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Feb 21, 2024

Scientists have found a black hole so large it eats the equivalent of one sun per day

Posted by in category: cosmology

With a mass 17 billion times larger than our sun, this black hole is the fastest-growing black hole ever recorded, Australian National University said.

Feb 21, 2024

Electrons become fractions of themselves in graphene, study finds

Posted by in categories: computing, education, quantum physics

The electron is the basic unit of electricity, as it carries a single negative charge. This is what we’re taught in high school physics, and it is overwhelmingly the case in most materials in nature.

But in very special states of matter, electrons can splinter into fractions of their whole. This phenomenon, known as “fractional charge,” is exceedingly rare, and if it can be corralled and controlled, the exotic electronic state could help to build resilient, fault-tolerant quantum computers.

To date, this effect, known to physicists as the “fractional quantum Hall effect,” has been observed a handful of times, and mostly under very high, carefully maintained magnetic fields. Only recently have scientists seen the effect in a material that did not require such powerful magnetic manipulation.

Feb 21, 2024

What is AI? Narrow AI, General AI, and Artificial Superintelligence

Posted by in categories: quantum physics, robotics/AI

Explore the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in this insightful video from Code Institute’s Programme Director, Brian O’Grady, as he delves into the realms of Narrow AI, General AI, and the intriguing concept of Artificial Superintelligence. Discover the evolution of AI from narrow applications like chatbots and image recognition to the broader capabilities of General AI, which mimics human cognitive functions across multiple domains. Join us in understanding the theoretical challenges and possibilities presented by General AI, including its potential to transcend human limitations. The spotlight is on ChatGPT, a language transformer that steps into the realm of General AI, showcasing its ability to synthesize knowledge across various domains and navigate the ambiguity of human language. Dive into the discussion on the probabilities and learning processes associated with language models, bringing us closer to the realm of true AI. The video also touches on the theoretical concept of Artificial Superintelligence, a level of AI that surpasses human intelligence across all aspects. While we may be far from achieving this level of AI, the ongoing advancements in technologies like quantum computing suggest an exciting future. Join us on this journey through the AI landscape, understanding the present and envisioning the possibilities that lie ahead.

Feb 21, 2024

How entropy and equilibrium can help explain consciousness

Posted by in category: neuroscience

Thinking about consciousness from the perspective of a physicist may be key to figuring out whether it is a single phenomenon or a collection of discrete states.

By Karmela Padavic-Callaghan

Feb 21, 2024

Diffractive optical computing in free space

Posted by in categories: computing, materials

Optica l computing via free-space-based structured optical materials allows to access optical information without the need for preprocessing or optoelectronic conversion. In this Perspective, the authors describe opportunities and challenges in their use for optical computing, information processing, computational imaging and sensing.

Feb 21, 2024

The road to Superintelligence may have shortened

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

Tony Czarnecki, Sustensis

London 1/12/2023

Image generated by DALL-E

Continue reading “The road to Superintelligence may have shortened” »

Feb 21, 2024

Best Color Changing Toilet Night Light Review!

Posted by in category: futurism

Disco toilet o.o


This 16 color changing toilet night light is great for people who always get up in the middle of the night to pee. With its soft glow and soothing rotating colors, you can be sure to aim correctly every time even when you’re still half asleep. The colors on this night light rotate or you can just choose to pick your 1 favorite color.

Continue reading “Best Color Changing Toilet Night Light Review!” »

Feb 21, 2024

‘Smart toilet’ monitors for signs of disease

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

Year 2020 face_with_colon_three


There’s a new disease-detecting technology in the lab of Sanjiv “Sam” Gambhir, MD PhD, and its No. 1 source of data is number one. And number two.

Continue reading “‘Smart toilet’ monitors for signs of disease” »

Feb 21, 2024

Brain Activity Now Watchable and Listenable

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, media & arts, neuroscience

Summary: Researchers developed an innovated a technique to convert complex neuroimaging data into audiovisual formats. By transforming brain activity and blood flow data from behaviors like running or grooming in mice into synchronized piano and violin sounds, accompanied by video, they offer an intuitive approach to explore the brain’s intricate workings.

This method not only makes it easier to identify patterns in large datasets but also enhances the understanding of the dynamic relationship between neuronal activity and behavior. The toolkit represents a significant step forward in neuroscientific research, enabling scientists to intuitively screen and interpret vast amounts of brain data.

Feb 21, 2024

Selling with Personality: Leveraging Human Characteristics in Product Design

Posted by in categories: business, robotics/AI

If electronics tried selling themselves by speaking to you, would you have a greater urge to buy them? This is what a recent study published in Decision Support Systems hopes to address as a research duo investigated how artificial intelligence (AI) could be used as a productive marketing and retail tool for selling their products. This study holds the potential to help researchers, businesses, and consumers better understand how AI can be sold using anthromorphism (possessing human attributes).

“Companies have long used cartoon-like characters to sell products. We are familiar with the ‘M&M spokescandies’, for example,” said Dr. Alan Dennis, who is a Professor of Information Systems in the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and co-author on the study. “But adding human features to a product can be a powerful way to influence consumers’ perceptions and decision making, because it can trigger anthromorphism.”

For the study, the researchers enlisted approximately 50 undergraduate students and asked them to pretend they were new master’s degree students who needed a new television, camera, or laptop for their studies. Using an eBay-style auction website, the students then bid on the products after watching a two-minute video exhibiting a speaker with human attributes which described the product. The goal of the study was to ascertain how much the students were willing to bid on the products with the video compared to products without, all while using an Emotiv EPOC EEG headset to gather data on their brain activity.