Tag Archives: broken

Why a Broken Phone Chip Might Be a Blessing in Disguise

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Manufacturing Computer Chips Process

The Imperfect Art of Computer Chip Manufacturing

Credit: Apple

Apple is increasingly utilizing defective chips to produce budget-friendly laptops. Although this may sound counterintuitive, it highlights a widely accepted technique known as “binning,” which minimizes production costs and environmental waste in smartphones and laptops.

The term “binning” originates from agriculture, where high-quality fruits and vegetables are sold to premium markets, while those in poor condition are allocated to other customers, and the least desirable items may be recycled as animal feed. This segregation ensures minimal waste, a practice echoed in semiconductor manufacturing.

For instance, take the new MacBook Neo, which incorporates the A18 Pro system featuring five GPU cores, offering users a more cost-effective Apple laptop option. Previously, the A18 Pro was found in the iPhone 16 Pro with six functional GPU cores. Reports suggest that Apple is utilizing A18 Pro chips stored in a bin with one defective core, thereby optimizing the use of discarded components. Although Apple hasn’t commented on this, industry experts like New Scientist indicate that manufacturers across various sectors, from electronics to automotive, routinely adopt this practice.

According to Owen Guy, a researcher from Swansea University in the UK, semiconductor chips are produced in large quantities on 300-mm silicon wafers housing trillions of individual transistors. Sophisticated machinery performs countless operations on these wafers, generating layers of circuits, insulators, and chemicals just nanometers thick. In truth, the complexity of this procedure often makes it astonishing that chips work at all, rather than the occurrence of defects.

“At each stage of the process, there is a small chance that something may go awry,” says Guy.

The proportion of errors on a single wafer dictates the yield, or the quantity of chips that meet the required specifications. Yields can reach up to 99 percent for standard silicon chips, a material employed since the 1960s, but often improve for advanced chip designs and newer substrate materials like silicon carbide and gallium nitride.

“The critical question is the number and severity of defects. Unless there’s a so-called fatal flaw, functioning chips can still exist even when they have imperfections,” Guy explains.

Imagine achieving a yield of 90%, where 9 out of 10 chips perform as expected. In such a scenario, one chip is destined for the bin. If one core is defective, it may be classified as a different product, featuring five cores instead of six. Alternatively, it might be regulated to operate at lower voltages or frequencies or rated for higher power consumption or temperature. There will always be customers eager to use these chips.

Researcher Tony Kenyon from University College London states that users often remain unaware of any issues. Error-correction software is employed to isolate faulty transistors in memory chips, avoiding potential data loss or rerouting computations around flawed processor cores to prevent software crashes.

“A deeper look under the hood reveals that certain components of the chip may not function. This is widely prevalent. Many believe all chips are uniform, but the reality is far more complex,” Kenyon asserts.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

How Parrots Use Broken Beaks to Establish Dominance Among Males

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Caring for a Broken Beak

Bruce is a kea with only half a beak.

Photo by: Ximena Nelson

In 2013, a small, malnourished parrot faced dire circumstances in the Arthur’s Pass wilderness of New Zealand’s South Island, missing half of its beak.

Ximena Nelson, a researcher at the University of Canterbury, discovered the bird (known scientifically as nestor notabilis) suffering from a beak injury, likely due to trauma. Recognizing the kea’s endangered status, Nelson’s student opted to rescue him.

This decision would change Bruce’s life forever, setting him on a path to unexpected prominence.

Initially, zookeepers at the Willowbank Wildlife Sanctuary in Christchurch assumed the parrot was female and named her Kati due to the absence of the upper beak. Male keas possess large upper beaks for digging, and it was unclear how a bird with a half-beak could thrive. “I felt he could bite my finger off,” Nelson remarked.

However, DNA tests later confirmed that Kati was a male, and he was renamed Bruce, a title they considered humorously unfit for a parrot.

To everyone’s surprise, Bruce excelled among nine males and three females at Willowbank, swiftly establishing himself as the alpha male of the group, called a “Circus” (the collective term for a group of keas).

Bruce’s success stemmed from his unique adaptation; the absence of his upper beak allowed him to use his lower beak as a weapon, enhancing his competitive edge.

According to Nelson, Bruce’s straight and sharp lower beak proved instrumental in his jousting tactics against rival birds.

Although other males typically weigh over 1 kg and outweigh Bruce, their upper beaks obscure their lower ones, limiting their effectiveness in confrontations.

“Should they attempt to headbutt another bird, the impact would be blunted,” Nelson noted. “Conversely, Bruce charges at his competitors, often almost falling over in his enthusiasm.”

Nelson added, “His jabs are intense; the other birds despise it. When Bruce engages, they quickly take flight.”

Of the 162 aggressive interactions noted over four weeks, Bruce dominated, winning all 36 encounters he participated in.

He also maintained control over four feeders in the enclosure, sometimes enlisting lower-status birds to preen and groom their lower beaks, a behavior unseen in other captive birds.

The research team aimed to investigate how Bruce’s dominance impacted the social hierarchy, discovering that his stress hormone levels were significantly lower than those of his competitors. His alpha status enabled him to engage in aggression far less frequently than required by others.

Researchers assert that besides humans, Bruce represents the first documented case of an injured animal achieving and sustaining alpha male status solely through behavioral innovation.

His story embodies the message that differences need not be disadvantages, and notably, he did not require any beak repairs.

“I genuinely admire Bruce,” Nelson commented. “When it’s time to fight, he puts in his all, fiercely and energetically. Nevertheless, he isn’t a bully.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Hot Glue Gun: A Surprising Solution for Repairing Broken Bones

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Broken bones often need a material to fill the void

Sopone Nawoot/Alamy

Researchers have discovered that with slight modifications, hot glue guns, typically used in crafting, can effectively and affordably mend damaged bones.

While bones can often heal themselves after minor injuries, serious trauma or tumor removal may leave cavities that require a synthetic plug to stimulate bone cell growth.

Although 3D printing can create tailored scaffolding to fill these gaps, the method necessitates scanning and remote fabrication, taking at least a week. While this pre-planned approach works for worn joints, it’s unfeasible for emergency surgeries.

To tackle this issue, John Seung Lee from Sungkyunkwan University in Korea and his team have created a solution that can be employed immediately during a single procedure.

They modified hot glue guns to lower their operating temperature from above 100°C to approximately 60°C and developed biological adhesive materials composed of hydroxyapatite (which makes up 50% of natural bone) and a biodegradable thermoplastic known as polycaprolactone.

During surgery, surgeons can utilize hot glue guns to rapidly fill bone voids, enabling bone cells to access these gaps and ultimately heal the injuries permanently over time.

“It’s essentially created from a standard hot glue gun,” Lee explains. “It significantly reduces time and costs.”

Lee and his colleagues assessed the glue gun’s effectiveness by repairing a 1 cm gap in a rabbit’s femur. Twelve weeks later, samples showed no complications or signs of separation between the adhesive and the bone, with bone mass being more than double that of control animals treated with traditional cement.

Furthermore, researchers found that two antibacterial agents can be integrated into the filaments to decrease infection risk, releasing the drugs gradually to the surgical site over several weeks.

Benjamin Olivere from the University of Nottingham in the UK is investigating 3D-printed scaffolds for bone repair but expresses skepticism, suggesting hot glue guns might become a more practical alternative compared to slower scanning and printing methods.

“Is it an intriguing idea? Absolutely. Is it feasible? Yes. Do I believe it’s plausible? Yes,” he states. “However, the practical application may be a different matter.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Australian Filmmaker Alex Ploya: “The Film Industry is Broken and Needs Reconstruction—AI Can Assist”

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As capitalist forces largely steer advancements in artificial intelligence, Alex Proyas perceives the integration of AI in filmmaking as a pathway to artistic freedom.

While numerous individuals in the film industry view the rise of AI as a threat to their jobs, incomes, and likenesses, Australian filmmakers, including Proyas, embrace the technology as a means to simplify and reduce costs associated with projects.

“The model for filmmakers, the only person I truly care about at the end of the day, is broken… and it’s not AI that’s causing it,” Proyas states to the Guardian.

“It’s the industry, it’s streaming.”


He mentions that the filmmakers he once depended on are dwindling in the streaming era, with the remaining ones working on tighter budgets for projects.

“We need to reconstruct it from the ground up. We believe that AI will assist us in doing that because as it continually lowers production costs, we can retain more ownership of our projects,” he remarks.

Proyas’s upcoming film, Rur, narrates the tale of a woman attempting to liberate her robots from capitalist oppression within an island factory. Based on a satirical play from 1920, the film features Samantha Orle, Lindsay Faris, and Anthony Laparia, having begun filming in October of the previous year.

The Heresy Foundation, one of Proyas’s ventures, was established in 2020 in Alexandria, Sydney. I detailed that at the time as a comprehensive production house for films. He claims that Rur can be produced for a fraction of the US$100 million budget typical of traditional studios.

This cost-effectiveness is due to the capability of carrying out much of the work directly in the studio via virtual production in collaboration with Technology Giant Dell, which supplies workstations to facilitate real-time generation of AI assets during film creation.

Proyas’ 2004 film I, Robot, was created when AI was more firmly entrenched in the sci-fi genre. Photo: 20th Century Fox/Sports Photo/All Star

Proyas asserts that production durations for environmental designs can be shortened from six months to eight weeks.

His 2004 film, I, Robot, was produced during a time when AI was reasonably established in science fiction, yet depicted a world in 2035. When questioned about his concerns regarding AI’s implications in film production, especially in visual effects, Proyas responds, “The workforce is streamlined,” yet believes retraining is possible.

“I believe there’s a role for everyone who embraces technology and pushes it forward, just as we’ve done throughout the film industry,” he comments.

The Guardian interviewed Proyas during the same week when the Australian Productivity Committee was discharged from the creative sector to spark discussions on whether AI companies should have unrestricted access to everyone’s creative works for model training.

Proyas argues that in the “analog world,” there is no need for AI to plagiarize.


“I think of AI as ‘enhancing intelligence’ rather than artificial intelligence. It aids in streamlining processes, promoting efficiency, and enhancing productivity,” he explains.

“A human team will always be necessary. We view AI as one of our collaborative partners.”

Amidst a plethora of AI-generated content online, Proyas reveals that he has spent years honing his skills to achieve the desired outcomes from AI, striving to refine its output until he is content with it.

“My role as a director, creator, and visual artist hasn’t changed at all. I’m now collaborating with a smaller team of humans, with AI as my co-collaborator to realize my vision. And I am clear about what that vision is,” he states.

“I don’t just sit at my computer asking for ‘Funny cat videos, please.’ I am very precise.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

The danger of “broken down narcissists” and how to steer clear of them

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Narcissists are individuals who exhibit grandiosity and entitlement, often convinced of their own specialness. They typically lack empathy and constantly seek attention.

In severe cases, a person may receive a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder. Despite their outward confidence, narcissism is believed to stem from deep-rooted insecurities referred to as “fragile narcissism.”

Research supports this notion. For instance, a brain scan study revealed that when narcissists viewed images of themselves, neural activity indicated negative emotions.

Another study found that narcissists display reduced connectivity between various brain regions related to self and reward. Neural regions related to self and reward.

For some narcissists, the need to attract attention and show off serves as a coping mechanism for personal self-doubt. However, this strategy can backfire if the narcissist faces rejection or public humiliation.

While the term “disintegrated narcissist” is not included in psychiatric diagnostic manuals, therapists and psychologists use it to describe a narcissist who experiences a breakdown, leading to feelings of deflation and anger.

Studies have shown that vulnerable narcissists react to imagined insults or rejection with feelings of sadness and self-hatred. Additionally, disintegrated narcissists often respond to provocation with shame, anger, and rage.

Attempting to bring a narcissist down a notch may escalate conflicts and worsen underlying insecurities. A better approach may involve helping the narcissistic individual build healthier self-esteem and cultivate empathy towards others.

This article is in response to a question posed by Jules Morrison via email: “What is a disintegrated narcissist?”

If you have any questions, please contact us at: questions@sciencefocus.com or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (remember to include your name and location).

Explore more:

  • How does a narcissist’s personality change with age?
  • How to identify the hidden narcissist in your life
  • Are we becoming more narcissistic?

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

‘Sustainable Startups Struggle to Fix Broken Food System as Venture Capital Seeks Return on Investment’

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Andrew Carter and Adam DiMartino launched Smallhold in 2017 with a goal of providing mushrooms to more people. Carter believed that mushrooms are highly sustainable in terms of water, waste, plastic use, and emissions. Over the years, Smallhold has successfully introduced specialty mushrooms like shiitake, green oysters, and trumpet mushrooms to grocery stores and households across America.

As mushrooms gained popularity as a symbol of sustainability during the pandemic, Smallhold found success and attention from the media, resulting in a valuation of $90 million. Despite starting in a Brooklyn shipping container, the brand expanded rapidly with farms in New York, Texas, and California, selling in 1,400 stores nationwide.

Smallhold’s co-founders, DeMartino and Carter, believe in promoting sustainability and reducing waste in the food industry. However, the company faced challenges when the founders resigned, leading to Smallhold filing for bankruptcy. Although the brand was acquired and reorganized, it struggled to maintain its original vision, closing farms and reducing staff.

For entrepreneurs, Smallhold’s journey serves as a lesson on finding a niche beyond sustainability and ensuring economic sustainability. While the company focused on unique mushroom varieties and sustainable practices, it also built a strong brand through aesthetics and social media. It’s crucial for startups to deliver quality products, maintain profitability, and avoid excessive reliance on venture capital.

In the evolving landscape of food startups, lessons can be learned from Smallhold’s experience. By combining sustainability with quality, variety, and branding, companies can attract customers and thrive in the market. Innovating in the food industry requires a balance between financial responsibility and sustainability goals, defining success on your own terms.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Can artificial intelligence and new technologies solve the issues in our broken democracies?

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Many of us entered this so-called super-election year with a sense of foreboding. So far, not much has happened to allay these fears. Russia’s war against Ukraine has exacerbated the perception that democracy is under threat in Europe and beyond. In the United States, presidential candidate Donald Trump self-proclaimed dictatorial tendencies facing two assassination attempts. And more broadly, people seem to be losing faith in politics. A 2024 report from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance states that “most citizens in diverse countries around the world have no confidence in the performance of their political institutions.”

By many objective measures, democracy is not functioning as it should. The systems we call democracies tend to favor the wealthy. Political violence is on the rise, legislative gridlock is severe, and elections are becoming less free and fair around the world. Nearly 30 years have passed since pundits proclaimed the triumph of Western liberal democracy, but their predictions seem further away than ever from coming true. what happened?

According to Rex Paulson At the Mohammed VI Institute of Technology in Rabat, Morocco, we have lost sight of what democracy is. “We have created a terrible confusion between the system known as a republic, which relies on elections, political parties, and a permanent ruling class, and the system known as democracy, where the people directly participate in decisions and change power. The good news, he says, is that the original dream of government by the people and for the people can be revived. That’s what he and other researchers are trying to do…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists investigate the effects of a broken heart

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The Science of Love

“Losing or ending a romantic relationship is one of the most painful losses an adult can experience,” begins the BAS (A Study Full of Acronyms) study by German and Iranian researchers. Journal of Psychiatry Research.

This is science at its most overtly romantic: electromagnetically stimulating the brains of volunteers who have suddenly experienced heartbreak. It's also science with the most acronyms: tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation), DLPFC (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), VLPFC (ventrolateral prefrontal cortex), LTS (love trauma syndrome).

For those who have suffered through heartbreak, here's a passage worth hearing out loud as a midnight rooftop monologue: “Thirty-six participants with love trauma syndrome were randomly assigned to three tDCS conditions (left DLPFC, right VLPFC, or sham stimulation). LTS symptoms, treatment-related outcome variables (depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, positive and negative affect), and cognitive functioning were assessed pre-intervention, immediately after intervention, and one month after the intervention.”

The evaluation showed that brain zapping “ameliorated symptoms of LTS,” according to the researchers, but they cautioned that, in terms of science in general, “there are significant gaps in the research on 'love trauma syndrome,' what exactly the symptoms are and what the diagnostic criteria are.”

Eliminates odors

Kevin Lee sees some causation in the actions of perhaps London's (and the world's) first celebrity pathologist.

He writes: “I'm a retired forensic scientist and, as you can imagine, I've been asked countless times how I deal with smells. Apart from the old-fashioned solution of smiling innocently and asking, 'Ouch, what's that?', I still have a keen sense of smell and can detect a range of odours, even when the smell of decay is very faint. I've trained myself to have a fairly neutral approach to these smells, so that although I still notice them well, after one good sniff, they're no longer an issue.”

“Recent articles [Feedback, 15 June] Sir Bernard Spilsbury, a very famous forensic scientist in the early 20th century, said that his sense of smell was extremely defective. If it was, it is more likely that this was because he was a heavy smoker, smoking around 50 cigarettes a day. It is also possible that he used the same techniques that I later used.”

A slice of life

This note from UK reader Gerald Legg depicts body parts that are living (elbow), dead (hair), nominal (leg) and sliced: “Your recent article, 'Parting the Hair' (July 20th) made me think of my time at Manchester University, where my PhD research involved a lot of microtome work using an old but still-functioning Cambridge rocking microtome. [a specialist cutting device].

“I was taught how to sharpen the blade using a glass plate and cerium dioxide. Before each use, the blade is sharpened and then tested under 40x magnification to make sure it is free of scratches. The test is to cut a hair. A sharp blade can cut a hair three times, lifting the little curled section that is still attached to the body of the hair and then cutting the hair straight through.

“There was a sharp knife in the lab, and I put my elbow against the knife and heard it cutting all the way to the bone, but I didn’t feel anything.

“I was rushed to the nearby Manchester Hospital, where I was quickly healed with just a few stitches and was able to return to the lab and continue serial sectioning with the same blade.”

Anonymous

When students make tangible contributions to science, some teachers find ways to publicly recognize who, what, and where they did it, especially when students make extraordinary sacrifices.

“Research into the antibacterial effect of earwax E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus It was isolated from skin and stool samples of an undergraduate student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.” “.

In the academic world, credits are limited: individual students are not identified by name.

Simple Happiness

“Simple, simple, simple” is an old rule of thumb, especially among scientists. In honor of this maxim, Feedback has created a document collection called “Simple, Simple, Simple.”

The first item in this assemblage is report It was published in the February 6, 1997 issue under the heading “The Uniquely Simple Personality of Politicians” NatureThe study suggests that a politician's personality can be summed up in just two or three numbers – in stark contrast to the five numbers psychologists claim are needed to judge the average person.

The study's authors were awarded the Ig Nobel Prize in Psychology in 2003.

If you have the simple pleasure of finding another good example, send it to us (with details of the citation) at Simple pleasures, Feedback.

Marc Abrahams is the founder of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founder of the journal Annals of Improbable Research. He previously worked on unusual uses of computers. His website is Impossible.

Do you have a story for feedback?

You can submit articles for Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week's and past Feedback can be found on our website.

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Source: www.newscientist.com