Approaches for the development of future at-scale neuromorphic systems based on principles of biointelligence are described, along with potential applications of scalable neuromorphic architectures and the challenges that need to be overcome.
A research team led by scientists at Northwestern University has developed the first-ever two-dimensional mechanically interlocked material with high flexibility and strength. In the future, this could be used to develop lightweight yet high-performance body armor and other such tough materials, a press release said.
It was in the 1980s that Fraser Stoddart, then a chemist at Northwestern University, first introduced the concept of mechanical bonds. Stoddart then expanded the role of these bonds into molecular machines by enabling functions like switching, rotating, contracting, and expanding in multiple ways and using them to develop interlocked structures, which also won him the Nobel Prize in 2016.
Xenon gas might one day be used as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, according to researchers from Mass General Brigham and Washington University. Don’t let its alien-sounding name frighten you. Xenon gas is commonly used as a medical aesthetic.
The researchers found that mice suffering from Alzheimer’s-like conditions saw reduced brain inflammation and a slowing of brain atrophy after inhaling xenon gas.
One of the biggest signs that xenon gas might actually be doing some good is that they even saw a reduction in amyloid plaque in the brain. These are deposits of proteins called beta-amyloids in the brain that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers think xenon is activating the brain’s immune cells to protect the brain from neurodegeneration.
W/ Dr. Andy Norman of Carnegie Mellon University. The prospects of cognitive immunology which posits mental immune systems & proceeds to investigate their functioning.
Id say ASI by 2029 or sooner, but we re now in uncharted waters.
Amodei: “I think progress really is as fast as people think it is.”
Summary: New research highlights how the brain’s reward-learning system can guide personalized treatments for depression. By studying two brain signals, expected value and prediction error, researchers identified markers that predict recovery potential and tailored responses to rewards and setbacks.
This approach goes beyond symptom management, targeting the brain processes driving specific depression symptoms like anhedonia. The findings pave the way for brain-based therapies that align with each individual’s unique learning patterns, offering more precise and effective mental health care.
ISRO dispatches Crew Module for Gaganyaan mission, showcasing advancements in liquid propulsion system technology.
A Minnesota-based glazing firm is using a robotic system to install high-rise glass panel bracket. Harmon is installing the latest technology with the help of Raise Robotics and Universal Robots. For high rise fastener installation, the robotic system has improved worker safety, as well as consistency and precision.
The companies revealed that construction workers need extensive safety rigging to install glass panel brackets up to 1,000 ft. into the air.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, continues to pose significant challenges despite advances in anti-amyloid therapies. New research from Harvard Medical School and Washington University School of Medicine, published in Science Translational Medicine, has unveiled a novel therapeutic approach: the use of inhaled xenon gas to modulate microglia and ameliorate disease progression in mouse models of AD.
How Xenon Targets Microglia
Microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells, play a dual role in neurodegeneration. While they can clear amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and damaged neurons, chronic activation leads to neuroinflammation, contributing to disease progression. Xenon gas, an inert anaesthetic, penetrates the blood-brain barrier and appears to modulate microglia to adopt a “pre-neurodegenerative microglia” (pre-MGnD) state.