Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Sea Life Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

These long-necked reptiles were decapitated by their predators, fossil evidence confirms      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In the age of dinosaurs, many marine reptiles had extremely long necks compared to reptiles today. While it was clearly a successful evolutionary strategy, paleontologists have long suspected that their long-necked bodies made them vulnerable to predators. Now, after almost 200 years of continued research, direct fossil evidence confirms this scenario for the first time in the most graphic way imaginable.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Nature
Published

From cross to self-pollination      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Biologists provide evidence for an alternative genetic mechanism that can lead to plants becoming self-pollinators.

Anthropology: General Archaeology: General Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Nature Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Fossil study sheds light on famous spirals found in nature      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A 3D model of a 407-million-year-old plant fossil has overturned thinking on the evolution of leaves. The research has also led to fresh insights about spectacular patterns found in plants.

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

AI helps show how the brain's fluids flow      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new, AI-based technique for measuring fluid flow in the brain could lead to treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's.

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

Hybrid AI-powered computer vision combines physics and big data      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have laid out a new approach to enhance artificial intelligence-powered computer vision technologies by adding physics-based awareness to data-driven techniques. The study offered an overview of a hybrid methodology designed to improve how AI-based machinery sense, interact and respond to its environment in real time -- as in how autonomous vehicles move and maneuver, or how robots use the improved technology to carry out precision actions.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
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Four-legged robot traverses tricky terrains thanks to improved 3D vision      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a new model that trains four-legged robots to see more clearly in 3D. The advance enabled a robot to autonomously cross challenging terrain with ease -- including stairs, rocky ground and gap-filled paths -- while clearing obstacles in its way.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Published

The chatbot will see you now      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Results from a study of the use of a chatbot in the consent process show that it encourages inclusivity, and leads to faster completion and high levels of understanding. Whereas the traditional method of consenting does not have a mechanism to verify understanding objectively, the chat-based method can test comprehension. It does not allow users who do not show understanding to give consent; rather, it puts them in touch with a genetic counsellor to figure out why knowledge transmission did not occur. It could be accessed at any time; more than half the patients interacted with the bot during these times, and this shows its utility in decreasing the barriers to entry to trials.

Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Zoology Paleontology: General
Published

Which came first: The reptile or the egg?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The earliest reptiles, birds and mammals may have borne live young, researchers have revealed.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General Offbeat: Space Space: Exploration Space: General
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Mori3: A polygon shape-shifting robot for space travel      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

By combining inspiration from the digital world of polygon meshing and the biological world of swarm behavior, the Mori3 robot can morph from 2D triangles into almost any 3D object. The research shows the promise of modular robotics for space travel.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Ecology: General Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

MethaneMapper is poised to solve the problem of underreported methane emissions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

MethaneMapper is an artificial intelligence-powered hyperspectral imaging tool that researchers have developed to detect real-time methane emissions and trace them to their sources. The tool works by processing hyperspectral data gathered during overhead, airborne scans of the target area.

Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General
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Study finds socially tolerant monkeys have better impulse control      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Socially tolerant species are better at controlling their emotions and behaviors, according to a new study of one of humanity's closest relatives.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Chatgpt designs a robot      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Poems, essays and even books -- is there anything the OpenAI platform ChatGPT can't handle? These new AI developments have inspired researchers to dig a little deeper: For instance, can ChatGPT also design a robot? And is this a good thing for the design process, or are there risks?

Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Remains of an extinct world of organisms discovered      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Newly discovered biomarker signatures point to a whole range of previously unknown organisms that dominated complex life on Earth about a billion years ago. They differed from complex eukaryotic life as we know it, such as animals, plants and algae in their cell structure and likely metabolism, which was adapted to a world that had far less oxygen in the atmosphere than today.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Energy: Technology Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

New superconducting diode could improve performance of quantum computers and artificial intelligence      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team has developed a more energy-efficient, tunable superconducting diode -- a promising component for future electronic devices -- that could help scale up quantum computers for industry and improve artificial intelligence systems.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Trees Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General
Published

Older trees accumulate more mutations than their younger counterparts      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A study of the relationship between the growth rate of tropical trees and the frequency of genetic mutations they accumulate suggests that older, long-lived trees play a greater role in generating and maintaining genetic diversity than short-lived trees.

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

Shining a light on neuromorphic computing      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

AI, machine learning, and ChatGPT may be relatively new buzzwords in the public domain, but developing a computer that functions like the human brain and nervous system -- both hardware and software combined -- has been a decades-long challenge. Engineers are exploring how optical "memristors" may be a key to developing neuromorphic computing.