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Cognitive decline and dementia already affect more than 55 million people worldwide. This number is projected to skyrocket over the next few decades as the global population ages.

There are certain risk factors of cognitive decline and dementia that we cannot change – such as having a genetic predisposition to these conditions. But other risk factors we may have more power over – with research showing certain modifiable lifestyle habits, such as smoking, obesity and lack of exercise, are all linked to higher risk of dementia.

What role nutrition plays in preventing cognitive decline and dementia has also been the focus of scientific research for quite some time.

High sensitivity radio observations have discovered a cloud of magnetized plasma in the Hydra galaxy cluster. The odd location and shape of this plasma defy all conventional explanations. Dubbed the Flying Fox based on its silhouette, this plasma will remain a mystery until additional observations can provide more insight.

A team led by Kohei Kurahara at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan analyzed observations from the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) targeting the Hydra galaxy cluster, located over 100 million light years away in the direction of the constellation Hydra.

By applying recent analysis techniques to the GMRT (Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope) data archive, the team was able to discover a cloud of magnetized plasma shaped like a flying fox which has never been reported before.

A team of materials scientists and engineers from Donghua University, in China, and the National University of Singapore, has developed a type of fiber that does not rely on chips or batteries to convert visual signals to digital transmissions as it interacts with the human body.

The paper is published in the journal Science. Yunzhu Li and Yiyue Luo with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and MIT, respectively, have published a Perspective piece in the same journal issue outlining the work done by the team on this new effort.

Over the past several years, scientists have been trying to find a way to integrate electronic devices with textiles for such applications as clothes that can display colors, patterns or even messages. Unfortunately, previous efforts involve adding stiff batteries and chips to materials, making them too uncomfortable to wear. In this new effort, the researchers have found a way to get around these problems.

A US company has built a flame-throwing robot dog capable f shooting jets of fire up to 30 feet that is available for purchase online.

Called the Thermonator, the four-legged robot comes equipped with an ARC Flamethrower mounted on its back.

Designed by Ohio-based firm Throwflame, the $9,420 (£7,600) robot is not advertised as a weapon, with the manufacturer suggesting possible uses include wildlife control, snow and ice removal and general entertainment.

#usa #dog #robot

Humanoid robots have been in development for many years by Japan’s Honda and Hyundai Motor’s Boston Dynamics. Earlier this year, Microsoft and Nvidia-backed startup Figure said it had signed a partnership with German automaker BMW to deploy humanoid robots in the car maker’s facility in the US.

Elon Musk said before that robot sales could become a larger part of the Tesla business. He said, “I think Tesla is best positioned of any humanoid robot maker to be able to reach volume production with efficient inference on the robot itself.”

Science And Technology For Emerging National Security Threats — Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, Ph.D. — Nonlinear Solutions LLC — Fmr. Director, All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), United States Department of Defense.


Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, Ph.D. is Owner of Nonlinear Solutions LLC., an advisory group that provides strategic scientific and intelligence consulting services, with a focus on emerging science and technology trends, to clients in both the defense and intelligence communities.

Dr. Kirkpatrick recently retired from federal Senior Service in December 2023 and prior to his current responsibilities he answered to the Deputy Secretary of Defense to stand-up and lead the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO — https://www.aaro.mil/) in early 2022, leading the U.S. government’s efforts to address Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) using a rigorous scientific framework and a data-driven approach.

We’re beginning to see the early stages of that trend pick up pace: In 2022, 34% of job tasks were completed by machines versus 66% by humans, according to the World Economic Forum’s “The Future of Jobs Report 2023”. By 2027, that ratio is expected to increase to 43% of tasks completed by machines and 57% by humans.

“On the one hand, yes, it’s scary to envision a world in which almost no job is safe from automation or from robotics. But the important thing to keep in mind is that through this kind of creative destruction process, while jobs will certainly be lost in some areas, there also will be jobs that will be gained.”

Despite those concerns, investors are looking for ways to bet on the growth of robotics. And according to the International Federation of Robotics, they don’t have to look very far. The US is home to the most suppliers that manufacture service robots and is well-positioned to cater to the rapidly growing global demand for robotics. The annual installation of industrial robots is expected to grow by about 30%, from 553,000 installations in 2022 to 718,000 in 2026.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has admitted that the generative AI boom caught Google by surprise.

During an event at Stanford University earlier this month, the tech boss said his company was “surprised” by the sudden public interest in AI.

Despite saying he recognized the tech’s significance years ago, he admitted he had a “different sense of the trajectory in mind” when it came to society’s adoption of AI.