Tag Archives: projects

Brian Johnson’s Current Projects: What He’s Up to Now

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New Scientist: Discover the latest in science, technology, health, and environmental news from expert journalists.

Feedback is New Scientist A go-to source for individuals keen on the latest developments in science and technology. Share your insights with us via email at feedback@newscientist.com.

Headline Highlights

Crafting great headlines can be challenging. The initial words may seem unusual, only to get even more unexpected as you read on. By the end, you question if you’re consuming reliable news or an experimental novel akin to James Joyce’s works.

For instance, a striking headline appeared in an online music magazine on November 29th in Stereogum:
“A shroom trip with immortal influencers and special guest Mr. Beast, DJed by Grimes.”
Don’t worry if it sounds confusing; I’ll clarify the context shortly.

Starting with Grimes: an artist known for her sci-fi-inspired music, her climate-focused 2020 album is titled Miss Anthropocene, while her debut, Gady Prime, pays homage (albeit with a misspelling) to Frank Herbert’s Dune.

Conversely, Brian Johnson is a tech mogul determined to achieve longevity, engaging in a variety of life-extending efforts. His regimen includes exercise, dietary modifications, and even experimenting with rapamycin, a drug typically prescribed to transplant patients (which he has ceased taking), alongside his bold ambition to upload his consciousness into an AI.

The narrative unfolds as Johnson consumes hallucinogenic mushrooms during a livestream, while undergoing numerous health assessments. Grimes was invited to provide musical entertainment during this session. Although YouTuber Mr. Beast did not participate, other noteworthy figures like Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, and technology journalist Ashlee Vance were involved. If we were to explore the effects of psilocybin, ideally, a trusted companion and qualified therapist would be present. But Johnson clearly had a plan.

Details about the event can be found in a video online, which spans a little over five and a half hours. While feedback should have closely monitored this session, we recognize that unlike Johnson, we acknowledge our mortality and don’t want to spend our time recklessly.

Unexpected Inquiry

This may lead to a recurring segment in your feedback: “Questions You Never Considered.” Our reader Keith Edkins stumbled upon such an inquiry. To those attempting to investigate it, good luck!

Keith referenced a 2014 paper in Folia Parasitologica, known for its focus on parasites. Among them, Toxoplasma gondii, a single-celled organism that infects cats and is prevalent in many humans, might be linked to psychiatric disorders such as intermittent explosive disorder. The paper poses an intriguing question: “Is there a correlation between the prevalence of subclinical toxoplasmosis and the frequency of rhesus-negative patients with national traffic accident rates?”

As Keith noted, “With proper statistical handling, the answer seems to be ‘no.’” But what a question! Can anyone challenge it?

Graphic Anomalies

Descriptive graphics can often perplex. Throughout our extensive journey in science journalism, we’ve often sought clarity in complex figures shared by researchers. From convoluted flowcharts to intricately shaded bar graphs, confusion has been a constant.

However, a recent publication in Scientific Reports caught attention: it depicts a woman receiving a tin of biscuits. As our reader Jim Santo aptly remarked, “This is wild,” and it’s true. Released on November 19th, the study aims to establish an AI-driven system to assist in diagnosing autism spectrum disorders. While feedback doesn’t express particular opinions about the study itself, it has gathered significant interest.

Quickly downloading a copy after spotting discussions about the paper on social media, the primary concern raised was Figure 1, touted as “the overall behavior of the framework depicted as an infographic.” It’s astonishing enough to demand attention.

Centered in this graphic is a woman cradling a small child; intriguingly, her feet seem to be encased in concrete. The child points towards a speech bubble saying “Missing Values and Executive Functions.” To the right, another speech bubble displays “Historic Medical Frimbral and Environmental Features.”

Additional elements include pink blobs resembling deformed kidney beans, symbolizing “7 TOL Llne storee.” Also featuring is a so-called “Factor Fexsectern” and a mysterious spiked bicycle.

As noted in the magazine’s retraction, all of this was produced by AI. As we continued to observe the graphic, growing intrigue stirred within. There’s a mention of “Totalbottl” at its base, but the actual meaning remains elusive. As for the bicycle, perhaps someone was riding it.

Curiously, this Scientific Reports article could claim the title of one of the fastest withdrawals we’ve encountered. Typically, journals may take years to retract flawed studies. On December 3rd, Retraction Watch reported that numerous works attributed to psychologist Hans Eysenck might require retraction due to “questionable data” and other anomalies, including an outlandish assertion suggesting some individuals possess a “cancer-prone personality.” Interestingly, Eysenck passed away in 1997, illustrating the slow pace of rectifying such issues.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

NASA reduces funding by $420 million for climate science, monthly modeling, and other projects

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NASA’s funding cuts have already impacted US research and education programs

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NASA has cancelled contracts and grants worth up to $420 million, following guidance from the Trump administration’s government efficiency (DOGE). The reductions will impact research projects and education programs in the United States, but NASA says it’s perfect for checking exactly which organizations are affected.

After Doge, an independent task force led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, NASA confirmed the amount but refused to specify which programs were cancelled. Casey Drier The Planetary Association, a California-based nonprofit organization, list of a program that has recently lost funds using the agency’s public grant database. NASA has since deleted the database and did not respond to questions about the accuracy of the list.

Much of the cuts on Dreyer’s list coincides with President Donald Trump’s skepticism about climate science and his administration’s active targets regarding his interpretation of the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) program.

Climate-related cancellations include a Massachusetts Institute of Technology project that uses satellite sensors to map the impacts of extreme heat, air pollution and flooding. Another target was a University of Oklahoma study to develop digital twin simulations that predict the impact of flooding on tribal lands.

However, it is unclear why NASA has ended support for other research, such as using bioengineering cells to investigate how spaceflight affects the human body and modelling how lunar dust can contaminate future lunar missions.

NASA spokesman Bethany Stevens said New Scientist The agency is “to work with the Ministry of Government Efficiency initiative to optimize the workforce and resources.” Doge urged agencies across the US government to cut funding or shut down altogether.

But it says that ongoing grants and contract cancellations will fly in the face of a “strict” review process that selected them in the first place as “the most scientifically appropriate proposal.” Michael Batario At Yale University. “Politics cannot and should not define what is scientifically worth studying at the level of individual grants,” says Batario, who is studying the atmosphere of Mars and Titan in preparation for future missions.

“DEI related cuts get me the most out of the way.” Bruce Jacoski He was the lead scientist at NASA’s Maven Mission to Mars at the University of Colorado, Boulder. “These grants are about reaching out to underrepresented groups and making people accessible to training and education. None of them appears to promote people who are less qualified than more qualified.”

For example, NASA cut funding for a conference hosted by the National Association of Black Physicists, a longtime nonprofit that promotes the professional well-being of African-American physicists and physics students. “We were told that the reason for cancelling the contract is to comply with the president’s executive order regarding the DEI,” he said. Stephen Robersonpresident of the National Association of Black Physics. “We would like to appeal this decision and explain further why an annual conference, in which people of all races and academic levels present scientific research, is considered a DEI.”

New Scientist They reached out to researchers and organizations that they thought were affected, but few responded to the National Association of Black Physicists. The San Diego Aerospace Museum, featured on Drayer’s list, said NASA’s funding for educational events appears to be still intact, despite the NASA database indicating changes to the grant’s end date. NASA did not respond to requests to verify the status of this fund.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

22 states sue Trump administration for cutting funding to research projects

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A lawsuit was filed by 22 state attorney generals on Monday. They opposed the Trump administration’s decision to cut research funding by restricting how universities and research institutions are reimbursed for “indirect costs.”

The lawsuit names both the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services as Defendants, stating that the impact of the changes in indirect rates announced on Friday would be “immediate and catastrophic.”

NIH revealed on Friday that it will cap indirect funding for research projects at 15% and significantly decrease the federal government’s funding for research institutions for equipment, maintenance, utilities, support staff, and more. Previously, these rates were negotiated with the agencies. The new policy took effect on Monday for all new and existing NIH grants.

The lawsuit, filed on Monday in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts and led by the attorney generals of Illinois and Michigan, alleges that the NIH violated the Administrative Procedure Act and disregarded the will of Congress, which aimed to prevent changes in indirect cost rates since 2018.

All Democratic state Attorneys General are part of this lawsuit.

The lawsuit demands a temporary restraining order and an injunction to prevent the NIH from implementing the new rules.

Scientists have warned that reducing indirect costs will negatively impact research efforts, hinder basic science research, and potentially impede disease research and new discoveries.

In response to the proposed changes, the University of California System stated that this will significantly reduce personnel and services, affecting education, training, patient care, basic research, and clinical trials.

Supporters of the NIH policy change argue that indirect costs are currently excessive and need to be controlled.

According to a Friday post by x, Katie Miller from the newly formed Government Efficiency Bureau, or Doge, stated: “This will reduce Harvard’s exorbitant costs by $150 million annually.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Biden announces $7 billion in federal funding for solar energy projects in celebration of Earth Day

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WASHINGTON — THE PRESIDENT Joe Biden marked Earth Day by announcing $7 billion in federal grants for residential solar power projects serving more than 900,000 households in low- and moderate-income areas. He also plans to expand the New Deal-style U.S. Climate Change Corps Green Jobs Training Program.

The grants were awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency, with 60 recipients announced on Monday. Government officials expect the projects to reduce emissions by the equivalent of 30 million tons of carbon dioxide and save households $350 million a year.

Biden’s climate announcement is aimed at energizing young voters in his re-election bid. Young people played a key role in defeating then-President Donald Trump in 2020. They have shown interest in Biden’s climate policy and are eager to contribute through programs like the Climate Change Corps.

Solar energy is gaining popularity as a renewable energy source that can reduce dependence on fossil fuels and improve the power grid’s reliability. However, the initial installation cost of solar energy remains a barrier for many Americans.

The grants include 49 state-level grants, six grants for Native American tribes, and five multi-state grants. They can be used for investments in rooftop solar power generation and community solar gardens.

Biden made the announcement at Prince William Forest Park in northern Virginia, about 30 miles southwest of Washington. The park was established in 1936 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of his Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.

Biden’s American Climate Corps, modeled after President Roosevelt’s New Deal, offers about 2,000 positions in 36 states, including partnerships with the Building Trades Union of North America.

The grants are part of the Solar for All program, funded by a $27 billion “green bank” established as part of a broader climate law initiative. The program aims to reduce climate change, air pollution, and support disadvantaged communities most affected by climate change.

EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe expressed excitement about the funds benefiting communities, providing skills, creating jobs, and helping households save on utility bills.

Among the businesses receiving grants are nonprofit projects in West Virginia, solar leasing programs in Mississippi, and solar worker training programs in South Carolina.

Concerns remain about Republican opposition to taxpayer-funded green banks and accountability for how the funds are used. The EPA previously allocated the remaining $20 billion in bank funds to support clean energy projects in various organizations and communities.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

PaintJet creates massive industrial robots for painting large-scale industrial projects

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Construction could be the next major focus for robotics investments. Here in America, our $2 trillion industry employs about 8 million people, the equivalent of one New York City. But even in times of financial boom, these jobs can be difficult to keep filled due to physical demands and other potential hazards.

Industrial painting is ready for automation. After all, large projects involve quite a bit of heavy equipment. As evidenced by the video published by PaintJet, this kind of old technology remains in place, despite some automated twists. Announced in October, the Nashville startup Bravo’s robotic paint sprayer more or less resembles a cherry picker.

CEO Nick Hegeman told TechCrunch that even though it looks like a fairly standard piece of heavy equipment, “we developed 100% of the robotic system. The parts come from industry suppliers. paint Hoses, nozzles and pumps. “We can non-invasively connect to the platform and control both the lift and the robotic system,” he added. “This allows us to expand to our widely established network of equipment rental providers.” can.”

Today, the company announced a $10 million Series A led by Outsiders Fund with participation from Pathbreak Ventures, MetaProp, Builders VC, 53 Stations, and VSC Ventures. This round follows his $3.5 million seed led by Dynamo Ventures and brings his total funding to date to $14.75 million.

Image credits: paint jet

Co-founder and CEO Nick Hegeman has understandably put ongoing staffing issues at the center of the pay increase. “It’s not just about automation. It’s about redefining industry standards, addressing labor shortages, and introducing cost-effective solutions that break the traditional paint mold,” he said in a release. There is. “We are grateful to our investors who support our mission and enable us to expand geographically and into new areas.”

Alongside Bravo’s announcement in October, the company also announced Alpha Shield paint. This is claimed to reduce standard wear and tear from the elements and allow for increased repainting intervals.

Image credits: paint jet

Of course, Paintjet isn’t the only company vying to bring robots into the world of industrial painting. Gray Matter offers painted his arms in a variety of scales. Japanese robotic arm giant Fanuc has also introduced solutions, but so far they cannot reach the heights of the kinds of buildings that Paintjet is working on at Bravo.

The startup targets construction companies as its primary user base. Current client list includes Prologis, Clayco, Layton Construction, and Brinkman Constructors.

Paintjet’s workforce remains small, with 24 full-time employees. A portion of the new funding will be used to increase sales and operations staff. The company also moved its headquarters from Nashville to Virginia “to support our entry into the marine business and to increase our engineering headcount to expand our technology stack and distribute more broadly,” Hageman said. That’s what it means.

Source: techcrunch.com