Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
Toggle light / dark theme

Blog – Page 3,912

Our cells naturally degrade over time, which is part of the reason we’re not as mobile and sprightly aged 80 as we are aged 8. Now scientists have figured out a way to boost cell lifespan and longevity using a synthetic genetic ‘clock’.

Researchers from the University of California San Diego based their findings on the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, making it unlikely that humans might live forever any time soon – but the team thinks that the work could be developed to eventually help the human body age in a healthier way.

By ‘rewiring’ the yeast cells, the researchers were able to boost their lifespan by 82 percent on average. It’s a promising development in the control of cellular aging and treating age-related conditions.

Read more | >

Neural networks are distributed computing structures inspired by the structure of a biological brain and aim to achieve cognitive performance comparable to that of humans but in a much shorter time.

These technologies now form the basis of machine learning and that can perceive the environment and adapt their own behavior by analyzing the effects of previous actions and working autonomously. They are used in many areas of application, such as speech and image recognition and synthesis, autonomous driving and augmented reality systems, bioinformatics, genetic and molecular sequencing, and high-performance computing technologies.

Compared to conventional computing approaches, in order to perform complex functions, neural networks need to be initially “trained” with a large amount of known information that the network then uses to adapt by learning from experience. Training is an extremely energy-intensive process and as computing power increases, the neural networks’ consumption grows very rapidly, doubling every six months or so.

Read more | >

A solar-powered motorhome, shaped like a huge elongated teardrop, silently rolled into Madrid on Friday as part of a month-long journey from the Netherlands to southern Spain to highlight more sustainable modes of transport.

Engineering students at the Technical University of Eindhoven in the Netherlands created the blue and white vehicle, named Stella Vita – Latin for “star” and “life” – to inspire car makers and politicians to accelerate the transition toward green energy.

Expansive solar panels on the roof and on lateral wings that unfold when the vehicle stops allow the self-sustaining house on wheels, or SHOW, to travel up to 740 km (460 miles) on a sunny day, while the battery can also power a fridge, coffee maker and laptop in the two-person cabin.

Read more | >

In light of these changes, there is growing concern about the future of employment worldwide. Surveys suggest that one-fourth of all jobs are at risk of being automated, which understandably makes people worry about job security. However, there is evidence to suggest that the impact of automation may not be as dire as some may fear.

Contrary to popular belief, the automation of jobs is not necessarily synonymous with the elimination of jobs. Instead, it is likely to change the nature of occupations by taking over easy and repetitive tasks, which will free up employees to focus on work that requires higher-level interpersonal skills. This shift is expected to create a demand for workers who are skilled in areas such as communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

In conclusion, the nature of labor is evolving at an unprecedented pace due to the rise of technology. Automation and AI are transforming the types of jobs available in many industries, creating new opportunities for workers with higher-level skills. Although there may be concerns about job security, the impact of automation is expected to change rather than eliminate occupations, providing a chance for workers to develop new skills and remain relevant in an ever-changing job market.

Read more | >

Using a strategy that mimics the encoding of information in our brains, a trio of researchers in China has proposed a new platform for artificial intelligence (AI) that could be far more robust than existing architectures. The approach, which has yet to be implemented in the lab, exploits the inevitable non-uniformity of artificial neurons that are a result of defects in real magnetic materials.

\r \r.

The research was done by Zhe Yuan, Ya Qiao and Yajun Zhang at the Center for Advanced Quantum Studies and Department of Physics at Beijing Normal University.

Read more | >

Some companies are negatively impacted by the appearance of ChatGPT and similar AI.

CNBC’s Deirdre Bosa reports on Chegg as the shares of a California education company dropped more than 40%. For access to live and exclusive video from CNBC subscribe to CNBC PRO: https://cnb.cx/2NGeIvi.

» Subscribe to CNBC TV: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision.
» Subscribe to CNBC: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC

Turn to CNBC TV for the latest stock market news and analysis. From market futures to live price updates CNBC is the leader in business news worldwide.

Connect with CNBC News Online.

Continue reading “Chegg stock plunges on AI threat to new user growth” | >

Biology is so freaking cool! So, I made a list (with fun facts and pictures) of just a small subset of the world’s many amazing ocean creatures. This makes me think: imagine if we knew as much about all these creatures as we know about the human body. I would love a set of nice thick copies of “Principles of Anatomy and Physiology” except that each one is devoted to a different oceanic organism.

cover image credit: Ryo Minemizu (for more, see https://www.ryo-minemizu.com/)

Anglerfish https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglerfish

Notes: males are tiny compared to females. In many species of anglerfish, mating occurs through males attaching to and then fusing with females such that their circulatory systems join together. The male provides sperm and is eventually absorbed into the female.

Read more | >