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Feb 20, 2024

Gene Therapy in Mice Holds Promise for ALS and Dementia

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics, neuroscience

Neuroresearchers at Macquarie University in Australia say they have developed a single-dose genetic medicine that has halted the progression of both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in mice. The team, which believes its approach may even offer the potential to reverse some of the effects of the fatal diseases, thinks it may also hold opportunities for treating more common forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

The new treatment, dubbed CTx1000, targets pathological build-ups of the protein TDP-43 in cells in the brain and spinal cord, which has been associated with ALS, FTD, and other forms of dementia. The scientists, led by Lars Ittner, PhD, hope to see CTx1000 begin human clinical trials in as little as two years. Their study “Targeting 14–3-3?-mediated TDP-43 pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia mice” appears in Neuron.

“Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are characterized by cytoplasmic deposition of the nuclear TAR-binding protein 43 (TDP-43). Although cytoplasmic re-localization of TDP-43 is a key event in the pathogenesis of ALS/FTD, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we identified a non-canonical interaction between 14–3-3θ and TDP-43, which regulates nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling,” wrote the investigators.

Feb 20, 2024

New Malicious PyPI Packages Caught Using Covert Side-Loading Tactics

Posted by in category: security

Malicious packages lurking in open-source repositories. Discover how DLL side-loading is the latest technique used to evade security software.

Feb 20, 2024

The Proto-Robots of Antiquity

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

Robots may seem like a completely modern phenomenon, but the idea of creating artificial beings is by no means new. In this video we’ll look at the ancient predecessors of our modern robots, and see their development from a concept in mythology, to the earliest simple devices, and finally to full-fledged self-moving statues.

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Feb 20, 2024

Gods and Robots: Myths and Ancient Dreams of Technology

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

Adrienne Mayor, PhDWho first imagined robots, animated statues, automatons, and Artificial Intelligenc…

Feb 20, 2024

Mind-reading devices are revealing the brain’s secrets

Posted by in category: neuroscience

Implants and other technologies that decode neural activity can restore people’s abilities to move and speak — and help researchers to understand how the brain works.

The idea that the electrical activity of the human brain could be recorded first gained support 100 years ago.

Feb 20, 2024

The Quest for a DNA Data Drive

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, computing

The world is running out of data storage. Here’s how DNA can save us.

Feb 20, 2024

An architecture for sub-picowatt logic computing based on self-biased molybdenum disulfide transistors

Posted by in categories: computing, electronics

The continuous improvement of circuits and electronic components is vital for the development of new technologies with enhanced capabilities and unique characteristics. In recent years, most electronics engineers have been specifically focusing on reducing the size of transistors, while retaining a low power consumption.

Researchers at University of Science and Technology Beijing recently introduced a new pseudo-CMOS architecture based on self-biased molybdenum disulfide transistors. This architecture, outlined in Nature Electronics, could be used to create highly performing inverters, gate circuits, and other device components.

“The development of integrated circuits (ICs) for efficient computing with low power is a global hot topic and a focus of international competition in cutting-edge fields,” Zheng Zhang, co-author of the paper, told Tech Xplore.

Feb 20, 2024

Tesla simulation and video generation are the ‘best in the world’: Musk

Posted by in categories: Elon Musk, robotics/AI

Elon Musk says Tesla’s real-world simulation and video generation are the best in the world, following OpenAI’s launch of the Sora model.

Feb 20, 2024

ERS-2: A European Space Agency satellite will reenter Earth’s atmosphere this week

Posted by in categories: alien life, satellites, surveillance

A European Space Agency satellite is expected to reenter and largely burn up in Earth’s atmosphere on Wednesday morning.

The agency’s Space Debris Office, along with an international surveillance network, is monitoring and tracking the Earth-observing ERS-2 satellite, which is predicted to make its reentry at 3:53 p.m. ET Wednesday, with a 7.5-hour window of uncertainty. The ESA is also providing live updates on its website.

“As the spacecraft’s reentry is ‘natural’, without the possibility to perform manoeuvers, it is impossible to know exactly where and when it will reenter the atmosphere and begin to burn up,” according to a statement from the agency.

Feb 20, 2024

Engineers develop promising calcium-based battery that’s rechargeable and operates at room temperature

Posted by in categories: life extension, materials

A multi-institutional team of Chinese engineers has developed a proof-of-concept calcium-based battery that withstands 700 charge cycles at room temperature. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes the challenges they addressed in developing the battery and what they have learned about the possible use of calcium-based batteries in consumer products in the future.

The current standard for rechargeable batteries used in consumer products is lithium. But because it is a rare material and has issues such as poor aging and the need to prevent overcharge, scientists have been looking for a suitable replacement. One such material is calcium, which is 2,500 times as abundant as lithium.

Prior research has suggested based on calcium should be possible if problems can be resolved. One of the biggest challenges is finding suitable electrolyte and electrode materials that can provide stability and safety.