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Sep 27, 2023

Architecture for Preventing Cognitive Decline: Contributions from Neuroscience to Healthy Aging

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, life extension, neuroscience

Cognitive decline is a growing public health concern that affects millions of people around the world. Amid an aging population, strategies that help prevent or mitigate cognitive deterioration become increasingly relevant to support healthy aging and maintaining independence for longer. Studies in the field of neuroscience applied to architecture (neuroarchitecture) have shown that the physical environment, both internal and external, public and private, plays a fundamental role in this aspect [1]. In this sense, architects and urban planners can direct their projects to create solutions that significantly contribute to this objective.

The human brain is a very plastic organ. In other words, it transforms functionally and structurally according to how it is stimulated. Although this plasticity is much more intense during the development period, it continues to exist throughout our lives [2,3]. Therefore, keeping the brain stimulated during adulthood and aging is key to keeping cognition functioning at its best. In this context, recent studies indicate that certain stimuli help in the development of a cognitive reserve [4]. This, in turn, is the brain’s resilience capacity, which helps it to remain functional even throughout aging and even when some neurodegenerative diseases arise [5].

Sep 27, 2023

Nanopore sequencing and DNA barcoding method gives hope of personalized medicine

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

With the ability to map dozens of biomarkers at once, a new method could transform testing for conditions including heart disease and cancer.

Currently, many diseases are diagnosed from blood tests that look for one (such as a protein or other small molecule) or, at most, a couple of biomarkers of the same type.

The new method, developed by scientists at Imperial College London in a research collaboration with Oxford Nanopore Technologies (Oxford Nanopore), can analyze dozens of biomarkers of different types at the same time. This would potentially allow clinicians to gather more information about a patient’s disease.

Sep 27, 2023

Alien life, unlike humans, may not be carbon-based, suggests new study

Posted by in categories: alien life, chemistry

In a new study, self-sustaining chemical reactions were discovered which carry the potential to support alien life, which is very different from the elements present on Earth.

The biology of Earth hinges on organic compounds which comprise carbon along with elements like phosphorus, sulphur, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen. Scientists believe that alternative chemical frameworks can lead to the existence of alien life forms.

For long, scientists have wondered if alien life might evolve on the basis of significantly different chemistry. Researchers have speculated if silicon may work as a backbone for biology.

Sep 27, 2023

Stanford’s new microchip could put powerful AI on your devices

Posted by in categories: health, robotics/AI, wearables

Aside from faster results, edge computing has the added benefit of increased privacy: If your health information never leaves your wearable, you don’t have to worry about someone else intercepting it — or interfering with it — en route.

So why do we run these apps in the cloud, instead of locally? The problem is that wireless devices have limited processing power and battery — to run a more advanced and energy-intensive AI program, you may have to turn to huge servers in the cloud.

A Stanford-led team has now unveiled NeuRRAM, a new microchip that could let us run advanced AI programs directly on our devices.

Sep 27, 2023

Google Launches Free & Paid Generative AI Training Courses

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

Google has introduced a range of training resources centered on generative AI.

Two comprehensive learning paths are now available on Google Cloud Skills Boost.

An “Introduction to Generative AI” path contains introductory, non-technical courses suited for sales, marketing, HR, and operations roles.

Sep 27, 2023

Putting On The Most Advanced Brain Scan Helmet Known to Man (Kernel Neuroscience fNIRS Helmet)

Posted by in categories: health, neuroscience, wearables

Dr. Cody Visits Kernel Neuroscience Headquarters and tries on the Kernel Flow.

►►► INSTAGRAM (Behind The Scenes with Cody Rall MD):
https://www.instagram.com/codyrall_techforpsych/

Continue reading “Putting On The Most Advanced Brain Scan Helmet Known to Man (Kernel Neuroscience fNIRS Helmet)” »

Sep 27, 2023

The two roads to quantum gravity

Posted by in category: quantum physics

One of the biggest challenges of modern physics is reconciling gravity and quantum mechanics. How do we deal with this dilemma?

Sep 27, 2023

Hugo de Garis — Innovating Beyond the Nanoscale, Femtometer Scale Technology

Posted by in categories: computing, engineering, military, nanotechnology, particle physics

Femtotech: Computing at the femtometer scale using quarks and gluons.
How the properties of quarks and gluons can be used (in principle) to perform computation at the femtometer (10^−15 meter) scale.

I’ve been thinking on and off for two decades about the possibility of a femtotech. Now that nanotech is well established, and well funded, I feel that the time is right to start thinking about the possibility of a femtotech.

Continue reading “Hugo de Garis — Innovating Beyond the Nanoscale, Femtometer Scale Technology” »

Sep 27, 2023

Unveiling Nanoscale Wonders: Carbon-Based Quantum Technology

Posted by in categories: computing, finance, nanotechnology, quantum physics

Quantum technology holds immense promise, yet it is riddled with complexity. Anticipated to usher in a slew of technological advancements in the upcoming decades, it is set to offer us more compact and accurate sensors, robustly secure communication networks, and high-capacity computers. These advancements will outpace the capabilities of present computing technologies, aiding in the swift development of new drugs and materials, controlling financial markets, and enhancing weather forecasting.

To realize these benefits, we require what are termed as quantum materials, which display significant quantum physical effects. One such material is graphene.

Graphene is an allotrope of carbon in the form of a single layer of atoms in a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice in which one atom forms each vertex. It is the basic structural element of other allotropes of carbon, including graphite, charcoal, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes. In proportion to its thickness, it is about 100 times stronger than the strongest steel.

Sep 27, 2023

Emmy Noether: the woman who developed one of the most beautiful theorems in physics

Posted by in categories: energy, physics

Imagine a juggler tossing balls into the air. The art of juggling is a dance between motion and pause, where the ball’s speed slows as it ascends, and then quickens on the way down. This dance reveals one of the core tenets of physics: conservation laws.

Simply put, these laws tell us that certain features of our world, like energy, don’t just vanish; they transform from one form to another. In our juggling example, the energy of motion (kinetic energy) morphs into the energy of position (potential energy) and back again.

Conservation laws aren’t just limited to juggling, or even Earth for that matter. They’re universal principles, true across various fields of physics. Yet, they aren’t always straightforward.