Lifeboat Foundation

Macrophages, small but essential cells in the immune system, hold promise for cell-based therapies in numerous health conditions. Unlocking the full potential of macrophage therapies depends on our ability to observe their activities within the body. Now, researchers from Penn State have potentially developed a method to monitor these cells in action.

In a study published in the journal Small, the Penn State researchers report a novel ultrasound imaging technique to view macrophages continuously in mammal tissue, with potential for human application in the future.

“A macrophage is a type of immune cell that is important in nearly every function of the immune system, from detecting and clearing pathogens to wound healing,” said corresponding author Scott Medina, the William and Wendy Korb Early Career Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering. “It is a component of the immune system that really bridges the two types of immunity: innate immunity, which responds to things very quickly but in a not very precise way, and adaptive immunity, which is much slower to come online but responds in a much more precise way.”

Max’s Scavengers Reign is making waves in the science-fiction world for brilliantly conceptualizing and constructing an alien ecosystem that feels truly out of this world. Since its October 19 streaming premiere, we’ve been presented with a 12-episode run that places an exceptionally strong emphasis on the series’ setting in a way that makes the environment a more compelling character than the actual characters themselves. Scavengers Reign is a visually stunning and surreal take on humanity’s relationship with nature, and die-hard sci-fi fans can’t get enough of it.

YouTube creator NerdWriter1 posted a short breakdown of the series and grapples with the other-worldliness that Scavengers Reign presents. He likens the series’ emphasis on the environment to Werner Herzog’s documentary Burden of Dreams, in which Herzog suggests that nature is indifferent to humanity. In other words, nature has its own agenda, and the idea of harmony between humanity and nature is something that doesn’t necessarily exist when you consider how punishing an unfamiliar ecosystem can be to humans who are trying to traverse the vast landscapes full of unknown flora, fauna, and critters who rule the land.

Continue reading “The Incredible Sci-Fi Series You Need To Be Watching Feels Truly Alien” »

Former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns says she balanced work and family by “outsourcing the caring for my kids.” Here’s what that means, and how it panned out for her.

Plus, Charlie McDonnell and Jess Boddy join Weirdest Thing to talk about secret teatime energy reserves and quicksand secrets.

Posted Earlier Today by the Agi leaker.

“a letter warning of a powerful artificial intelligence discovery that they said could threaten humanity,” Agi!!!!!!!!!

Agi, if you can see or hear us, WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!

Continue reading “OpenAI researchers warned board of AI breakthrough ahead of CEO ouster” »

For decades, researchers have sought ways to precisely manipulate and identify individual molecules like DNA in liquid environments. Such capabilities could revolutionize areas ranging from disease diagnosis to drug development. However, the randomness of molecular movements in fluids has hindered progress.

Now, scientists from Shenzhen University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong report promising advances in optical tweezing techniques that allow exquisite control over nanoscale biological particles (Light: Science & Applications, “CRISPR-powered optothermal nanotweezers: Diverse bio-nanoparticle manipulation and single nucleotide identification”).

A The diagrammatic sketch of the three components in the solution: DNA@AuNS conjugate, CRISPR/Cas12a complex, and target ssDNA. b Optical setup, the BS, SPF, and TL are beam splitter, short pass filter, and tube lens (f = 200 mm), respectively. Additional details of the setup are provided in the Materials and Methods section. c Dispersion of the three components in the solution without optical heating. d Optothermal net force induced migration and DNA@AuNS conjugate cleavage upon optical heating, the heating laser power is 0.5 mW. e Observation of the cleavage after the optical heating is switched off. (© Light: Science & Applications) (click on image to enlarge)

Drawing on his decades-long mission to formulate the world in computational terms, Stephen Wolfram delivers a profound vision of computation and its role in the future of AI. Amid a debut of mesmerizing visuals depicting the underlying structure of the universe, he provides a sweeping survey of his life’s work, offering a new perspective on the applications — and consequences — of AI powered by computational language.

Nov 22 (Reuters) — Ahead of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s four days in exile, several staff researchers sent the board of directors a letter warning of a powerful artificial intelligence discovery that they said could threaten humanity, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The previously unreported letter and AI algorithm was a key development ahead of the board’s ouster of Altman, the poster child of generative AI, the two sources said. Before his triumphant return late Tuesday, more than 700 employees had threatened to quit and join backer Microsoft (MSFT.O) in solidarity with their fired leader.

The sources cited the letter as one factor among a longer list of grievances by the board that led to Altman’s firing. Reuters was unable to review a copy of the letter. The researchers who wrote the letter did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A novel intelligence has roared into the mainstream, sparking euphoric excitement as well as abject fear. Explore the landscape of possible futures in a brave new world of thinking machines, with the very leaders at the vanguard of artificial intelligence.

The Big Ideas Series is supported in part by the John Templeton Foundation.

This program can be watched here, and on our YouTube channel, starting at 4PM on Friday, November 24.