Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
Toggle light / dark theme

Blog – Page 538

The brain is sometimes called the most complex machine in the known universe. But the thoughts that it outputs putter along at a trifling 10 bits per second, the pace of a conversation.

By Rachel Nuwer

People tend to have the sense that their inner thoughts and feelings are much richer than what they are capable of expressing in real time. Elon Musk has spoken publicly about this “bandwidth problem,” as he described it to podcaster Joe Rogan. Musk is so bothered by this, in fact, that he has made it one of his long-term goals to create an interface that allows the human brain to communicate directly with a computer, unencumbered by the slow speed of speaking or writing.

Read more | >

Regorafenib.

For patients with metastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinoma, inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway via the anti–VEGFR-2 antibody ramucirumab increases response, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) when combined with second-line treatment with paclitaxel. The multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor regorafenib targets VEGFR and other pathways and has effectiveness in chemotherapy-refractory colorectal cancer.

Investigators now report results of the industry-sponsored, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled INTEGRATE IIa trial evaluating regorafenib (160 mg daily for 21 days of 28-day cycles) in patients with chemotherapy-refractory esophagogastric adenocarcinoma. Of the 251 patients enrolled, 63% were treated in Asia; 73% had gastric primaries; 42% had received a prior VEGF inhibitor; 59% had received two and 40% had received three or more lines of prior chemotherapy. For the analysis of OS, the primary endpoint, results were pooled with those from INTEGRATE I, a prior randomized, placebo-controlled, phase II trial in 147 patients.

At a median follow-up of 48 months, OS was improved with regorafenib over placebo in the pooled cohort (hazard ratio, 0.70; P=0.001) and in the INTEGRATE IIa cohort (HR, 0.68; P=0.006). In the INTEGRATE IIa cohort, 1-year OS was improved with regorafenib (19% vs. 6%), whereas median OS was similar (4.0 and 4.5 months). PFS was improved with regorafenib (HR, 0.53; P0.0001). The disease control rate was higher with regorafenib than placebo (21.3% vs. 4.9%) and the antitumor response was limited (2.4% vs. 0%). Adverse events related to regorafenib, including palmar–plantar erythrodysesthesia, mucositis, hypertension, and diarrhea, were manageable.

Read more | >

Mapping the geometry of quantum worlds: measuring the quantum geometric tensor in solids.

Quantum states are like complex shapes in a hidden world, and understanding their geometry is key to unlocking the mysteries of modern physics. One of the most important tools for studying this geometry is the quantum geometric tensor (QGT). This mathematical object reveals how quantum states “curve” and interact, shaping phenomena ranging from exotic materials to groundbreaking technologies.

The QGT has two parts, each with distinct significance:

1. The Berry curvature (the imaginary part): This governs topological phenomena, such as unusual electrical and magnetic behaviors in advanced materials.

2. The quantum metric (the real part): Recently gaining attention, this influences surprising effects like flat-band superfluidity, quantum Landau levels, and even the nonlinear Hall effect.

While the QGT is crucial for understanding these phenomena, measuring it directly has been a challenge, previously limited to simple, artificial systems.

A breakthrough now allows scientists to measure the QGT in real crystalline solids. Using an advanced technique involving polarization-, spin-, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, researchers have reconstructed the QGT in a material called CoSn, a “kagome metal” with unique quantum properties like topological flat bands. This metal forms patterns resembling a woven basket, hosting quantum effects that were previously only theorized.

Continue reading “Physicists measure quantum geometry for first time” | >

The most common form – obstructive sleep apnoea – happens when the walls of the throat relax and narrow or close, with symptoms including choking noises, loud snoring and waking up a lot.

The three-hour procedure to fit Nyxoah’s Genio implant was carried out by medics at University College London Hospitals NHS foundation trust (UCLH) this month.

One of the two patients, Natalie Boller, 63, was feeling better within days and will return to the clinic to have the device activated in the coming weeks.

Read more | >

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team at NASA has completed the integration of the telescope and its instruments onto the carrier, a significant milestone in the assembly process.

With the Coronagraph Instrument and the Optical Telescope Assembly in place, the Roman telescope is equipped to explore a vast array of astronomical phenomena, including exoplanets and cosmic mysteries like dark energy and dark matter. The Wide Field Instrument, a powerful 300-megapixel infrared camera, will enhance the telescope’s capability to survey the universe extensively. The project is on schedule for a 2026 completion and a 2027 launch.

Integration of roman space telescope components.

Read more | >

A NASA-led study reveals that the pattern of rainfall throughout the year—specifically the frequency and intensity of rain events—is nearly as significant to global vegetation health as the total amount of annual rainfall.

The research indicates that less frequent but heavier rainfalls can benefit plants in arid regions like the U.S. Southwest, while potentially harming those in wetter ecosystems such as the Central American rainforests due to longer intervals of dryness.

Impact of rainfall patterns on global vegetation.

Read more | >

Researchers at NASAs Armstrong Center are advancing an atmospheric probe for potential space missions.

Utilizing innovative designs based on past aircraft research, the team has successfully tested the probe, planning further improvements to increase its functionality and data-gathering capabilities.

NASA’s Innovative Atmospheric Probe

Read more | >

Researchers at the University of Virginia have made significant advancements in understanding how heat flows through thin metal films, critical for designing more efficient computer chips.

This study confirms Matthiessen’s rule at the nanoscale, enhancing heat management in ultra-thin copper films used in next-generation devices, thereby improving performance and sustainability.

Breakthrough in Chip Technology.

Read more | >