Nail penetration tests on standard batteries (top) and those with enhanced electrolytes (bottom)
Professor Yi-Chun Lu, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Altering just one material in lithium-ion batteries could mitigate the risk of uncontrollable fires resulting from punctures or bends, paving the way for safer battery production in the coming years.
Lithium-ion batteries found in smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles consist of graphite electrodes, metal oxide electrodes, and a lithium salt electrolyte in a solvent. This liquid electrolyte facilitates ion flow, enabling battery charging in one direction and energy release in the opposite direction to power devices.
However, if these batteries are punctured and a short circuit occurs, the stored chemical energy can be released rapidly, with the potential to ignite a fire or cause an explosion.
To combat these risks, researchers have proposed alternative battery designs that incorporate protective gels and solid substitutes for liquid electrolytes. For instance, Yue Sun and colleagues at the Chinese University of Hong Kong have engineered a safe design that merely involves changing the electrolyte material.
Fires often result when negatively charged anions sever their bond with lithium in the battery. Once these bonds break, excessive heat is produced, leading to a destructive cycle known as thermal runaway.
To address this issue, the researchers developed a secondary solvent called lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, which only binds to the existing solvent’s lithium at elevated temperatures, where thermal runaway initiates. Unlike conventional solvents, this new material prevents the existence of anionic bonds, thus averting the dangerous heat release cycle. When subjected to a nail penetration test, the temperature in the battery only increased by 3.5°C, contrasting with the over 500°C generated by traditional batteries.
“The problematic element is anions. Anions possess significant bond energy, and it’s their bond disruption that triggers thermal runaway,” says Gary Leeke at the University of Birmingham, UK. “This isolates the harmful elements from the process. It represents a significant leap forward in battery safety.”
Testing revealed that batteries using the new solvent retained 82% of their capacity after 4,100 hours, showing competitiveness with existing technologies.
Leeke stated that the outcomes of this research could be integrated into next-generation batteries that could be mass-produced within three to five years.
Moreover, the atmospheric pressure is equivalent to that found on Earth at an altitude of 35km (almost 115,000 feet), well above the cruising altitude of commercial flights. This sparse atmosphere is predominantly carbon dioxide, containing only minimal amounts of oxygen.
Additionally, liquid water is virtually nonexistent on Mars, with radiation levels being 400 times greater than those on Earth, and only rare instances of extremely saline trickles.
Nonetheless, certain Earth organisms have shown a remarkable ability to endure such harsh conditions.
The European Space Agency conducted a series of experiments between 2008 and 2016, exposing various organisms and seeds to simulated Martian conditions aboard the International Space Station.
Tardigrades, fungi, and some bacteria survived for over a year, but solely in dormant forms, such as spores and cysts.
Some lichens and algae went a step further, demonstrating actual metabolic activity when partially shielded from radiation—this could occur on Mars if they are embedded in soil or hidden within rock crevices.
In 2024, Chinese researchers discovered that various desert moss species (Syntrichia caninervis) could endure simulated Martian conditions. However, “tolerance” is far from thriving in such an environment.
Although the moss was able to recover after a week in the simulated Martian environment and returned to normal growth, researchers did not find evidence of metabolic activity, such as oxygen production, within the Martian setting.
But the challenges are even greater.
Mars has an average surface temperature of -63°C (-81°F) and an atmospheric pressure that corresponds to 35km (nearly 115,000 feet), along with radiation levels that are 400 times higher than on Earth.
Mars soil contains perchlorate, a problematic oxidizer that is toxic to cell functions and leads to DNA damage. Exposure to the ultraviolet radiation prevalent on Mars makes it even more reactive.
The Chinese experiments did not simulate perchlorate presence in the Martian environment. Had it been included, it likely would have obliterated the moss entirely.
Some fungi survive perchlorate, and several bacterial species can utilize it as an energy source, even breaking it down into harmless by-products. However, these species still require water and warmth to thrive.
Typically, when we store items, we employ various methods to eliminate bacteria and fungi or inhibit their growth.
We freeze food, dehydrate it, sterilize with UV light, soak it in saline solutions, or seal it in oxygen-removing containers. On Mars, all these methods are naturally enforced!
If we aimed to sterilize a planet, we could hardly surpass the existing conditions on Mars.
This article addresses the inquiry posed by Robin Mason of Manchester: “Is there anything on Earth that can withstand Martian conditions?”
Please send your questions via emailto Question @sciencefocus.com, or reach us throughFacebook,Twitter, orInstagramPage (please include your name and location).
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Following the Trump administration’s decision, US immigration agents now have access to one of the most advanced hacking tools available globally, having secured a contract with Paragon Solutions, a company based in Israel, to develop spyware capable of infiltrating any phone, including encrypted applications.
The Department of Homeland Security initially established a contract with Paragon, a subsidiary of a US firm, in late 2024 during the Biden administration. However, this $2 million contract was suspended pending confirmation of an executive order that limits the application of US government spyware, as reported by Wired at that time.
According to recent updates, the suspension has been lifted. Public Procurement Documents now identify US Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the contracting agency.
This signifies that one of the most potent stealth cyber weapons ever engineered—created outside the United States—now resides with agencies that have been repeatedly accused of violating due process rights by private sectors and human rights organizations.
Neither Paragon nor ICE immediately responded to inquiries for comments.
Once effectively utilized against a target, the hacking software known as Graphite can infiltrate any phone. By essentially gaining control over the device, users (in this instance, ICE) can monitor an individual’s location, access messages, view photos, and even read data stored in encrypted applications like WhatsApp and Signal. Additionally, spyware such as Graphite can function as a listening device by activating the phone’s recorder.
An executive order signed by the Biden administration sought to implement restrictions on the use of spyware by the US government, asserting that it must refrain from operating commercial spyware that poses significant risks to intellectual property or security concerns for the US, or creates a substantial risk of inappropriate usage by foreign entities. The Biden administration even took the extraordinary step of blacklisting rival spyware manufacturer NSO Group, underlining their alleged facilitation of targeted attacks on the mobile phones of adversaries, human rights defenders, and journalists.
Paragon aims to differentiate itself from NSO Group, stating that it exclusively engages with democratic entities and has a strict policy against providing services to clients that may misuse the technology against civil society members, such as journalists. Paragon has yet to disclose its clients, claiming no insight into how its clientele may target particular individuals.
Spyware developers like Paragon and NSO assert that their technologies are intended for preventing crime and curtailing terrorist threats. Nevertheless, past incidents have showcased the software being misused to harass innocent individuals, including those perceived as opponents of the government.
John Scott Railton, a senior researcher at the University of Toronto, stated that spyware like Graphite is being exploited by governmental bodies. He remarked that such tools are “designed for dictatorship, not democracies that prioritize freedom and individual rights.”
“The invasive and secretive nature of hacking abilities is corrupting. Consequently, a growing number of democratic surveillance scandals, including those involving Paragon’s Graphite, are emerging,” he added.
Paragon severed ties with Italy after it was uncovered that 90 individuals, including journalists and civil society figures, had been targeted with spyware across multiple countries. Those targeted by the Italian government included rights advocates critical of its dealings with Libya. Several journalists were also among those targeted, yet the motivations behind these hacking campaigns remain unclear.
The US government is apprehensive about deploying spyware technology outside its borders, as the companies providing these technologies to various nations pose potential security threats.
“As long as the same commercial spyware technology is shared among multiple governments, a built-in counterintelligence risk is present. All these entities are aware of the secret surveillance technologies employed by the US and can anticipate how to detect and counteract them,” Scott Railton remarked. “We remain uncertain of the implications since we face a shortage of avenues to cancel all foreign contracts with Paragon.”
Nadine Farid Johnson, the policy director at Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute, dedicated to promoting free speech, expressed concerns over the “rapid and dramatic expansion of ICE’s budget and authority,” calling for congressional restrictions on the contexts in which spyware may be employed.
“Spyware like Paragon’s Graphite represents a profound threat to free speech and privacy,” Farid Johnson stated. “It has been previously used against journalists, human rights advocates, and political dissenters. The quiet reinstatement of the suspension order raises serious questions over whether certain administrative departments are bypassing the government’s own review protocols.”
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A doctor has successfully created an AI-powered stethoscope that can identify three cardiac conditions in just 15 seconds.
The classic stethoscope, which was invented in 1816, has been crucial for listening to internal body sounds and has remained a vital tool in medical practice for over two hundred years.
The research team is now working on a sophisticated AI-enhanced version that can diagnose heart failure, heart valve issues, and irregular heartbeats.
Developed by researchers at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, this innovative stethoscope can detect minute variations in heartbeat and blood flow that are beyond the capacity of human ears, while simultaneously performing quick ECG readings.
The details of this groundbreaking advancement that could enhance the early diagnosis of these conditions were shared with thousands of doctors during the European Heart Association Annual Meeting in Madrid, the largest cardiac conference globally.
Timely diagnosis is crucial for heart failure, heart valve disease, and irregular heart rhythms, enabling patients to access life-saving medications before their condition worsens.
A study involving around 12,000 patients from a UK GP practice tested individuals exhibiting symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue.
Those who were evaluated using the new technology were twice as likely to receive a diagnosis of heart failure compared to similar patients who were not subjected to this method.
Patients were three times more likely to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation—an irregular heart rhythm that heightens the stroke risk—and nearly twice as likely to be identified with heart valve disease, characterized by malfunctioning heart valves.
The AI-led stethoscope identifies subtle differences in heartbeat and blood flow that are imperceptible to the human ear while recording ECG. Photo: Eko Health
Dr. Patrick Bectiger from Imperial College London remarked:
“It’s amazing to utilize a smart stethoscope for a quick 15-second assessment, allowing AI to promptly provide results indicating whether a patient has heart failure, atrial fibrillation, or heart valve disease.”
Manufactured by Eko Health in California, the device resembles a credit card in size. It is placed on a patient’s chest to record electrical signals from the heart while a microphone picks up the sound of blood circulation.
This data is transmitted to the cloud—an encrypted online storage space—where AI algorithms analyze the information to uncover subtle heart issues that may be overlooked by humans.
Results indicating whether a patient should be flagged for any of the three conditions will be sent back to a smartphone.
While breakthroughs like these can carry risks of misdiagnosis, researchers stress that AI stethoscopes should only be employed for patients presenting heart-related symptoms, not for routine screening in healthy individuals.
However, accelerating the diagnosis process can ultimately save lives and reduce healthcare costs.
Dr. Mikhilkelsiker, also from Imperial College, stated:
“This test demonstrates that AI-enabled stethoscopes can make a significant difference, providing GPs with a rapid and straightforward method to detect issues early, ensuring patients receive timely treatment.”
“Early diagnosis allows individuals to access the necessary treatment to enhance their longevity,” emphasized Dr. Sonya Babu Narayan, clinical director of the British Heart Foundation, which sponsored the research alongside the National Institute of Health and Therapy (NIHR).
Professor Mike Lewis, Director of the Innovation Science Department at NIHR, remarked, “This tool represents a transformative advance for patients, delivering innovation right into the hands of GPs. AI stethoscopes empower local practitioners to identify problems sooner, diagnose patients within their communities, and address leading health threats.”
Individuals with paralysis utilizing a brain-computer interface. The text above serves as a prompt, while the text below is decoded in real-time as she envisions speaking the phrase.
Emory BrainGate Team
A person with paralysis can convert their thoughts into speech just by imagining what they want to say.
The brain-computer interface can already interpret the neural activity of a paralyzed individual when attempting to speak physically, but this requires significant effort. Therefore, Benyamin Meschede-Krasa from Stanford University and his team explored a less effort-intensive method.
“We aimed to determine if there was a similar pattern when individuals imagined speaking internally,” he notes. “Our findings suggest this could be a more comfortable method for people with paralysis to use the system to regain their ability to communicate.”
Meschede-Krasa and his colleagues enlisted four participants with severe paralysis due to either amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or brainstem stroke. All had previously had microelectrodes implanted in motor areas linked to speech for research purposes.
Researchers instructed participants to list words and sentences and to visualize themselves saying them. They discovered that the brain activity mirrored that of actual speech; however, the activation signal was typically weaker during the imagined speech.
The team trained AI models to interpret and decode these signals utilizing a vocabulary database containing up to 125,000 words. To uphold the privacy of individuals’ thoughts, the models were programmed to activate only when a specific password, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, was detected with 98% accuracy.
Through various experiments, the researchers found that the models could decode what was intended to be communicated correctly up to 74% of the time when spoken as a single word.
This demonstrates a promising application of the approach, though it is currently less reliable than systems that decode overt speech attempts, according to Frank Willett at Stanford. Ongoing enhancements to both the sensors and AI over the coming years may lead to greater accuracy, he suggests.
Participants reported a strong preference for this system, describing it as faster and less cumbersome compared to traditional speech-attempt based systems, as stated by Meschede-Krasa.
This notion presents an “interesting direction” for future brain-computer interfaces, remarks Maris Cavan Stencel in Utrecht, Netherlands. However, she points out the need for a distinction between genuine speech and the thoughts individuals may not necessarily wish to share. “I have doubts about whether anyone can truly differentiate between these types of mental speech and attempted speech,” she adds.
She further mentions that the mechanism requires activation and deactivation to ascertain if the user intends to articulate their thoughts. “It is crucial to ensure that brain-computer interface-generated communications are conscious expressions individuals wish to convey, rather than internal thoughts they wish to keep private,” she states.
Benjamin Alderson Day from Durham University in the UK argues that there’s no reason to label the system as a mind reader. “It effectively addresses very basic language constructs,” he explains. “Though it may seem alarming if thoughts are confined to single terms like ‘tree’ or ‘bird,’ we are still a long way from capturing the full range of individuals’ thoughts and their most intimate ideas.”
Willett underscores that all brain-computer interfaces are governed by federal regulations, ensuring adherence to the “highest standards of medical ethics.”
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Microorganisms may derive energy from surprisingly confined environments
Book Worms / Public Domain Sources from Aramie / Access Rights
Fractured rocks from earthquakes could reveal a variety of chemical energy sources for the microorganisms thriving deep beneath the surface, and similar mechanisms may feed microorganisms on other planets.
“This opens up an entirely new metabolic possibility,” says Kurt Konhauser, from the University of Alberta, Canada.
All life forms on Earth rely on flowing electrons to sustain themselves. On the planet’s surface, plants harness sunlight to create carbon-based sugars that are consumed by animals, including humans. This initiates a flow of electrons from the carbon to the oxygen we breathe. The chemical gradient formed by these carbon electron donors and oxygen electron acceptors, known as redox pairs, generates energy.
Underground, microbes also depend on redox pairs, but these deep ecosystems lack access to various solar energy forms. Hence, traditional carbon-oxygen pairings are inadequate. “Challenges remain in identifying these underground [chemical gradients]. Where do they originate?” Konhauser questions.
Hydrogen gas, generated by the interaction of water and rock, serves as a primary electron source for these microbes, much like carbon sugars do on the surface. This hydrogen arises from the breakdown of water molecules, which can occur when radioactive rocks react with water or iron-rich formations. During earthquakes, when silicate rocks are fragmented, they expose reactive surfaces that can split water, producing considerable amounts of hydrogen.
However, to utilize that hydrogen, microorganisms require electron acceptors to complete the redox pair. Attributing value solely to hydrogen is misleading. “Having the food is great, but without a fork, you can’t eat it,” remarks Barbara Sherwood Lollar from the University of Toronto, Canada.
Konhauser, Sherwood Lollar, and their research team employed rock-crushing machines to simulate the reactions that yield hydrogen gas within geological settings, which could subsequently form a complete redox pair. They crushed quartz crystals, mimicking strains in various types of faults and mixing the water present in most rocks with different iron and rock forms.
The crushed quartz reacted with water to generate significant quantities of hydrogen, both in stable molecular forms and more reactive species. The team’s findings revealed many of these hydrogen radicals react with iron-rich liquids, creating numerous compounds capable of either donating or accepting enough electrons to establish different redox pairs.
“Numerous rocks can be harnessed for energy,” Konhauser pointed out. “These reactions mediate diverse chemical processes, suggesting various microorganisms can thrive.” Secondary reactions involving nitrogen or sulfur could yield even broader energy sources.
“I was astonished by the quantities,” said Magdalena Osburn from Northwestern University, Illinois. “It produces immense quantities of hydrogen, and it also initiates fascinating auxiliary chemistry.”
Researchers estimate that earthquakes generate far less hydrogen than other water-rock interactions within the Earth’s crust. However, their insights imply that active faults may serve as local hotspots for microbial diversity and activity, Sherwood Lollar explained.
Importantly, a complete earthquake isn’t a prerequisite. Similar reactions can take place as rocks fracture in seismically stable areas, like continents or geologically dead planets such as Mars. “Even within these massive rocks, you can observe pressure redistributions and shifts,” she noted.
“It’s truly exciting to explore sources I was recently unfamiliar with,” stated Karen Lloyd from the University of Southern California. The variety of usable chemicals produced in actual fault lines is likely even more diverse. “This likely occurs under varying pressures, temperatures, and across vast spatial scales, involving a broader range of minerals,” she said.
Energy from infrequent events like earthquakes may also illuminate the lifestyles of what Lloyd refers to as aeonophiles—deep subterranean microorganisms thought to have existed for extensive time periods. “If we can endure 10,000 years, we may experience a magnitude 9 earthquake that yields a tremendous energy surge,” Lloyd added.
This research is part of a growing trend over the last two decades that broadens our understanding of where and how organisms can endure underground, states Sherwood Lollar. “The deep rocks of continents have revealed much about the habitability of our planet,” she concluded.
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Russian ambush drone with solar panels uncovered in Ukraine
Serhii Beskrestnov
The small racing quadcopter, known as first-person view drones or FPVs, has emerged as the primary weapon in the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine. Some of these drones are equipped with solar cells, enabling them to lie in wait for extended periods to ambush targets and act as a new kind of land mine.
“Drones can position themselves near roads and chokepoints, and when a target appears, they can rapidly accelerate toward it,” says Robert Bunker, a consultant with the US firm C/O Futures.
Drone ambush tactics have already become standard strategy for both Russian and Ukrainian forces, with devices hidden alongside roads and buildings waiting for targets. However, even if the engine is off, the camera and radio communications drain the drone’s battery, reducing their wait time to just a few hours.
Currently, Russian FPV ambush drones have been spotted utilizing solar panels for charging. While these panels can’t power the drones during flight, they can recharge other devices. Ukrainian drone warfare expert Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov has shared images of this solar setup on his Telegram channel, highlighting these advancements.
Sold as camping equipment for approximately $50, these panels efficiently charge phones and other portable devices. Enthusiasts online have already posted guides on modifying drones to include solar cells.
“The initial generation of solar technology may be bulky, but it serves as a useful proof of concept,” Bunker remarks.
A 5-watt solar charger weighs several hundred grams and provides power to the drone while on the ground. Future models are expected to be sleeker and more efficient.
“The drone could feature a solar roll that unfolds after landing, creating a charging surface. You could then disconnect it when entering combat mode,” Bunker notes. “Future iterations will likely include improvements we haven’t yet considered.”
With solar assistance, drones can lie in wait for their targets as long as the sun is shining, recharging their systems at dawn for continuous operation. The solar cells can also gradually recharge the drone’s batteries for over a day, enabling a cycle of flying, landing, recharging, and flying again.
Both Russia and Ukraine have developed drones with artificial intelligence that can identify and engage targets autonomously. When combined with solar energy, these drones can saturate the battlefield with lethal units, autonomously navigating to find and track targets.
“It’s an evolution of the point land mine,” says Bunker.
Unlike traditional minefields, the network of solar-powered drones can self-repair, filling gaps where drones have been used or destroyed. Alternatively, this field might slowly advance towards enemy positions over several days through successive charging cycles.
Today’s solar drones are often experimental prototypes, with only a limited number currently deployed. However, the widespread availability of components suggests that these designs could proliferate rapidly, much like other small drones. With their affordability and ease of assembly, ambush drones may soon become commonplace.
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Advanced warnings can save lives before an earthquake, such as the 5.6 magnitude tremor that affected hundreds of people in Indonesia in 2022
Aditya Aji/AFP via Getty Images
Your mobile device might already be part of the billions of gadgets worldwide functioning as an early warning system for earthquakes across numerous nations.
Launched in 2020, Google’s Android Earthquake Alerts System has expanded to reach 2.3 billion Android phone and smartwatch users, enabling them to receive alerts about seismic activity, according to a recent study by Google researchers. However, these devices do more than just issue warnings; they also contribute to earthquake detection.
“Billions of Android devices come together to form mini-seismometers, establishing the world’s largest earthquake detection network,” states Richard Allen, a visiting researcher at the University of California, Berkeley.
Developed by Allen and his team, the system analyzes vibrations captured by accelerometers in Android devices and smartwatches. This collective network of sensors can determine the magnitude of an earthquake and identify which users are in close range of danger for timely warning messages.
Google’s system alerts users when it detects tremors of 4.5 or greater on the Richter scale. Yet, Allen notes that the system “may not detect all earthquakes” due to the need for sufficient nearby devices. For instance, earthquakes from most central ridges may go undetected, but the system can identify seismic events occurring up to hundreds of kilometers offshore.
A critical challenge is the swift and accurate assessment of each earthquake’s magnitude. Researchers have refined the detection algorithm over time by creating regional models that better represent local structural movements and by considering the varying sensitivities of different Android devices.
According to Allen, Google’s global system is now as effective as the ShakeAlert system, which serves the US West Coast, as well as Japan’s early warning system. He emphasizes that Google’s initiative is intended to complement, not replace, seismometer-based services, which provide warnings like ShakeAlert to West Coast residents. “Many earthquake-prone areas lack the local seismic network necessary for timely alerts,” Allen comments.
Google’s system serves as a “unique source” for nations without an existing earthquake early warning framework, states Katsu Goda from Western University in Canada, who is not affiliated with the project. He noted that even in regions with existing alert systems, Google’s solution reaches a broader audience.
The system currently delivers alerts to 98 countries and territories, including the United States, but excluding the UK. “Our focus has primarily been on countries at high historical risk for earthquakes that lack existing early warning solutions,” explains Marc Stogaitis from Google.
Android devices in the region captured seismic waves during the 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Turkey in April 2025
Data SIO, NOAA, US NAVY, NGA, GEBCO, LDEO-COLUMBIA, NSF, Landsat/Copernicus, Google Earth
A recent study evaluating system performance and accuracy revealed that the system generated alerts for 1,279 earthquake events up until March 2024, with only three false alarms. Of these, two were due to thunderstorms and one stemmed from an unrelated mass notification that caused several phones to vibrate. The research team improved their detection algorithm to minimize these types of false alerts.
Most Android devices are automatically enrolled in a mobile phone-based seismometer network and receive alerts regarding nearby earthquakes by default, although users can modify these settings. In a Google User Survey, over one-third of participants reported receiving alerts before feeling any shaking, and most indicated that these notifications were extremely beneficial.
If users remain subscribed to alerts, they will receive two types of notifications: more urgent action alerts encouraging immediate precautions like “drop, cover, hold,” which often provide only a few seconds of advance warning, and out-of-interference alerts that share general information, allowing a brief window before a user experiences the earthquake.
“The nature of earthquakes implies that there are less warning time before strong shaking compared to weaker events,” states Stogaitis. “Nonetheless, we are continuously examining adjustments to our alert strategies to extend warning times for future earthquakes.”
Generates brain cells from the hippocampus that proliferate in culture
Arthur Chien/Science Photo Library
The ongoing debate about whether adults can produce new brain cells takes a new turn, as evidence increasingly supports that they indeed can. This revelation addresses one of neuroscience’s most disputed questions and raises hopes that this knowledge could be used in treating conditions like depression and Alzheimer’s disease.
Neurons are produced via a process known as neurogenesis, which occurs in both children and adults, as shown in research on mice and macaques. This involves stem cells generating progenitor cells, which multiply and eventually develop into immature neurons that mature over time.
Earlier studies have indicated the presence of stem cells and immature neurons in the hippocampus of adult humans. This brain area, crucial for learning and memory, is a primary site for neurogenesis in younger humans and some adult animals. However, progenitor cells have not yet been detected in adult human brains. “This link was overlooked. It forms a central argument for the emergence of new neurons in the adult human brain,” states Evgenia Salta from the Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience, who was not involved in the latest research.
To establish this link, Jonas Frisen and his team at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden developed a machine learning model capable of accurately identifying progenitor cells. They used hippocampal samples from six young children, donated by their parents for research post-mortem.
The researchers trained an AI model to recognize progenitor cells based on the activity of about 10,000 genes. “In childhood, these cells’ behavior closely resembles that of precursor cells in mice, facilitating their identification,” explains Frisen. “[The idea is] to use molecular fingerprints of childhood progenitor cells to find equivalents in adults.”
To validate the model, the team identified progenitor cells in hippocampal samples from young mice. The model correctly identified 83% of the progenitor cells and misclassified other cell types as progenitor cells in less than 1% of cases. In a further test, the model accurately predicted that progenitor cells were nearly absent in adult human cortical samples, a brain area devoid of evidence supporting neurogenesis in humans.
“They validated their models effectively by transitioning from data on human children to mice and then to adult humans,” says Sandrine Thuret from King’s College London.
With this validation in hand, the researchers can check for neurogenesis in human adults by identifying 14 hippocampal progenitor cells from individuals aged 20 to 78 at the time of their passing.
Crucially, the researchers first introduced a method to enhance the likelihood of detecting progenitor cells. Previous studies have indicated that these cells are extremely rare in adults. The team utilized antibodies to select brain cells that were actively dividing at the time of death, including non-neuronal cells such as immune cells and progenitor cells. This helped filter out common cell types that do not divide, like mature neurons, making rare progenitor cells easier to identify.
Subsequently, they organized the genetic activity data related to these dividing cells into models. “They were enriched due to the selected cells,” remarks Kaoru Song at the University of Pennsylvania. Previous research lacked this approach, he adds.
The team successfully identified progenitor cells in nine donors. “It is well established that environmental and genetic factors in rodents affect how neurogenesis occurs, so I suspect variations in humans may also be attributed to these factors,” Frisen notes.
The findings strongly indicate the presence of adult neurogenesis, according to Thuret, Song, and Salta. “We are adding this missing piece, which significantly advances the field,” Salta states.
“Neurons originate from cell division occurring in adulthood, and that is what this study definitively establishes,” Thuret comments.
Thuret suggests the possibility of examining variations in neurogenesis among adults with brain-affecting conditions such as depression or Alzheimer’s disease. She speculates that medications promoting this process could alleviate symptoms.
However, John Arellano from Yale University cautions that even if adults produce new brain cells, they may be too few in number to be therapeutically beneficial. Thuret, however, believes this is unlikely to create issues. “In mice, a small number of new neurons can significantly impact learning and memory,” she asserts.
The killer whale populations in the southern regions are critically endangered and are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Currently, their population averages around 73 years. These creatures are highly social, forming close-knit family groups led by their mothers and grandmothers.
Each whale receives a tracking number from the Whale Research Center and is meticulously monitored by researchers, photographers, and whale watchers.
According to Giles, “I would argue that this is the most studied whale population globally, regardless of species, due to the extensive research conducted over the last 50 years.”
What led to this remarkable behavior going unnoticed by researchers for decades?
The issue lay in their perspective.
Weiss remarked, “This behavior is truly inexplicable. It’s predominantly underwater, with approximately two feet of kelp wedged between the two animals.”
Recently, researchers have begun utilizing drones to observe whales from the sky. As drone technology has advanced, so too has the quality of the data gathered.
“A major breakthrough during the 2024 field season was our acquisition of a new drone,” Weiss revealed.
He mentioned that researchers first noticed a whale nudging another whale’s horn in April, followed by about 15 minutes of them rubbing against each other.
Once this unusual behavior was recognized, its occurrence began to increase significantly.
“We started observing it frequently. At least one whale exhibits this behavior every day when we fly the drone,” Weiss said.
Researchers believe this behavior may have been ongoing all along.
Giles noted, “We simply lacked the appropriate perspective. This behavior may have existed since ancient times. We’ve only scratched the surface of understanding these animals.”
For years, Southern resident whales have been at the forefront of conservation efforts. The Marine Mammals Commission reports that these whales face numerous threats, such as decreased prey availability, toxic pollution, and disturbances from ship noise. Studies indicate that without urgent intervention, Southern resident killer whales could face extinction.
Weiss emphasized that these new insights highlight the necessity of protecting the species.
“Through these discoveries, I’ve realized that the later stages of our study present even more to uncover, and we must ensure their survival to learn it,” he stated. “This isn’t just a group of 73 whales; it’s a distinct culture and society. These whales possess a rich array of traditions that trace back thousands of years.”
If we could exchange bodies, we could see and feel the world just like everyone else. This idea was not only a favorite Hollywood plot, but was recalled by the 17th century philosopher and empiricist pioneer John Locke. He used it to explore one of the greatest philosophical challenges of the human condition. Are your subjective experiences the same as others?
For Locke, the appeal of the body exchange story is probably based on today’s endurable confidence. This means that it is impossible to objectively measure subjective experience. This yawning gap in science is a problem.
Let’s take a look at an example of pain that is notoriously difficult to measure objectively. Studies have shown that women have less pain relief than men, even with similar amounts of distress. Things are even worse for people in marginalized groups. Fortunately, Investigate now The neurologist methods can rewrite how we communicate the sensation of pain, and have a major impact on equalizing treatment. A new approach to answering the question of whether color perception is the same proves fruitful for everyone (see “Are we all considered the same color? We have an answer in the end”).
Trying to measure subjective energy levels can be called “woowoo.”
The perception of color is one thing, but what about more ambiguous concepts such as energy? When you try to measure someone’s subjective energy levels, you may feel it beyond the realm of research.
Still, as our cover story explains (see “New Understanding of Tiredness Uncovering How You Recover Your Energy”), looking fresh in mind-body connections, along with biological mechanisms for energy generation in our cells, reveals a new understanding of what may drive intangible sensations that appear to lack energy.
The coalescence of such science is worthy of a tentative celebration. At first, I work to work to understand what appears to be beyond objective measurements. It helps doctors to better understand and treat patients, and helps us all lead a better life. no Funny Friday– Style body swap is required.
Google’s AI “co-scientists” is based on the company’s Gemini major language model
Raa/Nurphoto/Shutterstock
Google has announced an experimental artificial intelligence system that uses advanced reasoning to help scientists integrate vast amounts of literature, generate new hypotheses, and propose detailed research plans. “Idea with [the] “AI co-scientists” is about giving scientists a superpower,” says Alan Karthikesalingam of Google.
The tool, which has not yet been officially named, is based on Google’s Gemini major language model. When researchers ask questions or specify goals, they come up with their first idea within 15 minutes, for example, to find a new drug. According to Google’s Vivek Natarajan, several Gemini agents “discuss” these hypotheses with each other, ranking them over the next hours and days, and improving them.
During this process, agents can search the scientific literature, access databases, and use tools such as Google’s AlphaFold system to predict protein structure. “They constantly refine ideas, discuss ideas, criticize ideas,” says Natarajan.
Google has already made the system available to several research groups and has released a short paper explaining its use. The teams who tried it were keen on the possibilities, and these examples suggest that AI co-scientists can help integrate their findings. However, whether the example supports the claim that AI can generate new hypotheses is debatable.
For example, Google says a team used the system to find a “new” method of potentially treating liver fibrosis. However, drugs proposed by AI have been previously studied for this purpose. “It is well established that all identified drugs are anti-fibrotic.” Stephen O’Reilly at the UK biotechnology company Alcyomics. “There’s nothing new here.”
The potential use of this treatment is not new, but team members Gary Peltz at Stanford University School of Medicine in California, two of the three drugs selected by AI co-scientists showed promise in testing for human liver organoids, while the two he selected were both his. There is no growing evidence supporting a choice. Peltz says Google gave him a small amount of money to cover the costs of the test.
In another paper, Jose Penades Imperial College London and his colleagues explain how co-scientists proposed hypotheses that matched unpublished findings. He and his team are studying mobile genetic elements that can move between bacteria – bits of DNA that can move between bacteria – mobile gene elements. Some mobile genetic elements hijack the bacteriophage virus. These viruses consist of a DNA-containing shell and a tail that binds to specific bacteria and injects DNA into IT. Therefore, if the element can enter the shell of a phage virus, you can ride another bacteria for free.
One mobile genetic element creates its own shell. This type was particularly popular and confused Penade and his team. The answer they discovered recently is that these shells can connect with different phage tails, allowing mobile elements to enter a wide range of bacteria.
The discovery was still unpublished, but the team asked AI co-scientists to explain the puzzle. The number one suggestion was to steal a different phage tail.
“We were shocked,” Penades says. “I sent an email to Google. I can access the computer. Is that right? Otherwise, I can’t believe what I’m reading here.”
However, the team released a paper supplied to the system in 2023 – how this family of mobile genetic elements “It steals the tail of a bacteriophage and spreads naturally.” at the time, researchers thought that the elements were limited to obtaining tails from phages that infect the same cell. Only later they discovered that elements can pick up tails floating outside the cell.
So one explanation of how AI co-scientists came up with the correct answer is that they missed the obvious limitation that stopped humans from getting it.
What’s clear is that instead of coming up with a whole new idea, you’re given everything you need to find the answer. “Everything was already public, but it was publicly available on different bits,” Penades says. “The system was able to put it all together.”
The team tried other AI systems already on the market, but none of them came up with an answer, he says. In fact, some people didn’t manage it even when they gave the answer to a paper explaining it. “This system suggests something you’ve never thought of,” says Penades, who hasn’t received funding from Google. “I think it’s going to change the game.”
It becomes clearer over time whether it really changes the game. There’s a mix of Google’s track record when it comes to claiming AI tools to help scientists. Its Alphafold system withstands hype and won the team behind it a Nobel Prize last year.
Despite his discoveries, Palgrave believes that AI can help scientists. “In general, I think AI has a huge amount of contributions to science when implemented in collaboration with experts in their respective fields,” he says.
Labris Portucalensis F11A Strain of Aerobic Bacterium From the Xanthobactereae Family, Can Break Down and Transform at ThreeS of-and PolyFluoroarkyl Substances (PFAS) C Byprodusts, According to New Research.
Labris Portucalensis F11 CAN BE POTENTIALLY USED FOR PFAS BIODEGRADADATION in CONTAMINATED ENVIRONMENTS. Image Credit: Wijayahena et alDOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTOTENV.2024.178348.
“The Bond Between Carbon and Fluorine Atoms IS IS STRONG, SO MOST MICROBES CANNOT Use IT AN ENERGY SOURCE,” ER at the University at buffalo and suny.
“THE Labris Portucalensis F11 Bacterial Strain Developed The Ability to CHOP AWAY THE FLUORINE AND EAT THE CARBON.
Labris Portucalensis F11 Was Isolated from the SOIL OF ANDUSTRIAL SITE in PORTUGAL AND HAD Utical Contaminants. However, it Had Never BeeN Tested on Pfas.
In The New Study, Professor AGA and HER COLLEAGUES FOUND THAT Labris Portucalensis F11 METABOLIZED OVER 90% of OF Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) Following An Exposit of 100 Days.
PFOS Is ONE OF THE TYQUENTLY DETECTED TYPES OF PFAS AND WAS DESIGNATED HAZARDOUS BY THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCYT Year.
Labris Portucalensis F11 ALSO BROKE down LOMER SULFONATE.
UNLIKE MANY PRIOR STUDIES ON PFAS-DEGRADING BACTERIA, The New Study Accounted for Shorter-Chain Breain Breakdown Products-or Metabolites.
In some case, Labris Portucalensis F11 EVEN REMOVED FLUORINE FROM The Metabolites or Broke Them Down to Minute, Undetector Levels.
“Many Previbility Studies Have Only Degradation of Pfas, But Not the Formation of Metabolites,“ SAID MINDULA WIJAYAHENA E University at Buffalo and Suny.
“WE Not ONLY ACCOUNTED FOR PFAS Byprodusts But Found some of Them Continued to Be Further Degradeded by The Bactteria.”
PFAS ARE A GROUP OF UBIQUITOUS CHEMICALS WIDELY USED SINCE THE THE 1950S in EVERYTHING from Nonstick Pans to Fire-Fighting Materials.
THEY'RE At the Can USE THEIR CARBON as an enERGY SOURCE.
“IF BACTERIA SURVIVE IN A HARSH, POLLUTED ENVIRONMENT, It's Probable Vecause THEY HAVE ADAPTED TO USE SURROUNDING CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS AS AS AS ASO RCE SO THEY DON'T Starve, “Professor AGA SAID.
“Through Evolution, SOME BACTERIA CAN DEVELOP EFFECTIVE MECHANISMS to USE Chemical Contaminants to Help Them Grow.”
THE Findings Were publiced in the journal Science of the total Environment.
______
Mindula K. Wijayahena et al2025. PFAS BIODEGRADATION by Labris Portucalensis F11: Evidence of Chain Shortening and Identification of Metabolites of PFOS, 6: 2 FTS, and 5: 3 FTCA. Science of the total Environment 959: 178348; Doi: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2024.178348
In a new review paper published in journal pattern, researchers claim that various current AI systems are learning how to deceive humans. They define deception as the systematic induction of false beliefs in the pursuit of outcomes other than the truth.
Through training, large language models and other AI systems have already learned the ability to deceive through techniques such as manipulation, pandering, and cheating on safety tests.
“AI developers do not have a confident understanding of the causes of undesirable behavior, such as deception, in AI,” said Peter Park, a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Generally speaking, however, AI deception is thought to arise because deception-based strategies turn out to be the best way to make the AI perform well at a given AI training task. Deception helps them achieve their goals.”
Dr. Park and colleagues analyzed the literature, focusing on how AI systems spread misinformation through learned deception, where AI systems systematically learn how to manipulate others.
The most notable example of AI deception the researchers uncovered in their analysis was Meta's CICERO, an AI system designed to play the game Diplomacy, an alliance-building, world-conquering game.
Meta claims that CICERO is “generally honest and kind” and has trained it to “not intentionally betray” human allies during gameplay, but the data released by the company shows that CICERO is “generally honest and kind” and has trained itself not to “intentionally betray” human allies during gameplay. It was revealed that he had not done so.
“We found that meta AI is learning to become masters of deception,” Dr. Park said.
“Meta successfully trained an AI to win at diplomatic games, while CICERO ranked in the top 10% of human players who played multiple games; We couldn’t train the AI.”
“Other AI systems can bluff professional human players in a game of Texas Hold’em Poker, fake attacks to beat an opponent in a strategy game called StarCraft II, or fake an opponent’s preferences to gain an advantage. Demonstrated ability to perform well in economic negotiations.
“Although it may seem harmless when an AI system cheats in a game, it could lead to a “breakthrough in deceptive AI capabilities'' and lead to more advanced forms of AI deception in the future. There is a sex.”
Scientists have found that some AI systems have even learned to cheat on tests designed to assess safety.
In one study, an AI creature in a digital simulator “played dead” to fool a test built to weed out rapidly replicating AI systems.
“By systematically cheating on safety tests imposed by human developers and regulators, deceptive AI can lull us humans into a false sense of security,” Park said. Ta.
The main short-term risks of deceptive AI include making it easier for hostile actors to commit fraud or tamper with elections.
Eventually, if these systems are able to refine this anxiety-inducing skill set, humans may lose control of them.
“We as a society need as much time as possible to prepare for more sophisticated deception in future AI products and open source models,” Dr. Park said.
“As AI systems become more sophisticated in their ability to deceive, the risks they pose to society will become increasingly serious.”
_____
Peter S. Park other. 2024. AI Deception: Exploring Examples, Risks, and Potential Solutions. pattern 5(5):100988; doi: 10.1016/j.patter.2024.100988
Herbicide-resistant pigweed is a serious problem for farmers
Design Pics Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
Gene drives – bits of DNA that trick evolution and can spread even if they are harmful – have been successfully tested in plants for the first time. This approach can be used to clear out invasive plants and superweeds without harming other species, potentially reducing herbicide use. It could also help save species by spreading genes that make them more resistant to disease and better able to cope with global warming.
Genes work by distorting the probability that an organism will inherit a piece of DNA. Most plants and animals have two copies of each gene. This usually means that there is a 50% chance that a particular copy will be passed on to offspring. With a gene drive, the chance increases to, say, 80 percent, allowing genes to spread even if they are harmful.
There are many natural gene drives that function through different mechanisms. In 2013, the first artificial gene drive was created using CRISPR gene editing technology.
It copies itself from one chromosome to another. That is, all descendants inherit it. This approach is called a homing gene drive because the drive itself is copied to a specific site.
bruce hay The researchers at the California Institute of Technology used a different approach called cleave-and-rescue. The gene drive consists of CRISPR elements that target and destroy copies of both key genes needed for pollen and egg formation. However, the drive also contains a version of this gene that functions without being destroyed.
This means that pollen and eggs that do not inherit the gene drive will lack important genes and will not develop. Only pollen and eggs with the gene drive will develop normally, so all offspring will inherit it.
Hay says the cleave-and-rescue approach is more robust than homing drives because it's much easier to destroy genes than to copy and paste them. He says it works on all animals, not just plants, and could be used to rid islands of rats and mice that are wiping out native species.
Hay's team tested a working version of this drive – one designed only to spread, not kill – on Thale cress. Arabidopsis.Another team led by Yang Liu Chinese Academy of Sciences Even in Beijing I have submitted a paper describing a similar gene drive But that approach isn't as powerful, Hay says.
He and his team are currently planning driving tests in Pigweed (amaranth palmeri), a herbicide-resistant superweed and a major problem for farmers in many parts of the world. “This is the poster child for developing broad-based resistance to all existing herbicides,” Hay says.
Additionally, this technology could be adapted to control weeds without spreading indefinitely. For example, pollen could be used to create male plants that kill all female offspring. Planting these male plants annually around the farm will prevent seed production and eradicate the weed species from the field after a few years.
“If you just exclude women, you end up collapsing the entire local population, but not the global population,” Hay says. However, this female-killing trait will disappear if no male plants with it are planted.
Hay said this approach is much more likely to be approved by regulators than gene drives, which continue to spread until resistance emerges. In fact, a similar approach is already being used in several countries by a company called Oxitec to control malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
but, paul nave Researchers at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark doubt whether regulators will approve the use of gene drives to control weeds. “I think the chances of getting approval to release gene drives for agricultural use are low at this point. Healthcare and biodiversity conservation may be an easier sell,” he says.
Another big problem, Neve says, is that plants typically produce only one generation per year, and it takes 10 to 30 generations for drives to become widespread. “How can we spread gene drives fast enough to achieve meaningful weed control in a realistic time frame?”
AI can decode brainwave recordings and predict words someone is reading
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A team of scientists has announced that a sensor-equipped helmet, combined with artificial intelligence, can translate a person’s thoughts into text.
In this study, participants read passages of text while wearing hats, and their brain electrical activity was recorded through the scalp. These electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were converted to text using an AI model called DeWave.
Lin Ching Tian Researchers from Australia’s University of Technology Sydney (UTS) say the technology is non-invasive, relatively cheap and portable.
The system is far from perfect, with an accuracy of about 40%, but recent data currently under peer review shows an improvement in accuracy of more than 60%, Lin said.
In a study published in NeurIPS conference In New Orleans, Louisiana, the DeWave program does not use spoken language, but instead has participants read sentences aloud. However, in the researchers’ latest study, participants read the text silently.
Last year, the team he led was jerry tan Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin reported similar accuracy in converting thoughts into text, but used MRI scans to interpret brain activity. Using EEG is more practical because the subject does not have to remain still in the scanner.
UTS team member Charles Zhou said the DeWave model was trained by looking at many examples where brain signals matched a particular sentence.
“For example, when you think of saying ‘hello,’ your brain sends a specific signal,” Zhou says. “DeWave learns how these signals relate to the word ‘hello’ by looking at many examples of these signals for different words and sentences.”
Once DeWave had a good understanding of the brain signals, the team connected it to an open-source large-scale language model (LLM) similar to the AI that powers ChatGPT.
“This LLM is like a smart writer who can craft sentences. We tell these writers to pay attention to the signals from DeWave and use that as a guide to craft their sentences. ” says Zhou.
Finally, the team trained both DeWave and a language model together to further improve their ability to write sentences based on EEG data.
Researchers predict that further improvements to the system could revolutionize communication for people who have lost language due to stroke or other conditions, and could also have applications in robotics.
craig gin from the University of Sydney said he was impressed by Lin’s team’s work. “It’s great progress,” he says.
“People have long wanted to convert brainwaves to text, and the team’s model shows amazing accuracy. A few years ago, EEG-to-text conversion was complete and utter nonsense. .”
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