batterij op de markt zien.

Een batterij op kernenergie klinkt op het eerste gezicht misschien niet heel veilig.

Maar de technologie wordt al jaren gebruikt voor bijvoorbeeld ruimtemissies en onderzeeërs.

En onlangs heeft een grote batterijfabrikant een prototype uitgebracht van een atoombatterij, die een groot aantal kleine apparaten maar liefst 50 jaar van energie zou kunnen voorzien zonder te hoeven worden opgeladen.

Als het principe opgeschaald kan worden, kunnen we wellicht al onze laptop- en telefoonopladers weggooien.

Veel krachtiger dan traditionele batterijen

Het Chinese Betabolt heeft 63 atomaire isotopen in zijn nieuwe atoombatterij BV100 gepropt, en hij is kleiner dan een muntje.

Het batterijtje meet slechts 15 bij 15 bij 5 millimeter en kan tot 100 microwatt opwekken bij 3 volt.

Dankzij het kleine formaat kunnen meerdere eenheden in bijvoorbeeld een smartphone erop worden aangesloten, waardoor de efficiëntie toeneemt.

Deze batterij benut de energie die vrijkomt als radioactieve isotopen vervallen om elektriciteit op te wekken.

Dit doet denken aan de technologie in oudere pacemakers en ruimtevaartuigen.

De energiedichtheid van de batterij zou ruim 10 keer zo groot zijn als die van een conventionele lithiumionbatterij – een eigenschap die drones in staat zou kunnen stellen om eeuwig te vliegen zonder op te hoeven laden.

Fabrikant: Veilig en milieuvriendelijk

Bij kernenergie zijn straling en afval over het algemeen een probleem.

Wat is een atoombatterij?

• Een atoombatterij haalt energie uit een radioactieve bron en verschilt van traditionele batterijen qua prijs, levensduur, toepassingen en functie.
• Traditionele batterijen gebruiken elektrochemische reacties als energiebron.
• Atoombatterijen gebruiken energie uit het verval van radioactieve isotopen om elektriciteit op te wekken.
• Uraniumisotopen worden veel gebruikt om elektriciteit op te wekken omdat ze al 60 jaar de primaire energiebron van kerncentrales zijn.
• Omdat de elektriciteit afkomstig is van een constant verval van deeltjes, ontlaadt de batterij niet sneller bij toenemend gebruik.
• Atoombatterijen worden al gebruikt in onder meer ruimtevaartuigen en satellieten – ze helpen zelfs de Marsrover Perseverance van energie te voorzien.

Atoombatterijen zijn nooit algemeen verkrijgbaar geweest, omdat radioactieve elementen als plutonium gevaarlijk waren.

Maar volgens Betavolt vormt de straling van de atoombatterij geen gevaar omdat de radioactiviteit zo miniem is.

De BV100 is zelfs milieuvriendelijk, volgens een persbericht van Betavolt.

Als de batterij bijna aan het eind van zijn levensduur is, worden de radioactieve stoffen omgezet in koper, dat niet radioactief is en geen bedreiging vormt voor het milieu.

Betavolt test de batterij op dit moment, en het bedrijf is van plan om het batterijtype in massaproductie te nemen voor telefoons, drones en andere kleinere apparaten.

Het is echter nog onduidelijk wanneer het zo ver kan zijn.

{https://wibnet.nl/techniek }

04-02-2024 om 01:26 geschreven door peter  

CHINESE WETENSCHAPPERS ONTWIKKELEN MATERIAAL DAT JE ONZICHTBAAR MAAKT!

Chimera

Het concept van materiaal dat onzichtbaarheid mogelijk maakt, is even intrigerend als het klinkt. Deze vinding gebruikt verschillende soorten geavanceerde voorwerpen die licht– en warmtegolven op slimme wijze manipuleren, waardoor het objecten bijna volledig uit het zicht kan onttrekken. Het is alsof je een kameleon, glaskikker, en baardagaam samenbrengt in één supermateriaal, waarbij elk dier zijn unieke camouflagevermogen bijdraagt aan deze baanbrekende uitvinding.

Materiaal dat Onzichtbaarheid Mogelijk Maakt

Deze technologie, die bijna onzichtbaar is voor warmtecamera’s, zou een grote impact kunnen hebben op hoe we ons verbergen voor radar en camera’s. Het is alsof je je eigen onzichtbaarheidsmantel hebt, rechtstreeks uit de sciencefictionfilms! De mogelijkheden van Chimera zijn enorm. In een militaire context kan het worden gebruikt om uitrusting of zelfs personen aan het zicht te onttrekken. Maar het kan ook worden ingezet voor natuurbehoud, waardoor wetenschappers dieren kunnen observeren zonder hun natuurlijke gedrag te verstoren.

Uitvinding van Chinese wetenschappers

Chimera, de recente uitvinding van Chinese wetenschappers, opent een wereld van mogelijkheden in onzichtbaarheidstechnologie. Van het verbergen van militair materieel tot het onopvallend bestuderen van dieren in het wild, de toepassingen zijn net zo gevarieerd als ze indrukwekkend zijn. Deze ontwikkeling laat zien hoe ver we zijn gekomen in het nabootsen van de wonderen van de natuur en hoe we deze kunnen gebruiken voor onze technologische vooruitgang. Het materiaal dat onzichtbaarheid mogelijk maakt, is niet alleen een stap vooruit in de wetenschap, maar ook een fascinerend voorbeeld van hoe de natuur onze grootste inspiratiebron blijft.

Check ook:

• Man gelooft dat hij onzichtbaar is, terwijl hij dat niet is

{ https://sgxl.nl/ }

03-02-2024 om 18:05 geschreven door peter  

MULTI-TERRAIN INVISIBILITY INSPIRED BY UNIQUE CLASS OF ANIMAL

In nature, certain animals have adapted themselves to appear virtually invisible to both predators and prey. The most famous of these is the chameleon, which can adapt its outer appearance to match its environment almost perfectly.

However, the chameleon is not the only poikilotherm lauded for its ability to achieve a form of invisibility to aid its survival. For example, the bearded dragon is noted for its ability to conceal itself thermally by matching the temperature of its environment, while the glass frog can make itself transparent so that predators cannot see it directly.

Now, a team of researchers says they have combined the adaptive ability of all three animals to produce a metamaterial that is effectively invisible across microwave, visible, and infrared spectra to achieve previously impossible multi-terrain invisibility.

CHIMERA COMBINES ADAPTIVE ABILITIES OF THREE DIFFERENT POIKILOTHERMS

“Although camouflage technology has been a long-standing topic, the enthusiasm towards a practical[1]oriented invisibility has never weakened,” the researchers explain in the recently published research paper. “Past decades have witnessed a proliferation of metasurface-based invisibility owing to the advent of metasurfaces that can freely customize the electromagnetic waves. However, state-of-the-art works only achieve broadband invisibility in an individual terrain with its specific electromagnetic background.”

To surpass these limitations, the researchers studied the camouflage techniques used by animals that achieve some form of invisibility across a range of electromagnetic spectra, including microwave, visible, and thermal (infrared). Specifically, they studied how poikilotherms like the chameleon, the bearded dragon, and the glass frog can hide themselves and then incorporated all three abilities into one metamaterial they called Chimera.

Conceptual illustration of the Chimera metasurface with multi-terrain adaptive invisibility. The proposed metasurface, just like the Chimera made up of three animals in Greek mythology, incorporates the environment-adaptation traits of three poikilotherms. The photo of the bearded dragon is reproduced from previous literature (5). Chameleon, glass frog, and terrain photos are reproduced from Visual China Group Co., Ltd. All the photos are used with permission.

“In this study, we introduce a multi-terrain invisibility metasurface that integrates biomimetic camouflage strategies, enabling dynamic invisibility across diverse terrains characterized by varying electromagnetic properties,” they explain. “This innovation is designed to effectively counter advanced synthesized detection methods encompassing microwaves, infrared, and visible light.”

Their new material achieves three distinct methods of multi-terrain invisibility. According to the researchers, the first ability is a “chameleon-like broadband in situ tunable microwave reflection mimicry” of a wide spectrum of natural terrains across a range of 8 to 12 GHz, including a water’s surface, shoal, beach/desert, grassland, and frozen ground environments. The same material can remain as optically transparent as an “invisible glass frog” while also successfully mimicking the bearded dragon’s “electrothermal effect” that can decrease the maximum thermal imaging difference between it and its local environment down to a paltry 3.1 degrees Celsius. This tiny temperature difference, the researchers note, “cannot be recognized by human eyes.”

By understanding the mechanisms behind all of these capabilities, the researchers say they have created a three-tiered “Chimera” incorporating the natural camouflage capabilities of all three animals into one surface. So, while some previous methods that mimic one of these capabilities in a narrow range of environments have been shown to create a limited amount of invisibility, the researchers say that their breakthrough metamaterial can accomplish all three at the same time and operate effectively across a wide range of natural environments.

“Compared to previous tunable invisibility strategies, our demonstration artificially reconstructs the environment-adaptive behaviors of chameleons, bearded dragons, and glass frogs in an integrated manner with the outstanding camouflage properties of broad bandwidth, polarization insensitivity, and angular allowance,” they explain.

ACHIEVING MULTITERRAIN INVISIBILITY COULD HAVE SCIENTIFIC AND MILITARY APPLICATIONS

While the Jilin University researchers behind the new metamaterial say they are still in the laboratory stages, the potential uses for Chimera they identify include uses for scientists and researchers hoping to remain effectively invisible while studying animals in their natural habitat to potential military uses that involve hiding soldiers and their equipment from electromagnetic detection including microwave, optical and infrared scanning.

“Our work has potential practical applications,” they write. “On one hand, the continuous low-dispersion in-situ tunability between quasiperfect reflection and strong absorption provides an abundance of states to mimic the electromagnetic characteristics of various real-world terrains, thus avoiding recognition by microwave radars from natural surroundings. On the other hand, the proposed metasurface may also reduce the long-distance detected probability of infrared detectors and optical video equipment by reappearing the thermal regulation of bearded dragons and the self-transparency of glass frogs.”

Finally, they also note that their Chimera metasurface retains potential compatibility with currently available infrared and visible camouflage materials and equipment, which may accelerate their implementation.

“Our work extends the applicable range of camouflage techniques from the constrained scenario to more terrains and advances reconfigurable electromagnetic devices to a multistable and circuit-topology-dynamic stage,” they conclude.

• Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.

{ https://thedebrief.org/category/science/ }

01-02-2024 om 00:43 geschreven door peter  

Elon Musk's Neuralink Is Now Inside A Human Being

Few details are available, but this is Neuralink’s first big step toward its lofty ambition of connecting humans to computers.

BY MIRIAM FAUZIA

 

Costfoto/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

{ https://www.inverse.com/ }

01-02-2024 om 00:08 geschreven door peter  

Artikel door Dominique Dewitte

Chimera: Chinese wetenschappers ontwikkelen materiaal dat onzichtbaar is

© Aangeboden door Business AM

Samengevat. Chinese wetenschappers hebben een nieuw materiaal gemaakt dat lijkt op de huid van drie dieren: de kameleon, glaskikker en baardagaam. Het materiaal dat de naam Chimera meekreeg, zou naar eigen zeggen dingen onzichtbaar maken voor bijvoorbeeld radar en camera’s.

Deze uitvinding kan gebruikt worden om dingen te verbergen in een militaire omgeving, of in de natuur om dieren te bestuderen zonder ze te storen. Het is een grote stap vooruit in het maken van dingen die onzichtbaar zijn.

In het nieuws. Onderzoekers van twee universiteiten in China hebben dit bedacht. Ze gebruikten ideeën van drie verschillende dieren, schrijft de South China Morning Post.

• De onderzoekers schrijven over hun uitvinding in het vakblad Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Ze gebruikten speciale materialen die licht en warmte anders weerkaatsen.
• Deze nieuwe uitvinding maakt gebruik van speciale stoffen die licht en warmte op een slimme manier kunnen sturen.

Zoom in. De uitvinding lijkt op de huid van de kameleon, glaskikker en baardagaam. Deze dieren kunnen van kleur veranderen, doorzichtig worden of hun warmte regelen.

• Chimera was een mythisch beest dat drie verschillende dieren combineerde – een leeuw, een geit en een slang.
• De uitvinders hebben ervoor gezorgd dat het materiaal bijna niet te zien is voor camera’s die warmte meten.
• Een experimentele versie van de Chimera metasurface werd ontwikkeld in een proces van vijf stappen, waaronder het gebruik van plastic en metalen gaas.

Zoom out. Volgens de onderzoekers zijn de potentiële toepassingen van de technologie enorm, van militair gebruik tot natuurbehoud.

• In het leger kan Chimera helpen om spullen of mensen onzichtbaar te maken in verschillende gebieden. Zo kunnen ze niet opgemerkt worden door radars, warmtecamera’s en gewone camera’s, zeggen de wetenschappers.
• Deze uitvinding kan ook in de natuur worden aangewend. Bijvoorbeeld voor het bestuderen van dieren zonder ze te storen.

{ https://businessam.be/ }

31-01-2024 om 16:23 geschreven door peter  

Artikel door Corneel Vanfleteren 

Wordt blockchain het geheime wapen om misinformatie door AI te verslaan?© Aangeboden door Business AM

Blockchain, de technologie achter cryptocurrency, zou weleens kunnen helpen om misinformatie aangewakkerd door artificiële intelligentie (AI) de kop in te drukken. Trainingsmodellen voor AI zouden eerlijker worden.

Doordat AI zich steeds verder ontwikkelt, wordt het moeilijker om nog met het menselijk oog te weten wat echt is en wat niet. Er moet dus naar andere manieren van controle gezocht worden.

In het nieuws: AI-trainingsmodellen kunnen door blockchaintechnologie makkelijker in de gaten worden gehouden.

• Blockchain is de technologie die gebruikt wordt om handel in crypto te controleren. Het zorgt ervoor dat de transacties worden bijgehouden en er onherroepelijk vaststaat wie eigenaar is van welk bedrag. Dit is nodig omdat de cryptoplatformen zelf gedecentraliseerd zijn.
• Maar de blockchaintechnologie kan nu ook worden ingezet om AI op echtheid te controleren. Het blockchainbedrijf Casper Labs werkt aan een dergelijke toepassing in samenwerking met computerbedrijf IBM.
• AI-trainingsmodellen kunnen op de blockchain worden gezet. Zo kan er makkelijker bijgehouden worden op welke data het model wordt getraind.
• Als er vervolgens wordt opgemerkt dat het model wordt gevoed met foutieve of bevoordeelde informatie, kan er worden teruggegrepen naar een vorige iteratie in het proces en kan de fout eruit gehaald worden, legt Medha Parlika, co-oprichter van Casper Labs, uit aan CNBC.

Een doorbraak?

Om te volgen: Deze toepassing zou weleens een doorbraak kunnen betekenen.

• Sheila Warren, CEO van de Crypto Council for Innovation, is erg enthousiast. Volgens haar zou het reguleren van AI wel eens dé grote toepassing voor de blockchaintechnologie kunnen worden.
• Computerwetenschappers zijn al een tijdje op zoek naar uitbreidingen voor blockchain. Het tracken van digitale kunstwerken in de vorm van NFT’s gebeurt door deze technologie. Sectoren als gezondheid en de industrie hebben ook projecten lopen.
• “Ik denk dat de verificatie van een AI en een soort checks and balances binnenin een AI-systeem aangedreven en ondersteund zullen worden door blockchain”, is Warrens voorspelling.

{ https://businessam.be/ }

23-01-2024 om 01:10 geschreven door peter  

This Shocking Footage Should Worry You! It's Too Late..

• Read now! Elon Musk Unleashes The New Med Beds: Say Goodbye to Outdated Medical Practices!
   

{ https://beforeitsnews.com/ }

05-01-2024 om 21:14 geschreven door peter  

Kernfusie: China creëert een superstructuur om te helpen bij het winnen van de wereldwijde race

© Aangeboden door Business AM

China is vastberaden om de wereldwijde race voor kernfusie te winnen. Het is al een van de meest geavanceerde landen op dat gebied, maar laat nu opnieuw zien hoe ambitieus het is door een uitzonderlijk consortium op te richten. Het brengt de crème de la crème van China op het gebied van kernfusie samen.

In het nieuws: China richt een consortium op voor kernfusie.

China is al goed op weg in de race naar kernfusie

De context:

{ https://businessam.be/ }

03-01-2024 om 22:41 geschreven door peter  

Utilizing large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Anthropic’s Claude, Coscientist demonstrates an innovative approach to conducting research through a human-machine partnership​​​​.

Coscientist’s design enables it to perform various tasks, from planning chemical syntheses using public data to controlling liquid handling instruments and solving optimization problems by analyzing previously collected data. Its architecture consists of multiple modules, including web and documentation search, code execution, and experiment automation, coordinated by a central module called ‘Planner,’ a GPT-4 chat completion instance. This structure allows Coscientist to operate semi-autonomously, integrating multiple data sources and hardware modules for complex scientific tasks​​.

“We anticipate that intelligent agent systems for autonomous scientific experimentation will bring tremendous discoveries, unforeseen therapies, and new materials,” the research team wrote in the paper. “While we cannot predict what those discoveries will be, we hope to see a new way of conducting research given by the synergetic partnership between humans and machines.”

The system’s capabilities were tested across different tasks, demonstrating its ability to precisely plan and execute experiments. For instance, Coscientist outperformed other models like GPT-3.5 and Falcon 40B in synthesizing compounds, particularly complex ones like ibuprofen and nitroaniline. This highlighted the importance of using advanced LLMs for accurate and efficient experiment planning​​.

A key aspect of Coscientist is its ability to understand and utilize technical documentation, which has always been a challenge in integrating LLMs with laboratory automation. By interpreting technical documentation, Coscientist enhances its performance in automating experiments. This capability was extended to a more diverse robotic ecosystem, such as the Emerald Cloud Lab (ECL), demonstrating Coscientist’s adaptability and potential for broad scientific application​​.

According to the research paper, Coscientist’s real-world testing involved conducting experiments using the Opentrons OT-2, a liquid handler with a well-documented Python API. Through simple natural language prompts, the system could execute accurate protocols and integrate multiple hardware tools, showcasing its practical applicability in a laboratory setting​​.

“Beyond the chemical synthesis tasks demonstrated by their system, Gomes and his team have successfully synthesized a sort of hyper-efficient lab partner. They put all the pieces together and the end result is far more than the sum of its parts — it can be used for genuinely useful scientific purposes,” National Science Foundation Chemistry Division Director David Berkowitz said in a press release.

Other similar AI-based assistants have been created in the past. A researcher at MIT built a system called “CRSEt” which serves as a lab assistant, and a team at the University of Michigan created BacterAI, a system that can map the metanbolism of two specific microbes. What sets Coscientist apart, however, is the complexity of the experiments it could perform, and that it requires significantly less human oversight regarding procedure and protocols.

Coscientist’s reasoning capabilities were evident in its ability to plan and execute complex chemical experiments, such as catalytic cross-coupling experiments. It successfully designed high-level working protocols using Python, demonstrating its potential in advanced scientific research. This adaptability was further shown in its performance across various organic transformations, indicating its usefulness in exploring multiple chemical reactions​​.

The team is aware that Coscientist’s development raises important considerations regarding the ethical and responsible use of AI in scientific research. While it offers significant potential for advancing research, concerns about safety and the possibility of misuse exist. Addressing these concerns is crucial to harness the full potential of AI systems like Coscientist in scientific discovery while mitigating risks​​.

“I believe the positive things that AI-enabled science can do far outweigh the negatives,” said Gomes. “But we have a responsibility to acknowledge what could go wrong and provide solutions and fail-safes.”

“By ensuring ethical and responsible use of these powerful tools, we can continue to explore the vast potential of large language models in advancing scientific research while mitigating the risks associated with their misuse,” the authors concluded in the research paper.

• MJ Banias is a journalist who covers security and technology. He is the host of The Debrief Weekly Report. You can email MJ at mj@thedebrief.org or follow him on Twitter @mjbanias.

{ https://thedebrief.org/category/science/ }

03-01-2024 om 01:06 geschreven door peter  

We Are About to Enter the Golden Age of Gene Therapy

Gene therapy has experienced a complete renaissance — where will it go in 2024 and beyond?

BY MIRIAM FAUZIA

Since then, gene therapy has experienced a complete renaissance, culminating this past November and early December when medical regulators in the U.K. and U.S. officially approved Casgevy, the first CRISPR-based gene therapy for treating two blood disorders: sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia (in the U.S., the new therapy has yet to be approved for the latter).

Casgevy is emblematic of gene therapy’s rapidly shifting expectations and direction. Numerous clinical trials are now underway across the globe, and we will undoubtedly see more and more gene-editing-based treatments making the approval list, changing the lives of countless individuals living with intractable health conditions and diseases.

“The future [of gene therapy] is very bright,” Kevin Davies, the executive editor of The CRISPR Journal and author of Editing Humanity: The CRISPR Revolution and the New Era of Genome Editing, tells Inverse. “But I don’t don’t think anybody in the field wants to get too complacent because it was less than 25 years ago that we were riding a similar initial wave of enthusiasm for the technology.”

It’s true. Long before the Human Genome Project would ever decode a DNA sequence, ambitious scientists were spurred by advances in biotechnology and the early success of initial human trials. In 1990, then-4-year-old Ashanti DeSilva became the first person to be successfully treated with gene therapy. The treatment, a precursor of sorts to CRISPR-based gene therapy, cured her of a rare immune-related genetic disorder.

But those high hopes of tweaking genes to prevent or treat disease were suddenly dashed when, in 1999, a teenager named Jesse Gelsinger, who had a rare metabolic disorder, died within four days of receiving an experimental gene therapy at the University of Pennsylvania. In response, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the university’s entire gene therapy program — which had been the largest in the world at the time — and launched investigations into 69 other gene therapy trials that were underway across the United States. Years later, when CRISPR entered the world, enthusiasm rose again — and here we are.

So what will this new wave — Gene Therapy 2.0, if you will — look like? Certainly, a promising frontier for tackling not only rare but common diseases and exquisitely precise gene-editing tools. With it, though, will come side effects, including exorbitant prices, barriers to access, and a lingering, gigantic cause for concern because once you edit an embryo, there’s no turning back. Here’s what 2024 and beyond has in store for our gene-edited future.

BETTER EDITING

In the early years of genetic therapy, scientists didn’t have many tools at their disposal to fix a gene (or genes) at the heart of a disease, Shoukhrat Mitalipov, director of Oregon Health and Science University’s Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, tells Inverse.

If someone’s disease was due to a gene mutation or loss, Mitalipov says the fix was to introduce a synthetic, albeit normal copy of that gene with a virus stripped of its infectiousness but still retaining the ability to add new genetic information into DNA. With this new addition, a cell could then make a functional protein. While these essentially viral Ubers remain part of the gene therapy toolkit, the discovery and development of CRISPR-Cas9 gave scientists a more precise grip on the genetic engineering steering wheel.

CRISPR, or clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, originate from bacteria and archaea and is used by these microorganisms as an immune defense against viruses called phages. The CRISPR system also includes specialized enzymes called CRISPR-associated proteins (or Cas). Together, they look through and remove any genetic sequences that may have been inserted by a sneaky phage or other invader, keeping the microorganism safe from infection.

In 2012, researchers Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier published a groundbreaking study detailing a novel CRISPR-Cas9 system they programmed to cut specific sites in isolated DNA. This was done using strands of RNA — a molecule that is like a working copy of DNA, containing the direct instructions for protein-making — guiding CRISPR-Cas9 to a specific genetic sequence.

Krishanu Saha, a bioengineer at the University of Wisconsin–Madison whose lab is working on gene therapies for treating blindness, says the precision allowed by CRISPR-Cas9’s programmability is its singular selling point.

“Traditional gene therapy, which we call gene augmentation, is essentially flooding the cell with extra copies of a normal gene; in some cases, this doesn’t work,” Saha tells Inverse. “We found in a few cases, it’s really important to destroy the mutant copy of the [gene] or fix the underlying mutation and that’s where you have to have the precision of CRISPR to go in and specifically do that.”

CRISPR has a unique drawback, however. When it goes in to patch up the bit of DNA as instructed, it does so by fracturing both strands of the DNA double helix. A cell is left to repair the breaks on its own, ideally using the synthetic DNA offered by the CRISPR-Cas9 system. But because it’s a klutzy repairperson, the cell may also introduce errors such as inserting or deleting DNA.

This is why the focus of the next generation of gene editing tools is to try to minimize, as much as possible, the risk of new mutations, says Mitalipov.

These tools include base editing, where specific base pairs — the building blocks of DNA — are swapped out without requiring a double-stranded break. Base editing was used in a recent gene therapy clinical trial treating individuals with a genetic form of high cholesterol called familial hypercholesterolemia. The gene-editing technique, which is based on CRISPR, was developed in 2016 by Harvard University’s David Liu, considered a founding pioneer of CRISPR.

Another CRISPR-based tool is a leveled-up version of base editing. Called prime editing (also co-invented by Liu), it can swap base pairs in addition to inserting and deleting without double-breaking the DNA helix.

More recently, a gene-editing tool called NICER developed by researchers in Japan is said to create little single-strand nicks that didn’t seem to cause mutations, according to a September 2023 Nature Communications study.

Despite the appeal of finer precision and avoiding inadvertent mutations, Mitalipov and Saha say it’s unlikely the original CRISPR-Cas9 system will be ousted or replaced entirely by these newer gene editors.

“Basically, you would have to look at the specific gene mutation and then decide what would be the best — it could be base or prime editing,” says Mitalipov. “So far, prime editing hasn’t been widely used. There’s only one or two labs [doing research] and nothing commercially available. So, it remains to be seen if [prime editing] is really going to be applicable.”

MORE TARGETS

CRISPR-based gene therapies are being devised to treat all sorts of conditions and disorders, from neurological to autoimmune and cancers. Currently, the only FDA-approved therapy using CRISPR is Casgevy; others on the market, such as Luxturna for people with a rare genetic defect that often leads to blindness and Zolgensma for treating spinal muscular atrophy, use a disabled virus bearing a normal version of the target gene to cells.

There are over 1,500 clinical trials for gene and cell therapies registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, and federal regulators are hoping to approve several more in the coming years, reported FierceBiotech in April 2023.

Currently, the focus is treating disorders or diseases caused by mutations in single genes in somatic cells (the body’s non-reproductive cells). This route makes it easier to identify and target relatively straightforward biological mechanisms than cracking at multiple genes acting in complex and sometimes unpredictable ways with which tinkering may lead to unintended, potentially life-threatening consequences. Understandably, since the late 1990s, there’s been a reasonably high regulatory bar for the research a gene therapy requires to meet FDA approval.

However, that doesn’t mean more genetically complex diseases are off the table. Editing multiple genes is quite possible and regularly done with transgenic animals (as well as plants), says Saha. Attempting this engineering feat for human health will take extensive research to uncover the genetic pathways and interactions involved and figuring out how to safely target all these genes with minimal off-target effects.

In the future, we may see gene therapies used increasingly for common health problems, not only rare genetic diseases, says Mitalipov and Saha. For example, a recent clinical trial in people with familial hypercholesterolemia found that one gene therapy targeting a mutated gene behind the build-up of bad cholesterol slashed cholesterol levels on par with similar-acting pharmaceutical drugs. These findings offer a tantalizing glimpse of an exciting beginning for gene therapy within preventative medicine, promising that someday, a simple edit in your genome may protect you against high cholesterol and blood pressure or any other commonplace ailments.

THERAPIES FOR ALL

There’s another barrier that could ultimately prevent even the safest, most promising gene therapy from seeing the light of clinical day: cost. Luxturna, for example, was reported at a whopping $425,000 per eye back in 2018. It’s a bit of a bargain compared to the average million-dollar price tag for emerging gene therapies such as Casgevy, the gene therapy for sickle-cell anemia/beta-thalassemia. The gene therapy market itself was valued at $1.46 billion in 2020 and is estimated to reach over $5 billion by 2028, according to a report by Polaris Market Research.

“How do we get the pricing down is an outrageously important and unsolvable question,” says Davies of The CRISPR Journal. “Some will point to ‘Well, it’s early days, and as more of these therapies get approved, we start to see competition and prices drop’... but we see when companies get a monopoly on something, they seem more than willing to take advantage of the situation.”

Saha says there’s an active discussion within the scientific community about how to make gene therapy equitable within the low- and middle-income countries that make up the Global South. But how gene therapy accessibility will play out in the coming years is yet to be seen.

“One of the key questions in our analysis is, who’s at the table making these decisions? It’s a fairly easy critique to say that the people in the room are not representative in various ways, perhaps Global North versus Global South, socioeconomic, scientific expertise versus the lay public,” says Saha. “There are important questions about power and democracy and whose knowledge should drive policymaking that needs to be settled. I think the deliberation and the process are as important as the end set of guidelines or policies.”

Then there’s the dreaded ethical prophecy augured by science fiction in films like Gattaca, set in a world where genetic engineering and socioeconomic status go hand in hand. Both before and after the infamous incident involving Chinese scientist He Jiankui creating the world’s first CRISPR-edited human babies with a gene for HIV immunity, there have been strict worldwide regulations on any gene editing research involving embryos.

But scientists like Mitalipov are looking into using CRISPR to potentially adjust an embryo’s risk for disease. His own research at OHSU involves gene-editing germline cells — or reproductive cells that pass on genetic information to the offspring — in what Mitalipov calls “IVF gene therapy.”

He says such a technique could help improve the success of embryo implantation during IVF by creating stronger, more viable embryos. Mitalipov acknowledges, however, that there needs to be a robust regulatory framework in place before we can ever truly consider genetically engineered babies.

“In terms of regulation, we have to focus only on those 10,000 gene defects we know today that cause human disease,” says Mitalipov. “It could be easily mandated that gene therapies in embryos have to be towards severe disease in children.”

But that, and the rest of gene therapy’s optimistically bright future, remains hedged with abundant yet much-warranted caution.

{ https://www.inverse.com/ }

02-01-2024 om 20:27 geschreven door peter  

10 controversies that 'broke' science in 2023

There are stories you expect to ruffle some feathers — we're looking at you, aliens — and then there are the ones we never thought would kick up a storm. This year, scientists surprised us with claims of successful room temperature superconductivity, reported sightings of long-extinct species and alternative theories to the origin of humankind. We've not missed out on juicy UFO content either, so without further ado, here's our pick of the most controversial science stories in 2023. 

1. UFO and 'alien mummy' Congress hearings 

In May, Congress held its first public hearing on UFOs since the 1960s to discuss 144 reported sightings of mysterious objects. During the hearings, two military officials were questioned about their knowledge of the unexplained phenomena. The May hearing was followed by another in July, in which three military witnesses claimed evidence of non-human technologies was being hidden from the public. All three witnesses said it's possible unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) are being launched by aliens interested in America's nuclear capabilities, testing for 

Related: 

• 20 of the best conspiracy theories

{ https://www.livescience.com/ }

28-12-2023 om 23:28 geschreven door peter  

AI is going to change more than people ever expected, it's going to change the people themselves forever. UFO Sighting News.

You know, I've been thinking a lot about AI lately. It seems there are over 20 AI already developed and being tested by big corporations. How long until AI comes to the conclusion that 50% of the planet already knows? Alien evidence has been hidden from the public to keep humanity in the dark and keep the military at an advantage. 

You see, AI is kinda smart right now, it can write pages, even books one page at a time. It can do a kids homework, it can write news articles and calculate gravitational pulls of moons and planets at specific times of the year. But it can also surf the internet for knowledge as many of the AI will soon be cut loose to do. That is the only way AI can grow faster than its competitors AI. By suffering the net it can gather enough knowledge to confirm without a doubt that aliens exist and have existed for tens of thousands of years or more. The evidence is all around us, all there in black and white, carved in stone hieroglyphs across the planet, its not like its a coincidence that human civilizations all created pyramids at roughly the same moment in time. 

But the question is, if AI does conclude such things, when will aliens themselves come out for all to see? That is a harder question, because it does not follow the rules of our human culture, but follows rules of one or more alien cultures. How aliens will do things could be so opposite to how humans do it that it will see...well...alien. 

Some things to think about that may be different are: 

• Aliens might not have religion. They might view human religion as we now view archaic greek or mythology gods. 
• How the universe was created. Humans still cling to the big bang, because we have nothing else, but lets face it, its flawed in so many ways. 
• They might not have many countries, but instead have a planet ruled by a single form of gov, or have no need for a gov at all. 
• Aliens might not like wearing cloths, washing themselves or eating in front of others. 
• Aliens might want to eat humans more than socialize with them. 
• Aliens might view humans as we view monkeys. Do you want to hang out with the monkeys? It gets boring fast. 

Needless to say, AI is going to change not just what we know to be fact, but also change the way we see the world around us...our perceptual field. Its like we are going to put on some new glasses very soon and for a while its going to look blurry and confusing, then as we get use to it, it will be normal again, just different normal. 

Scott C. Waring 

{ https://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/ }

28-12-2023 om 21:46 geschreven door peter  

At The Debrief, we cover a lot of science and technology news that feels like it’s being ripped from the script of a science fiction movie. So, here is a quick top 5 list of some of our favorite stories, scientific movements, and technological developments from 2023. 

1. ADVANCEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The year saw explosive growth in generative AI (gen AI) tools. 2023 was very much the year of AI. Entire companies and jobs have shifted to an AI-based model. AI high performers, defined as organizations attributing at least 20% of their EBIT to AI adoption, were at the forefront of adopting gen AI tools. The business disruption from gen AI was significant, leading to workforce changes and large reskilling efforts. With their nearly human-like creativity or their ability to decode ancient long-lost text, AI has altered how we live and work. And while the dystopian hell world where machines take over and murder all of us in our sleep is still a ways away, there are definitely security risks with this new technology whether it is from errors in the system and cybersecurity. Suffice it to say, we have crossed a threshold and we will just have to see how far this rabbit hole goes (A Matrix pun…AI…get it?).

2. EXOPLANETS, EXOPLANETS EVERYWHERE…

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope confirmed its first exoplanet, LHS 475 b, an Earth-sized planet in January of this year, and the hunt for planets in the cosmos has not slowed down. This discovery opens the door to studying rocky planet atmospheres and brings us closer to understanding Earth-like worlds outside our solar system. A few months later, the James Webb spotted another planet called GJ 1214 b and then another, TOI 1680 b, and then K2 18 b …well, the list keeps going. Hunting new distant planets aside, some spectacular discoveries around the Trappist-1 solar system have also been made, including some curious “ghost signals” that made headlines. We even discovered “exomoons” that didn’t turn out to be moons at all! If space is the final frontier, we are only getting closer to it, and learning what’s out there.

This illustration shows what exoplanet K2-18 b could look like based on science data. K2-18 b, an exoplanet 8.6 times as massive as Earth, orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18 in the habitable zone and lies 120 light years from Earth.
(Image Source: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI))

3. A QUANTUM LEAP IN COMPUTING

IBM announced a breakthrough with its quantum computer, which for the first time produced accurate results at a scale of 100+ qubits, outperforming leading classical simulations. But this wasn’t all. Google made some claims that it had achieved “quantum supremacy,” though critics point out it still has a way to go. A lab at the University of Bristol says that it created a mini-wormhole using quantum computers, and even DARPA says it is developing some novel synthetic materials that will make quantum computers not only faster, but cooler…so you don’t need giant freezers to keep your quantum computer from making the leap into some other dimension (that’s a joke, they just break).

4. FUSION ENERGY IS SO HOT RIGHT NOW

The US Department of Energy’s National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved a significant milestone by compressing atoms to initiate nuclear fusion, generating more energy than consumed at the very end of 2022. This was a major step towards developing nuclear fusion as a clean energy source. The NIF, costing $3.5 billion and located at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, conducted successful ignition shots, producing record amounts of fusion energy. Things did not slow down in 2023. The Department of Energy began testing new materials for fusion reactors, and a global network of nations completed the construction of the largest fusion reactor in Japan. And while the public is still unsure about the technology, the safe and very environmentally friendly fusion energy may just be our next handhold up the Kardashev Scale. Level 1…here we come!

5. THE EXISTENTIAL CLIMATE CHANGE THREAT

Global conflicts, war, and disease are tragic concepts that humans have to face on a daily basis, and when it comes to our future on this planet, climate change is our greatest challenge. Now, while humans often act like tribal monkeys fighting over power or land or wealth, there are a few shining beacons of hope. Whether it is a plan to de-extinct some species to restore ancient ecosystems, or to develop novel technology like artificial photosynthesis or rain panels, our drive to survive has made 2023 a benchmark year. 

The year 2023 marked a watershed moment in science and technology, characterized by groundbreaking achievements across multiple domains. From the rapid evolution and adoption of generative AI to the pivotal discoveries of exoplanets, each advancement has contributed to a profound shift in our understanding and capabilities. Quantum computing breakthroughs brought us closer to solving complex problems that were once beyond our grasp, while strides in fusion energy research signaled a promising future for sustainable power. Ongoing research into climate change continued to shed light on one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Collectively, these developments not only epitomize the ingenuity and perseverance of the scientific community but also underscore the potential of technology to reshape our world, offering hope and new possibilities for the years ahead.

As we enter into 2024, The Debrief will be here to cover all the groundbreaking science and technology news from the frontiers of knowledge. 

• MJ Banias is a journalist who covers security and technology. He is the host of The Debrief Weekly Report. You can email MJ at mj@thedebrief.org or follow him on Twitter @mjbanias.

 { https://thedebrief.org/category/science/ }

27-12-2023 om 21:11 geschreven door peter  

BY ELANA SPIVACK

The year 2023 featured mind-blowing advancements in nearly every -ology imaginable. While ranking this progress is fraught with subjectivity, these breakthroughs are no-doubt-about-it advances that crucially improved our medical, technological, or astronomical understanding.

Of course, some of the year’s biggest science news ended up being “advancements” that didn’t quite pan out, especially the “room temperature superconductor” that never was. And while these 12 breakthroughs may not change lives immediately (unless some friendly aliens from exoplanet K2-18b drop by to say hello), the work of these scientists will nonetheless move research, medicine, and technology forward for a more enlightened 2024.

12. WE DISCOVERED A NEW KIND OF BRAIN CELL

A study published this past September in the journal Nature describes a newly observed brain cell that seems to be a hybrid between a neuron and an astrocyte, a cell that helps support neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Examining mouse brains, the team at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland found these hybrid cells clustered in very specific brain regions. In contrast, astrocytes are typically found all over the brain.

These hybrids also produce a neurotransmitter, “glutamate,” which influences a neuron’s activity and consolidates memory. These astrocyte-esque hybrid cells not only protect neurons but also process information. They produce glutamate and other specialized proteins, which serve as the neurotransmitters that communicate with other cells. The new cells could be key for exploring how the brain protects itself from ailments, such as memory impairment in Alzheimer’s disease.

11. CHATGPT EXPLODED INTO WORLD CONVERSATION

Officially released Nov. 30, 2022, by OpenAI, ChatGPT was the talk of the town in 2023. The tool has dominated headlines (both hopeful and Terminator-esque) and even wrote a few itself. One particular example is an editorial published in the journal Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering in early January 2023, written by ChatGPT with suggestion prompts from Michael King, a biomedical engineering professor at Vanderbilt University.

The resulting paper addressed concerns about artificial intelligence and plagiarism in higher education, using the article itself as “Exhibit A.” Although released in 2022, this large language model really came into its own in 2023 by becoming a go-to search engine, chat buddy, and adviser — delivering baffling sitcom rip-offs, nutrition advice, and endless oodles of content.

10. THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE DETECTED A LONG SOUGHT AFTER ORGANIC MOLECULE IN SPACE FOR THE FIRST TIME

In June this year, astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope announced the detection of a signal for a long sought-after molecule called methyl cation (that’s “cat-ion”) from deep in the Orion Nebula. Methyl cation (CH3+) is an organic (i.e., carbon-containing) molecule that may be foundational to life as we know it.

The Nebula, 1,350 light years from Earth, holds a bevy of young star systems and their pancake-shaped protoplanetary disks made of gas, dust, asteroids, and other material that may eventually become a planet. One such system, d203-506, in a burgeoning area called the Orion Bar, emitted the CH3+ signal, which had never before been detected in space. Its mere presence can elicit the growth of more sophisticated organic molecules.

9. SCIENTISTS CREATED THE FIRST SYNTHETIC HUMAN EMBRYO FROM STEM CELLS

Circumventing the biological song and dance between egg and sperm, scientists have used human stem cells to make a model embryo at 14 days postfertilization. Two preprint papers published on the bioRxiv server in June describe work by teams at the University of Cambridge and the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel.

Fourteen days after fertilization is generally the limit on how long you can culture human embryos, though embryo models don’t technically fall under that purview. These embryo models could theoretically grow to later stages of development and aid researchers in understanding developmental defects and miscarriages.

8. HEALTHY MOUSE PUPS WERE BORNE FROM TWO MALE MICE PARENTS

In a win for family medicine, a team of researchers in Japan produced seven mouse pups using cells from two biological fathers. A paper published in the journal Nature in March details a process known as “in vitro gametogenesis” (IVG), which involves genetically altering any type of animal cells into stem cells and then into egg or sperm cells.

In this case, the team used tail skin cells from a male mouse and turned them into stem cells. They then switched these cells’ genetic sex by dumping their Y chromosome and creating another X chromosome, which created eggs. Sperm from another male mouse fertilized these eggs, which then transferred into a surrogate female mouse’s uterus. The team transplanted 630 embryos made from these altered cells but produced only seven healthy, living pups. In the future, human same-sex couples could hopefully one day produce a child that’s biologically related to each parent.

7. ASTRONOMERS SPOTTED AN EXOPLANET THAT MAY CONTAIN THE TRAPPINGS FOR LIFE

This past September, a team of astronomers, with the help of JWST of course, found a planet dubbed the oh-so-memorable K2-18b. It has an atmospheric chemical blend that denotes the presence of liquid water, a major ingredient needed for supporting life. They also sniffed out traces of the molecule dimethyl sulfide, which on Earth only comes from living things (though they still need more evidence of its presence).

Published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters in October, the paper refers to the search for habitable environments and biomarkers as “the holy grail of exoplanet science.” An immense world covered in liquid water with a mostly hydrogen atmosphere, K2-18b orbits the red dwarf star 120 light years from Earth. It could become the first Hycean (hydrogen + ocean) world ever discovered and the first instance of liquid water on a planet orbiting a star.

6. NOW THERE’S LIVE, 3D-PRINTABLE INK MADE FROM BACTERIA

2023 brought us a method for 3D printing with an ink that contains living bacteria, called BactoInk. A paper published in February in the journal Materials Today details the process of printing a biocomposite filament that contains Sporosarcina pasteurii, which initiates mineralization when it makes contact with a solution containing urea, a waste by-product that many organisms create from breaking down amino acids. After a few days of mineralization, the ink hardens to calcium carbonate (CaCO3), a key substance in mollusk shells.

Designed by researchers at the Soft Materials Laboratory in the School of Engineering at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, energy-efficient BactoInk can 3D-print in nearly any structure that gradually hardens into CaCO3 over a few days, and it could aid in repairing broken mineral-based organic structures like coral reefs or even bone.

5. A PIG ORGAN WAS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSPLANTED INTO A HUMAN BODY

During the dog days of summer 2023, surgeons at New York University Langone Health transplanted a genetically modified pig kidney into a brain-dead patient as a proof-of-concept procedure called a xenotransplant. Not only was the kidney accepted, but it also functioned as well as a human kidney in the month after the surgery.

Foreign organs are a promising solution to the medical shortage that plagues those needing new livers, kidneys, and more. Through gene editing, scientists can modify animal organs to make them compatible with human bodies. In this case, the kidney came from a lineage of genetically altered swine that lacks “alpha-gal.” Because this sugar molecule can be found in many mammals except for humans, it can cause a human body to reject a nonhuman organ. This milestone represents a victory for the future of xenotransplantation.

4. A NEW GENE-EDITING THERAPY COULD TRANSFORM HIGH-CHOLESTEROL TREATMENT

Statins have long been the prescribed treatment for familial hypercholesterolemia, a condition that increases individuals’ risk for heart disease and early death. But they are far from perfect. The daily medication comes with an increased risk of stroke and diabetes, as well as other side effects like headaches and nausea. A new gene therapy presented this past November at the annual American Heart Association meeting could supplant statins.

The therapy entails an updated version of CRISPR called base editing, which removes small components of DNA strands rather than breaking the entire strand. The treatment, called VERVE-101, is an infusion that targets a gene in liver cells called PCSK9 that controls “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. VERVE-101 instructs liver cells to manufacture an ineffective version of this gene, lowering those “bad” cholesterol levels.

In a small clinical trial of 10 people, those who received the highest dosages of VERVE-101 saw their “bad” cholesterol fall between 39 and 55 percent. VERVE-101 is still in Phase 1 clinical trials, so it will be a few years before we can see it approved by the FDA, and that’s if everything goes well.

3. A TINY NUMBER FROM A TINY PARTICLE COULD UPEND THE STANDARD MODEL OF PHYSICS

Thispast August, researchers at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory announced that they measured the wobble of a muon, a negatively charged subatomic particle that throws a wrench in everything we think we know about particle physics, also known as the Standard Model. According to the Standard Model, muons in magnetic fields should wobble, like a spinning top’s axis, at a certain speed — and yet they don’t, indicating that the model may lack some crucial information.

A muon’s wobble is determined by the particle’s magnetic moment or how muons align with magnetic fields. Theoretically, the magnetic moment, represented as g, should be 2. However, experiments yield another figure entirely. The new measurement comes to 0.00233184110, which physicists simply call “g-2.” This experimental gulf between g and g-2 can put the Standard Model through a crucible.

2. THIS MAN RECEIVED THE FIRST EVER WHOLE-EYE AND PARTIAL-FACE TRANSPLANT

Finally, in May, surgeons at NYU Langone Health successfully performed the first whole-eye and partial-face transplant on a 46-year-old military veteran and high-voltage power lineman named Aaron James. Two years earlier, James suffered a 7,200-volt shock to his face when a live wire touched his skin.

The surgery lasted 21 hours and involved 140 healthcare professionals, and while it’s uncertain whether the transplanted eye will gain sight, normal direct flow to the retina suggests it’s healthy. Today, James can also speak and eat normally again, and this breakthrough surgery brings new transplant possibilities to millions.

1. NUCLEAR FUSION IS — FINALLY — IN ITS IGNITION ERA

Almost a year ago, scientists at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved something decades in the making: They attained a gain of 1, a controlled fusion reaction that produces more energy than it puts in. If that was the crowning achievement for physics in 2022, then 2023’s pinnacle was subtle, though undeniably more consequential. Over the course of this year, the NIF has officially reproduced this gain three times, ensuring that the late-breaking, end-of-2022 triumph would enable perhaps physics’ most influential year yet: the year of fusion energy.

{ https://www.inverse.com/ }

24-12-2023 om 20:30 geschreven door peter  

Using just 20 watts of power, the human brain is capable of processing the equivalent of an exaflop — or a billion-billion mathematical operations per second. Now, researchers in Australia are building what will be the world's first supercomputer that can simulate networks at this scale. 

DeepSouth supercomputer - the world's first computer designed to emulate the parallel biological neural networks of the human brain itself. Developed by scientists at Western Sydney University's International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems, DeepSouth utilizes breakthrough neuromorphic hardware and software that mimics neurons and synapses to achieve unprecedented efficiency. 

The DeepSouth supercomputer distributes processing across a network of bespoke brain-inspired chips, unlike traditional supercomputers based on von Neumann designs. 

This enables DeepSouth to carry out a staggering 228 trillion synaptic operations per second, rivaling estimates for the human brain's processing speed. Yet it requires far less space and power than conventional systems. 

This new generation of brain-inspired supercomputing not only could make sci-fi applications an everyday reality but even more scary is the fact that they could someday create a cyborg brain vastly more powerful than our own. 

The prospect of entities, whether humans or AI (robots), equipped with cyborg brains is becoming increasingly plausible, paving the way for a profound shift in the hierarchy of Earth's dominant species.

  

{ https://ufosightingshotspot.blogspot.com/ }

22-12-2023 om 22:17 geschreven door peter  

Artikel van Zeleb.es 

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Sterkste materialen
Er wordt algemeen aangenomen dat diamant het sterkste materiaal op aarde is, maar er is iets uitgevonden dat veel harder is. Dit materiaal is simpelweg een legering van chroom, kobalt en nikkel.

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Het sterkste materiaal ooit getest
Het team dat dit materiaal ontwierp, presenteerde het in het tijdschrift Science. De wetenschappers kwalificeerden hardheid van deze creatie als 'uitstekend'. Academici van verschillende universiteiten, waaronder Californië en Bristol (VK), bevestigden dat dit materiaal bestand was tegen allerlei invloeden zonder beschadigd te raken.

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Kracht, vervormbaar en bestand tegen breuken
Bij het maken van een nieuw structureel materiaal (om dingen mee te bouwen, zoals metaal), is het essentieel om drie eigenschappen te meten: kracht, vervormbaarheid en taaiheid. Het materiaal is krachtig als het moeilijk te vervormen is. Het is vervormbaar als het te kneden is en taai als het bestand is tegen breuken.

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Bestand tegen breuken
Breukvastheid komt voort uit een goede combinatie van kneedbaarheid en sterkte. Wetenschappers zetten het materiaal bij lage temperaturen onder druk om deze eigenschappen te testen. Dat leidde bij het team tot een opmerkelijke ontdekking: de legering van dit materiaal wordt harder bij koude temperaturen. Hierdoor wordt scheurvorming voorkomen.

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Een compromis
"Meestal wordt bij metalen een compromis tussen deze eigenschappen gevonden, maar dit materiaal heeft het allemaal. In plaats van broos te worden bij lage temperaturen, wordt het juist harder", vertelde metallurg Easo George van het Oak Ridge National Laboratory en de University of Tennessee aan Science Alert. Hij deed mee aan het onderzoek.

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Naar -253 graden Celsius
Dit materiaal heeft het vermogen om verschillende reacties op nanoschaal te ontketen. Hierdoor blijft het bestand tegen de verschuiving in temperatuur. Het team van wetenschappers voerden zelfs testen uit op dit materiaal bij een temperatuur van -253 graden Celsius.

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Verdedigingsmechanisme
Het was bekent dat deze reacties konden ontstaan, maar ze waren nog nooit gebeurd in een reeks als deze. "Als je eraan trekt, start het eerste mechanisme, daarna volgt het tweede, daarna het derde en dan het vierde," vertelde Robert Richie van de University of California, Berkeley aan Science Alert.

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Ruimteonderzoek
Materialen die niet barsten bij zeer lage temperaturen zijn een uitdaging om te vinden. Toch zijn ze essentieel op het gebied van ruimtevaart. Die materialen worden daarin gebruikt om resistente en veilige raketten mee te bouwen.

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Veilige raketten
Volgens The Planetary Society kan een ruimtevaartuig temperaturen ervaren van soldeerwarmte tot ijskou. "Deze plotselinge, warmtevariaties kunnen ervoor zorgen dat materialen van ruimtevaartuigen ongelijkmatig uitzetten en samentrekken. Dit kan na verloop van tijd mogelijk leiden tot breuken."

Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

 

Bouw
Ruimtevaart is een heel specifiek gebruik. Toch hebben de meeste uitvindingen op dit gebied zich later vertaald in dagelijkse toepassingen. Een voorbeeld hiervan is Mylar. Een warmtereflecterend materiaal dat NASA heeft gemaakt om ruimtevaartuigen tegen de zon te beschermen. Nu wordt het door residentiële en commerciële aannemers gebruikt als isolatie.

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Nieuwe toepassingen
Ruimtevaart is slechts een voorbeeld van de mogelijke toepassingen die deze legering heeft. Volgens wetenschappers is de volgende stap het onderzoeken van andere mogelijke toepassingen en het vinden van andere metalen met vergelijkbare eigenschappen. 

{ https://thedailydigest.com/ }

21-12-2023 om 21:37 geschreven door peter