Lifeboat Foundation

The second law of thermodynamics delineates an asymmetry in how physical systems evolve over time, known as the arrow of time. In macroscopic systems, this asymmetry has a clear direction (e.g., one can easily notice if a video showing a system’s evolution over time is being played normally or backward).

In the microscopic world, however, this direction is not always apparent. In fact, fluctuations in microscopic systems can lead to clear violations of the second law of thermodynamics, causing the arrow of time to become blurry and less defined. As a result, when watching a video of a microscopic process, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to determine whether it is being played normally or backwards.

Researchers at University of Maryland developed a machine learning algorithm that can infer the direction of the thermodynamic arrow of time in both macroscopic and microscopic processes. This algorithm, presented in a paper published in Nature Physics, could ultimately help to uncover new physical principles related to thermodynamics.

Circa 2015

Blue Brain Project announces results of a decade’s work.

Circa 2013

A far-flung team is trying to build the first digital lifeform to work out the basic principles of the brain.

Continue reading “Is This Virtual Worm the First Sign of the Singularity?” »

Circa 2018

After 12 years of work, researchers at the University of Manchester in England have completed construction of a “SpiNNaker” (Spiking Neural Network Architecture) supercomputer. It can simulate the internal workings of up to a billion neurons through a whopping one million processing units.

Continue reading “Million-core neuromorphic supercomputer could simulate an entire mouse brain” »

Creating believable characters using high-quality character shader techniques, data scans of Actors, and improved geometry workflow.

Careful manufacturing yields a lithium-ion battery for compact medical devices by.

Katherine Bourzac

Sometimes science is super simple—and super tasty. A classic science experiment demonstrating how to use your microwave and a bar of chocolate to measure the speed of light is making the rounds, with easy-to-follow instructions for replicating the test at home.

🔬 You love badass science experiments. So do we. Let’s play around together.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, has previously said the drug would set “a new standard of care” for Covid-19 patients.

An MIT CSAIL AI system that can automatically decipher extinct languages offers hope of preserving a wealth of historical heritage.