Lifeboat Foundation

It can be difficult to distinguish between substance and hype in the field of artificial intelligence. In order to stay grounded, it is important to step back from time to time and ask a simple question: what has AI actually accomplished or enabled that makes a difference in the real world?

This summer, DeepMind delivered the strongest answer yet to that question in the decades-long history of AI research: AlphaFold, a software platform that will revolutionize our understanding of biology.

Continue reading “AlphaFold Is The Most Important Achievement In AI —Ever” »

Effective methods for decoupling superconducting qubits (SQs) from parasitic environmental noise sources are critical for increasing their lifetime and phase fidelity. While considerable progress has been made in this area, the microscopic origin of noise remains largely unknown. In this work, first principles density functional theory calculations are employed to identify the microscopic origins of magnetic noise sources in SQs on an α-Al_{2}O_{3} substrate. The results indicate that it is unlikely that the existence of intrinsic point defects and defect complexes in the substrate are responsible for low frequency noise in these systems. Rather, a comprehensive analysis of extrinsic defects shows that surface aluminum ions interacting with ambient molecules will form a bath of magnetic moments that can couple to the SQ paramagnetically. The microscopic origin of this magnetic noise source is discussed and strategies for ameliorating the effects of these magnetic defects are proposed.

MIT trained an AI to generate photorealistic holograms in milliseconds using just the processing power of a smartphone.

Gene editing works at low efficiency in dogs.

Circa 2017

‘We have entered the age where the human genome is a real drug target.’

Straight from the world of aquatic sports to the cosmic realm.

Some 70 years later, we are still relying on air friction, heatshields, and parachutes and landing at sea more often than not. A change could boost the commercialization of LEO.

This new see-through wood alternative to glass has better heat-insulating properties to reduce your cost of heating and cooling.

– Maine Coon Central

With so many people questioning the Maine Coon’s mysterious origins, it’s not surprising that bizarre queries like, ‘Is a Maine Coon Part Raccoon?’ have been asked!

Continue reading “Is A Maine Coon Part Raccoon?” »

Circa 2015

Scientists have determined how a particular gene makes night vision possible. The study focuses on a gene called nyctalopin. Mutations in the gene result in inherited “night blindness,” a loss of vision in low-light environments.