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Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently announced the invention of a nanowire, 10,000 times thinner than a human hair, which can be cheaply grown by common bacteria and can be tuned to “smell” a vast array of chemical tracers—including those given off by people afflicted with different medical conditions, such as asthma and kidney disease.

Thousands of these specially tuned wires, each sniffing out a different chemical, can be layered onto tiny, wearable sensors, allowing health-care providers an unprecedented tool for monitoring potential health complications. Since these wires are grown by bacteria, they are organic, biodegradable and far greener than any inorganic nanowire.

To make these breakthroughs, which were detailed in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectrics, senior authors Derek Lovley, Distinguished Professor of Microbiology at UMass Amherst, and Jun Yao, professor of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering at UMass Amherst, needed to look no farther than their own noses.

Summary: In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers developed an electronic implant that collected information about brain activity from a single neuron for over one year.

Source: Harvard.

When a person experiences a happy or sad mood, which brain cells are active?

Summary: Recent studies have explored the use of psychedelics for the treatment of a range of mental health disorders. A new study reveals more insightful and mystical “trips” while exposed to psychedelics may be linked to an enduring reduction of symptoms for those with anxiety and depression.

Source: Ohio State University.

A more mystical and insightful psychedelic drug experience may be linked to an enduring reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms, according to a new study.

Few recent advances in technology have elicited as much interest as generative artificial intelligence. Media outlets around the world have provided awe-inspiring snapshots of what it can do for us. Our services alliance with OpenAI brings clarity to the expanding array of its potential business applications, combining OpenAI’s technology with our deep understanding of business strategy and social responsibility.

Generative AI uses sophisticated machine learning models to produce entirely original content such as images, text, and more. Beyond a compelling novelty, platforms such as ChatGPT, DALL·E, and Codex offer tangible benefits across industries and business functions—hyperefficient content creation, highly personalized marketing, more streamlined customer service operations, to name just a few. Advances in neural networks have pushed generative AI to an inflection point, giving early adopters a golden opportunity to make their mark. But while the technology has gained traction, many companies have faced challenges with integration.

We can help separate the hype from the real-world application, bringing experience across the value chain and a deep understanding of our clients’ industries. Equipped with deep expertise in AI technologies, our Advanced Analytics practice doesn’t only advise but also delivers solutions. We pinpoint the generative AI use cases that will create the most value, rapidly deploy a proof of concept, then implement the capabilities across your operating model, businesses processes, and data assets.

Optogenetic control of neural activity in the deep brain is achieved without intracranial surgery using ChRmine.

Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again!

Ben Goertzel in response to some common objections covered in an article on io9 by George Dvorsky ‘You’ll Probably Never Upload Your Mind Into A Computer’: http://io9.com/you-ll-probably-never-upload-your-mind-into-a-computer-474941498

Objections are covered in order as they appear in the article:
1. Brain functions are not computable.
2. We’ll never solve the hard problem of consciousness.
3. We’ll never solve the binding problem.
4. Panpsychism is true.
5. Mind-body dualism is true.
6. It would be unethical to develop.
7. We can never be sure it works.
8. Uploaded minds would be vulnerable to hacking and abuse.

Continue reading “Ben Goertzel — Countering Objections to Mind Uploading” »

Dust is a common fact of life, and it’s more than just a daily nuisance—it can get into machinery and equipment, causing loss of efficiency or breakdowns.

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin partnered with North Carolina-based company Smart Material Solutions Inc. to develop a new method to keep dust from sticking to surfaces. The result is the ability to make many types of materials dust resistant, from spacecraft to solar panels to household windows.

The research is published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

The planets will move closer and closer in the night sky until March 1.

Everything you need to know about the upcoming Venus-Jupiter conjunction.