Unlocking Solutions: How Dream Hacking Can Help You Solve Complex Problems While You Sleep

Posted on February 18, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

One of the study participants fell asleep during the experiment.

Mia Lux

Your brain can be gently nudged to tackle complex problems in your sleep, enhancing your ability to solve them upon waking.

Neuroscientists and psychologists are increasingly employing techniques involving sound, touch, movement, and particularly olfactory stimuli to influence dreams. This innovative approach demonstrates potential for applications like helping smokers quit, treating chronic nightmares, and even enhancing creativity.

Now, Karen Koncoly and her team at Northwestern University in Illinois have revealed that this technique may also aid in problem-solving. The researchers enlisted 20 self-identified lucid dreamers—individuals aware that they are dreaming and able to control their narratives—and tasked them with solving puzzles in two sessions within a sleep lab. Each puzzle was associated with unique soundtracks, featuring soothing elements like birdsong and steel drums.

The researchers meticulously monitored participants’ brain and eye movements to pinpoint when they transitioned into the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep, which is known for its vivid and imaginative dreams. Upon entering this phase, a selection of unresolved puzzles was paired with the corresponding soundtracks. Participants were prompted to demonstrate lucidity by executing at least two rapid eye movements from left to right, indicating they were aware of the sound cues while striving to solve the puzzles in their dreams.

The following morning, participants reported that those who listened to the soundtracks during sleep found the puzzle features prominently featured in their dreams, significantly boosting their chances of solving them. Approximately 40% of participants who dreamed about puzzles managed to solve them, while only 17% who didn’t dream of the puzzles could achieve the same.

While the exact reasons behind these findings remain unclear, it’s suggested that pairing sound stimuli with learning tasks while awake may activate the memory of the puzzle when hearing the same sound during sleep, through a process known as targeted memory reactivation. This appears to activate the hippocampus—an essential brain region for memory—prompting what may resemble a spontaneous reactivation of memories that facilitates learning.

Although dreams can manifest at any stage of sleep, Konkoly indicates that targeting REM sleep may enhance problem-solving capabilities. “REM dreams are highly associative and atypical, blending new and prior memories with imaginative thought,” she states. “During this stage, your brain is quite active, potentially allowing for unrestricted access to various sections of your mind.”

Researcher Karen Concoly prepares a participant for the study by fitting a cap to their head that records brain activity.

Karen Konkoly

Tony Cunningham and researchers at Harvard University affirm that this study indicates “individuals may consciously focus on unresolved issues while dreaming.”

However, some experts caution that dream engineering could interfere with the critical functions of sleep, such as clearing toxins from the brain. There are concerns about the potential for companies to exploit these findings by placing ads within personal devices, which Cunningham particularly highlights. “Our senses are already bombarded during waking hours by advertisements, emails, and work stress; sleep remains one of the few times of respite,” he notes.

Koncoly plans to explore why certain individuals exhibit varying responses to sound stimuli on different days. “During this study, I stayed up all night monitoring brainwaves and providing cues during REM sleep. Sometimes participants would signal a response, and other times, they wouldn’t. Occasionally, they would wake and incorporate relevant puzzles into their dreams, while at other times, they simply processed the sound without any further reaction. Why do identical stimuli manifest differently in the same state of consciousness?”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Breakthrough: The Most Complex Time Crystal Created Inside a Quantum Computer

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

IBM Quantum System Two: The Machine Behind the New Time Crystal Discovery

Credit: IBM Research

IBM Quantum System 2 — IBM Quantum System Two: The Machine Behind the New Time Crystal Discovery

Credit: IBM Research

Recent advancements in quantum computing have led to the creation of a highly complex time crystal, marking a significant breakthrough in the field. This innovative discovery demonstrates that quantum computers excel in facilitating scientific exploration and novel discoveries.

Unlike conventional crystals, which feature atoms arranged in repeating spatial patterns, time crystals possess configurations that repeat over time. These unique structures maintain their cyclic behavior indefinitely, barring any environmental influences.

Initially perceived as a challenge to established physics, time crystals have been successfully synthesized in laboratory settings over the past decade. Recently, Nicholas Lorente and his team from the Donostia International Physics Center in Spain utilized an IBM superconducting quantum computer to fabricate a time crystal exhibiting unprecedented complexity.

While previous work predominantly focused on one-dimensional time crystals, this research aimed to develop a two-dimensional variant. The team employed 144 superconducting qubits configured in an interlocking, honeycomb-like arrangement, enabling precise control over qubit interactions.

By manipulating these interactions over time, the researchers not only created complex time crystals but also programmed the interactions to exhibit advanced intensity patterns, surpassing the complexity of prior quantum computing experiments.

This new level of complexity allowed the researchers to map the entire qubit system, resulting in the creation of its “state diagram,” analogous to a phase diagram for water that indicates whether it exists as a liquid, solid, or gas at varying temperatures and pressures.

According to Jamie Garcia from IBM, which did not participate in the study, this experiment could pave the way for future quantum computers capable of designing new materials based on a holistic understanding of quantum system properties, including extraordinary phenomena like time crystals.

The model emulated in this research represents such complexity that traditional computers can only simulate it with approximations. Since all current quantum computers are vulnerable to errors, researchers will need to alternate between classical estimation methods and precise quantum techniques to enhance their understanding of complex quantum models. Garcia emphasizes that “large-scale quantum simulations, involving more than 100 qubits, will be crucial for future inquiries, given the practical challenges of simulating two-dimensional systems.”

Biao Huang from the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences notes that this research signifies an exciting advancement across multiple quantum materials fields, potentially connecting time crystals, which can be simulated with quantum computers, with other states achievable through certain quantum sensors.

Topics:

Quantum Computing/
Quantum Physics

Source: www.newscientist.com

Discovering Prototaxites: Unveiling a Hidden Frontier of Complex Life

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

For over 165 years, the enigmatic prototaxite has stood as one of the earliest giants to rise from Earth’s barren landscapes, defying simple classification. These towering, columnar organisms dominated the terrestrial environment over 400 million years ago, reaching impressive heights of 8 meters (26 ft), long before the advent of trees. A recent study conducted by paleontologists from the University of Edinburgh and the National Museums of Scotland posits that this mysterious entity was not merely a giant fungus, as often presumed, but rather belonged to an entirely extinct lineage of complex life.

Prototaxites dominated terrestrial ecosystems 410 million years ago as the largest living organisms. Image credit: Matt Humpage.

The prototaxite marks the first giant life form on Earth’s surface, emerging during the late Silurian to late Devonian periods, approximately 420 to 370 million years ago.

Recognized for their pillar-like fossils that can reach up to 8 meters, they played a crucial role in early terrestrial ecosystems well before the emergence of trees.

These organisms were widely distributed across ancient terrestrial environments and were likely consumed by arthropods, marking a pivotal stage in land colonization and holding significant ecological importance.

Despite over 165 years of inquiry, the biological identity of prototaxite remains a topic of heated debate among paleontologists, who contest whether it is a fungus or belonged to a distinct, entirely extinct lineage of complex eukaryotes.

In a groundbreaking study, Dr. Corentin Rollon and colleagues examined Prototaxites Taichi, found preserved in remarkable three-dimensional detail within the 407-million-year-old Rhynie Chert in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

“The Rhynie Chert is a remarkable treasure trove,” noted Dr. Rollon, the lead author of the study published in this week’s edition of Scientific Progress.

“This site represents one of the oldest fossilized terrestrial ecosystems, and its well-preserved biodiversity enables innovative approaches like machine learning applied to fossil molecular data.”

“Numerous other specimens from the Rhynie Chert are preserved in museum collections, contributing vital context to our findings.”

The research team investigated new specimens of Prototaxites Taichi, identifying the largest known example of this species at the site, facilitating detailed anatomical and molecular comparisons with fossil fungi found in the same deposits.

Microscopic imaging revealed a complex internal structure that diverges significantly from any known fungi.

The fossil comprises three distinct types of tubes, including large, thick-walled tubes featuring annular stripes and dense spherical regions known as medullary points.

These intriguing features form a complex 3D network of interconnected tubes, suggesting a branching pattern unheard of in fungal biology.

Researchers employed infrared spectroscopy and machine learning techniques to classify molecular fingerprints from prototaxite alongside those of fossil fungi, arthropods, plants, and bacteria found in Rhynie Chert.

Fossilized fungi from this location maintain characteristic chemical signatures linked to chitin-rich cell walls, which were intriguingly absent in ancient prototaxite.

The team also searched for perylene, a biomarker associated with pigment compounds produced by specific fungi, previously detected in other Rhynie Chert fossils. However, no such compounds were found in the prototaxite sample.

Collectively, the structural, chemical, and biomarker findings imply that prototaxite does not align with any known fungal group, including the earliest forms of modern fungi.

“This research marks a significant advancement in a 165-year-long discussion,” stated Dr. Sandy Hetherington, the senior author of the paper.

“These organisms represent life forms distinct from those we currently recognize, displaying different anatomical and chemical characteristics from fungi and plants, thereby belonging to a unique, now-extinct lineage of complex life.”

“Our study combines chemical analysis and anatomical insights into prototaxite, revealing that it cannot be classified within any known fungal group,” explained co-author Laura Cooper.

“As earlier researchers have discounted classifications to other large and complex life forms, we conclude that prototaxite belonged to an entirely distinct lineage of extinct complex life.”

“Thus, prototaxite symbolizes independent evolutionary experiments in constructing large and complex organisms, known to us only through exceptionally preserved fossils.”

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Corentin C. Rollon et al. 2026. Prototaxites fossils are structurally and chemically distinct from both extinct and extant fungi. Scientific Progress 12(4); doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aec6277

Source: www.sci.news

How Body Fat Benefits Health in Unexpectedly Complex Ways

Posted on January 16, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Understanding Body Fat: The Good, The Bad, and The Complex

Dr. Ray Clark & Mervyn Goff/Science Photo Library

Body fat is often misunderstood as merely a passive energy reserve. However, emerging research indicates it plays a crucial role in our overall health, providing insights into its intricate functions.

Fat comes in various forms, including white fat, which stores energy and releases hormones influencing metabolism; brown fat, known for generating heat; and beige fat, which activates thermogenesis under specific conditions. The location of these fats matters significantly. While subcutaneous fat is usually harmless, visceral fat, located deep in the abdomen, is closely linked to inflammation, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

Recent studies further clarify this dynamic, suggesting that adipose tissue is actively involved in regulating blood pressure and managing immune responses in crucial areas of the body.

A study led by Jutta Jarkanen at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm examined the cellular structure of visceral fat in various abdominal locations. Their findings highlighted that epiploic fat, which envelops the large intestine, is abundant in immune cells and specialized fat cells producing inflammatory proteins tied to immune activation. They discovered that microbial products from the intestines trigger these fat cells to activate nearby immune responses.

“Our research indicates that fat deposits are specialized based on their anatomical position, particularly the fat adjacent to the intestine, which is tailored for immune interactions,” Jarkanen noted.

Although the study included obese participants, everyone has some visceral fat around their intestines, suggesting that epiploic fat fulfills a fundamental role irrespective of body weight.

“The gut continually encounters nutrients, microbial elements, and environmental substances,” Jarkanen explained. “Having adjacent adipose tissue to sense, respond, and manage immune reactions adds an extra layer of defense.”

However, obesity can lead to chronic overactivity in this system. Overeating, excessive consumption of particular foods, and specific bacterial compositions in the gut microbiome can lead to persistent immune signaling in intestinal fats, contributing to low-grade inflammation linked with metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes and obesity.

A follow-up study unveiled yet another surprising function of fat: its role in regulating blood pressure. Marcia Koenen and colleagues at Rockefeller University aimed to understand the connection between obesity, characterized by excessive white fat, and high blood pressure, while noting that brown and beige fats seem to offer protection.

The team investigated perivascular adipose tissue, a beige fat-rich layer encasing blood vessels. In genetically modified mice that lack beige fat, their blood vessels exhibited stiffness and overreacted to daily hormonal signals that constrict arteries, resulting in elevated blood pressure.

The researchers identified that the enzyme QSOX1, secreted by dysfunctional fat cells, caused this adverse effect. Blocking this enzyme prevented vascular damage and normalized blood pressure in the mice, independent of their body weight. “This emphasizes the importance of inter-organ communication in understanding complex diseases such as hypertension,” emphasized Koenen.

“This study sheds light on the often-underestimated roles of brown and beige fat,” noted Christy Townsend from Ohio State University. Though human perivascular adipose tissue is proportionately less substantial than in mice, it remains physiologically relevant. “This research highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of fat’s effect on health beyond overall fat mass and BMI.”

Instead of merely focusing on fat reduction, these findings point towards future therapies aimed at preserving or restoring the advantageous functions of fat by targeting specific fat deposits, enhancing immune-fat communication, and maintaining healthy beige fat activity. However, comprehensive research is necessary before these findings can be applied clinically.

Together, these studies position adipose tissue as an active, functionally diverse system implicated in numerous aspects of human physiology. “When I began working in this field in the late 1990s, the belief was that fat was just a sack of cells storing extra nutrients,” stated Paul Cohen, also from Rockefeller University, who participated in the second study. “These investigations reveal a shift in our understanding of fat as not just a single cell type, but a complex tissue composed of various cell types engaged in diverse processes, extending far beyond simple nutrient storage and mobilization.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Impact of Parenthood on the Aging Process: A Complex Relationship

Posted on November 7, 2025 by

Many claim that children keep us feeling youthful, but it’s a complex issue.

Javier Zayas/Getty Images

For centuries, humanity has sought to comprehend the aging process. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle theorized that aging correlates with the passage of time. The reduction of water necessary for bodily functions was his primary focus.

A contemporary concept known as the disposable soma hypothesis proposes that aging is the cost of reproduction; evolution, it argues, favors genetic replication above all else. This results in a fundamental trade-off. The substantial energy expended on having and nurturing offspring is often compromised by investments in DNA repair, disease resistance, and organ maintenance.

This idea is particularly relevant for women, who allocate more resources to reproduction through pregnancy and nursing than their male counterparts. However, when researchers examined whether women with more children had shorter lifespans, findings were inconsistent. Some studies supported the hypothesis while others did not.

“It’s challenging to extract clear correlations between childbearing and longevity,” said Elizabeth Bolland from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, a professor not involved in the research.

Euan Young and associates from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands postulated that variations in reproductive costs depend on maternal environment, noting, “In favorable conditions, this trade-off is less apparent. It’s during challenging times that it becomes noticeable,” Young remarked.

To explore this hypothesis, researchers examined parish records of over 4,500 Finnish women spanning 250 years, including the era of Finland’s Great Famine from 1866 to 1868. Young highlighted how difficult times impacted reproduction and longevity.

They discovered that for women who lived before and after the famine, or those who had no children during that period, there was no notable correlation between child quantity and lifespan. Conversely, women who gave birth during the famine experienced a reduction in life expectancy of six months for each child born.

This research stems from a study released last year, which utilized a dataset from the pre-industrial populace of Quebec, Canada, tracked over two centuries. This previous work illustrated trade-offs in mothers likely to be in poor health or facing high stress, without evaluating the influence of specific environmental conditions.

In contrast, Young’s team emphasizes catastrophic events as factors that underscore these reproductive trade-offs. “This extensive dataset enables us to control for confounding variables,” he stated. “This study brings us closer to understanding causality without needing laboratory-controlled experiments,” remarked Bornd.

This investigation further endorses the energy demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding, which necessitate substantial additional calorie intake daily. During periods of starvation, women cannot acquire sufficient energy from food, which compromises their body’s “basal metabolism.” As a result, essential bodily functions may decelerate or cease, leading to deteriorated health and shortened lifespans, Young explained. This scenario clarifies why previous studies often identified these trade-offs predominantly in lower socio-economic groups, who typically reside in resource-limited conditions.

Bolland noted that this trade-off’s occurrence under particularly adverse circumstances, alongside a time when women usually had more children, may help clarify why women generally outlive men. In the UK, girls born between 2021 and 2023 are projected to live four years longer than boys.

In contemporary Western societies, reproductive costs have significantly diminished, with the average number of births declining drastically over centuries, as noted by Bornd. Consequently, it’s likely that very few women reach the stage where lifelong costs become evident. Bolland and colleagues noted in their study analyzing Utah’s historical population, that this threshold was only observed when women had five or more children. The average woman in the United States is now expected to have 1.6 children throughout her lifetime.

Therefore, other environmental factors may play a larger role in explaining the lifespan disparity between genders. For instance, men are generally more prone to smoking and tend to consume more alcohol, both of which influence longevity, according to Bolund. The current gap in longevity between men and women likely results from a mix of reduced reproductive costs for women relative to earlier historical periods, alongside differences in lifestyle choices.

Research also indicates that variations in sex chromosomes are significant. “Differences between the sexes extend beyond reproductive costs; thus, further research is essential to delineate how different factors impact sex-specific aging,” Young concluded.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Unusual Microbial Alliance Reveals the Evolution of Complex Life

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Stromatolites are rock-like structures formed by bacteria in shallow water

Lkonya/Shutterstock

SEI 262018132 — Stromatolites are rock-like structures formed by bacteria in shallow water

Lkonya/Shutterstock

Microorganisms in the remote bays of Western Australia are interconnected through tiny tubes, suggesting early stages of complex life evolution.

In Shark Bay, known by the Indigenous name Gathaagudu, microbes create slimy, multi-layered assemblages called microbial mats. This challenging environment, buffeted by tidal shifts and temperature fluctuations, has fostered bacterial communities alongside another single-celled organism known as Archaea, which have thrived here for tens of thousands of years. These microorganisms often coexist symbiotically, forming layered sedimentary structures known as stromatolites.

“The mats develop under hypersaline conditions with elevated UV levels. It withstands cyclones. Despite facing numerous threats, they persist,” comments Brendan Burns from the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

He posits that these contemporary microbial communities may resemble those that existed billions of years ago when complex life first emerged. This evolution might have been driven by a mutual dependence between bacteria and Archaea, leading to the formation of more complex cells known as eukaryotes.

Burns and his team returned some of these microbial mat communities to the lab to cultivate the organisms in high-salinity, low-oxygen conditions.

They successfully cultured only one type of bacterium, stromatodesulfovibrio nilemahensis, and a newly identified archaeon named Nearachaeum marumarumayae, a member of the Asgard Archaea group. These archaeal bacteria, named after the gods’ abode in Norse mythology, are regarded as the closest relatives to the eukaryotic cells that comprise the bodies of animals, plants, and humans.

According to team members, “These organisms seem to directly interact and share nutrients,” states Iain Duggin of the Sydney Institute of Technology. Although there is no direct evidence yet, the complete genomic sequence obtained allows for speculation regarding the metabolic processes of both organisms.

The genomic analysis indicated that bacteria synthesize amino acids and vitamins, while the Archaea produce hydrogen and various compounds, such as acetic and sulfuric acids. Both sets of products are unique, indicating a dependency on each other.

The researchers also observed indications of direct interaction between the two species. “We have observed what we refer to as nanotubes,” notes Duggin. “These microscopic tubes, seemingly produced by bacteria, establish direct connections to the surface of the Asgard cells.”

3D reconstruction based on electron microscope images showing cell membranes of Archaeon (blue) and bacteria (green), with nanotubes (pink) between them

Dr. Matthew D. Johnson, Bindusmita Paul, Durin C. Shepherd et al.

In addition to their interactions, the Archaeon cells generate vesicle chains that resemble SAC-like structures utilized for transporting molecules along extracellular fibers. Duggin notes that these nano-sized vesicles appear to engage with the nanotubes formed by the bacteria.

“While nanotubes may be too slender for conduits, they facilitate a type of multicellular binding that enhances resource sharing,” asserts Duggin.

The researchers identified a protein similar to human muscle proteins, a genomic sequence coding for a previously unknown protein, and a protein consisting of about 5,500 amino acids, which is substantial for ancient species. “While I can’t claim it’s directly connected to human muscle proteins, it suggests that their evolutionary origins may trace back much further,” says team member Kate Mischey from the University of New South Wales.

“What fascinates me most are the direct connections formed by nanotubes between bacteria and archaea,” comments purilópez-garcía from Parisa Clay University, France. “Such interactions have not been documented in prior cultures.”

However, discerning the exact behaviors of bacteria and Archaea is challenging, remarks Buzz Baum from the MRC Institute of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK. “It’s a complex relationship of conflict and cooperation,” he notes. “They interact, share, and sometimes clash, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of each other’s presence.”

Duggin believes the prevalent dynamic is more cooperative than combative. “These organisms coexisted in our culture for over four years, suggesting a level of harmony rather than contention,” he adds.

Burns and his colleagues propose that their findings may reflect an early stage in the evolution of eukaryotic cells within microbial mats. Roland Hatzenpichler at Montana State University aligns with this perspective.

“The study’s outcomes indicate that the newly identified Asgard Archaea engage directly with sulfate-reducing bacteria,” he remarks.

However, Lopez Garcia cautions that these interactions may not date back beyond 2 billion years. “While these archaeal and bacterial forms are modern, the microbial environments they inhabit may provide insights into ancient ecosystems,” he explains.

According to Hatzenpichler, we may be on the verge of better understanding the similarities between recent microorganisms and the cells they collaborate with to form primitive nucleated cells. “We’re now in an advantageous position to uncover deeper truths,” he concludes.

Arctic Marine Biology Exploration Cruise: Svalbad, Norway

Join an unforgettable marine expedition into the Arctic Circle with marine biologist Russell Arnott.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

When Redshift Occurs, What Happens to Light’s Energy? It’s Complex.

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

“It can be hard to comprehend the vastness involved…”

Science Photo Library/Alamy

Many of us can relate to concerns about inflation. The rising cost of living weighs heavily on our minds, and we often scrutinize what political leaders are doing in response. Yet it’s essential to recognize the terminology issues present in physics, especially since inflation carries a vastly different meaning in this context.

In cosmology, space inflation refers to a model that elucidates why our universe appears so expansive. This theory posits that space-time underwent rapid expansion for a brief duration—around one second—leading to regions of the universe that are now uncommunicative but once were connected.

Understanding such immense scales can be a challenge. How do we truly grasp these vast distances that exceed our everyday experiences? Last month’s column tackled this concept by addressing distance measurement techniques. Yet, this inquiry itself unfolds layers of complexity.

In that discussion, I highlighted how Redshift serves as a crucial tool for gauging distances in space. Imagine a series of balloons being inflated; as they expand, their peaks and troughs elongate. This phenomenon mirrors how light behaves as it travels across the fabric of space-time. The light stretches, increasing its wavelength.

This shift in light wavelengths enables distance calculation. By measuring the wavelength of light from a distant object and comparing it to our observations, we can discern how much space-time has expanded between our position and the observable objects. Such Redshift measurements are consistently corroborated by both astronomical observations and lab experiments.

However, deeper questions linger. From a quantum standpoint, light’s wavelength is tied to its energy content. The stretching of light reduces its energy, resulting in a redshift effect. This phenomenon isn’t merely a nuisance; rather, it presents intriguing insights about quantum mechanics within cosmological discussions.

Energy conservation is a fundamental concept in everyday physics, but even cosmic principles can be bent or broken

What’s the dilemma? We prefer consistent principles across physics domains. A core tenet of everyday physics suggests that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. Thus, if we apply energy conservation to redshifted light, we face the question: where does the lost energy of light go? A curious reader posed this very question.

The response may be surprising. While energy conservation remains a guiding principle, it seems the cosmic realm can, at times, operate differently. Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity plays a pivotal role here. Though widely recognized for its insights into the fabric of cosmic time and curvature, it also reveals how space-time itself may expand.

A unique aspect of general relativity is that energy conservation isn’t universally applicable. In essence, as light loses energy through redshift, this loss is not considered significant in the grand scheme. Energy doesn’t necessarily have to ‘go’ anywhere; it can merely dissipate.

That’s one way to frame it. Alternatively, we could also address the energy associated with gravitational fields. Historically, conflating these two perspectives has sparked considerable debate. Some argue they represent two facets of the same reality.

Personally, I contend that the essence of energy remains ambiguous. It’s challenging to delineate, yet it’s palpable in connection to physical entities like particles and stars. However, when discussing the energy entwined with space-time curvature, clarity dissolves. Where exactly is this energy located within the continuum of space and time? How concentrated is it at specific junctures? These inquiries reflect the complexities of inflation!

Thus, I find myself aligning with those who suggest that strict energy conservation may not be the most useful concept. What stands clear is the interdependence of space-time curvature and energy related to matter. Space-time’s dynamics guide matter’s trajectory, while matter’s mass (akin to energy) influences how space-time will behave.

Chanda’s Week

What I’m reading

Riley Black When the Earth was Green: The Epic of Plants, Animals, and Evolution beautiful.

What I’m watching

I’m re-watching Star Trek: A Strange New World from the start.

What I’m working on

We are pondering the Newathena X-Ray Observatory to deepen our understanding of neutron star interiors.

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is an associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of New Hampshire. She is the author of Cosmos with Disabilities and the forthcoming book, “Edges of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Universe’s Dreamscape.”

Topics:

Quantum Physics/
Space-Time

Source: www.newscientist.com

Microsoft Claims AI Systems Outperform Doctors in Diagnosing Complex Health Conditions

Posted on June 30, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Microsoft is unveiling details about artificial intelligence systems that outperform human doctors in intricate health assessments, paving a “path to medical closeness.”

The company’s AI division, spearheaded by British engineer Mustafa Suleyman, has created a system that emulates a panel of specialized physicians handling “diagnostically complex and intellectually demanding” cases.

When integrated with OpenAI’s advanced O3 AI model, Microsoft claims its method “solved” more than eight out of ten carefully selected case studies for diagnostic challenges. In contrast, practice physicians with no access to colleagues, textbooks, or chatbots achieved an accuracy rate of only 2 out of 10 on these same case studies.

Microsoft also highlighted that this AI solution could be a more economical alternative to human doctors, as it streamlines the process of ordering tests.

While emphasizing potential cost reductions, Microsoft noted that it envisions AI as a complement to physician roles rather than a replacement.

“The clinical responsibilities of doctors extend beyond merely diagnosing; they must navigate uncertainty in ways that AI is not equipped to handle, and build trust with patients and their families,” the company explained in a blog post announcing the research intended for peer review.

Nevertheless, slogans like “The Road to Overmed Medical” hint at the possibility of transformative changes in the healthcare sector. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) denotes systems that replicate human cognitive abilities for specific tasks, while superintelligence is a theoretical concept referring to systems that surpass overall human intellectual capacity.

In discussing the rationale for their study, Microsoft raised concerns about AI’s performance on U.S. medical licensing exams, a crucial assessment for acquiring medical licenses in the U.S. The multiple-choice format relies heavily on memorization, which may “exaggerate” AI capabilities compared to in-depth understanding.

Microsoft is working on a system that mimics real-world clinicians by taking step-by-step actions to arrive at a final diagnosis, such as asking targeted questions or requesting diagnostic tests. For instance, patients exhibiting cough or fever symptoms may need blood tests and chest x-rays prior to receiving a pneumonia diagnosis.

This innovative approach by Microsoft employs intricate case studies sourced from the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

Suleyman’s team transformed over 300 of these studies into “interactive case challenges” to evaluate their method. Microsoft’s strategy incorporated existing AI models developed by ChatGPT creators OpenAI, Meta from Mark Zuckerberg, Anthropic, Grok from Elon Musk, and Google’s Gemini.

The company utilized a specific model for determining tests and diagnostics, employing AI systems such as tailored agents known as “diagnostic orchestrators.” These orchestrators effectively simulate a doctor’s panel, aiding in reaching a diagnosis.

Microsoft reported that in conjunction with OpenAI’s advanced O3 model, over eight of the ten NEJM case studies have been “solved.”

Microsoft believes its approach has the potential to encompass multiple medical fields, enabling a broad and in-depth application beyond individual practitioners.

“Enhancing this level of reasoning could potentially reform healthcare. AI can autonomously manage patients with routine care and offer clinicians sophisticated support for complex cases.”

However, Microsoft acknowledges that the technology is not yet ready for clinical implementation, noting that further testing with an “Orchestrator” is necessary to evaluate performance in more prevalent symptoms.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Evacuating Early Complex Life to Meltwater Ponds: Insights from a Snowman Earth Episode

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

New findings from MIT indicate that early eukaryotes (complex life forms that eventually evolved into the diverse multicellular organisms we see today) may have thrived in meltwater ponds between 72 and 635 million years ago during a period referred to as Snowman Earth.

Impressions of the artist “Snowman Earth.” Image credit: NASA.

Snowman Earth is a colloquial term for a period in Earth’s history characterized by extensive ice coverage across the planet.

This term often refers to two consecutive glacial events that occurred during the Cleogen era, a timeframe geologists define as lasting from 635 million to 72,000 years ago.

The debate remains whether the Earth was akin to a solid snowball or a softer “slash ball.”

What is certain is that much of the planet experienced deep freeze conditions, with an average temperature of about 50 degrees Celsius.

The pressing question is how and where life managed to survive during this time.

“We aim to comprehend the essentials of complex life on Earth,” stated Fatima Hussain, a graduate student at MIT.

“We examine eukaryotic evidence before and after the Crazians in the Fossil Record, yet there’s limited direct evidence regarding their habitats.”

“The main mystery lies in how life persisted. We are working to uncover the specifics of how and where.”

Numerous theories suggest potential refuges for life during Snowman Earth, such as isolated areas of open ocean (if they existed), around deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and underneath ice sheets.

By examining meltwater ponds, Hussain and her team explored the idea that surface meltwater could have supported eukaryotic life during the planet’s early years.

“There are various hypotheses regarding potential survival habitats for life during the Crazians, but we lack comprehensive analogs,” Hussain remarked.

“Meltwater ponds are currently found on Earth, easily accessible, and provide a unique opportunity to focus on the eukaryotes inhabiting these environments.”

For their study, the researchers analyzed samples from meltwater ponds in Antarctica.

In 2018, scientists visited the McMurdo Ice Shelf region of East Antarctica, which is known for its small meltwater ponds.

In this area, water freezes all the way to the seabed, encompassing dark sediments and marine life.

The loss of wind-driven ice from the surface creates a conveyor belt effect, gradually bringing trapped debris to the surface, which absorbs solar warmth, melting surrounding ice and leading to the creation of shallow meltwater ponds.

Each pond is adorned with mats of microorganisms that have accumulated over time, forming sticky communities.

“These mats can be several centimeters thick and are vibrant, clearly demonstrating distinct layers,” Hussain explained.

These microbial mats consist of single-celled, photosynthetic organisms, such as cyanobacteria, which are prokaryotic and lack nuclei or other organelles.

While these ancient microorganisms are known to withstand extreme environments like meltwater ponds, researchers sought to determine if complex eukaryotic organisms—characterized by cell nuclei and membrane-bound organelles—could also survive in such harsh conditions.

To address this question, the researchers required more than just a microscope, as the defining traits of microscopic eukaryotes within microbial mats are often too subtle to discern visually.

The study involved analyzing specific lipids called sterols and a genetic component known as ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA). Both serve as identifiers for various organisms.

This dual analytical approach provided complementary fingerprints for distinct eukaryotic groups.

In their lipid analysis, the researchers uncovered numerous sterols and rRNA genes in microbial mats that align closely with certain types of algae, protists, and microscopic animals.

They were able to assess the diversity and relative abundance of lipid and rRNA genes across different ponds, suggesting that these ponds are home to a remarkable variety of eukaryotes.

“The two ponds exhibit differences. There’s a recurrent cast of organisms, but they manifest uniquely in different environments,” Hussain noted.

“We identified a diverse array of eukaryotic organisms spanning all major groups in every pond we studied.”

“These eukaryotes are descendants of those that managed to survive Snowman Earth.”

“This underscores how meltwater ponds during the Snowman period globally could have nurtured eukaryotic life, enabling the diversification and emergence of complex organisms, including ourselves, in later epochs.”

Study published in the journal Nature Communications.

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F. Hussain et al. 2025. Diverse eukaryotic biosignatures from the Earth-analogous environment of Antarctic Snowman. Nat Commun 16, 5315; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-60713-5

Source: www.sci.news

3D Printing Enables Complex Vascular Networks for Prosthetic Applications

Posted on June 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Vascular networks crafted by computational models

Andrew Brodhead

Computational models enabling the swift design of vascular networks for 3D-printed organs could advance the prospect of artificial liver, kidney, or heart transplants, eliminating the dependency on donors.

Individuals suffering from organ failure often require transplants. Merely 10% of the global transplant demand is currently met. In response, researchers are innovating techniques to produce lab-grown organs via 3D printing. However, these efforts hinge on experimental methodologies for sustaining the vascular networks long enough to remain viable for days or weeks.

To tackle this issue, Allison Marsden from Stanford University and her team have developed a computational model that facilitates the design of these networks for any organ using mathematical principles explaining how blood vessels branch within the body.

They evaluated their method by creating a network of 25 vessels with 1 cm wide ring-shaped structures that were 3D printed from kidney cells according to their design.

The team then fabricated the vascular network into rings using cold gelatin particles, subsequently heated to 37°C (98.6°F) to dissolve the gelatin, resulting in a network of hollow channels measuring 1 mm in width that mirrored blood vessels. The researchers continued to circulate oxygen and nutrient solutions through the channels to replicate normal blood flow.

After one week, the ring contained approximately 400 times more viable cells compared to a similar ring made from bloodless kidney cells that had been exposed to blood-like fluids.

“We succeeded in keeping the cells near the network alive,” remarks Marsden. “However, the more distant cells perished because we were unable to print the smaller, more intricately branched networks necessary to deliver nutrients to those regions. Our team is actively seeking solutions to this challenge.”

“They are definitely pushing the limits of feasibility,” states Hugues Talbot from University Paris-Clay, France. This novel approach might someday enable scientists to design vascular networks for full-sized organs in mere hours, rather than days or weeks. “Networks designed in this manner could potentially substitute or at least complement lab-grown organs in the future.”

First, researchers must devise methods for 3D printing these vascular networks onto larger organs. If progress continues on this path, Marsden expresses a desire to experiment with 3D-printed organs in pigs within the next five years.

Topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Advanced AI Experiences “Total Accuracy Breakdown” When Confronted with Complex Issues, Research Finds

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Researchers at Apple have identified “fundamental limitations” in state-of-the-art artificial intelligence models, prompting concerns about the competitive landscape in the tech industry for developing more robust systems.

In a study, Apple noted that the advanced AI model, known as the large-scale inference model (LRMS), experienced a “complete collapse in accuracy” when faced with complex challenges.

Standard AI models outperformed LRMS on tasks of lower complexity, yet both encountered “complete collapse” on highly complex tasks. LRMS attempts to handle intricate queries by creating detailed reasoning processes to break down issues into manageable steps.

The research, which evaluated the models’ puzzle-solving capabilities, revealed that LRMS began to “reduce inference efforts” as it neared performance breakdowns—something researchers labeled as “particularly concerning.”

Gary Marcus, a noted academic voice on AI capabilities, characterized the Apple paper as “quite devastating” and highlighted that these findings raise pivotal concerns regarding the race towards achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), which would enable systems to emulate human-level cognitive tasks.

Referencing large language models (LLMs), Marcus remarked: “[of] AGIs, who can fundamentally change society, are joking about themselves.”

Moreover, the paper indicated that early in the “thinking” process, the inference model often squandered computational resources seeking solutions for simpler problems. However, as complexity increased, the model initially considered incorrect answers before ultimately arriving at correct ones.

When confronted with complex issues, the model experienced “collapse” and failed to generate accurate solutions. In one instance, it could not succeed even with an algorithm provided to assist.

The findings illustrated that “as problem difficulty rises, models begin to intuitively diminish inference efforts as they approach critical thresholds that closely align with the accuracy collapse point.”

According to Apple experts, these findings highlight “fundamental scaling limitations” in the reasoning capabilities of current inference models.

The study involved LRMS-based assignments like the Tower of Hanoi and River Crossing puzzle. The researchers acknowledged that their focus on puzzles signifies a boundary to their work.

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The study concluded that current AI methodologies may have hit fundamental limitations. Models tested included OpenAI’s O3, Google’s Gemini Thinking, Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet-Thinking, and Deepseek-R1. Google and Deepseek will be approached for comments, while OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, opted not to provide a statement.

Discussing AI models’ capacity for “generalizable reasoning” or broader conclusions, the paper observes:

Andrew Rogoiski from the People-centered AI Institute at Surrey University remarked that Apple’s findings illustrate the industry remains grappling with AGI, suggesting that the current methods may have hit a “dead end.”

He added, “The revelation that the large model underperforms on complex tasks while faring well in simpler or medium-complexity contexts indicates we may be approaching a profound impasse.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

A recent study reveals that Bonovo call displays signs of complex communication

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Constituity, the ability to combine meaningful elements into larger meaningful structures, is a characteristic of human language. Constitutiveness is trivial (the meaning of a combination is the sum of the meaning of that part) or non-trivial (one element changes the meaning of another element). In a new study, scientists studied the behavior of voices Wild bonobo (Pampaniscus) – Our closest living relatives – Kokoropoli Community Reserve The Democratic Republic of the Congo has found robust empirical evidence for the existence of non-trivial constitutive properties in these primates.

Tupac, a young male bonobo scratching his head. Image credits: Lukas Bierhoff, Kokolopori Bonobo Research Project.

A distinctive feature of human language is its ability to combine individual elements to form more complex and meaningful structures.

This principle known as constituency allows morphemes to be constructed into words and sentences.

The overall meaning is determined by its components and their arrangement.

Constitutiveness can take two forms: trivial and non-trivial. In trivial composition, each word maintains an independent meaning.

Non-trivial constituency involves more complex and nuanced relationships where meaning is not merely a direct sum of words that involve.

Constituity may not be inherent to human language. Birds and primate studies have demonstrated that some animals can combine meaningful vocalizations with structures of trivial composition.

However, to date, there is no direct evidence that animals use non-trivial compositionality in their communication.

In their new study, Melissa Bursett, a biologist at the University of Zurich, and her colleagues, discovered strong empirical evidence that wild bonobos use non-trivial constitutiveness in their vocal communications.

The authors analyzed 700 recordings and call combinations of bonobo vocal calls and documented over 300 contextual features associated with each utterance

A linguistic framework that measures the similarity of meaning between words using methods derived from distribution semantics, and these contextual features were analyzed to infer the meaning of individual bonobo vocalizations and quantify the relationships.

Next, to assess whether Bonobo Call combinations follow construct principles, they applied a multi-step approach that had previously been used to identify the constitutive nature of human communication.

They found that the bonobo call types are integrated into four constituent structures. Three of these suggest that they share more structural similarities with human language than previously recognized.

“Our approach allowed us to quantify how the meaning of the combination of single-call and call on bonobos relate to one another,” said Simon Townsend, professor at the University of Zurich.

“Humans and bonobos had a common ancestor about 70-13 million years ago, so they share many characteristics through descent, and constitutiveness seems likely to be one of them,” added Martin Sarbeck, a professor at Harvard University.

“So our research suggests that our ancestors already use compositionality extensively, if not more, at least 7 million years ago,” Professor Townsend said.

study Published in the journal Science.

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M. Berthet et al. 2025. The broad composition of the Bonobos vocal system. Science 388 (6742): 104-108; doi: 10.1126/science.adv1170

Source: www.sci.news

During the Mesolithic Age in East Asia, the discovery of stone tools reveals a complex range of human dynamics

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Mid-Lestic Age is considered a dynamic period in European and African history, but is generally considered a static period in East Asia. The discovery of a series of refined stone tools at Long Tang Sight in southwestern China, 50,000-60,000 years ago, challenges that recognition.

A product from the Quina system located at Longtan Site, China. Image credits: Luan et al. , doi: 10.1073/pnas.2418029122.

The Paleolithic period in the Central era occurred about 300,000-40,000 years ago and is considered an important time in human evolution.

This period is related to the origins and evolution of modern African people.

In Eurasia, it is associated with the development of several archaic human groups, such as the Neanderthals and Denisovan.

However, there is a widely believed belief that in most of the Paleostemic period, China’s development had slowed.

“Our discoveries challenge our current understanding of human history and technological development in East Asia,” said Professor Beau Lee of the University of Wollongong.

“This finding challenges a long-established general theory among archaeologists that China-China tools are relatively simple and unchanged.”

Professor Li and colleagues unearthed a rich collection of stone tools at the Longtan archaeological site in Yunnan, China.

This tool revealed a complete kina technology system that includes the cores used to generate large and thick flakes.

The Kina Industry is one of the most representative tool creation strategies developed in the Mid Paleolithic period around 300,000-40,000 years ago.

It is characterized by a steeply scaled retouch of thick flakes, which often produces robust scrapers with heavy edge modifications associated with neanderthals, representing strategies developed during marine isotope stage 4 as a response to open forest grassland environments and cool/dry climates.

The Kina Technical System was discovered in Western and Southern Europe during this period, but was not thought to have existed in East Asia.

The wear traces of Longtanquina scrape suggest that they are used in a variety of materials, including bones, horns, wood, meat, skin, and non-slow plants.

“Evidence has shown that the discoveries at Longtan significantly broadened the geographical distribution of human species, the tools used, and the adaptability to adapt to a variety of climates and environments,” Professor Li said.

“The discovery of Longtan also provides a perspective to understand how the human-leeze species evolved and evolved in East Asia prior to the massive arrival of early modern people 45,000 years ago.”

“Understanding rather old artifacts forces us to rethink models of human migration patterns and technology evolution in this part of the world.”

“This opens an exciting new avenue for research and, as we know, can rewrite East Asia’s prehistoric period.”

a paper The survey results were published this week Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Qi-Jun Ruan et al. 2025. Kinarithic technology demonstrates the diverse late Pleistocene human dynamics of East Asia. pnas 122 (14): E2418029122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2418029122

Source: www.sci.news

The groundbreaking role of giant glaciers in shaping Earth’s surface and fostering complex life

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

By chemically analyzing ancient rock crystals, scientists at Curtin University, Portsmouth University and St. Francis Xavier University discovered that glaciers were carved to mark the landscape after the events of the neoplasm of the Snowman Earth, releasing the main minerals that transformed the sea shells. This process has had a major impact on the composition of the planet, creating conditions that allow complex life to evolve.

Impressions of the artist “Snowman Earth.” Image credit: NASA.

“Our research provides valuable insight into how the natural systems of the Earth are deeply interconnected,” says Chris Kirkland, professor of Curtin University, the study's lead author.

“When these huge ice sheets melted, they caused a huge flood that washed out mineral and uranium-containing chemicals into the ocean.”

“This influx of elements changed marine chemistry as more complex lives began to evolve.”

“This study highlights how Earth's land, oceans, atmosphere and climate are closely connected. Even ancient glacial activity triggers the chemical chain reaction that formed the planet.”

This study also offers a new perspective on modern climate change.

It shows how past changes in the global climate have caused large-scale environmental transformations.

“This research is a clear reminder that while the Earth itself can withstand, the conditions that make it habitable can change dramatically,” Professor Kirkland said.

“These ancient climate changes demonstrate the profound and lasting impact of changes in the natural and human-driven environment.

“Understanding these past events will help us to better predict how today's climate change will reconstruct our world.”

Survey results Published in a journal Geological.

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CL Kirkland et al. Neoproterozoic glacial broom. GeologicalPublished online on February 25th, 2025. doi: 10.1130/g52887.1

Source: www.sci.news

Is the End Near for X? Musk and Trump’s Complex Relationship Sparks Growing Rivalry and Challenges for the Platform

Posted on November 17, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Was it the week that X died? The platform, previously seen as an ideal marketplace for information exchange, has suffered its biggest breach to date.

Bluesky, the latest competitor to X, has amassed 16 million users. 1 million in 24 hours last week. Hundreds of thousands of people have quit Twitter since Donald Trump won the election on November 6th.

The impetus was Elon Musk, owner of Company X and the world's richest man, to transform the social media site and use it as a megaphone to push Trump into the White House.

The incoming US president said Musk will become head of the new Department of Government Efficiency. The acronym Doge, a play on the dog internet meme and the virtual currency Dogecoin, began as a joke by Dogecoin's creators and skyrocketed in value after Mr. Musk. In 2021, he named it “The People's Code.”

Although Musk now sits at the center of the U.S. government, his actions do not require Senate approval and he can continue to work in the private sector. He is allowed to keep X and its 204 million followers, as well as head electric car company Tesla and rocket company SpaceX. For the first time in history, big tech billionaires are directly shaping democracy, not just indirectly through the media.

“I don't know of any precedent for this approach,” said Rob Engdahl, president of technology analyst firm Engdahl, who has worked with companies such as Microsoft, Sony, and Dell.

Bluesky celebrates reaching 16 million users. Photo: Tamamario/Getty Images

As recently as 2022, Mr. Musk tweeted “For Twitter to be worthy of the public's trust, it must be politically neutral. That effectively means upsetting the far right and far left equally,” he tweeted. that “Mr. Trump will be 82 years old at the end of his term, far too old to be the CEO of anything, let alone the United States.”

A few months later, when Mr. Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion, he fired content moderators and charged for account verification. This meant that people could buy influence. Twitter rebranded to X, shed millions of users and reinstated Trump's account, which had been suspended after the January 2021 White House riot.

The proliferation of alt-right criticism, hate speech, and bots on X, as well as Mr. Musk's own clash with the British government during the August riots, has increased anxiety among X users. of guardian and observer announced last week that it could no longer maintain a presence on the site and would no longer post. Author Stephen King left, saying it had become “too harmful.” Oscar winners Barbra Streisand and Jamie Lee Curtis left the stage.

“X has effectively become Truth Social Premium,” said Mark Carrigan, author of “X.” academic social mediareferring to President Trump's far-right social media platforms. And the buzz in the tech world is that President Trump's “Truth Social” could be folded into “X.”

If this happens, whose interests will take priority? Will Mr. Musk suppress or encourage criticism of the authoritarian governments he does business with? Who is the puppet or paymaster in Donald and Elon's media show?

“If that happens, a political super app masquerading as social media could become the ultimate amplification machine for President Trump's ideas,” said James Kirkham of Iconic, who advises brands like Uber and EA Sports on digital strategy. It will happen,” he says. “Forget about Facebook and Fox News. The real heart of the Republican digital strategy may be X.”

“I'm hopeful that X and Truth Social will merge,” Engdahl said. “But given how overvalued Truth Social is right now, this could be one of those efforts between Musk and Trump.”

The bromance between the world's two biggest egos is mutually beneficial, as long as the two transactional, power-hungry, impulsive people get along. President Trump is hawkish on China, one of Tesla's most profitable markets. Mr. Trump essentially campaigned against electric vehicle manufacturing. Trump is a protectionist. Mr. Musk opposes tariffs. When it comes to climate change, they are against it.

Jonathan Monten, professor of political science at UCL, is skeptical about the sustainability of the relationship. “What Mr. Musk used against Mr. Trump was private money, both to provide a platform to, or to use, a more favorable pro-Trump agenda.” .

“It's unclear what continuing purpose or use Mr. Musk actually has. Yes, this is some kind of celebrity story, but that's the Trump brand. I've got one story, and tomorrow I'll tell another celebrity's story.'' The early 2010s connected and informed activists, artists, lawyers, academics, policymakers, journalists, and experts of all kinds. Share, exchange ideas and track events in real time.

Elon Musk speaks next to Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on October 5th. Photo: Carlos Barria/Reuters

While it's easy to paint Mr. Musk as a bogeyman, some argue that it was the emergence of TikTok and algorithmic timelines that fundamentally disrupted Twitter. As social media optimizes for scale and profit at the expense of user experience, algorithms will prioritize the “best” content – content that screams loudest or is most specifically tailored to users. It has become. Curated accounts and “latest” content to follow have been pushed to the side.

“I think Mr. Musk has done some harmful things, and I think part of that is the logic of evolving social media platforms,” Carrigan said. “The impact of the ad-based model encourages certain ways of organizing platforms, with negative consequences.”

Bluesky, which was the most popular app in the app store on Friday, has become an option for X refugees, but its 16 million users pale in comparison to Meta's Threads. reported With 275 million monthly active users, X Approximately 317 million..

Defender of “fediverse” is a single account for any social media network, just as a Gmail account allows you to send email to any email address or call users on other networks from your mobile phone number. argues that there must be.

Platforms have power when it comes to blocking social networks so users can't leave. Instead, new social networks, including Bluesky, are built on “ecosystems” that enable interconnection.

No one knows what will happen to X, with predictions ranging from collapse to turning into an anti-Trump platform if Musk and the president get into a spat, or even becoming a training ground for Musk's xAI venture. be. AI could engulf social media, with xAI valued at $40 billion, roughly the price Musk paid for Twitter.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Australia discovers a new, complex Ediacaran animal species

Posted on October 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Questio Sympsonorum It is part of the Ediacaran biota and contains the oldest preserved evidence of complex macroscopic fauna.

close-up of Questio Sympsonorum Footprints. Image credit: Evans others., doi: 10.1111/ede.12491.

Questio Sympsonorum is one of more than 100 multicellular organisms during the Ediacaran period (635 to 538 million years ago), when the first complex macroscopic animals appeared on Earth.

The creature was up to 8 centimeters (3.1 inches) wide and likely moved along what was once the ocean floor.

Animals that burrowed into the sediment had not yet evolved, so this ocean floor was covered with a layer of microorganisms that formed a slimy organic mat.

“Questio Sympsonorum “It had some interesting characteristics that set it apart from other Ediacaran species,” said Mary Droser, a professor at the University of California.

“What's really interesting about this fossil is that it's essentially symmetrical, meaning the right side mirrors the left side, but there's also an asymmetrical element that forms an inverted question mark shape.”

“This kind of symmetry indicates some level of genetic complexity.”

“Humans are bilaterally symmetrical, but they have many asymmetries, such as the position of the heart and appendix.”

“Many other asymmetries like this have been found throughout the animal kingdom, and this appears to be one of the first organisms to organize it this way.”

Reconstructed by artists Questio Sympsonorum. Image credit: Walker C. Weiland.

more than a dozen specimens Questio Sympsonorum It was discovered in the Nilpena-Ediacaran National Park in South Australia.

“The unique trace evidence our team has discovered suggests that: Questio Sympsonorum “They ate ancient organic mats while on the move,” said Scott Evans, a professor at Florida State University.

“That the fossils are preserved directly alongside evidence of their behavior really speaks to the unprecedented nature of the fossil record at Nilpena. We can see how these animals got their food.”

“Nilpena is a site of great international importance, and there is no other place in the world like it,” said Stuart Paul, regional operations director for the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

“In addition to learning about these amazing fossils located within the park, tourists can also visit a former blacksmith shop, where they learn what these creatures look like and how they were formed. One of the fossil beds is brought to life by an impressive audio-visual recreation of the story.

of findings Published in a magazine evolution and development.

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Scott D. Evans others. A new motile animal that influenced the evolution of axial polarity lived during the Ediacaran period of South Australia. evolution and developmentpublished online on September 3, 2024. doi: 10.1111/ede.12491

Source: www.sci.news

The Emergence of Complex Life under Extreme Stress

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Plants and humans have one thing in common: They both consist of a single cell containing a nucleus that serves a specialized function that benefits the entire organism. When life first emerged 4 billion years ago, it consisted of simple cells that lacked a nucleus. ProkaryotesAt least 2 billion years later, a major evolutionary change gave rise to the first cells with nuclei. EukaryotesAlgae and fungi are eukaryotes, as are plants, animals, and some single-celled organisms.

Genomic studies have shown that all eukaryotes share a common ancestor, or RekaHowever, these studies can only provide limited information about LECA's characteristics, so researchers know almost nothing about their abundance, appearance, or where they live. Scientists hope to understand the origins of LECA on Earth and determine how complex life arose on Earth and how it might arise on other planets.

A team of researchers from the Australian National University, the University of Bremen and the Strasbourg Institute of Chemistry sought to trace the oldest evidence of eukaryotes in rocks and determine when eukaryotes diverged from prokaryotes. They found that only eukaryotes Structure and function of cell membranes, It is called Sterols. So to find the oldest traces of eukaryotes, researchers went looking for these molecules in sediments that accumulated beneath the oceans, where many researchers think early eukaryotes evolved.

When cells die, they sink to the ocean floor and over time completely or partially decompose and become buried in marine sediments. When these sediments harden into sedimentary rocks, all the remains of the cells become trapped within them. These researchers believe that sterols and the molecules derived from them are Decomposition productsThese molecules remain in sediments for millions of years after cells die, so the researchers reasoned that the abundance of these molecules in sedimentary rocks should correspond to the number of eukaryotic organisms living in the oceans when the sediments formed.

To find out what sterols break down into, the researchers burned different amounts of sterols found in modern eukaryotes and analyzed the sterol breakdown products using techniques that identify organic molecules. Gas ChromatographyThe researchers compared the sterol breakdown products of modern eukaryotes with organic molecules they measured in rock samples from the Burnie Creek Formation in northern Australia, which contained petroleum that dates back about 1.7 billion years. Their goal was to test whether the rock samples contained the same molecules as the burned sterols, confirming that eukaryotic organisms were present in the oceans at that time.

The researchers found that the rock samples contained only a fraction of the molecules they measured in the burned sterols. The molecules in the rocks were responsible for stabilizing eukaryotic cell membranes against environmental stresses such as high temperatures and high salinity. The researchers explained that sterols help some modern eukaryotes survive such extreme conditions by attaching to cell membranes and making them strong and flexible, preventing cell rupture caused by external stresses.

The researchers propose that the rock sample preserved the remains of early eukaryotes that produced sterols to strengthen membranes to survive in extreme conditions. Although it is unclear whether eukaryotes produced sterols before or after the development of a nucleus, they suggest that sterols may have provided early eukaryotes with a distinct ecological advantage in adapting to extreme environmental stresses, potentially facilitating the evolution of more specialized life forms.

The team suggested that changing atmospheric conditions may also have triggered the formation and adaptation of eukaryotes. They explained that oxygen first accumulated in the atmosphere about 2.3 billion years ago, which represented a chemical stress in the environment that would have been lethal to early cells that were allergic to oxygen. However, the sterols present in the cell membranes of early eukaryotes may have helped them adapt to the changing atmosphere and develop a preference for more oxygen-rich environments.

The researchers concluded that ecological stress can fundamentally change cells, and that certain compounds unique to eukaryotes can be used to find them in ancient rock samples. In the future, the scientists plan to analyze other rock samples from Northern Australia to validate their results and look for other types of molecules that could provide information about LECA.

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Source: sciworthy.com

Paleontologists have determined that complex life originated 2.1 billion years ago.

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Scientists have widely accepted that complex life first appeared on Earth around 635 million years ago (during the Ediacaran Period). However, an international team of paleontologists from Cardiff, Toulouse and Poitiers universities and China Nonferrous Metals (Guilin) Geological Mining Co., Ltd. has discovered evidence of a much older ecosystem more than 1.5 billion years ago in the Franceville Basin near Gabon on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa.

Artist's impression of a lobe-like macrofossil that lived in a shallow inland sea formed by the collision of two continents 2.1 billion years ago. Image by Abderrazak El Albani, University of Poitiers.

“The availability of phosphorus in the environment is thought to have been a key factor in the evolution of life on Earth, particularly in the transition from simple single-celled organisms to complex organisms such as animals and plants,” said Dr Ernest Chi-Ful, from Cardiff University.

“We already know that elevated marine phosphorus and oxygen concentrations in seawater are linked to an evolutionary event about 635 million years ago.”

“Our study adds an even older event to the record, going back 2.1 billion years.”

Scientists have widely debated the validity of the fossils of megafauna from the Ediacaran period, the oldest of their kind in the geological record.

But Dr Chi Hulu and his colleagues identified a link between changes in the environment before their emergence and increased nutrients, which may have triggered their evolution.

Geochemical analysis of marine sedimentary rocks dating back 2.1 billion years has shed new light on this unusually large fossil assemblage in the Franceville Basin.

A 2.1 billion year old lobe-like macrofossil from the Franceville Basin. Image by Abderrazak El Albani, University of Poitiers.

“We think that after the Congo and San Francisco cratons collided and sutured together, undersea volcanoes further restricted water in this area and even cut it off from the global oceans, forming a nutrient-rich shallow inland marine sea,” Dr Chi-Hulu said.

“This created a localized environment of abundant cyanobacterial photosynthesis for extended periods, leading to oxygenation of local ocean waters and the generation of large food resources.”

“This would have provided enough energy to fuel the increased body size and more complex behaviors seen in the primitive, simple animal-like life forms found in fossils from this period.”

However, the restricted nature of this body of water, combined with the harsh conditions that existed beyond this environmental boundary for billions of years afterward, likely prevented these enigmatic life forms from colonizing the entire planet.

The study suggests that these observations may indicate a two-stage evolution of complex life on Earth.

Step 1 followed the first significant increase in atmospheric oxygen content 2.1 billion years ago, and step 2 followed a second increase in atmospheric oxygen levels about 1.5 billion years later.

“While the first attempt failed to catch on, the second attempt led to the creation of the diversity of animals seen on Earth today,” Dr Chi Hulu said.

of result Published in the journal Precambrian Studies.

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Ernest Chi-Ful others2024. Hydrothermal seawater eutrophication triggers a localized macrobiological experiment in the 2100 Ma Paleoproterozoic Franceville Subbasin. Precambrian Studies 409: 107453; doi: 10.1016/j.precamres.2024.107453

Source: www.sci.news

Strange crystal structure reveals incredibly complex maze

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Can you find your way out of the red center of the maze? Scroll down for the answer

University of Bristol

An algorithm designed to find the most efficient path from atom to atom in a strange kind of crystal turns out to create incredibly complex mazes. In addition to building mazes, the technique could also be useful for speeding up certain industrial chemical reactions.

The crystals in question are called quasicrystals because their atoms are arranged in a repeating fashion like normal crystals, but they exhibit more complex and unpredictable symmetries. Although such crystals have been synthesized in laboratories and were produced during the first nuclear weapon detonation in 1945, only one natural source has been found so far: a meteorite found in Russia in 1985.

“Quasicrystals have all the symmetries that normal crystals don’t have. [normal] The crystals are very interesting.” Felix Flicker Professor at the University of Bristol in the UK. “It’s a very beautiful area of mathematics, but you can appreciate that beauty directly without knowing the details.”

Fricker and his colleagues developed an algorithm to quickly generate paths that contact every atom in a quasicrystal exactly once. Diagrams of these paths form beautiful maze-like structures.

Creating such a pathway is known in computer science as an NP-complete problem, a problem that becomes exponentially more complicated as the number of atoms increases. These problems can quickly become virtually impossible to compute at large scales, but the researchers have found that in some quasicrystals the problem is unexpectedly simple.

“This was quite surprising, since this problem in general is known to be essentially unsolvable and, since these quasicrystals do not have translational symmetry, it did not seem to offer any obvious simplifications,” Fricker says.

The solution to the maze is marked in red

University of Bristol

Developing such a pathway, Fricker says, could be put to practical use in a laboratory technique called scanning tunneling microscopy, in which an extremely sharp tip is maneuvered over a material to sense individual atoms one by one, building up an atomic-level picture. Creating complex images, such as one of the quasicrystal itself, can take up to a month, but Fricker says that time could be cut in half if a more efficient pathway could be found to capture each atom.

Fricker also believes the technique could be used to create crystalline catalysts for industrial chemical processes that are more efficient than current methods, making certain compounds faster or less costly to produce. But Fricker thinks other uses may also become apparent over time. “I hope the most interesting uses will be ones that we haven’t even thought of.”

Physical Review X
DOI: In press

Source: www.newscientist.com

Webb discovers complex organic compounds in interstellar ice approaching dual protostars

Posted on March 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

astronomer using Mid-infrared measuring instrument The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope's (MIRI) detected molecules ranging from relatively simple ones like methane to complex compounds like ethanol (alcohol) and acetic acid. interstellar ice One low-mass protostar and one high-mass protostar: toward NGC 1333 IRAS 2A and IRAS 23385+6053, respectively.

This image taken by Webb's MIRI instrument shows the region near the IRAS 23385+6053 protostar. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/WRM Rocha, LEI.

Complex organic molecules (COM) are molecules with six or more atoms, including at least one carbon atom.

These materials are the raw material for future exoplanetary systems and are therefore of essential importance in understanding the chemical complexity developed in star-forming regions.

If this material becomes available in a primitive planetary system, it could facilitate the planet's habitability.

In a new study, astronomers Will Rocha, Harold Linnaerts and colleagues at Leiden University used Webb's mid-infrared instrument to determine the extent of COM ice in two protostars, NGC 1333 IRAS 2A and IRAS 23385+6053. We investigated the characteristics.

They were able to identify a variety of COMs, including ethanol (alcohol) and perhaps acetic acid (a component of vinegar).

“Our discovery contributes to one of the long-standing questions in astrochemistry,” Dr. Rocha said.

“What is the origin of COM in the Universe?” Are they created in the gas phase or in ice? Detection of COM in ice is based on the solid phase at the surface of cold dust particles It suggests that chemical reactions can build complex types of molecules. ”

“Some COMs, including those detected in the solid phase in our study, were previously detected in the warm gas phase, so they are now thought to originate from ice sublimation.”

“Sublimation is the change from a solid directly to a gas without becoming a liquid.”

“Therefore, we have hope that detecting COM in ice will improve our understanding of the origins of other, larger molecules in the universe.”

This figure shows the spectrum of the NGC 1333 IRAS 2A protostar. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/Leah Hustak, STScI.

The researchers also detected simpler molecules such as formic acid, methane, formaldehyde, and sulfur dioxide.

“Sulfur-containing compounds, such as sulfur dioxide, played an important role in promoting metabolic reactions on early Earth,” the researchers said.

“Of particular interest is that one of the investigated origins, NGC 1333 IRAS 2A, is characterized as a low-mass protostar.”

“NGC 1333 IRAS 2A may resemble the early stages of our solar system.”

“Therefore, the chemicals identified around this protostar may have been present during the earliest stages of the development of the solar system and were later delivered to the proto-Earth.”

“All of these molecules could become part of comets, asteroids, and ultimately new planetary systems as icy material is transported inside planet-forming disks as protostar systems evolve.” '' said Dr. Ewain van Dyschoek, an astronomer at Leiden University.

“We look forward to using more web data in the coming years to follow this astrochemical trajectory step by step.”

of the team paper It was published in the magazine astronomy and astrophysics.

_____

WRM Rocha other. 2024. JWST Young Protostar Observation (JOYS+): Detection of icy complex organic molecules and ions. I.CH._FourSo₂,HCOO⁻,OCN⁻,H₂Colorado, Cooh, Switzerland₃CH₂Oh, CH₃Cho, channel₃Ocho and CH₃Coo. A&A 683, A124; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202348427

Source: www.sci.news

Webb’s Observation of a Massive Star-Forming Complex in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Posted on January 24, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Use of Mid-infrared measuring instrument With (MIRI) aboard the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have captured stunning images of N79, a region of interstellar ionized hydrogen in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

This Hubble image shows star-forming region N79 located 163,000 light-years away in the constellation Sera. Image credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / Webb / M. Meixner.

N79 is a massive star-forming complex spanning about 1,630 light-years in the generally unexplored southwestern region of the Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighboring dwarf galaxy about 163,000 light-years from us.

This region is usually considered a younger version of the 30 Doradus, also known as the Tarantula Nebula.

N79 has a star formation efficiency more than twice that of Doradas 30 over the past 500,000 years.

This particular image centers on one of three giant molecular cloud complexes called N79 South (S1 for short).

The distinctive “starburst” pattern surrounding this bright object is a series of diffraction spikes.

“All telescopes that use mirrors to collect light, like Webb, have this form of artifact resulting from the design of the telescope,” Webb astronomers said.

“For Webb, the six largest starburst spikes appear due to the hexagonal symmetry of Webb's 18 primary mirror segments.”

“Such patterns are only noticeable around very bright and compact objects, where all the light comes from the same place.”

“Most galaxies appear very small to our eyes, but we don't see this pattern because they are dimmer and more spread out than a single star.”

“At the longer wavelengths of light captured by MIRI, Webb's view of N79 shows glowing gas and dust in the region.”

“This is because mid-infrared light can reveal what's going on deep within the cloud (whereas shorter wavelength light is absorbed or scattered by dust particles within the nebula). Still embedded Some protostars also appear in this region.”

Star-forming regions such as N79 are of interest to astronomers because their chemical composition is similar to that of giant star-forming regions observed in the early universe.

“The star-forming regions of our Milky Way galaxy are not producing stars at the same ferocious rate as N79 and have a different chemical composition,” the astronomers said.

“Webb now offers us the opportunity to compare and contrast observations of star formation in N79 with deep telescopic observations of distant galaxies in the early universe.”

“These observations of N79 are part of the Webb program to study the evolution of circumstellar disks and envelopes of forming stars over a wide range of masses and at different evolutionary stages.”

“Webb's sensitivity allows us to detect for the first time disks of planet-forming dust around stars of the same mass as the Sun at distances in the Large Magellanic Cloud.”

Source: www.sci.news

The ‘Lost City’ of Amazon thrived for a millennium in an ancient complex

Posted on January 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Archaeologists in the Amazon have discovered a series of “lost cities” that have flourished for thousands of years, the results of which were published Thursday in the journal Science.

Laser images have revealed an intricate network of roads, districts, and gardens as complex as those built by the Maya civilization.

Traces of the city were first noticed more than 20 years ago by archaeologist Stephane Rostain of France's National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), but “I didn't have a complete overview of the area,” he told Science. Told.

A new laser mapping technology called LIDAR helped researchers see through forest cover and map new details of mounds and structures in Ecuador's Upano Valley settlement.

The images reveal a geometric pattern of more than 6,000 platforms connected by roads, intertwined with the agricultural landscape and river drainage channels of an urban farming civilization in the eastern foothills of the Andes.

“It was the Valley of the Lost City. It's unbelievable,” Rostain, who is leading the investigation at CNRS, told The Associated Press.

The image shows a main street cutting through the city area, forming an axis around which a complex of rectangular platforms is placed around a low square.
Antoine Dollison, Stéphane Lotay/AP

These sites were built and inhabited by the Upano people between about 500 BC and 300-600 AD, but the size of their population is not yet known.

The research team found five large settlements and 10 smaller settlements with housing and ceremonial buildings across 116 square miles of the valley. Its size is comparable to other major ruins. For example, the core area of Quilamope, one of the settlements, is as large as the Giza Plateau in Egypt or the main thoroughfare of Teotihuacan in Mexico.

The landscape of Upano societies may be comparable to Mayan “garden cities,” where homes were surrounded by farmland and most of the food consumed by residents was grown in the city, the authors write in Science. Told.

Co-author Fernando Mejia, an archaeologist at the Pontifical University of Ecuador, said the discovery of Upano was so far only the “tip of the iceberg” of what could be discovered in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

The Amazon is considered the world's most dangerous forest, home to dense towering trees, tangled vines, hostile wildlife, and poisonous insects. Archaeologists believed it was primarily suitable for hunter-gatherers, but inhospitable to complex civilizations.

But over the past two decades, scientists have discovered evidence of human habitation, including mounds, hillforts, and pyramids, in the Amazon River from Bolivia to Brazil.

The newly mapped city in the Upano Valley is 1,000 years older than previous discoveries, including the Bolivian Amazonian society Llanos de Mojos. The discovery shattered what scientists previously believed about civilizations in the Amazon rainforest.

And the details of the cultures of these two places are only just beginning to emerge.

German researcher Carla Jaimes Betancourt, an expert on Llanos de Mojos, told Science that the people of both Upano Valley and Llanos de Mojos were farmers. They built roads, canals, and large public and ceremonial buildings. But “we're just beginning to understand how these cities functioned, their populations, who they traded with, how their societies were governed, etc.” she said.

Rostain emphasized how much remains to be revealed. “We say 'Amazonia,' but we should say 'Amazonia' to capture the diversity of ancient cultures in this region,” he says.

“The Amazon has always had an incredibly diverse range of people and settlements, and there is not just one way of life,” he added. “We're still learning more about them.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Could ChatGPT Replace Legislators? AI Generates Complex Bills in 15 Seconds

Posted on December 23, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

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ChatGPT may soon become ChatGOV.

Lawmakers from Porto Alegre, Brazil, used an artificial intelligence program to draft a bill that was unanimously approved by their fellow lawmakers last month.

The computer-drafted bill, introduced by 37-year-old city councilor Ramiro Rosario, says there is still a bias against incorporating AI tools into the political process.

“They are [government colleagues] If they had known, they would never have signed it,” said Rosario. told the Wall Street Journal It’s part of a “deliberately boring” bill aimed at stopping local water companies from charging residents for new meters.

Normally, drafting such a painstaking bill would take Rosario and his large staff several days, but ChatGPT produced the lengthy text in just 15 seconds.

Rosario believes this bill is the first in the world to be created entirely by an AI program.

He also predicts that ChatGPT could spell disaster for his public relations team. Case in point: The program also drafted a press release about the law.

“There should be 20 or 30 people.” [employees] In the future it will probably not be necessary,” declared the politician. “To be honest, I don’t need it anymore.”

ChatGPT also came up with legal provisions for the bill that the tech-loving Rosario wouldn’t have thought of on his own.

But other politicians are less enamored with AI.

When some of Mr. Rosario’s government colleagues learned that the bill was authored by ChatGPT, it drew scorn.

City Councilor João Bosco Bas is currently calling for the law to be repealed.

“That’s a dangerous precedent!” the detractors declared. That’s not what you do! He should have talked to other members of Congress first. ”

But Rosario is undaunted.

“They didn’t understand it,” he told Barron’s candidly.

Brazilian lawmakers aren’t the first to use ChatGPT professionally.

british judge I made a headline in September after admitting to using a “very handy” cyber tool to summarize the law.

In March, Indian judges also adopted ChatGPT. decide the fate of the criminal trial.

But experts may be overlooking potential problems with AI tools.

In a recent departmental AI instruction manual, New York City government explains Such technology has the potential for “misuse, flawed design,” as well as “serious bias” and “active harm.”

Experts in the field are deeply concerned about the “fundamental flaw” in the programmed left-leaning bias that ChatGPT uses to derive its answers. Researchers have previously found that they are also more tolerant of hate speech against Republicans and men.

This tool has been used to censor press freedom before. Last February, the show refused to write a New York Post-style article because it was “inflammatory.”

ChatGPT was not held to the same standards when asked to do the same in the style of CNN.

Using ChatGPT involves legal risks. MT.Photostock – Stock.adobe.com Political plans aside, ChatGPT also faces long-term technical issues that will become very clear in legislative matters.

Language learning models (LLMs) have a very hard time creating quotes and often create fake quotes. This can and has already caused problems in court when referring to previous legal cases.

In June, a New York City lawyer profusely apologized to a federal judge after ChatGPT “deceived” him by creating a false precedent for his lawsuit. This is because there is no live feed of updates coming into the program, so the program is basing its responses solely on training data for the day.

Experts warn of built-in bias within ChatGPT. AP

In other words, ChatGPT is not connected to the Internet. that Method.

It’s also worth noting that, similar to Brazil’s controversial Rosario bill, a prominent AI program also believed the US Constitution was drafted by a computer.

“`

Source: nypost.com

Artificial Intelligence will bring about a revolution in the realm of complex problem-solving within logistics and beyond.

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Researchers at MIT and ETH Zurich have developed a machine learning-based technique that speeds up the optimization process used by companies like FedEx to deliver packages. This approach simplifies key steps in mixed integer linear programming (MILP) solvers and uses company-specific data to tune the process, resulting in 30-70% speedups without sacrificing accuracy. This has potential applications in a variety of industries facing complex resource allocation problems.

The research conducted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and ETH Zurich aims to address complex logistics challenges, including delivering packages, distributing vaccines, and managing power grids. The traditional software used by companies like FedEx to find optimal delivery solutions is called a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) solver, but it can be time-consuming and may not always produce ideal solutions.

The newly developed technique employs machine learning to identify important intermediate steps in the MILP solver, resulting in a significant reduction of time required to unravel potential solutions. By using company-specific data, this approach allows for custom tailoring of the MILP solver. This new technique results in speeding up the MILP solver by 30-70% without sacrificing accuracy.

Lead author Kathy Wu, along with co-lead authors Sirui Li, Wenbin Ouyang, and Max Paulus, highlights the potential of combining machine learning and classical methods to address optimization problems. The research will be presented at the Neural Information Processing Systems Conference. The team hopes to further apply this approach to solve complex MILP problems and interpret the effectiveness of different separation algorithms.

Source: scitechdaily.com

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