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Jan 15, 2021
Scientists Develop Novel Class of Antibiotic against Wide Range of Bacteria
Posted by Raphael Ramos in categories: biotech/medical, economics, health
Wistar Institute scientists have designed a new class of antimicrobial compound, which, they claim, uniquely combines direct antibiotic killing of pan drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria, with a simultaneous rapid immune response for combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The team claims the dual-acting immuno-antibiotics (DAIA) strategy could represent a âlandmarkâ in the fight against AMR.
âWe took a creative, double-pronged strategy to develop new molecules that can kill difficult-to-treat infections while enhancing the natural host immune response,â said Farokh Dotiwala, MBBS, PhD, assistant professor in the Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center and lead author of the teamâs work, which is reported in Nature, in a paper titled, âIspH inhibitors kill Gram-negative bacteria and mobilize immune clearance.â
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared AMR to be one of the top 10 global public health threats against humanity, and it is estimated that by 2050, antibiotic-resistant infections could claim 10 million lives each year and impose a cumulative $100 trillion burden on the global economy. The list of bacteria that are becoming resistant to treatment with all available antibiotic options is growing and few new drugs are in the pipeline, creating a pressing need for new classes of antibiotics to prevent public health crises.
Jan 15, 2021
A.I. displays an unsettling skill: the ability to show empathy
Posted by Raphael Ramos in category: robotics/AI
Oom Blikkies.
âFLOKAâ SHOWS EMOTION WHILE HELPING AROUND THE HOUSE
Researchers from Columbia have designed an A.I. that can effectively feel empathy and predict another robotâs goals using only vision.
Jan 15, 2021
Superintelligent AI Cannot be Controlled, Report Warns
Posted by Raphael Ramos in category: robotics/AI
Researchers from the Max Planck Society assessed humansâ capabilities for controlling killer AI. Read the details.
Jan 15, 2021
Examination of Theia 456 finds its nearly 500 stars were born at same time
Posted by SaĂșl Morales RodriguĂ©z in categories: physics, space travel
The Milky Way houses 8292 recently discovered stellar streamsâall named Theia. But Theia 456 is special.
A stellar stream is a rare linear patternârather than a clusterâof stars. After combining multiple datasets captured by the Gaia space telescope, a team of astrophysicists found that all of Theia 456âs 468 stars were born at the same time and are traveling in the same direction across the sky.
âMost stellar clusters are formed together,â said Jeff Andrews, a Northwestern University astrophysicist and member of the team. âWhatâs exciting about Theia 456 is that itâs not a small clump of stars together. Itâs long and stretched out. There are relatively few streams that are nearby, young and so widely dispersed.â
Jan 15, 2021
Conductive nature in crystal structures revealed at magnification of 10 million times
Posted by SaĂșl Morales RodriguĂ©z in category: materials
In groundbreaking materials research, a team led by University of Minnesota Professor K. Andre Mkhoyan has made a discovery that blends the best of two sought-after qualities for touchscreens and smart windowsâtransparency and conductivity.
The researchers are the first to observe metallic lines in a perovskite crystal. Perovskites abound in the Earthâs center, and barium stannate (BaSnO3) is one such crystal. However, it has not been studied extensively for metallic properties because of the prevalence of more conductive materials on the planet like metals or semiconductors. The finding was made using advanced transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a technique that can form images with magnifications of up to 10 million.
The research is published in Science Advances.
Jan 15, 2021
New videos show RNA as itâs never been seen
Posted by SaĂșl Morales RodriguĂ©z in category: biotech/medical
A new Northwestern University-led study is unfolding the mystery of how RNA molecules fold themselves to fit inside cells and perform specific functions. The findings could potentially break down a barrier to understanding and developing treatments for RNA-related diseases, including spinal muscular atrophy and perhaps even the novel coronavirus.
âRNA folding is a dynamic process that is fundamental for life,â said Northwesternâs Julius B. Lucks, who led the study. âRNA is a really important piece of diagnostic and therapeutic design. The more we know about RNA folding and complexities, the better we can design treatments.â
Using data from RNA-folding experiments, the researchers generated the first-ever data-driven movies of how RNA folds as it is made by cellular machinery. By watching their videos of this folding occur, the researchers discovered that RNA often folds in surprising, perhaps unintuitive ways, such as tying itself into knotsâand then immediately untying itself to reach its final structure.
Jan 15, 2021
Humans would be unable to control an artificial superintelligence
Posted by Future Timeline in categories: biotech/medical, internet, robotics/AI
We are fascinated by machines that can control cars, compose symphonies, or defeat people at chess, Go, or Jeopardy! While more progress is being made all the time in artificial intelligence (AI), some scientists and philosophers warn of the dangers of an uncontrollable superintelligent AI. Using theoretical calculations, an international team of researchers, including scientists from the Center for Humans and Machines at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, shows that it would not be possible to control a superintelligent AI. Their study is published in the Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research.
Suppose in the not-too-distant future that a research team builds an AI system with intelligence superior to that of humans, so it can learn independently. Connected to the Internet, the AI would have access to all of humanityâs data. It could replace existing programs and take control of all machines globally.
Would this produce a utopia or a dystopia? Would the AI cure cancer, bring about world peace, and prevent a climate disaster? Or would it destroy humanity and take over the Earth?
Jan 15, 2021
Oneweb Secures Investment From Softbank And Hughes Network Systems
Posted by Muhammad Furqan in categories: business, government, internet, satellites
London, 15 January, 2021 â OneWeb, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications company jointly owned by the UK Government and Bharti Global, announced today that it has secured additional funding from SoftBank Group Corp. (âSoftBankâ) and Hughes Network Systems LLC (âHughesâ), bringing OneWebâs total funding to $1.4 billion. The capital raised to date positions the Company to be fully funded for its first-generation satellite fleet, totaling 648 satellites, by the end of 2022.
OneWebâs mission is to deliver broadband connectivity worldwide to bridge the global Digital Divide by offering everyone, everywhere access including to the Internet of Things (IoT) future and a pathway to 5G. OneWebâs LEO satellite system includes a network of global gateway stations and a range of user terminals for different customer markets capable of delivering affordable, fast, high-bandwidth and low-latency communications services. In December 2020, OneWeb launched 36 new satellites, built at its Airbus Joint Venture assembly plant in Florida, USA, bringing the Companyâs total fleet to 110 satellites, all fully-functioning and benefitting from International Telecommunication Union spectrum priority.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Executive Chairman of OneWeb, commented, âWe are delighted to welcome the investment from SoftBank and Hughes. Both are deeply familiar with our business, share our vision for the future, and their commitment allows us to capitalise on the significant growth opportunity ahead for OneWeb. We gain from their experience and capabilities, as we deliver a unique LEO network for the world.â
Jan 15, 2021
Artificial intelligence in longevity medicine
Posted by Montie Adkins in categories: biotech/medical, life extension, robotics/AI
HURRY. Iâm getting old.
Recent advances in deep learning enabled the development of AI systems that outperform humans in many tasks and have started to empower scientists and physicians with new tools. In this Comment, we discuss how recent applications of AI to aging research are leading to the emergence of the field of longevity medicine.