Lifeboat Foundation

Summary: Researchers have identified and mapped diverse cell types in the cochlear nucleus, the brainstem region responsible for processing sound. Using advanced molecular techniques, they uncovered distinct and newly identified cell types that process specific sound features, such as sharp noises or pitch changes.

These findings challenge existing ideas about hearing and pave the way for targeted treatments for auditory disorders. By creating a cellular and molecular atlas, scientists can now develop more precise therapies for conditions like hearing loss, advancing the field of personalized auditory medicine.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — We are anticipating a dry week ahead (not uncommon to have 1 or 2 weeks of dry weather before storms return) and we are nearly halfway through the rainy season.

Across the state, Northern California has seen flooding rains while Southern California has barely seen a drop of rain this winter.

We are doing quite well across much of the Bay Area. Majority of cities are above average/close to when it comes to rainfall. However, the South Bay is running significantly below average. This is due to the storm track favoring the North Bay (think flooding rains from weeks past).

Astronomers have identified two supermassive black holes, collectively known as PKS 2131-021, that are on the brink of a catastrophic collision. Located about 9 billion light-years from Earth, these black holes have been spiraling toward each other for 100 million years and now orbit one another every two years. The discovery, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, reveals a fascinating binary system that could help scientists understand how black holes form and merge.

PKS 2131-021 is a type of black hole known as a blazar, characterized by jets of supercharged plasma directed at Earth. These jets, which originate from the hot gas swirling around the black hole, travel at nearly the speed of light. When researchers observed the brightness of about 1,800 blazars across the universe, PKS 2131-021 stood out due to its regular fluctuations, akin to the ticking of a clock. This periodic dimming and brightening is believed to result from the gravitational influence of a second black hole in orbit.

To confirm this, scientists analyzed 45 years of data from five observatories. The findings matched predictions, confirming that the brightness variations were caused by a binary black hole system.

A supercluster spanning 500 million light-years with over 100,000 galaxies!

Researchers at UC Berkeley have open sourced Sky-T1, a ‘reasoning’ AI model that can be trained for less than $450.

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence is transforming cybersecurity, offering unprecedented opportunities to defend against increasingly complex and automated threats. AI is no longer a support tool—it’s emerging as a central pillar of modern security strategies. From detecting anomalies and automating threat responses to augmenting security teams, AI is enabling defenders to act faster, scale their operations, and outpace attackers. However, as the technology advances, significant challenges remain, from adversarial AI to the cultural inertia of legacy systems.

Tomer Weingarten, CEO of SentinelOne, and Richard Stiennon, research analyst with IT-Harvest and author of Security Yearbook 2024, both highlight the potential—and limitations—of AI in cybersecurity. “It’s very early days for AI in security,” says Stiennon. “I have found 84 startups with various AI agents or which hope to deploy guardrails to protect companies from mishandling of data by users of AI. It’s way too early to say that any of them are having an impact on the ecosystem. That said, the future is clear. AI will be part of every cyber defense position.”

Weingarten echoes this sentiment, noting that AI’s role is rapidly expanding but far from mature. “AI is no longer just about supporting cybersecurity—it’s fundamentally changing how we secure systems, anticipate threats, and automate responses,” he explains.

It was alleged to be for AMD and Apple, but Raimondo did not say that.

Neuralink has implanted its device in third human patient and plans more procedures in 2025. The device allows paralyzed individuals to control external devices with their thoughts. The company is conducting studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its brain implants. Neuralink aims to revolutionize neurotechnology.

We crafted our first rodent car from a plastic cereal container. After trial and error, my colleagues and I found that rats could learn to drive forward by grasping a small wire that acted like a gas pedal. Before long, they were steering with surprising precision to reach a Froot Loop treat.

As expected, rats housed in enriched environments – complete with toys, space and companions – learned to drive faster than those in standard cages. This finding supported the idea that complex environments enhance neuroplasticity: the brain’s ability to change across the lifespan in response to environmental demands.

Continue reading “I’m a neuroscientist who taught rats to drive − their joy suggests how anticipating fun can enrich human life” »