Computer Science: General
Published

New brain-like transistor mimics human intelligence      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers develop transistor that simultaneously processes and stores information like the human brain. Transistor goes beyond categorization tasks to perform associative learning. Transistor identified similar patterns, even when given imperfect input. Previous similar devices could only operate at cryogenic temperatures; new transistor operates at room temperature, making it more practical.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General
Published

Meet 'Coscientist,' your AI lab partner      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An artificial intelligence-driven system has autonomously learned about certain Nobel Prize-winning chemical reactions and designed a successful laboratory procedure to make them. The AI did so in just a few minutes and correctly on its first attempt. According to the authors, this is the first time that a non-organic intelligence planned, designed and executed this complex reaction that was invented by humans.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

World's smallest 'fanged' frogs found in Indonesia      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have identified a species of frog new to science. The Indonesian amphibian is the size of a quarter, unlike its two-pound cousins, and has tiny fangs. Nearly uniquely among amphibians, they lay their eggs on the leaves of trees, and the males guard and tend to the nests. 

Computer Science: General Mathematics: Modeling
Published

Large language models validate misinformation      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In a recent study, researchers systematically tested an early version of ChatGPT's understanding of statements in six categories: facts, conspiracies, controversies, misconceptions, stereotypes, and fiction. 

Computer Science: General Mathematics: Modeling
Published

Clinicians could be fooled by biased AI, despite explanations      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study finds that clinicians were fooled by biased AI models, even with provided explanations for how the model generated its diagnosis.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Mathematics: Modeling Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Artificial intelligence can predict events in people's lives      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Artificial intelligence can analyze registry data on people's residence, education, income, health and working conditions and, with high accuracy, predict life events.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Seals stay warm and hydrated in the Arctic with larger, more convoluted nasal passages      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Arctic seals have evolved many adaptations to cope with their frosty environment -- one that you might not immediately think of is the bones in their nasal cavity. Arctic seals have more convoluted nasal passages than seal species that live in milder environments, and researchers report that these structures help the seals more efficiently retain heat and moisture as they breathe in and out.

Computer Science: General
Published

Interactive screen use reduces sleep time in kids      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

While screen time is generally known to affect sleep, new research suggests that interactive engagement, such as texting friends or playing video games, delays and reduces the time spent asleep to a greater extent than passive screen time, like watching television -- especially for teens.  

Computer Science: General Ecology: Endangered Species Environmental: General Environmental: Water
Published

Saving endangered species: New AI method counts manatee clusters in real time      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Accurately counting manatee aggregations within a region is crucial yet challenging. Harnessing the power of AI, researchers are using a deep learning-based crowd counting approach to automatically count the number of manatees in a designated region, using images captured from CCTV cameras, which are readily available, as input. The pioneering study not only addresses the technical challenges of counting in complex outdoor environments but also offers potential ways to aid endangered species. 

Chemistry: General Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General
Published

Single-use e-cigarettes contain batteries that last hundreds of cycles despite being discarded      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

While the lithium-ion batteries in disposable electronic cigarettes are discarded after a single use, they can continue to perform at high capacity for hundreds of cycles, according to a new study. The analysis highlights a growing environmental threat from these increasingly popular vape pens, which are not designed to be recharged.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General
Published

How a drought led to the rise of skateboarding in 1970s California      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Why did professional skateboarding arise in southern California in the 1970s? Was it a coincidence, or was it a perfect storm of multiple factors? It's fairly well-known that a drought in southern California in the mid-1970s led to a ban on filling backyard swimming pools, and these empty pools became playgrounds for freestyle skateboarders in the greater Los Angeles area. But a new cross-disciplinary study shows that beyond the drought, it was the entanglement of environmental, economic and technological factors that led to the explosive rise of professional skateboarding culture in the 1970s.

Computer Science: General
Published

Made-to-order diagnostic tests may be on the horizon      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have made a breakthrough in diagnostic technology, inventing a 'lab on a chip' that can be 3D-printed in just 30 minutes. The chip has the potential to make on-the-spot testing widely accessible.

Ecology: General Ecology: Research Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Water Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Have researchers found the missing link that explains the mysterious phenomenon known as fairy circles?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Fairy circles, a nearly hexagonal pattern of bare-soil circular gaps in grasslands, initially observed in Namibia and later in other parts of the world, have fascinated and baffled scientists for years. New research suggests that all theories to date have overlooked the coupling between two robust mechanisms essential for understanding ecosystem response: phenotypic plasticity at the level of a single plant, and spatial self-organization in vegetation patterns at the level of a plant population.

Computer Science: General
Published

Researchers safely integrate fragile 2D materials into devices      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new technique integrates 2D materials into devices and systems in a single step, while keeping surfaces and interfaces free from defects. This method could enable devices like those in computer chips to achieve better performance than those made with conventional fabrication techniques.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geomagnetic Storms Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Space Space: Exploration Space: General Space: The Solar System
Published

When is an aurora not an aurora?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

While auroras occur at high latitude, the associated phenomena Steve and the picket fence occur farther south and at lower altitude. Their emissions also differ from aurora. A physics graduate student has proposed a physical mechanism behind these emissions, and a rocket launch to test the theory. She argues that an electric field in the upper atmosphere parallel to Earth's magnetic field could explain the green picket fence spectrum and perhaps Steve and the enhanced aurora.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Zoology Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: General Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Immersive VR goggles for mice unlock new potential for brain science      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New miniature virtual reality (VR) goggles provide more immersive experiences for mice living in laboratory settings. By more faithfully simulating natural environments, the researchers can more accurately and precisely study the neural circuitry that underlies behavior. Compared to current state-of-the-art systems, which simply surround mice with computer or projection screens, the new goggles provide a leap in advancement.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

World's first logical quantum processor      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team has realized a key milestone in the quest for stable, scalable quantum computing. For the first time, the team has created a programmable, logical quantum processor, capable of encoding up to 48 logical qubits, and executing hundreds of logical gate operations. Their system is the first demonstration of large-scale algorithm execution on an error-corrected quantum computer, heralding the advent of early fault-tolerant, or reliably uninterrupted, quantum computation.

Computer Science: General Mathematics: General Mathematics: Modeling Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

ChatGPT often won't defend its answers -- even when it is right      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

ChatGPT may do an impressive job at correctly answering complex questions, but a new study suggests it may be absurdly easy to convince the AI chatbot that it's in the wrong.

Computer Science: General Physics: Optics
Published

Magnetization by laser pulse      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

To magnetize an iron nail, one simply has to stroke its surface several times with a bar magnet. Yet, there is a much more unusual method: A team has discovered some time ago that a certain iron alloy can be magnetized with ultrashort laser pulses.

Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Jays jump in while crows hold out for the treat      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research has found that two similar species of birds behave very differently around their favorite food when they have company. Biologists compared the behavior of two species of corvids, Eurasian jays and New Caledonian crows, both capable of displaying self-control through delayed gratification. The researchers found that jays will settle for an immediate, less preferred food option when another bird is present, while crows will always hold out for their favorite food, regardless of the social context.