Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Engineering: Robotics Research Mathematics: Modeling Offbeat: Computers and Math Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Self-supervised AI learns physics to reconstruct microscopic images from holograms      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have unveiled an artificial intelligence-based model for computational imaging and microscopy without training with experimental objects or real data. The team introduced a self-supervised AI model nicknamed GedankenNet that learns from physics laws and thought experiments. Informed only by the laws of physics that universally govern the propagation of electromagnetic waves in space, the researchers taught their AI model to reconstruct microscopic images using only random artificial holograms -- synthesized solely from 'imagination' without relying on any real-world experiments, actual sample resemblances or real data.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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Out with the life coach, in with the chatbot      (via sciencedaily.com) 

As we start to edge out of winter, improving our diet and boosting our exercise start to appear on our agenda. But, when it comes to encouraging a healthier lifestyle, it may surprise you that artificial intelligence could be your best friend.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Engineering: Robotics Research
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Modified virtual reality tech can measure brain activity      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The research team at The University of Texas at Austin created a noninvasive electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor that they installed in a Meta VR headset that can be worn comfortably for long periods. The EEG measures the brain's electrical activity during the immersive VR interactions.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Oceanography
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Nitrogen fixation hotspots in Atlantic seaweed      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study examined nitrogen fixation among diazotrophs--microorganisms that can convert nitrogen into usable form for other plants and animals -- living among sargassum. Sargassum, a brown macroalgae in the seaweed family, floats on the surface of the open ocean and provides habitat for a colorful array of marine life such as small fish, brine shrimp and other microorganisms. Previous studies have overlooked diazotrophs associated with sargassum, which could mean a historical underestimation of nitrogen fixation in the Atlantic nitrogen budget. The study found that nitrogen fixation in sargassum communities was significant.

Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geology Geoscience: Oceanography Paleontology: Climate Paleontology: General
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Invasion of the Arctic Ocean by Atlantic plankton species reveals a seasonally ice-free ocean during the last interglacial      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A subpolar species associated with Atlantic water expanded far into the Arctic Ocean during the Last Interglacial, analysis of microfossil content of sediment cores reveals. This implies that summers in the Arctic were ice free during this period.

Geoscience: Oceanography
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Winter storms over Labrador Sea influence Gulf Stream system      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The Gulf Stream system plays an important role in climate. The weakening of this system that has been observed over the last two decades is therefore a cause for concern and much debate. The question is whether the measurable changes are already due to human-induced climate change -- model simulations predict such an influence with high probability for the future. A new study concludes that the currently observed weakening can be interpreted, at least in part, as a natural fluctuation following some extremely cold winters in the Labrador Sea in the 1990s.

Geoscience: Geology Geoscience: Oceanography Paleontology: Climate
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Past climate warming driven by hydrothermal vents      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international drilling expedition off the Norwegian coast confirms the theory that methane emissions from hydrothermal vents were responsible for global warming about 55 million years ago. The study shows that the vents were active in very shallow water depth or even above sea level, which would have allowed much larger amounts of methane to enter the atmosphere.

Geoscience: Oceanography
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Study highlights importance of mineral iron in ocean ecosystems      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research has revealed the importance of mineral forms of iron in regulating the cycling of this bio-essential nutrient in the ocean. The findings pave the way for new work on the relationship between the iron and carbon cycles and how changing ocean oxygen levels may interact.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research
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Robots cause company profits to fall -- at least at first      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have found that robots can have a 'U-shaped' effect on profits: causing profit margins to fall at first, before eventually rising again. The researchers studied industry data from the UK and 24 other European countries between 1995 and 2017, and found that at low levels of adoption, robots have a negative effect on profit margins. But at higher levels of adoption, robots can help increase profits.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Oceanography
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Sea urchins are struggling to 'get a grip' as climate change alters ecosystems      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

As global climate change causes weather extremes ranging from heat waves and droughts to heavy rains and flooding, the large amounts of freshwater pouring into nearshore ecosystems are altering habitats. A team of biologists studied the impacts of low salinity and how it alters sea urchins' ability to grip and move within their habitat.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Geology Geoscience: Oceanography Paleontology: Climate
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Nature's kitchen: how a chemical reaction used by cooks helped create life on Earth      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A chemical process used in the browning of food to give it its distinct smell and taste is probably happening deep in the oceans, where it helped create the conditions necessary for life. Known as the Maillard reaction after the French scientist who discovered it, the process converts small molecules of organic carbon into bigger molecules known as polymers. In the kitchen, it is used to create flavors and aromas out of sugars. But a research team argues that on the sea floor, the process has had a more fundamental effect, where it has helped to raise oxygen and reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, to create the conditions for complex life forms to emerge and thrive on Earth.

Biology: Marine Ecology: General Ecology: Research Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Study analyzes nearshore California marine heatwaves and cold spells amid changing climate conditions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Human-caused climate change has also caused extreme ocean temperatures and conditions with detrimental impacts on marine ecosystems and ocean-related ecology.  A new study explores ocean temperature data along California's Coast, finding that certain environmental conditions and the state of the ocean led to an enhanced risk for marine heatwaves and cold spells, conditions that scientists and environmental managers will need to monitor to preserve and protect vital ecosystems critical to the California ocean economy, known as the Blue Economy.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Oceanography Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Sea level rise shifts habitat for endangered Florida Keys species      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A newly published study describes the response to sea level rise by the silver rice rat, an endangered species only found in the Florida Keys.

Geoscience: Oceanography Geoscience: Severe Weather Paleontology: Climate
Published

North Atlantic Oscillation contributes to 'cold blob' in Atlantic Ocean      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A patch of ocean in the North Atlantic is stubbornly cooling while much of the planet warms. This anomaly -- dubbed the 'cold blob' -- has been linked to changes in ocean circulation, but a new study found changes in large-scale atmospheric patterns may play an equally important role, according to an international research team.

Geoscience: Earthquakes Geoscience: Oceanography Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

California's winter waves may be increasing under climate change      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study uses nearly a century of data to show that the average heights of winter waves along the California coast have increased as climate change has heated up the planet.

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

GPT-3 can reason about as well as a college student, psychologists report      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The artificial intelligence language model GPT-3 performed as well as college students in solving certain logic problems like those that appear on standardized tests. The researchers who conducted the experiment write that the results prompt the question of whether the technology is mimicking human reasoning or using a new type of cognitive process. Solving that question would require access to the software that underpins GPT-3 and other AI software.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Reinforcement learning allows underwater robots to locate and track objects underwater      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A team has shown that reinforcement learning -i.e., a neural network that learns the best action to perform at each moment based on a series of rewards- allows autonomous vehicles and underwater robots to locate and carefully track marine objects and animals.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

This 3D printed gripper doesn't need electronics to function      (via sciencedaily.com) 

This soft robotic gripper is not only 3D printed in one print, it also doesn't need any electronics to work.