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Jul 23, 2021

Can consciousness be explained by quantum physics? Research is closer to finding out

Posted by in categories: computing, cosmology, neuroscience, particle physics, quantum physics

One of the most important open questions in science is how our consciousness is established. In the 1990s, long before winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics for his prediction of black holes, physicist Roger Penrose teamed up with anaesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff to propose an ambitious answer.

They claimed that the brain’s neuronal system forms an intricate network and that the consciousness this produces should obey the rules of quantum mechanics —the theory that determines how tiny particles like electrons move around. This, they argue, could explain the mysterious complexity of human consciousness.

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Jul 23, 2021

Gain-of-Function: Should supercharging viruses be banned? | DW News

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, futurism

Gain-of-function experiments aim to increase the transmissibility and virulence of existing viruses, making them deadlier for humans. The stated purpose is to better understand pathogens and to develop vaccines for possible future pandemics. Critics say this type of research is extremely dangerous and should be banned or regulated. They claim it has not prevented any pandemics to date, and that the COVID-19 outbreak might be the result of an accidental release from a lab that was conducting gain-of-function research.

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Continue reading “Gain-of-Function: Should supercharging viruses be banned? | DW News” »

Jul 23, 2021

DeepMind Releases Accurate Picture of the Human Proteome – “The Most Significant Contribution AI Has Made to Advancing Scientific Knowledge to Date”

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, robotics/AI

DeepMind and EMBL release the most complete database of predicted 3D structures of human proteins.

Partners use AlphaFold, the AI system recognized last year as a solution to the protein structure prediction problem, to release more than 350000 protein structure predictions including the entire human proteome to the scientific community.

DeepMind today announced its partnership with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Europe’s flagship laboratory for the life sciences, to make the most complete and accurate database yet of predicted protein structure models for the human proteome. This will cover all ~20000 proteins expressed by the human genome, and the data will be freely and openly available to the scientific community. The database and artificial intelligence system provide structural biologists with powerful new tools for examining a protein’s three-dimensional structure, and offer a treasure trove of data that could unlock future advances and herald a new era for AI-enabled biology.

Jul 23, 2021

Mind the gap: State-of-the-art technologies and applications for EEG-based brain–computer interfaces

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, computing, education, law, neuroscience, security, wearables

Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) provide bidirectional communication between the brain and output devices that translate user intent into function. Among the different brain imaging techniques used to operate BCIs, electroencephalography (EEG) constitutes the preferred method of choice, owing to its relative low cost, ease of use, high temporal resolution, and noninvasiveness. In recent years, significant progress in wearable technologies and computational intelligence has greatly enhanced the performance and capabilities of EEG-based BCIs (eBCIs) and propelled their migration out of the laboratory and into real-world environments. This rapid translation constitutes a paradigm shift in human–machine interaction that will deeply transform different industries in the near future, including healthcare and wellbeing, entertainment, security, education, and marketing. In this contribution, the state-of-the-art in wearable biosensing is reviewed, focusing on the development of novel electrode interfaces for long term and noninvasive EEG monitoring. Commercially available EEG platforms are surveyed, and a comparative analysis is presented based on the benefits and limitations they provide for eBCI development. Emerging applications in neuroscientific research and future trends related to the widespread implementation of eBCIs for medical and nonmedical uses are discussed. Finally, a commentary on the ethical, social, and legal concerns associated with this increasingly ubiquitous technology is provided, as well as general recommendations to address key issues related to mainstream consumer adoption.

Jul 22, 2021

Imagine an AI with an imagination

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

One of the holy grails of computer science is the development of an AI that can extrapolate from data. A team of researchers from the University of Southern California has announced the development of something profoundly new — a model for an AI with imagination.


Understanding “why” may be the key to unlocking an AI’s imagination.

Jul 22, 2021

When Will Neuralink Be Available To Everyone?

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

When will Neuralink be available to healthy individuals? It’s difficult to find a coherent train of thought pertaining to this question specifically.

Recently, I’ve started thinking more in terms of regulatory approval rather than rough timeline estimates. This sent me down a fascinating path learning more about how medical devices in general make it through “the system.”

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Jul 22, 2021

Can artificial intelligence help scientists spot gravitational waves?

Posted by in categories: cosmology, physics, robotics/AI

Scientists hunting for elusive gravitational waves across the universe may be able to supercharge their discoveries with a new tool: artificial intelligence.

Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime, created when a massive object is accelerated or disturbed, such as when a black hole and a neutron star collide. Theorized by Albert Einstein, their existence was confirmed in 2015 with the first gravitational wave discovery by researchers using LIGO (the advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory). Now, just six years later, there have been at least 50 gravitational wave events detected.

Jul 22, 2021

Apple Issues Urgent iPhone Updates, But Not for Pegasus Zero-Day

Posted by in categories: mobile phones, security

Update now: The ream of bugs includes some remotely exploitable code execution flaws. Still to come: a fix for what makes iPhones easy prey for Pegasus spyware.

IPhone users, drop what you’re doing and update now: Apple has issued a warning about a ream of code-execution vulnerabilities – some of which are remotely exploitable – and experts are emphatically recommending an ASAP update to version 14.7 of iOS and iPadOS.

Unfortunately, you aren’t getting a fix for the flaw that makes your iPhones easy prey for Pegasus spyware. As headlines have focused on all week, a zero-click zero-day in Apple’s iMessage feature is being exploited by NSO Group’s notorious Pegasus mobile spyware: A spyware blitz enabled by a bug that has given the security community pause about the security of Apple’s closed ecosystem.

Jul 22, 2021

New Windows and Linux Flaws Give Attackers Highest System Privileges

Posted by in category: computing

New Linux flaws and an unpatched privilege escalation flaw in Windows could let attackers gain the highest system privileges.

Jul 22, 2021

XLoader Windows InfoStealer Malware Now Upgraded to Attack macOS Systems

Posted by in category: cybercrime/malcode

The XLoader Windows infostealer malware has now been upgraded to attack macOS users.