Tag Archives: researcher

Cosmos: AI Researcher Claims to Achieve Six Months of Work in Just Hours

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Can AI conduct scientific research?

Tonio Yumui/Getty

AI researchers can work autonomously for extended periods, completing studies in hours that would take humans months. While developers assert that they have made several “new contributions” to science, skepticism remains among some experts.

The platform, referred to as Kosmos, consists of multiple AI agents adept at data analysis and literature review, aiming to generate groundbreaking scientific insights.

“We have dedicated nearly two years to training AI scientists,” states Sam Rodricks, from Edison Scientific, the company behind Kosmos. “The limitation of previous AI scientists has always been the complexity of the concepts they produce.”

Kosmos endeavors to overcome this challenge. Typically, a session can last up to 12 hours; during this time, when a user inputs a scientific dataset, Kosmos examines roughly 1,500 pertinent academic papers while generating and executing 42,000 lines of code to analyze the data. At the end, the AI compiles a summary of the findings and relevant citations, along with a proposal for further analysis that can initiate the next cycle.

After a predetermined number of cycles, the system produces a report featuring scientific conclusions supported by relevant citations, akin to an academic publication. An assessment from a collective of scholars found that 20 of these cycles corresponded to about six months of their research efforts.

Rodriques remarked that the conclusions drawn by the system tend to be fairly accurate. Edison asked individuals with doctoral-level knowledge in biology to evaluate 102 claims made by Kosmos. The research team discovered that 79.4% of these claims were overall substantiated, including 85.5% concerning data analysis and 82.1% of claims referenced in existing literature. Nevertheless, Kosmos struggles to synthesize this information and generate new claims, achieving an accuracy rate of just 57.9% in this area.

Edison asserts that Kosmos has made seven verifiable scientific discoveries, all of which have been confirmed and replicated by independent specialists in the field using external datasets and diverse methodologies. According to the Kosmos team, four of these discoveries are genuinely novel, while the remaining three were previously documented, though in preprints or unpublished studies.

Among the claimed discoveries is a novel method for identifying when cellular pathways falter as Alzheimer’s disease advances. Another finding suggests that individuals with higher levels of a natural antioxidant enzyme known as superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) in their blood may experience less heart scarring.

However, reactions to these claims from the scientific community have varied. The “discovery” related to SOD2 is deemed unremarkable by Fergus Hamilton of the University of Bristol, UK. “That specific causal assertion probably won’t withstand scrutiny as a new finding, and there are methodological flaws inherent in the analysis,” he comments. Professor Rodriques acknowledged that the SOD2 finding had been previously established in mice, but claimed this is the first time it has been recognized at the population level in humans through genomics.

Hamilton pointed out that the data analysis code which the agent attempted to execute malfunctioned, causing Kosmos to overlook potentially essential data while arriving at the same conclusions as existing studies.

“Several critical assumptions were made that were imperative for achieving accurate analysis,” he notes. “The software package fails entirely, yet key elements were ignored.” Additionally, in this instance, the data was so processed beforehand that Kosmos “only managed to accomplish around 10 percent of the task,” he suggests.

Hamilton commends the team behind Kosmos for addressing his queries and concerns raised on social media. “While this presents a substantial step forward conceptually, specific technical critiques of this study remain: [the] work is still far from zero,” he states.

“We’re entirely open to the possibility that some of the findings we present could be incorrect or flawed. This is part and parcel of scientific inquiry,” says Rodricks. “Nevertheless, the fact that it has garnered such intricate criticism highlights the system’s potential.”

Others express admiration for Kosmos’ performance overall. “This highlights the immense potential for AI to aid scientific research, but we must remain cautious about the independent use of AI scientists,” states Ben Glocker from Imperial College London. “Even though this study showcases some remarkable achievements, we still lack understanding of the failure modes.”

“We believe embracing tools like Kosmos and developing others is essential. However, we should not lose sight of the fact that science encompasses more than just a data-centric approach,” mentions Noah Jansiracusa from Bentley University, Massachusetts. “There is profound thought and creativity involved, and it would be unwise to disregard scientific pursuits that are amenable to automation solely because they are suitable for AI.”

Rodricks himself concedes that Kosmos is best utilized as a collaborator, rather than a replacement for researchers. “It is capable of performing many impressive tasks,” he asserts. “It requires thorough review and validation, and it may not always be entirely accurate.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Renowned Chimpanzee Researcher and Animal Advocate Jane Goodall Passes Away at 91

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Jane Goodall, a renowned researcher who studied chimpanzee behavior and social structures, later emerged as a prominent figure in the animal welfare movement, passed away on Wednesday.

At the age of 91, Goodall died of natural causes in California while on a speaking tour, as reported by the Jane Goodall Institute in a statement.

“Dr. Goodall’s contributions as an ethologist transformed scientific understanding, and she was an unwavering advocate for the preservation and rejuvenation of our natural world,” the statement added.

Jane Goodall participated in the TV special “Miss Goodall and The World of Chimpanzees” in 1965.
CBS via Getty Images File

Hailing from the UK, Goodall gained recognition in the 1960s for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees in Tanzania. She meticulously documented their social interactions over several decades.

The foundation noted that she adopted an “unconventional approach” to chimpanzee research, “immersing herself in their environment to experience their intricate societies as neighbors rather than distant observers.”

Goodall’s research revealed that chimpanzees used sticks to fish for termites, challenging the prevailing notion that tool use was exclusive to humans. She also documented the chimps’ communication methods and complex social behaviors, including their meat-eating habits and occasional aggression.

“They are part of Elizabeth Freyman, a primate specialist and postdoctoral researcher at Brown University,” said:

Robert Seyfers, professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania who specialized in primate behavior, remarked that Goodall’s passing signifies “the end of an era.”

“Her thorough and detailed observations have resonated with our entire generation—myself included—and inspired many others interested in this scientific field,” Seyfers stated.

He noted that Goodall was among the first researchers to observe chimpanzees as individual beings with distinct personalities, unlike many of her contemporaries who lacked such observational training.

“Her insights into chimpanzee emotions were groundbreaking,” he conveyed, adding that Goodall was an “authentic chronicler” of animal behavior.

“Her goal was to help people comprehend chimpanzees in all their complexities,” Seyfers shared.

As Goodall’s career evolved, she became aware of the threats posed by habitat destruction and illegal trafficking to chimpanzee survival, leading her to prioritize conservation and animal welfare in her work.

The Jane Goodall Institute, which she founded in 1977, stated, “We entered the forest to study the extraordinary lives of chimpanzees, and she emerged from the forest to advocate for their protection.”

Jane Goodall in Paris during October 2024.
Joel Saaget/AFP via Getty Images

Ingrid Newkirk, the founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, stated that Goodall “played a pivotal role in helping the organization end the confinement of chimpanzees in desolate metal chambers for testing.”

At just 26 years old, Goodall embarked on her first journey to Tanzania to study chimpanzees. She began her career without any formal scientific training. Louis Leakey, a notable Kenyan and British anthropologist, recruited her to document her findings on chimpanzees. Goodall later attained her PhD from Cambridge University.

During an interview on this year’s podcast “Call Her Daddy,” Goodall recounted to host Alex Cooper that her initial expedition was funded through a shoestring budget provided by philanthropists.

With funding for six months, the first four months yielded little success, as primates were too wary for her to observe closely. However, one chimpanzee eventually became accustomed to her presence, leading to her groundbreaking discovery of their use of tools.

“This discovery was exhilarating because, at the time, it was believed in Western science that tool-making was a human-exclusive trait. We defined ourselves as the only tool-using species,” Goodall recollected. “So, when I wrote to my mentor, Louis Leakey, he was thrilled.”

That revelation captured the interest and support of National Geographic, ultimately altering the trajectory of Goodall’s career.

As Goodall rose to prominence, she leveraged her visibility to bolster public interest in animal welfare and scientific exploration. She authored numerous books about her experiences with chimpanzees, including several aimed at children.

Primate specialist Freyman reflected that he dressed as Goodall for Halloween in fourth grade. He later mentioned receiving fan mail from children while interning at the Jane Goodall Institute in Washington, D.C., at the age of 19.

“I became a primatologist because I had a hero I admired,” Freyman, now 29, shared.

Correction (October 1, 2025, 11:38pm ET): Due to an editing error, earlier versions of this article referred to primate specialist Elody Freyman using “he.” Freyman is a woman.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Remains of Researcher Discovered on Antarctic Glacier After 66 Years

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Dennis “Tink” Bell (far right) during a Christmas celebration at Admiralty Bay Station in 1958

D. Bell; Archive REF: AD6/19/X/20/18

The remains of a meteorologist who perished on an Antarctic glacier 66 years ago have been unearthed and returned to England.

At just 25, Dennis “Tink” Bell embarked on a two-year mission to Antarctica in July 1959 to study the climate of the Falkland Islands, which was the predecessor of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

Bell encountered a crevasse but managed to call out for assistance. He secured a rope to his belt and was pulled to safety, although the belt broke, causing him to fall again. This time, he did not call out for help.

His colleague made it back to base, but worsening weather conditions jeopardized further rescue efforts.

Ieuan Hopkins noted that working in Antarctica during the 1950s and 1960s was perilous, and fatalities were tragically common. Many bodies of other BAS staff remain lost today.

“There was an average 1% chance that you wouldn’t return,” remarks Hopkins. “It’s an extremely hostile environment. We’re at risk of losing people.”

Earlier this year, a team from the Arkdowsky Poland Antarctic Station on King George Island discovered numerous bone fragments on the glacier’s surface, having been exposed as they shifted over time.

“It’s a large, dynamic glacier, so things are perpetually moving,” explains Hopkins. “The presence of bone fragments suggests significant forces at play.”

The remains were transferred to the Falkland Islands and subsequently returned to Britain by the Royal Air Force aboard an Antarctic research vessel alongside Sir David Attenborough.

Denise Syndercombe Court at King’s College, London, identified the body through DNA comparisons with samples from his older brother David Bell and younger sister Valerie Kelly, as Bell commented in a statement.

The Polish team also uncovered many personal belongings believed to belong to Bell, including radio equipment, flashlights, ski poles, engraved wristwatches, knives, and pipe stems made of ebonite.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Researcher in Children’s Technology

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Reports indicate that children can easily come across inappropriate content and unsupervised interactions with adults on Roblox, a popular gaming platform, raising concerns among parents about addiction and stranger danger.

Roblox acknowledges the risk of children being exposed to harmful content and “bad actors” on the platform. Efforts are being made to address this issue through collaboration with the industry and government intervention.

Described as the “ultimate virtual universe,” Roblox offers various games and interactive experiences created by both the platform and its users. Despite efforts to improve safety, a significant number of users, particularly those under 13, face potential risks.

While Roblox sympathizes with concerned parents, research has uncovered alarming discrepancies between the platform’s child-friendly image and the actual experiences children have online.

Recent investigations revealed instances where young avatars engaged in inappropriate behavior, including encounters with adults and exposure to suggestive content. These findings underscore the importance of enhanced safety measures.

Young Roblox users customize their avatars. Photo: Philnoble/Reuters

A new tool aims to provide parents with more control over their children’s accounts. However, research indicates that children can still interact with adults and access inappropriate content, highlighting the need for stricter safeguards.

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Researchers discovered instances where child avatars engaged in sexually suggestive behavior and adults used coded language to solicit personal information, exposing vulnerabilities in the platform’s safety measures.

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Roblox acknowledges the presence of malicious individuals online and calls for collaborative efforts to enhance safety across all platforms.

Parents have shared distressing stories of children being groomed by adults and exposed to inappropriate content on Roblox, prompting calls for stricter safety measures.

The research director emphasized the need for accurate monitoring and prevention strategies to protect children online, urging for ongoing scrutiny of platforms like Roblox.

Roblox’s Chief Safety Officer reiterated the company’s commitment to enhancing safety features and protecting all users, especially young individuals, from potential harm.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Researcher working on promising Alzheimer’s drug facing charges of research fraud

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Summary

  • A neuroscientist who helped develop a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease has been indicted on fraud charges.
  • The charges relate to allegations that the scientists fabricated research images and data that they may have used to win grant funding.
  • Manipulation of research images is a growing concern in the scientific community.

A neuroscientist who contributed to the development of a potential Alzheimer’s disease treatment is facing fraud charges after a federal grand jury indictment on Thursday.

The indictment alleges that Wang Huaoyang, a professor of medicine at the City University of New York, engaged in fraudulent activities, including falsifying research images and data to secure grant funding from the National Institutes of Health.

Wang worked with Cassava Sciences, a pharmaceutical company based in Austin, Texas, on the development of simufilam, a drug candidate for Alzheimer’s disease. The indictment states that Wang received around $16 million in grant funding from Cassava for early-stage drug development.

The indictment accuses Wang of fraud against the United States, wire fraud, and making false statements. It claims that Wang manipulated images of Western blots, a laboratory technique used to detect proteins, to support his research and grant applications.

The indictment also suggests that Wang provided false information to scientific journals to support his research on symphyllum, a drug currently in late-stage clinical trials.

Despite the charges, Wang did not respond to requests for comment. His research has faced scrutiny in the past, leading to retractions of multiple studies and an investigation by CUNY.

Cassava Sciences confirmed that Wang was not involved in their latest clinical trials and emphasized that his research focused on early-stage drug development.

The scientific community has expressed growing concerns about research misconduct and the manipulation of data and images. Instances of research misconduct, such as the allegations against Wang, have led to retractions of studies and raised questions about the integrity of scientific research.

CUNY has stated that they will cooperate fully with the federal investigation into Wang’s alleged misconduct until the matter is resolved. The university acknowledges the seriousness of the charges and the impact they may have on the scientific community.

The case highlights the importance of maintaining integrity and transparency in scientific research to ensure the credibility and validity of scientific discoveries.

Retraction Watch has reported on the retraction of several academic papers authored by Wang, further underscoring the need for accountability and ethical practices in scientific research.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

AI Researcher Develops Chatbot Based on Future-Self Concept to Assist in Decision Making

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If spending time on the couch, binging fast food, drinking too much alcohol or not paying into your company pension is ruining your carefully laid plans for life, it might be time to have a conversation with your future self.

With time machines not readily available, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an AI-powered chatbot that simulates a user’s past self and offers observations and valuable wisdom in the hope of encouraging people to think more today about who they want to be tomorrow.

By digitally de-aging profile photos so that younger users appear as wrinkled, grey-haired seniors, the chatbot generates plausible artificial memories and weaves a story about a successful life based on the user’s current aspirations.

“The goal is to encourage long-term changes in thinking and behavior,” says Pat Pataranuthapong, who works on the Future You project at the MIT Media Lab, “which may motivate people to make smarter choices in the present that optimize their long-term well-being and life outcomes.”

In one conversation, an aspiring biology teacher asked a chatbot, a 60-year-old version of herself, about the most rewarding moment in her career so far. The chatbot, responding that she was a retired biology teacher in Boston, recalled a special moment when she turned a struggling student’s grades around. “It was so gratifying to see my student’s face light up with pride and accomplishment,” the chatbot said.

To interact with the chatbot, users are first asked to answer a series of questions about themselves, their friends and family, the past experiences that have shaped them, and the ideal life they envision for themselves in the future. They then upload a portrait image, which the program then digitally ages to create a portrait of them at 60 years old.

The program then feeds information from the user’s answers into a large language model to generate a rich synthetic memory for the simulated older version of itself, ensuring that the chatbot draws on a coherent background story when responding to questions.

The final part of the system is the chatbot itself, powered by OpenAI’s GPT3.5, which introduces itself as a potential older version of the user and can talk about their life experiences.

Pattaranuthapong has had several conversations with his “future self,” but the most memorable was when the chatbot reminded him that his parents won’t be together forever, so he should spend time with them while he still can. “The perspective I gained from that conversation is still influential to me today,” he said.

Users are told that their “future self” is not a prediction, but a potential future self based on the information they provide, and are encouraged to explore different futures by varying their survey answers.

be A preprint scientific paper on the projectA trial of 344 volunteers, which hasn’t been peer-reviewed, found that talking to a chatbot made people feel less anxious and more connected to their future selves. Pattaranthapong said this stronger connection should encourage better life choices, from focusing on specific goals and exercising regularly to eating healthier and saving for the future.

Ivo Vlaev, professor of behavioural science at the University of Warwick, said people often struggle to imagine themselves in the future, but doing so could lead to stronger adherence to education, healthier lifestyles and more careful financial planning.

He called the MIT project a “fascinating application” of behavioral science principles. “It embodies the idea of a nudge, a subtle intervention designed to steer behavior in a beneficial direction by making your future self more salient and relevant to the present,” he said. “Implemented effectively, this could have a profound impact on how people make decisions today with their future well-being in mind.”

“From a practical standpoint, its effectiveness will depend on how well it simulates meaningful, relevant conversations,” he added. “If users perceive the chatbot as authentic and insightful, it can have a significant impact on behavior. But if the interaction feels superficial or quirky, its impact may be limited.”

Source: www.theguardian.com