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🔍 Overview: Join Robert Plomin and me as we dive deep into the fascinating world of behavioural genetics, exploring how our DNA shapes who we are, the power of environment, and whether we can rewrite our genetic destiny.

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 đŸ—Łïž Highlights [Highlight 1]: How Does Genetics Shape Who We Are? [Highlight 2]: What Role Does the Environment Truly Play in Defining Us? [Highlight 3]: Are We Hardwired by Our DNA, or Can We Rewrite Our Destiny? 🕒 Timestamps 0:00 — Introduction 1:57 — Robert Plomin, Philosophy and Psychology 4:12 — Why Behavioural Genetics? 8:21 — Publishing Blueprint 14:51 — Heritability 30:15 — The Basics of DNA 34:34 — Genetic Variances and Binary Myths 41:21 — Labels and Certificates 45:33 — Nonshared Environments and The Nature of Nurture 1:00:51 — Self-Selecting Within Environments 1:07:04 — Group Difference and Heritability 1:13:03 — Academic Success: DNA vs. Schooling 1:21:17 — Ethical Considerations 1:27:01 — Moral Responsibility and Accountability 1:31:23 — The Future of Genetics 1:42:38 — Genetic Trajectories and Random Events 1:45:17 — The DNA Revolution 1:48:21 — Closing Remarks 📚 Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible — thanks!) Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are by Robert Plomin: https://amzn.to/3T9htYp King’s College London: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/robert-p
 Common Disorders are Quantitative Traits by Robert Plomin: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19859
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đŸ—Łïž Highlights.
[Highlight 1]: How Does Genetics Shape Who We Are?
[Highlight 2]: What Role Does the Environment Truly Play in Defining Us?
[Highlight 3]: Are We Hardwired by Our DNA, or Can We Rewrite Our Destiny?

🕒 Timestamps.

Continue reading “Behavioural Genetics: DNA & Individual Differences | Robert Plomin | The Socratic Sessions | Ep #28” | >

Quantum computing will never be the same again. Join host Konstantinos Karagiannis for a special onsite interview at Microsoft Azure Quantum labs, where he was invited to see the launch of Majorana 1, the world’s first quantum processor powered by topological qubits. On the day this episode is posted, Nature will release a paper validating how Microsoft was able to create a topoconductor, or new material stack of indium arsenide and aluminum, built literally one atom at a time, to bring quantum particles called Majoranas into usable form. The resulting topological qubits have a unique shape called a tetron and can be accurately measured with lower errors than other modalities. Starting with a 4×2 grid of qubits, this same tiny device will hold 1 million qubits in a few years because of its unique system of wiring and measurement. This interview with Chetan Nayak from Microsoft happened a few feet away from a working Majorana 1 system.

For more information on Microsoft Azure Quantum, visit https://quantum.microsoft.com/.

Read the technical blog here: https://aka.ms/MSQuantumAQBlog.

For photos from the Microsoft labs and other links, visit @konstanthacker on X and Instagram.

Continue reading “Topological Qubits are Here! Discussing Majorana 1 — with Chetan Nayak of Microsoft | Ep. 97” | >

Visit Microsoft Azure Quantum here to learn about quantum computing for free https://quantum.microsoft.com/?ocid=2
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 Topological quantum computing is a brand new form of quantum computing being developed by Microsoft as they enter the race to build the world’s first useful quantum computer. In this video I visited Microsoft’s quantum labs to see how they are making their topological quantum computers and learn how topology helps their quantum devices avoid noise by harnessing the power of Majorana quasiparticles which are made from an exotic form of superconductivity where the electrons behave like there is a Majorana particle there which has the special properties of topology.

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 “A cryogenic CMOS chip for generating control signals for multiple qubits” https://www.nature.com/articles/s4192
 Topological qubit noise levels — “Assessing requirements to scale to practical quantum advantage” chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/ https://arxiv.org/pdf/2211.07629 Chapters 00:00 Topological Quantum Computing 02:01 Topology Explained 04:47 Resilience to Noise 05:51 Anatomy of a Quantum Computer 07:05 Chip Fabrication and Lab Tour 09:41 How to Build a Quantum Computer 11:21 Topological Quantum Computing Lego Explainer 15:40 Microsoft’s Results 17:50 Majorana Particle Explained 21:31 Sponsor Message 23:03 Thanks Patrons!
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I have also made posters available for personal or educational use which you can find here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/9586967


Continue reading “Microsoft’s Topological Quantum Computer Explained” | >

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My name is Artem, I’m a graduate student at NYU Center for Neural Science and researcher at Flatiron Institute.

In this video video we are exploring a fascinating paper which revealed the role of biological constraints on what patterns of neural dynamics the brain and cannot learn.

Continue reading “Are There Limits What Brains Can Learn?” | >

It’s true that Japanese scientists have made a significant breakthrough concerning hydrogels and cancer cells. Here’s a breakdown of what the research entails:

* The Breakthrough:

* Researchers at Hokkaido University and the National Cancer Center Research Institute developed a novel hydrogel, a “double-network (DN) gel,” that can rapidly revert differentiated cancer cells back into cancer stem cells (CSCs).

Read more | >

Research shows a high-magnesium diet could slow brain aging and lower dementia risk.

A study from the Australian National University shows that increased magnesium intake may help protect against age-related brain decline, particularly benefiting women.

Researchers analyzed data from over 6,000 participants aged 40–73, tracking their dietary magnesium consumption and its effects on brain volume and white matter lesions. Those consuming more than 550 mg of magnesium daily had brains appearing nearly a year younger by age 55 compared to those with lower intake.

The study also found that postmenopausal women experienced the greatest neuroprotective benefits, possibly due to magnesium’s anti-inflammatory properties.

Magnesium, found in foods like leafy greens, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains, has long been known for its health benefits, but this research highlights its potential role in dementia prevention. With no cure for dementia, experts stress the importance of dietary strategies for brain health.

Continue reading “Can a magnesium-rich diet reduce dementia risk?” | >

Forever chemicals affect your genes, according to a recent study.

Scientists have identified 11 genes that are consistently impacted by exposure to harmful chemicals that are found in everything from drinking water to food packaging.

Forever chemicals, also known as PFAS, are a global health concern. PFAS or “per-and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances” are also found in common household objects such as non-stick pans, stain or water-resistant materials as well as paints, carpets and clothes.

They are persistent in the environment and can accumulate in our bodies over time. They have been linked to a range of negative health outcomes, including impacting our genes. Some of the 11 genes that were impacted by PFAS are vital for neuronal health, and they showed altered expression levels after exposure to PFAS compounds. This discovery suggests these genes could serve as potential markers for detecting and monitoring PFAS-induced neurotoxicity.

However, the study also revealed that hundreds of other genes responded differently depending on the exact PFAS compound. While PFAS are known to accumulate in the brain due to their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, this research provides new insights into the intricate ways these chemicals can interfere with gene expression and potentially disrupt our health. Concerns about PFAS stem from their potential health effects, which may include immune deficiency, liver cancer, and thyroid abnormalities. Due to their persistence and potential health risks, many governments are taking steps to regulate or ban the use of PFAS in various products.

Continue reading ““Forever Chemicals” Called PFAS Show Up in Your Food, Clothes, and Home” | >

Physicists have performed a groundbreaking simulation they say sheds new light on an elusive phenomenon that could determine the ultimate fate of the Universe.

Pioneering research in quantum field theory around 50 years ago proposed that the universe may be trapped in a false vacuum — meaning it appears stable but in fact could be on the verge of transitioning to an even more stable, true vacuum state. While this process could trigger a catastrophic change in the Universe’s structure, experts agree that predicting the timeline is challenging, but it is likely to occur over an astronomically long period, potentially spanning millions of years.

In an international collaboration between three research institutions, the team report gaining valuable insights into false vacuum decay — a process linked to the origins of the cosmos and the behaviour of particles at the smallest scales. The collaboration was led by Professor Zlatko Papic, from the University of Leeds, and Dr Jaka Vodeb, from Forschungszentrum JĂŒlich, Germany.

Read more | >

DGIST research teams have developed a self-powered sensor that uses motion and pressure to generate electricity and light simultaneously. This battery-free technology is expected to be used in various real-life applications, such as disaster rescue, sports, and wearable devices.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) and mechanoluminescence (ML) have attracted attention as green energy technologies that can generate electricity and light, respectively, without external power. However, researchers in previous studies mainly focused on the two technologies separately or simply combined them. Moreover, the power output stability of TENG and the insufficient luminous duration of ML materials have been major limitations for practical applications.

The research team has developed a system that generates electricity and light simultaneously using motion and pressure. They added light-emitting zinc sulfide-copper (ZnS: Cu) particles to a rubber-like material (polydimethylsiloxane [PDMS]) and designed a single electrode structure based on silver nanowires to obtain high efficiency. The developed device does not degrade in performance even after being repeatedly pressed more than 5,000 times, and it stably generates voltages of up to 60 V and a current of 395 nA.

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Graying hair is a hallmark of aging, often considered an inevitable part of growing older. However, recent research from Nagoya University in Japan led by Masashi Kato and Takumi Kagawa suggests that an antioxidant might suppress this process. The researchers identified luteolin, an antioxidant found in vegetables including celery, broccoli, carrots, onions, and peppers, as being a potential anti-graying agent. Their findings pave the way for potential applications in human hair care.

The researchers’ study focused on three antioxidants—luteolin, hesperetin, and diosmetin—to assess their anti-graying effects in mice that were bred to go gray like humans. The difference was startling, the mice that received luteolin retained their black fur, even as their cage mates’ fur turned gray, regardless of whether the luteolin was given externally or internally.

“This result was surprising,” Professor Kato said. “While we expected that antioxidants may also have anti-graying effects, only luteolin, not hesperetin or diosmetin, demonstrated significant effects. This finding suggests that luteolin may have a unique medicinal effect that prevents graying.”

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