Utilizing magnetic fields to maneuver satellites could significantly enhance the longevity of space exploration missions and reduce the risk of collisions between spacecraft.
Currently, most space missions and artificial satellites depend on propellant for movement in space, which limits their operational lifetimes due to fuel depletion. An innovative alternative, known as electromagnetic formation flight (EMFF), employs renewable energy sources like solar panels to power onboard electromagnetic coils. These coils generate magnetic fields that can theoretically steer spacecraft through interactions with similar fields from adjacent satellites.
However, researchers have faced challenges with EMFF due to a phenomenon called electromagnetic coupling. The magnetic field from one satellite affects not just nearby satellites but all satellites in proximity, complicating coordinated movement among multiple objects.
A research team at the University of Kentucky has proposed a promising solution through a method called alternating magnetic field forcing (AMFF).
This technique enables two satellites to communicate and control each other’s trajectories without disrupting a third satellite. This is achieved by utilizing distinct interaction frequencies, allowing two satellites to coordinate on one frequency while maintaining communication with others on different frequencies.
The AMFF concept has been successfully tested on Earth instead of in space. The three satellites were positioned on specialized linear rails employing high-pressure air to create a low-friction environment. With the integrated laser ranging module, the satellites achieved precise travel distances and effective interactions as defined by the researchers.
The project team did not respond to interview requests. However, Alvar Saenz Otero, a researcher at the University of Washington, noted that this paper represents a significant advancement in a long-standing research area. “The complexity of a formation flight system increases significantly when transitioning from two to three satellites,” he explains.
Yet, Otero expresses skepticism about the immediate application of this technology for low-Earth orbit satellites, such as massive constellations like Starlink. “Our work on EMFF has primarily focused on deep space operations,” he adds.
Earth’s atmosphere can impact the frequencies utilized for EMFF or AMFF, introducing interference that complicates satellite control, he notes.
While it is currently feasible for three units to fly together and utilize magnetic fields for navigation, scaling this approach to manage thousands of satellites poses a formidable challenge. “This is not applicable at the constellation level,” remarks Ray Sedwick from the University of Maryland.
“Employing superconducting magnetic coils significantly extends the operational range of EMFF, but numerous technical challenges remain,” Sedwick explains, indicating that large-scale magnetic motion might still be on the horizon.
IThe T image is among the most chilling representations of the Holocaust. A Nazi soldier with glasses points a gun at the head of a resigned man in a suit, kneeling before a pit filled with corpses, surrounded by German troops.
Photos from present-day Ukraine have long been incorrectly associated with the last Jew of Vinica, remaining cloaked in mystery for decades.
Jürgen Matthäus, a German historian based in the U.S., has meticulously pieced together this puzzle for years. With the aid of artificial intelligence, he believes he has successfully identified the perpetrator.
His findings are now published in the esteemed Zeitschrift für geschichtswissenschaft (Journal of Historical Studies), detailing a massacre conducted by the SS on July 28, 1941, likely in the afternoon, at the Berdychiv fortress.
For centuries, Berdychiv has been a vibrant center of Jewish life, located 150 km southwest of Kyiv and about 90 km north of what is now Vinnizzia in English.
One of several mobile units deployed in the newly occupied Soviet Union, the Einsatzgruppe C Commando, was tasked with eliminating “Jews and Partisans” just days before Adolf Hitler’s visit.
Among those involved was Jacobs Onnen, a teacher of French and English, born in the village of Tichelwarf, Germany, near the Dutch border in 1906.
Matthäus described the “incremental process” involving traditional excavations of dusty archives, fortuitous discoveries, peer consultations, and the innovative contributions of volunteers from the open-source journalism group BellingCat.
“This match has a remarkably high confidence level based on the algorithm’s outputs, according to experts,” Matthäus stated.
A preliminary investigation released last year uncovered critical details about the dates, locations, and units involved in the mass shooting, leading to media coverage in Germany.
“The rise of digital tools in the humanities is remarkable, yet most are focused on processing mass data rather than qualitative analysis,” Matthäus commented, reflecting on the potential for AI in his field. Photo: Metropole
Readers have stepped forward, suggesting that communications from Onnen’s family era indicate the shooter could be Jacobs Onnen, his wife’s uncle.
Letters from Onnen from the Eastern Front were destroyed by relatives in the 1990s, but they retained his photographs, which BellingCat volunteers can utilize for AI image analysis.
“Experts explain that achieving a match of 98 or 99.9% in historic photographs is challenging,” said Matthäus. “This often results in forensic discussions.”
Nevertheless, his strong likeness combined with circumstantial evidence provides sufficient credibility for public consideration.
“The growth of digital tools in the humanities is substantial, typically for mass data handling rather than in-depth analysis,” he remarked regarding AI’s application in research.
“It’s clearly not a magic solution; it’s just one of many tools, and human elements remain critical.”
Onnen, who aligned with the Nazi Party prior to Hitler’s ascension in 1933, was raised in an educated family and was fond of “travel and study” in his youth, Matthäus noted.
“Then his trajectory moves eastward, and here he stands,” he added. “Understanding his motivation is one of the toughest questions, as it raises emotional considerations about his posing and self-representation in that context.”
Onnen never advanced beyond a lower rank and was killed in action in August 1943.
“Being involved in such murders is undeniable, and it doesn’t earn you any merits when assigned to these execution units,” Matthäus remarked.
He expressed regret that a letter possibly revealing Onnen’s ideological stance was lost from the front. Relatives who recalled reading the letters described them as “mediocre.”
Until this spring, Matthäus served as the director of research at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, where he has been active since 1994.
His latest work, *Gerahmte Gewalt* (Framed Violence), explores photo albums curated by Germans on the Eastern Front during World War II.
He noted that it is “highly likely” that the photograph depicting the Berdychiv genocide was taken by fellow soldiers, who often viewed such snapshots as “trophies” of civilian carnage.
Of the estimated 20,000 Jews in Berdychiv at the time of the German invasion in 1941, only 15 remained by early 1944, as reported by Del Spiegel in relation to the new study.
“These extensive executions persisted until the final day of German dominance in the East,” Matthäus observed.
“I believe this image should hold as much significance as the image of Auschwitz’s Gate, as it illustrates the tangible confrontation between the executioner and the victim.”
Jacobs Onnen, who enrolled in the Nazi Party prior to Hitler’s rise in 1933, hailed from a well-educated background. Photo: Metropole
He emphasized that comprehensive visual and written accounts circulated by German soldiers dismantle the myth of the civilian populace being unaware of the genocide perpetuated in their name.
Matthäus’s project also involves uncovering the identity of the victim in the photograph of Berdychiv. He collaborates with his Ukrainian colleague Andrii Mahaletskyi, utilizing Soviet-era records from the local community.
AI may also assist in this investigative endeavor, especially if equivalent images of men in suits can be identified.
He recognized the complexity of the mission, pointing out that while names of deported individuals from Western Europe were meticulously documented, the identities of most victims exterminated in the east remained unknown for over 80 years.
“The occupied Soviet Union witnessed over a million casualties,” he stated. “The majority remain anonymous, as intended by the perpetrators.”
Officials will employ artificial intelligence to assist in estimating the age of asylum seekers who claim to be minors.
Immigration Minister Angela Eagle stated on Tuesday that the government will pilot technology designed to assess a person’s age based on facial characteristics.
This initiative is the latest effort aimed at helping the Labor Minister leverage AI to address public service issues without incurring significant expenses.
The announcement coincided with the public release of a report by David Bolt, the Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration. A crucial report indicated efforts to estimate the age of new arrivals.
Eagle mentioned in a formal statement to Parliament: “We believe the most economically feasible approach is likely to involve estimating age based on facial analysis. This technology can provide age estimates with known accuracy for individuals whose age is disputed or uncertain, drawing from millions of verifiable images.”
“In cases where it’s ambiguous whether the individual undergoing age assessment is over 18 or not claiming to be a minor, facial age estimation offers a potentially swift and straightforward method to validate judgments against the technology’s estimates.”
Eagle is launching a pilot program to evaluate the technology, aiming for its integration into official age verification processes by next year.
John Lewis announced earlier this year that it will be the first UK retailer to facilitate online knife sales using facial age estimation technology.
The Home Office has previously utilized AI in other sectors, such as identifying fraudulent marriages. However, this tool has faced criticism for disproportionately targeting specific nationalities.
Although there are concerns that AI tools may intensify biases in governmental decision-making, the minister is exploring additional applications. Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle announced a partnership with OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, to investigate AI deployment in areas like justice, safety, and education.
Bolt expressed that the mental health of young asylum seekers has deteriorated due to failings in the age verification system, especially in Dover, where the influx of small boats is processed.
“Many concerns raised over the past decade regarding policy and practices remain unresolved,” Bolt cautioned, emphasizing that the challenging conditions at the Dover processing facility could hinder accurate age assessments.
He added: “I have heard accounts of young individuals who felt distrustful and disheartened in their encounters with Home Office officials, where hope has faded and their mental well-being is suffering.”
His remarks echo a report from the Refugee Council, indicating that at least 1,300 children have been mistakenly identified as adults over an 18-month period.
Last month, scholars from the London School of Economics and the University of Bedfordshire suggested that the Home Office should be stripped of its authority to make decisions regarding lonely asylum seekers.
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In this study, published this month in Current Biology, marine researchers reveal evidence of the widespread creation and utilization of grooming tools among the killer whale (Orcinus orca ater) population. I reside in the Salish Sea, part of the Pacific Ocean between British Columbia and Washington.
Arochelpin, a killer whale from Southern residents (Orcinus orca ater). Image credit: Weiss et al., doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.021.
“We discovered that southern resident killer whales frequently utilize bull kelp during social interactions, seemingly as a tool for mutual grooming.”
“It was incredibly thrilling to observe not only the tool-making behavior of whales, but also the application of these objects in manners not previously documented in marine mammals.”
Dr. Weiss and his team identified this surprising behavior while conducting aerial observations of the southern resident killer whales, a population dwindling to fewer than 80 individuals in the Pacific Northwest.
Since 2018, they have been monitoring these whales to gain insights into their foraging and social habits.
“While other killer whale populations exist across the globe, the southern residents hold unique genetic, ecological, and cultural distinctions,” Dr. Weiss explained.
Using high-resolution video captured from aircraft, researchers discovered that the whales fashioned tools by breaking the edges of the kelp’s stems.
Subsequently, they applied the pieces of kelp to their companions and rolled it between their bodies for extended durations.
This behavior was noted among whales from all social groups, irrespective of gender or age.
They observed that whales were more inclined to groom closely-related companions or older partners.
Furthermore, there was some evidence suggesting that whales with more molting or damaged skin were more likely to engage in grooming, indicating potential hygienic benefits.
“What stands out is that despite this evidently common activity, it has only recently come to light, with drones frequently monitoring these whales for nearly 50 years,” said Dr. Weiss.
“This exemplifies not only the strength of new observational methods but also the many aspects of these creatures we have yet to uncover.”
“Although the whale population has been formally studied for five decades, it continues to yield significant new discoveries,” noted Rachel John, a student at the University of Exeter.
“Previous aerial footage lacked the quality needed to recognize ‘Allokelping’ (i.e., using kelp on another whale), but the recent video captures this behavior in remarkable detail.”
It is still uncertain whether this grooming behavior is exclusive to this population or if it is more commonly observed among other whale communities and species.
Regardless, this finding opens new pathways for understanding tool use in marine mammals and highlights the broader implications of such behaviors.
“We know tactile interactions are crucial,” remarked Professor Darren Croft, a researcher at the University of Exeter and the executive director of the Whale Research Center.
“In primates, including humans, these interactions can alleviate stress and strengthen social bonds.”
“Killer whales frequently make contact with other group members — touching their own bodies and fins — but employing kelp in this manner may enhance these experiences.”
“This behavior might also be vital for skin health. Whales and dolphins utilize various strategies to shed dead skin, and this could serve as an additional adaptation for that purpose.”
“Brown algae like bull kelp may possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that could offer extra benefits to the whales.”
“We are currently conducting further research to validate these initial findings and to investigate the social and skin health advantages of this behavior.”
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Michael N. Weiss et al. 2025. Manufacturing and use of similar tools by wild killer whales. Current Biology 35 (12): R599-R600; doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.021
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is recognized as one of the more aggressive and challenging breast cancers to treat. Lacking the three standard hormonal markers associated with estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2, this absence complicates the selection of effective treatment strategies for healthcare providers.
Researchers characterize TNBC as a collection of various diseases with distinct molecular characteristics that impact how the cancer manifests and its response to treatments. They utilize specific genes and gene products to categorize TNBC types. It is important to note that there are overlaps in the current classifications, which might be explained by the presence and levels of particular chemical molecules on the DNA. These molecules play a role in regulating whether genes are activated or deactivated in cells through processes known as DNA methylation.
In this study, researchers from Sweden explored how the distribution and patterns of DNA methylation delineate different forms of TNBC, influencing tumor behavior and interactions with the body’s immune system and its treatment responses. They analyzed 235 tumor samples from various patients in Sweden, ensuring that the data was refined to focus solely on cancerous cells rather than healthy tissue.
Employing a statistical technique known as Non-negative matrix factorization, they identified two primary categories of TNBC based on DNA methylation patterns: basal and nonbasal groups. This categorization aligns with previous classifications grounded in how cells interpret gene functions, termed gene expression. The basal group comprised tumors that were typically more active in immune responses and had a higher incidence of mutations linked to DNA repair issues, notably involving the common BRCA1 gene. Conversely, although the nonbasal group lacked hormone receptors, they exhibited increased activity in genes that influence hormonal responses.
Utilizing statistical assessments, the researchers subdivided each major group into smaller subtypes. Within the basal tumors, they identified three subgroups, referred to as basal1, basal2, and basal3, characterized by varying levels of immune cell activity and gene expression profiles. One specific subgroup, Basal3, demonstrated elevated expression of proteins that aid tumors in evading the immune system. The researchers found that specific DNA methylation patterns could activate or deactivate these proteins, indicating that patients with basal tumors might benefit from existing cancer treatments targeting this protein. The Basal2 subgroup expressed genes that inhibit immune activity, while the Basal1 subgroup displayed no significant immune-related behavior.
In the nonbasal category, researchers distinguished two subtypes: nonbasal1 and nonbasal2. Both of these subgroups were more prevalent among older patients and exhibited lower survival rates compared to the basal subgroup. The Nonbasal2 group encompassed tumors that influenced hormonal activity and responses to fatty treatments, whereas the Nonbasal1 group experienced more frequent disruptions in genes associated with tumor suppression.
Across all groups, researchers identified numerous genes whose methylation could modulate tumor growth and responses to the surrounding environment. To validate their findings in a broader context, they sourced independent tumor datasets from global databases and conducted similar classification analyses. They confirmed that the identified methylation subtypes appeared in other TNBC samples and correlated methylation patterns with tumor defense mechanisms, pinpointing strategies TNBC tumors may utilize to evade the immune system.
The researchers also acknowledged several limitations of their study. Their focus on DNA methylation represents just one of many chemical modifications that can influence TNBC behavior. Some of the independent datasets utilized originated from general breast cancer studies and were not exclusively focused on TNBC. Additionally, a significant portion of the data came from Western and Northern European populations, which may limit the applicability of the findings to individuals from other ethnicities. They emphasized the necessity for larger and more diverse datasets to gain a comprehensive understanding of TNBC subtypes.
In conclusion, the researchers posited that examining DNA methylation in patient samples could effectively categorize TNBC into meaningful subtypes, each with unique biological features, immune environments, and potential treatment responses. They recommended that future studies explore the origins of epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, and how these alterations contribute to variations in TNBC subtypes.
A recent study conducted by physicists at the University of Oxford, Johns Hopkins, and the Institute of Astrophysics in Paris reveals a natural process involving a gravitational particle charger that utilizes free-falling particles from infinity, matter collisions from the most stable circular orbit of rotating black holes, and a gravitational particle charger that repeatedly cycles mass energy—excluding heavy particles. In essence, this describes the Super Collider.
The artist’s concept depicts an ultra-high massive black hole in the heart of the Milky Way galaxy known as Sagittarius A*. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/RALF CRAWFORD, STSCI.
Particle corridors accelerate protons and other subatomic particles towards one another at nearly the speed of light, revealing the fundamental properties of matter.
A subtle energy flash occurs upon collision, with fragments potentially unveiling previously unknown particles that may serve as candidates for dark matter—a crucial, yet elusive, component of the universe that remains undetected by scientists.
Facilities like the Large Hadron Collider also contribute to advancements in areas such as the internet, cancer therapy, and high-performance computing.
“One of the great aspirations for a particle collider like the Large Hadron Collider is to produce dark matter particles, though we have yet to find any evidence,” commented Professor Joseph Silk, an astrophysicist from Johns Hopkins University and Oxford University.
“This is why there’s ongoing dialogue about the necessity of constructing a much more powerful version for the next generation of Super Collider.”
“However, we’ve been waiting for 40 years to invest $30 billion in building this Super Collider, allowing nature to give us a glimpse into the future with supermassive black holes.”
A black hole can rotate around its axis like a planet but possesses significantly greater strength due to its intense gravitational field.
Increasingly, scientists are discovering that massive black holes rapidly spinning at the center of galaxies release enormous explosions of plasma, potentially due to jets transporting energy from the spin and surrounding accretion disks.
These phenomena can yield similar results to those produced by engineered Super Colliders.
“If ultra-high energy black holes can generate these particles through high-energy proton collisions, we could receive signals on Earth. Some high-energy particles pass through the detectors rapidly,” Professor Silk explained.
“This indicates a new particle collider effect within one of the universe’s most mysterious entities, achieving energies unattainable by any accelerator on Earth.”
“We may observe something with a unique signature believed to indicate the presence of dark matter. While this is somewhat speculative, it remains a possibility.”
New research indicates that gas falling into a black hole can harness energy from its spin, resulting in more violent behavior than previously thought.
Near rapidly spinning black holes, these particles can collide in a coordinated manner.
While not identical, this process resembles the collisions created using strong magnetic fields, where particles are accelerated in a circular high-energy particle corridor.
“Some particles from these collisions are swallowed by the black hole and vanish forever,” stated Professor Silk.
“However, due to their energy and momentum, some particles emerge, achieving unprecedented high energies.”
“We have recognized the immense energy of these particle beams, rivaling what can be produced in a Super Collider.”
“Determining the limits of this energy is challenging, but these phenomena are certainly aligned with the energy levels of the latest Super Colliders we plan to construct, providing complementary results.”
To detect such high-energy particles, scientists can utilize observatories that are already monitoring supernovae, massive black hole eruptions, and other cosmic occurrences.
These include detectors like the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the Kilometer Cube Neutrino Telescope in Antarctica.
The difference between a Super Collider and a black hole is their vast distances from one another. Nevertheless, these particles still reach us.
The team’s paper was published this week in the journal Physical Review Letters.
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Andrew Mamalie and Joseph Silk. 2025. Black Hole Super Collider. Phys. Rev. Lett. 134, 221401; doi:10.1103/physrevlett.134.221401
In February, Ella Stapleton, a senior at Northeastern University, was going over her notes from an organizational behavior class when she stumbled upon something unusual. Was that a ChatGPT question from her professor?
Within a document created by her business professor for a leadership model lesson, she noticed instructions to chat “Expand all areas. More in depth and concrete.” Following these instructions was a list of leadership traits, both positive and negative, complete with definitions and bullet points.
Stapleton texted a classmate.
“Did you see the notes he uploaded to Canvas?” she asked, referring to the university’s software for course materials. “He created it using ChatGPT.”
“OMG STOP,” her classmate responded. “What’s going on?”
Curious, Stapleton began to investigate. She went through the professor’s slides and discovered more signs of AI involvement: inconsistencies in the text, skewed images, and glaring mistakes.
She was frustrated. Given the school’s tuition and reputation, she expected a high-quality education. This course was crucial for her business major. The syllabus clearly prohibited “academic fraudulent activities,” including the misuse of AI and chatbots.
“He tells us not to use it, yet he uses it himself,” she remarked.
Stapleton lodged a formal complaint with Northeastern’s business school, citing the inappropriate use of AI and other concerns about teaching methods, demanding a refund of the tuition for that class, which was over $8,000—about a quarter of her semester’s total.
When ChatGPT launched in late 2022, it created a whirlwind of concern across educational institutions It’s incredibly easy. Students tasked with writing essays could easily let the tool handle it in mere seconds. Some institutions banned it, while others introduced AI detection services, despite concerns about their accuracy.
However, the tide has turned. Nowadays, students are scrutinizing professors for their heavy reliance on AI, voicing complaints on platforms that analyze course content, using terms like “ChatGPT is” essential” and “algorithmic.” They call out hypocrisy and make financial arguments, insisting they deserve instruction from humans—not algorithms they can access for free.
On the other side, professors have claimed they use AI chatbots as a means to enhance education. An instructor interviewed by The New York Times stated that the chatbot streamlined their workload and acted as an automated teaching assistant.
The number of educators using these tools is on the rise. In a National Survey conducted last year, 18% of over 1,800 higher education instructors identified as frequent users of generative AI tools. This year’s follow-up surveys have nearly doubled that figure, according to Tyton Partners, the consultancy behind the study. AI companies are eager to facilitate this shift, with startups like OpenAI and Anthropic recently releasing enterprise versions of chatbots designed specifically for educational institutions.
(The Times is suing OpenAI for copyright infringement, as the company allegedly used news content without permission.)
Generative AI is clearly here to stay, yet universities are grappling with adapting to evolving standards. Professors are navigating this learning curve and, like Stapleton’s instructor, often misinterpret the risks of technology and student negligence.
Make a grade
Last fall, 22-year-old Marie submitted a three-page essay for her online anthropology course at Southern New Hampshire University. Upon checking her grades on the school’s platform, she was pleased to see an A. However, in the comments, her professor made multiple references to using ChatGPT, which included a grading rubric meant for chatbots and a request for “great feedback” for Marie.
“To me, it felt like the professor didn’t even read my work,” Marie shared, asking to remain anonymous. She noted that the temptation to lean on AI in academia was like having a “third job” for many instructors managing numerous students.
Marie confronted her professor during a Zoom meeting about this issue. The professor claimed that they had read her essays but used ChatGPT as an approved guide.
Robert McAuslan, Vice President of AI at Southern New Hampshire, expressed that schools should embrace AI’s potential to revolutionize education, emphasizing guidelines for faculty and students to “ensure this technology enhances creativity rather than replaces it.” A do’s and don’ts were recommended to encourage authentic, human-focused feedback among teachers utilizing tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly.
“These tools should not replace the work,” Dr. McAuslan stated. “Instead, they should enhance an already established process.”
After encountering a second professor who also appeared to provide AI-generated feedback, Marie opted to transfer to another university.
Paul Schoblin, an English professor at Ohio University in Athens, empathized with her frustration. “I’m not a huge fan of that,” Dr. Schoblin remarked after hearing about Marie’s experience. He also holds a position as an AI Faculty Fellow, tasked with developing effective strategies to integrate AI in teaching and learning.
“The real value you add as an educator comes from the feedback you provide to your students,” he noted. “It’s the personal connection we foster with our students, as they are directly impacted by our words.“
Though advocating for the responsible integration of AI in education, Dr. Schoblin asserted that it shouldn’t merely simplify instructors’ lives. Students must learn to utilize technology ethically and responsibly. “If mistakes happen, the repercussions could lead to job loss,” he warned.
He cited a recent incident where a Vanderbilt University School of Education official responded to a mass shooting at another university. An email sent to students emphasized community bonds. However, a sentence disclosed that ChatGPT was used to compose it. Students criticized the outsourcing of empathy, prompting involved parties to temporarily resign.
However, not all situations are straightforward. Dr. Schoblin remarked that establishing reasonable rules is challenging, as acceptable AI usage can differ based on the subject. His department’s Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment has instead emphasized principles regarding the integration of AI, specifically eschewing a “one-size-fits-all” algorithm.
The Times reached out to numerous professors whose students had noted AI usage in online reviews. Some instructors admitted to using ChatGPT to create quizzes for computer science programming assignments, even as students reported that these quizzes didn’t always make sense. They also used it for organizing feedback or to make it more positive. As experts in their fields, they noted instances of AI “hallucinations,” where false information was generated.
There was no consensus among them on what practices were acceptable. Some educators utilized ChatGPT to assist students in reflecting on their work, while others denounced such practices. Some stressed the importance of maintaining transparency with students regarding generative AI use, while others opted to conceal their usage due to student wariness about technology.
Nevertheless, most felt that Stapleton’s experience at Northeastern—where her professor appeared to use AI for generating class notes and slides—was unjustifiable. That was Dr. Schoblin’s view, provided the professor edited the AI outputs to fit his expertise. He likened it to the longstanding practice in academia of utilizing content from third-party publishers, such as lesson plans and case studies.
Professors using AI for slide generation are considered “some sort of monsters.” “It’s absurd to me,” he remarked.
Steroid calculator
Christopher Kwaramba, a business professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, referred to ChatGPT as a time-saving partner. He mentioned that lesson plans that once required days to create could now be completed in mere hours. He employs it to generate datasets for fictional retail chains used in exercises designed to help students grasp various statistical concepts.
“I see it as the age of steroid calculators,” Dr. Kwaramba stated.
Dr. Kwaramba noted that support hours for students are increasing.
Conversely, other professors, such as Harvard’s David Malan, reported that AI diminished student attendance during office hours. Dr. Malan, a computer science professor, integrated a custom AI chatbot into his popular introductory programming course, allowing hundreds of students access for assistance with coding assignments.
Dr. Malan had to refine his approach to ensure that chatbots only offer guidance, not complete answers. Most of the 500 students surveyed in 2023 found the resource beneficial, particularly in its inaugural year.
By freeing up common inquiries about referral materials during office hours, Dr. Malan and his teaching assistant can now focus on meaningful interactions with students, like weekly lunches and hackathons. “These are more memorable moments and experiences,” Dr. Malan reflected.
Katy Pearce, a communications professor at the University of Washington, developed a tailored AI chatbot trained on prior assignments she assessed, enabling students to receive feedback on their writing mimicking her style at any hour, day or night. This is particularly advantageous for those hesitant to seek help.
“Can we foresee a future where many graduate teaching assistants might be replaced by AI?” she pondered. “Yes, absolutely.”
What implications would this have on the future pipeline for professors emerging from the Teaching Assistant ranks?
“That will undoubtedly pose a challenge,” Dr. Pearce concluded.
The moment you are taught
After filing her complaint with Northeastern, Stapleton participated in several meetings with business school officials. In May, the day after graduation, she learned that her tuition reimbursement wouldn’t be granted.
Her professor, Rick Arrowwood, expressed regret about the incident. Dr. Arrowwood, an adjunct with nearly two decades of teaching experience, spoke about using class materials, claiming that AI tools provided a “fresh perspective” on ChatGPT, search engine confusion, and presentation generators labeled Gamma. Initially, he mentioned that the outputs appeared impressive.
“In hindsight, I wish I had paid closer attention,” he commented.
While he shared materials online with students, he clarified that he had not used them during class sessions, only recognizing the errors when school officials inquired about them.
This awkward episode prompted him to understand that faculty members must be more cautious with AI and be transparent with students about its usage. Northeastern recently established an official AI policy that mandates attribution every time an AI system is employed and requires a review of output for “accuracy and quality.” A Northeastern spokesperson stated that the institution aims to “embrace the use of artificial intelligence to enhance all facets of education, research, and operations.”
“I cover everything,” Dr. Arrowwood asserted. “If my experience can serve as a learning opportunity for others, then that’s my happy place.”
A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and Georgia Tech has uncovered that flamingos are not mere passive filter feeders; instead, they are active predators that employ flow-guided traps to catch nimble invertebrates.
Flamingos feed by dragging their flattened beaks forward along the shallow lake bottom. To enhance feeding efficiency, they stomp their feet to stir up the bottom, create swirling vortices with their heads, and repeatedly slap their beaks to catch food like brine shrimp. Image credit: aztli ortega.
“Flamingos are predators actively seeking out moving animals underwater. The challenge they face is how to concentrate these prey items to attract and capture them.”
“Consider how spiders spin webs to catch insects. Flamingos utilize vortices to trap creatures such as brine shrimp.”
Utilizing high-speed cameras and particle image velocity measurements, the researchers documented and analyzed feeding behaviors, employing flow visualization techniques involving fine food particles and oxygen bubbles.
They discovered that the birds use their floppy, swaying feet to disturb the bottom sediment and propel themselves forward in a swirling motion. Additionally, the flamingos convulse their heads upward like plungers while creating mini-tornados to draw food from the water’s surface.
As the birds keep their heads inverted in a watery vortex, their angled beaks create small vortices that direct sediment and food into their mouths, enhancing their feeding efficiency.
The unique structure of the flamingo’s beak, with its flattened shape and angled front, enables a technique known as skimming. This involves the bird extending its long, S-shaped neck to push its head forward while rapidly beating its beak, generating a sheet-like vortex (von Karman vortex) that captures prey.
“These complex active feeding behaviors challenge the long-held belief that flamingos are merely passive filter feeders,” noted Dr. Ortega Zimenez.
“While they may appear to be filtering only passive particles, these birds are actively preying on moving organisms.”
The authors also applied computational fluid dynamics to simulate the 3D flow around the beak and feet of the flamingos.
They confirmed that the vortices indeed concentrate particles, similar to experiments that used a 3D printhead with aggressively swimming shrimp and passively floating brine shrimp eggs.
“We observed that when we placed 3D printed models in the water to replicate skimming, they generated symmetrical vortices along the sides of the beak, cycling particles in the water effectively,” Dr. Ortega Zimenez shared.
The team’s findings will be published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Victor M. Ortega Zimenez et al. 2025. Flamingos use their L-shaped beak and morphing legs to induce vortex traps for prey capture. pnas 122 (21): E2503495122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2503495122
New research has revealed that wild chimpanzees are capable of self-medicating their wounds with plants, assisting injured companions, and freeing others from traps set by human hunters.
This behavior, documented in a study published in the journal Frontiers of Evolution and Ecology on Wednesday, offers new insights into the evolutionary roots of human medicine.
Over approximately eight months, the study combined video footage and photographs with historical data, revealing that chimpanzees engage in actions like biting plants, applying leaves to wounds as makeshift bandages, and grooming wounds of fellow animals. Observers noted a chimpanzee pressing a leaf against its wound for treatment.
The findings contribute to ongoing discussions about whether altruistic behaviors are exclusive to humans, as they show that even chimpanzees without familial ties can exhibit care toward one another.
Wild chimpanzees in Uganda grooming. Elodie Freymann
“Humans often pride themselves on being unique in their capacity for empathy and altruism,” says Elodie Freyman, a postdoctoral researcher at Oxford University and the study’s lead author. “These animals demonstrate that they can identify others in need and respond appropriately.”
Chimpanzees and bonobos, the closest genetic relatives to humans, bolster the argument that healthcare concepts may have existed millions of years prior to the emergence of Homo sapiens.
“Our shared ancestors likely exhibited these caring behaviors,” Freyman stated.
An increasing number of studies indicates that various animal species can self-medicate with differing levels of sophistication. For instance, elephants have been observed to consume specific leaves for medicinal purposes, hinting that animals might be addressing health issues like digestion.
As research on animal medicinal behaviors expands, experts believe it provides crucial insights into our own evolutionary past.
“Evidence of healthcare behaviors exists among our ancestors, dating back to pre-Neanderthals, but the evolutionary pathways of such explorative behaviors remain unclear,” remarked Alessandra Mascaro, a primate researcher and doctoral candidate at the University of Osnabrueck in Germany. “We are only beginning to uncover these complexities.”
In 2022, Mascaro published findings illustrating that Gabonian chimpanzees applied insects to their own wounds and anticipates that further observations will clarify how these behaviors evolved.
Studying chimpanzee self-medication poses challenges due to the rarity of such behaviors.
Freyman dedicated two months to researching chimpanzees in Budongo Forest, Uganda, where observing these animals can be both physically taxing and demanding.
Wild chimpanzees in Uganda grooming. Elodie Freymann
“Some days involve sitting at the base of a tree for hours, while others might have you stuck in a muddy hole while trying to observe them. The day’s tasks depend heavily on the group’s activities.
During her fieldwork, Freyman noted numerous instances of care behaviors among chimpanzees. She also discovered historical observational records from previous studies that revealed behaviors not documented until now, indicating a pattern of medicinal practices dating back to the 1990s.
“Collating these observations paints a remarkable picture of chimpanzee care,” she remarked.
From her findings and historical records, Freyman documented 41 instances of chimpanzee wound care, including four cases involving unrelated individuals.
“These results suggest that prosocial behaviors among nonkin may be more widespread than previously recognized,” noted Isabel Laumer, a cognitive biologist at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Germany, who was not part of this study. “Further research is essential.”
Mascaro, who has studied chimpanzee healthcare behaviors in Gabon, acknowledged that the new findings from Uganda show similar medicinal behaviors across different populations of chimpanzees.
“Prior to this, we had limited knowledge about chimpanzees in that part of Africa,” Mascaro stated.
The phenomenon of self-medication has also been observed in other primates. Last year, Laumer documented that Indonesian orangutans apply leaves to facial wounds as a remedy for injuries sustained during conflicts. The plants they utilize often possess pain-relieving properties recognized by humans.
This body of research broadly indicates that primates are capable of identifying and utilizing plants with medicinal qualities.
“Chimpanzees consider forests not only as a food source but also as a repository for medicinal resources,” Freyman emphasized, underscoring the importance of preserving forest ecosystems.
She suggested that humans may have learned about medicinal plants from these primates, and that pharmaceutical companies could benefit from studying animal behavior to discover valuable medical compounds in the future.
“If you wish to refine the knowledge of these remarkable medicinal resources, observing and learning from animals is an effective, ethical, and responsible approach,” Freyman concluded.
Recent research indicates that wild chimpanzees have established a more nuanced communication system than previously thought, employing various mechanisms that merge vocalizations to convey new meanings.
These aspects of chimpanzee communication are detailed in studies published in Friday Journal Science Advances, resembling some basic elements of human language.
Researchers examined recordings from three groups of chimpanzees residing along ivory shores, revealing that they can combine vocalizations much like humans use idioms and rearrange words to form new phrases.
This study marks the first documentation of such complexity in non-human communication systems, suggesting that chimpanzees’ capabilities reflect an evolutionary turning point between basic animal communication and human language.
“The ability to combine sounds to create new meanings is a hallmark of human language,” stated Catherine Crockford, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and co-director of the Tai Chimpanzee project. “It is crucial to explore whether similar capabilities exist in our closest living relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos.”
Another study published last month provided similar evidence indicating that bonobos can also combine calls to form phrases. Together, these studies imply that both species are evolving fundamental components of human language.
Bonobos and chimpanzees are the species most closely linked to humans in evolutionary history, suggesting all three may have derived from a common ancestor with this capability.
“Our findings indicate a highly generative vocal communication system that is unmatched in the animal kingdom. This aligns with recent discoveries about bonobos and implies that complex combinatorial abilities may have already existed in a common human ancestor.”
Researchers identified these new complexities in chimpanzee vocal systems by tracking specific animals in the field from dawn to dusk for approximately 12 hours daily, capturing the sounds they produced and their interactions with others in the group. They documented over 4,300 vocalizations from 53 wild chimpanzees.
While observing the vocalizations, researchers noted the activities, social interactions, and environmental changes occurring simultaneously, indicating whether the chimpanzees were eating, playing, or encountering predators.
The team performed statistical analyses on particular two-call combinations, such as “bark followed by bark,” recorded across various animals.
Their findings revealed that chimpanzees combine sounds to reference everyday experiences, with combinations that can express a range of meanings.
Simon Townsend, a professor at the University of Zurich who studied primate cognition and contributed to the bonobo study, noted that he wasn’t involved in this particular research.
He suggested that the common evolutionary ancestors of bonobos, humans, and chimpanzees likely possessed this ability.
“This suggests that our linguistic capabilities were already developing about 6-7 million years ago,” Townsend stated, referring to the time when these species likely diverged in the evolutionary tree.
Not all primates showcase such intricate communication. Townsend noted that forest monkeys, with simpler social structures, primarily utilize vocalizations to address predatory threats.
However, he believes that increasingly larger and more intricate social groups—a common trait among great apes and humans—have catalyzed the evolution of more sophisticated communication and ultimately, language.
For bonobos and chimpanzees, “Their biggest challenge is managing their intricate social environment. They exist in larger groups… There are conflicts, reconciliations, territorial disputes, and intergroup interactions. Vocalization is likely one evolutionary response to navigating these complex social dynamics.”
In human language, syntax refers to a set of rules that create a system capable of expressing infinite meanings.
“Syntax pertains to conveying increasingly precise and sophisticated information, which probably becomes necessary as social interactions grow more complex,” Townsend stated.
Artificial intelligence software has significantly enhanced editing tools, surpassing basic spell checkers and old grammar aids. AI can proofread, rewrite, summarize, and generate text, making it simple to create polished, complex documents right on your smartphone. If you haven’t explored this yet, free tools from Apple and Google are great starting points. Feel free to experiment with the software and assess its capabilities; when in doubt, let AI take over. Here’s a guide to help you get started.
Using Apple Intelligence
Apple’s Integrated AI Tool Suite, known as Apple Intelligence, includes a selection of writing tools (requiring iOS 18.1 and a recent iPhone or iPad). This writing tool works with most applications that allow text input or speech-to-text. If you compose something (like a page), highlight the section you wish to edit. In the pop-up menu, tap [書き込みツール] or the circular Apple Intelligence icon on the toolbar.
From the menu, you can choose options such as proofreading, rewriting, or summarizing, or see how to modify the text. You can also view it as key points, lists, or tables, and adjust the tone to make it more friendly, professional, or concise. If you dislike the changes, you can revert to the original text.
With the popular ChatGPT chatbot integrated into Apple Intelligence, you can create a draft from scratch once you enable ChatGPT. Tap the Compose button and follow the on-screen instructions. (Note: The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against ChatGPT’s creator, OpenAI, and its partner Microsoft, claiming copyright infringement on AI-generated news content; the companies deny these allegations.)
Like any AI chatbot, Gemini responds to queries and prompts. For instance, you can copy text into a draft note and ask Gemini to proofread and fact-check. Gemini can also produce text on demand; for example, you can prompt it to “Draft a proposal to the city council for permission to hold the Summer Dog Festival on August 2nd and 3rd.” Once Gemini generates your proposal, you can save it as a Google Doc for further editing.
Other Options
Apple Intelligence may require a subscription if your device is outdated, or if you don’t regularly use Google products. Nevertheless, various AI tools are available. Grammarie, established in 2009, offers a mobile app that integrates with your device’s keyboard for tone adjustment and other AI features. Microsoft’s Copilot AI tools work seamlessly with Microsoft 365 Suite.
Various AI bots are available in app stores, including writing-specific assistants like Paragraph, which accommodates different communication styles (including support for authors with dyslexia), and Sudwrite for story projects. Common chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude also offer writing assistant capabilities.
Important Considerations
Please remember that AI is not infallible. Always proofread its output, as errors may occur. While AI support can enhance more impersonal documents, such as memos and suggestions, excessive reliance on it can dilute your unique voice and style.
For instance, consider the opening line of Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1891 short story “The Bohemia Scandal,” rewritten by software to portray Dr. Watson in a more casual tone:
Original: “She’s always on Sherlock Holmes’ mind. I rarely hear him mention her by any other name. In his eyes, she embodies and dominates her entire gender. It wasn’t that he felt any similar feelings to his love for Irene Adler.”
Apple Intelligence: “Sherlock Holmes always called her ‘the woman.’ He seldom used other names for her. To him, she was the most outstanding woman of all women. Not because he felt romantic feelings for Irene Adler.”
Gemini: “For Sherlock, she is always a ‘female.’ I rarely hear him call her anything else. The way he sees it, she outshines all other women. It’s not that he’s in love with Irene Adler or anything like that.”
Always ensure your own words remain central. This practice can prevent others from thinking, “Hey, did you write this?”
Community members investigating a landslide in Yangbari, Papua New Guinea, in 2024
Xinhua Newsletter/Aramie
In the event of a landslide, pinpointing the location can be crucial for rescue teams. Recent advancements in earthquake data analysis have made it possible to identify the source of such disasters within just a few kilometers in a matter of seconds.
Current methods can generally limit the area of interest to tens of kilometers, as noted by Stefania Ursica from the Helmholtz Geoscience Centre in Germany. This limitation can result in significant delays if rescuers are directed to an incorrect site. “The time lost is critical,” Ursica stated during a press briefing at the European Geoscience Union Conference in Vienna last week.
Numerous countries maintain seismic monitoring networks to track earthquakes and volcanic activity. This data can also aid in detecting landslides, especially as the risks associated with climate change intensify. However, analyzing data from landslides is considerably more complex than that from earthquakes, according to Ursica.
Her team’s innovative approach involves two key components. First, they assess five distinct facets of the seismic waveform and filter out noise when an event occurs.
This information is processed by numerous mathematical agents that seek the origin of the initial rock-like event that leads to a landslide. They accomplish this by estimating which waveforms would have been generated at various possible locations and comparing those estimations with the data captured. If the waveforms do not align, they will explore other options.
Each agent “travels” following patterns inspired by animal behavior, such as the spiral of falcons or the migration paths of elephants, until they converge back to the most plausible site of the event. This whole procedure takes approximately 10 seconds, providing far greater accuracy than previous methods. “It’s a few digits of improvement,” Ursica adds.
Aside from enhancing rescue operations, this new technique will assist researchers in locating events in remote regions where satellite data may be limited or unavailable.
The team plans to release their findings and make the underlying code accessible to the public.
The Trump administration wants to streamline the US government to use AI to increase efficiency
Greggory Disalvo/Getty Images
What is artificial intelligence? This is a question scientists wrestled in the 1950s when Alan Turing asked, “Can you think of a machine?” With large-scale language models (LLMs) like ChatGpt unlocking around the world, finding the answer is more pressing than ever before.
Although their use is already widespread, the social norms around these new AI tools are still evolving rapidly. Should students use them to write essays? Will they replace your therapist? And can they turbocharge the government?
That last question is being asked in both the US and the UK. Under the new Trump administration, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) task force is eliminating federal workers and deploying chatbots with those who have left GSAIs behind. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer calls it a “money opportunity” that will help rebuild the nation.
Certainly there are government jobs that can benefit from automation, but is LLMS a suitable tool for the job? Part of the problem is that they don’t agree with what they actually are. This was properly demonstrated this week New Scientist Using the Freedom of Information (FOI) law, we acquired the ChatGPT interaction of Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. Politicians, data privacy experts, journalists, and in particular we were amazed at how a request was recognized.
The release of the records suggests that the UK government considers ChatGpt to be similar to ministerial conversations with civil servants via email or WhatsApp. Both are subject to the FOI Act. Kyle’s interactions with ChatGpt show no strong reliance on AI to form serious policies. One of his questions was about which podcasts they should appear on. However, the fact that the FOI request has been granted suggests that some governments seem to believe that AI can speak like humans.
As New Scientist LLM is currently responsible for spitting out the inaccuracies of sound that are as compelling as they provide useful advice, rather than intelligent in a meaningful sense. Furthermore, their answers reflect the inherent bias in the information they ingested.
In fact, many AI scientists are increasingly seeing the view that LLMS is not the route to the lofty goals of artificial general information (AGI). We can match or surpass what humans can do. For example, in a recent survey of AI researchers, around 76% of respondents said that it is “impossible” or “very unlikely” that current approaches will succeed in achieving AGI.
Instead, perhaps we need to think of these AIs in new ways. Write in a journal Science this weeka team of AI researchers stated that “it should not be seen primarily as intelligent agents, but as a new kind of cultural and social technology, allowing humans to access information accumulated by other humans.” Researchers compare LLM to “past technologies such as writing, printing, markets, bureaucracy, and representative democracy” that changed the way information was accessed and processed.
This way, the answers to many questions are clearer. Can the government use LLM to increase efficiency? It’s almost certainly true, but only when used by people who understand their strengths and limitations. Should interactions with chatbots be subject to the Freedom of Information Act? Perhaps existing sculptures designed to give the minister a “safe space” for internal deliberations should be applied. And, as Turing asked, can the machine think? no. still.
Authors, publishers, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, and newspaper publishers have all opposed the Labor government’s proposal to create a copyright exemption for training algorithms by artificial intelligence companies.
Representing thousands of creators, various organizations released a joint statement rejecting the idea of allowing companies like Open AI, Google, and Meta to use public works for AI training unless owners actively opt out. This was in response to the ministers’ proposal announced on Tuesday.
The Creative Rights in AI Coalition (Crac) emphasized the importance of respecting and enforcing existing copyright laws rather than circumventing them.
Included in the coalition are prominent entities like the British Recording Industry, the Independent Musicians Association, the Film Institute, the Writers’ Association, as well as Mumsnet, the Guardian, the Financial Times, the Telegraph, Getty Images, the Daily Mail Group, and Newsquest.
The intervention from these industry representatives follows statements by Technology and Culture Minister Kris Bryant in Parliament, where he promoted the proposed system as a way to enhance access to content for AI developers while ensuring rights holders have control over its use. This stance was reinforced after Bryant mentioned the importance of controlling the training of AI models using UK content accessed from overseas.
Nevertheless, industry lobbying group Tech UK is advocating for a more permissive market that allows companies to utilize and pay for copyrighted data. Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Conservative Party’s culture, media, and sport select committee, criticized the government’s alignment with AI companies.
Mr. Bryant defended the proposed system to MPs by highlighting the need for a flexible regime that allows for overseas developers to train AI models with UK content. He warned that a strict regime could hinder the growth of AI development in the UK.
Creatives in the industry are urged to seek permission from generative AI developers, obtain licenses, and compensate rights holders if they wish to create or train algorithms for various media formats.
A collective statement from the creative industry emphasized the importance of upholding current copyright laws and ensuring fair compensation for creators when licensing their work.
Renowned figures like Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Julianne Moore, Stephen Fry, and Hugh Bonneville have joined a petition calling for stricter regulations on AI companies that engage in copyright infringement.
Novelist Kate Mosse is also supporting a campaign to amend the Data Bill to enforce existing copyright laws in the UK to protect creators’ rights and fair compensation.
During a recent House of Lords debate, supporters of amendments to enforce copyright laws likened the government’s proposal to asking shopkeepers to opt-out of shoplifting rather than actively preventing it.
The government’s plan for a copyright exemption has faced criticism from the Liberal Democrats and other opponents who believe it is influenced by technology lobbyists and misinterpretations of current copyright laws.
Science Minister Patrick Vallance defended the government’s position by emphasizing the need to support rights holders, ensure fair compensation, and facilitate the development of AI models while maintaining appropriate access.
IIt begins with a soft rumble, then an explosion, and finally a thunderous roar. Pyroclastic flows spew out from volcanoes and race towards us at alarming speeds. A cascade of volcanic ash seems to be pelting the surrounding space – technically, it’s the distinctive pumice gravel from Mount Vesuvius – and for a few moments, patrons at the National Museum of Australia are transported to the 1,946-year-old tragedy in Pompeii.
Immersive experiences, including increasingly advanced virtual reality technology, are gaining popularity in museums despite criticism from scholars that flashy special effects may divert viewers from the actual artifacts and exhibits. It has shifted from being a mere gimmick to a successful exhibition to a crucial component in educating future generations, assuming that the primary purpose of museums is entertainment.
Laurent Dondy, the head of development and international tours at Grand Palais Immersif, the French company involved in creating Pompeii, acknowledges some of the apprehensions regarding immersive technology in museums.
“Sorry, but I don’t want to see Van Gogh smoking or scratching his head,” he explains. “Our approach is a blend of art and science. Technology plays a role in the creative process that surprises people and can undoubtedly add a layer of enjoyment to the experience.”
Pompeii is now on display at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, offering hourly exhibitions showcasing Mount Vesuvius. While the immersive encounter is included in the admission price, other high-budget productions in Australia necessitate separate headsets and seats due to technology requirements, resulting in extra charges that can escalate the cost of a family day at the museum to hundreds of dollars.
Over 500,000 individuals attended the record-breaking ‘Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs’ exhibition at the Australian Museum in Sydney, with a quarter opting for the additional $30 fee for the VR component per person. We decided to queue for the opportunity to participate.
Visitors to the Australian Museum’s ‘Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs’ exhibition. Photo: David Gray/AFP/Getty Images
And according to its director Kim McKay, this technology is here to stay.
“In today’s world, we must provide people with experiences, and I believe museums should not be exempt from that,” she asserts. “Museums need to evolve. Like everything else, we can’t be anchored in the past; we must embrace new and evolving technologies.”
“Children now anticipate digital enhancements, and as museum leaders, it is our responsibility to determine how to effectively integrate this technology to maintain an authentic experience. It’s a fine balance.”
Gedeon Experience, the creative force behind Pompeii’s special effects, gained exclusive access to archaeological digs in inaccessible areas, documenting the daily efforts of archaeologists for two years and using CGI to reconstruct the city’s streets and buildings.
Instead of detracting from the visitor experience, this spectacle enriches and complements the over 90 items borrowed from the Pompeii Archaeological Park, including frescoes, mosaics, jewelry, sculptures, and domestic objects.
The Director of the University of Sydney’s Museums and Heritage Program highlights a prime selection of must-see exhibitions from Australia’s museums and galleries.
However, the drawback is that technology inflates exhibition budgets, leading to increased ticket prices.
“They are costly, and there is fierce competition to incorporate the latest digital technologies,” O’Reilly remarks.
Having attended the initial Pompeii exhibition in Paris in 2020, O’Reilly notes that the visual effects of the exhibition are mostly consistent with other immersive exhibitions encountered abroad over the following four years.
“A well-executed immersive exhibit can provide a profound layering of experience and knowledge, but outdated technology may disappoint some visitors. The pace of [developments] is incredibly rapid,” she observes.
“The audience is quite demanding. Game resolutions are astoundingly high. For immersive content and narrative delivery, we now expect the caliber we encounter in gaming. It’s an intimate, detailed experience, and museum-goers will anticipate a commensurate level of quality.”
Is there a risk that future generations lacking technological acumen may fail to grasp the significance of the displayed artifacts?
“Possibly, but without those innovations to begin with, they might not have engaged in the first place,” O’Reilly remarks. “Their expectations will differ from those of previous generations.”
Perhaps not. McKay recounts that when the Australian Museum polled 100 children about their desires for future museums, they anticipated “screens everywhere.”
“That wasn’t the case. They requested ‘more spiders, more sharks, more snakes.’ They sought greater authenticity,” she concludes.
Utilizing artificial intelligence to analyze GP records for hidden patterns has significantly improved cancer detection rates for doctors.
The “C the Signs” AI tool used by general practitioner practices has increased cancer detection rates from 58.7% to 66.0%. This tool examines patients’ medical records, compiling past medical history, test results, prescriptions, treatments, and personal characteristics like age, postcode, and family history to indicate potential cancer risks.
Additionally, the tool prompts doctors to inquire about new symptoms and recommends tests or referrals for patients if it detects patterns suggesting a heightened risk of certain cancer types.
Currently in use in about 1,400 practices in England, “C the Signs” was tested in 35 practices in the East of England in May 2021, covering 420,000 patients.
Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, a study revealed that cancer detection rates rose from 58.7% to 66.0% by March 31, 2022, in clinics using the system, while remaining similar in those that did not utilize it.
Dr. Bea Bakshi, who developed “C the Signs” with colleague Miles Paling, emphasized the importance of early and quick cancer diagnosis through their system detecting over 50 types of cancer.
The tool was validated in a previous study analyzing 118,677 patients, where 7,295 were diagnosed with cancer and 7,056 were accurately identified by the algorithm.
Notably, the system’s ability to predict if a patient was unlikely to have cancer resulted in only 2.8% of these cases being confirmed with cancer diagnosis within six months.
Concerned by delays in cancer diagnosis, Bakshi developed the tool after witnessing a patient’s late pancreatic cancer diagnosis three weeks before their death, highlighting the importance of early detection.
“With two-thirds of deaths from untestable cancers, early diagnosis is crucial,” Bakshi emphasized.
In the UK, GPs follow National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines to decide when to refer patients for cancer diagnosis, guided by tools like “C the Signs.”
The NHS’s long-term cancer plan aims to diagnose 75% of cancers at stage 1 or 2 by 2028, utilizing innovative technologies like the Garelli blood test for early cancer detection.
Decision support systems like “C the Signs,” improving patient awareness of cancer symptoms, and enhancing access to diagnostic technologies are essential for effective cancer detection, according to healthcare professionals.
NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, Professor Peter Johnson, highlighted the progress in increasing early cancer diagnoses and access to timely treatments, emphasizing the importance of leveraging technology for improved cancer care.
The Home Secretary expressed concerns about criminals and “malicious actors” using AI-generated “deepfakes” to disrupt the general election.
James Cleverley, in anticipation of a meeting with social media leaders, highlighted the potential threats posed by rapid technological advancements to elections globally.
He cited examples of individuals working on behalf of countries like Russia and Iran creating numerous deepfakes (realistic fabricated images and videos) to influence democratic processes, including in the UK.
He emphasized the escalating use of deepfakes and AI-generated content to deceive and bewilder, stating that “the era of deepfakes has already begun.”
Concerned about the impact on democracy, he stressed the importance of implementing regulations, transparency, and user safeguards in the digital landscape.
The Home Secretary plans to propose collaborative efforts with tech giants like Google, Meta, Apple, and YouTube to safeguard democracy.
An estimated 2 billion people will participate in national elections worldwide in 2024, including in the UK, US, India, and other countries.
Incidents of deepfake audio imitations of politicians like Keir Starmer and Sadiq Khan, as well as misleading videos like the fake BBC News report on Rishi Sunak, have raised concerns.
In response, major tech companies have agreed to adopt precautions to prevent the misuse of AI tools for electoral interference.
Executives from various tech firms gathered at a conference to establish a framework for addressing deceptive AI-generated deepfakes that impact voters. Elon Musk’s Company X is among the signatories.
Mr. Clegg, Meta’s global president, emphasized the need for collective action to address the challenges posed by emerging technologies like deepfakes.
Arduino is considering manufacturing in India. The startup, best known for its open source microcontroller boards, wants to limit the rise in counterfeit boards and meet growing demand from India’s youth.
The Italian company is currently exploring partnerships with electronic manufacturing services (EMS) companies in South Asia to start local production as early as the first quarter of next year, CEO Fabio Violante said in a virtual interview. told TechCrunch. This marks a significant change from the company’s current practice of producing all its boards in Italy.
India is the largest market for Arduino IDE downloads with 3.2 million. The country also has local branches of global Arduino distributors such as DigiKey, Mouser Electronics, and Avnet. However, India’s contribution to the customer base is currently less than 1%. Violante believes that her fake Arduino board is the main reason for this discrepancy.
“The strange situation for us in India is that even though the community is very large and the user base of the Arduino IDE is very large, we have no original product to sell to the Indian market, especially because people can’t afford the original product. “The amount is very small because finished electronic products are subject to high import duties,” he said. “So people mainly buy substitute products or clones, and in some cases those counterfeit products are made in China.”
Arduino clones are currently available for less than half the price of the original board. The latter also includes import duties. Therefore, by starting local manufacturing, Arduino will be selling its boards in India at the same low prices as their Chinese counterparts.
However, the problem with cloned boards is not limited to India, Biollante acknowledged, adding that the company currently sells one original board for every five to six clones in the market.
“This is difficult because we are open source and we make money by selling our original hardware,” he said. “So clones and counterfeits are a big part of the market.”
Arduino is trying to address the problem of counterfeit boards around the world by making its hardware more sophisticated and harder to counterfeit.
“Continuous innovation gives us a competitive edge,” Biollante said. “[The new boards] It uses a more sophisticated microcontroller, a more sophisticated power section that is not as easy to copy and paste. ”
The executive was in New Delhi last week to attend an investor-focused event organized by state agency Invest India, where he met with government officials and members of parliament, including India’s Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar. did.
To compete with China, India has been offering cashbacks and subsidies to global manufacturers to become production hubs. As a result, the country’s domestic electronics manufacturing increased by more than 111% to $99 billion in fiscal year 2022-23, from $47 billion in 2017-18, according to government data shared in parliament last week. However, most of this is due to growth in local mobile phone manufacturing. The country is already the second largest manufacturer of mobile phones, with Indian-made handsets accounting for more than 99% of domestic mobile phone sales. The government wants to expand local production not just for mobile phone assembly, but also for components including displays and semiconductors.
Violante told TechCrunch that Arduino is currently considering both large international EMS companies and small local companies in India that specialize in manufacturing electronic circuit boards and development boards.
The executive indicated that the company may initially consider making a $27 product. Uno R4 WiFi It was launched globally earlier this year. It aims to appeal to the masses with specifications such as a 32-bit Cortex M4 processor, 32KB RAM, and 256KB flash storage. However, over time, it may start producing the enterprise-oriented Pro series model that was launched last year.
Violante said Arduino is also looking to work with educational institutions in India to increase brand awareness among students and become part of local curricula. Additionally, partnerships with research institutions help the company connect with companies that collaborate with those institutions. The company already has a partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in the US, and plans to expand that partnership in India as well. Furthermore, Arduino specifically plans to cater to local demand, and its initial start in the country means that, unlike many other startups, it does not rely on China for manufacturing, so over time it will grow locally. There is a possibility that the company will move towards exporting the manufactured boards to other countries.
A groundbreaking study conducted by the University of Utah and EDF used Google Street View vehicles to closely monitor air quality in the Salt Lake Valley. This study revealed highly localized pollution hotspots, highlighted issues of environmental justice, and represents a major advance in understanding and addressing the uneven impacts of urban air pollution.
In the Salt Lake Valley, vehicles equipped with advanced air quality measurement tools similar to Google Street View vehicles drove through neighborhoods and collected highly detailed air quality data. This comprehensive sampling revealed clear variations in pollution levels within different regions. Additionally, new atmospheric modeling techniques have been developed to accurately identify these sources of pollution emissions.
In 2019, a team of atmospheric scientists at the University of Utah, in collaboration with the Environmental Defense Fund and other partners, introduced an innovative approach to air quality monitoring in the Salt Lake Valley. They equipped two Google Street View cars with air quality measurement tools, creating mobile air pollution detectors capable of identifying hyper-local pollution hotspots.
Over the next few months, John Lin, a professor of atmospheric science at the university, developed a breakthrough modeling technique. The method combined wind pattern modeling and statistical analysis to trace pollutants to their exact source. This technology provided a level of detail in pollution tracking that exceeded the more extensive and less accurate methods of traditional air quality monitoring, which typically assessed air quality across urban areas.
According to a study led by the United States and the Environmental Defense Fund (EFD) recently published in the journal atmospheric environment, the results are out. “With mobile vehicles, you can literally send them anywhere you can drive and find out more about pollution, including off-road sources that traditional monitoring has missed,” said Lin, who is also deputy director of the Wilkes Climate Science Center. “We can put up a map,” he said. policy. “I think the idea of patrolling lifeguards is pretty viable in many cities.”
Researchers equipped vehicles with air quality instruments and asked drivers to explore their neighborhoods street by street, taking air samples once every second, from May 2019 to March 2020. This created a huge dataset of air pollutant concentrations in the Salt Lake Valley. It is the highest-resolution map showing pollution hotspots at a detailed scale, with data capturing fluctuations within 200 meters, or about the width of two football fields.
The air quality pattern was as expected, with higher pollution around traffic and industrial areas. Neighborhoods with lower average incomes and higher proportions of black residents had more pollutants, confirming well-known issues of environmental justice. This pattern traces its legacy to his century-old redlining policy, in which Homeowner’s Loan Corp. created maps outlining “dangerous” areas in red ink.
“Air quality is not a new problem. It’s been around for decades, and it was probably worse back then,” Lin said. “The Interstate 15 corridor runs along red-light districts. And sadly, there is quite a bit of research supporting the fact that the red-light districts of 80 years ago are still important. These areas still struggle with air quality issues. These areas tend to be underinvested, so the legacy of racism remains.”
Research-grade equipment in Google Street View vehicles measures the ambient air that is pumped in from the surrounding area and detects major emissions. The researchers tested Lin’s new atmospheric modeling approach using two case studies of well-known pollution sources. The model was then applied to analyze previously unknown areas of PM elevation.2.5
The authors hope to use atmospheric models for projects such as Air Tracker, a web-based tool developed in partnership with EDF and Carnegie Mellon University that helps users find possible sources of air pollution in their neighborhood.
This research was funded by the Environmental Defense Fund. Other authors of this article are also cited, and the study utilized the resources of the National Center for High Performance Computing.
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