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Nov 14, 2021

Laser-free trapping of heavy molecules opens an alternative route to new physics

Posted by in category: physics

Trap based on electric fields alone boosts the search for a non-zero electron electric dipole moment and other phenomena beyond the Standard Model.

Nov 14, 2021

The Moon Has Enough Oxygen to Keep Billions Alive For 100,000 Years

Posted by in category: space

😀


Turning it into breathable air is the tricky part.

Nov 14, 2021

Sponge Genes Hint at the Origins of Neurons and Other Cells

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

đ™Žđ™„đ™€đ™Łđ™œđ™š 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙹 đ™ƒđ™žđ™Łđ™© đ™–đ™© đ™©đ™đ™š 𝙊𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙹 đ™€đ™› 𝙉𝙚đ™Șđ™§đ™€đ™Łđ™š 𝙖𝙣𝙙 đ™Šđ™©đ™đ™šđ™§ đ˜Ÿđ™šđ™Ąđ™Ąđ™š


A new study of gene expression in sponges reveals the complex diversity of their cells as well as some possibly ancient connections between the nervous, immune and digestive systems.

Nov 14, 2021

How COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Work — Vaccine Makers Project

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, education

Great video of vital biomolecular processes.


COVID-19 mRNA vaccines deliver directions to make a protein that educates our immune system, so it will neutralize the virus in future encounters. The mRNA-containing lipid particles are taken up by specialized immune system cells. See more: COVIDVaccineAnswers.org

Continue reading “How COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Work — Vaccine Makers Project” »

Nov 14, 2021

Can Spinlaunch Throw Rockets Into Space?

Posted by in categories: engineering, space travel

With the recent COP talks in mind, is this the Eco alternative to rocketry? And are there perhaps others?


I talked about Spinlaunch a few years ago, they wanted to reduce space launch costs by throwing the launch vehicles out of a spinning launcher at hypersonic speeds. I was somewhat skeptical as to the chances of solving the engineering problems inherent in this, but recently they demonstrated a mach 1 launch using their 1/3 scale launcher, so they’re already making progress on developing a viable launch syste.

Continue reading “Can Spinlaunch Throw Rockets Into Space?” »

Nov 14, 2021

Tardigrades: Why water bears could be the first interstellar astronauts

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

It’s more likely than you think.


When it comes to interstellar missions, however, there are no plans for crewed missions on the table. While there are proposals for sending robotic missions, sending astronauts to nearby stars and exoplanets simply isn’t feasible yet.

Continue reading “Tardigrades: Why water bears could be the first interstellar astronauts” »

Nov 14, 2021

Watch: Black hole 11 times bigger than the Sun discovered among young stars

Posted by in category: cosmology

Come out, come out, wherever you are!


In a neighboring star cluster called NGC 1,850, astronomers spotted a small black hole tugging on the orbit of a star — a discovery that could lead us to others.

Nov 14, 2021

Bias in A.I. is a big, thorny, ethical issue

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

Companies like Facebook parent Meta and Google parent Alphabet have all experienced major A.I. bias blunders, sometimes involving computer vision technology misidentifying Black people with primates. Numerous high-profile academic studies, articles in mainstream news outlets, and proposed regulations by lawmakers in the European Union and elsewhere continue to bring the issue to the forefront.

On a personal note, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to write variations of the phrase “facial recognition software that works better on white males than women and people of color” in articles about A.I. bias.

Nov 14, 2021

4 Ways Successful Enterprises Are Driving Success In AI

Posted by in categories: business, employment, robotics/AI

Many companies are experimenting with AI, often in many different areas of the company. But experimentation is not enough. It’s essential to have a bold corporate strategy driven from the top. The AI strategy needs to be coordinated throughout the company in tight alignment with the overall business strategy.

AI can be scary for employees, and many are worried about their jobs (see another jobs?). The most successful AI-fueled organizations lead with change management to enable AI systems to succeed.

A key factor for successful change management is trust. Companies that focus on relationship-building, collaboration, and training engender trust. Successful companies help employees understand that most AI replaces tasks, not jobs. Those companies are aiming to augment jobs so that AI and employees work together. If AI is going to replace jobs, management needs to be clear about exactly how that will play out for the employees and provide opportunities for them to upskill or reskill.

Continue reading “4 Ways Successful Enterprises Are Driving Success In AI” »

Nov 14, 2021

Volcanic Eruptions Contributed To The Collapse Of Chinese Dynasties

Posted by in categories: climatology, military

Volcanic eruptions contributed to the collapse of dynasties in China in the last 2,000 years by temporarily cooling the climate and affecting agriculture, according to a news release by Rutgers University.

In a study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, scientists reconstructed the magnitude of 156 explosive volcanic eruptions from 1 A.D. to 1915 by examining elevated sulfate levels in ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica. They also analyzed historical documents from China on 68 dynasties and examined warfare there between 850 and 1911.

Scientists found that smaller volcanic “shocks” to the climate may cause dynasties to collapse when political and socioeconomic stress is already high. Larger shocks may lead to collapses without substantial pre-existing stress. Other factors include poor leadership, administrative corruption and demographic pressures.