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Jun 22, 2021

Microglia-mediated inflammation of the amygdala in autism

Posted by in categories: health, neuroscience

According to a new study1, an anti-inflammatory protein called interleukin-38, or IL-38, is decreased in the brains of people with autism.

To help protect the brain from injury and infection, the immune cells in the brain, called microglia, usually produce inflammatory molecules2. But it is a tough balance – an inappropriate, or too large, inflammatory response can harm the health of the brain.

Research has shown that there may be changes in the structure and function of microglia in the brains of people with autism. This suggests that atypical inflammatory responses may play a role in autism3, 4, 5.

Jun 22, 2021

The Pentagon Just COPIED SpaceX and Elon Musk

Posted by in categories: cryptocurrencies, Elon Musk, internet, military, robotics/AI, satellites

Fast transport of equipment and personnel using rockets similar to that of SpaceX.

Travelling through space will be far faster than atmospheric flight.

Continue reading “The Pentagon Just COPIED SpaceX and Elon Musk” »

Jun 22, 2021

Where Will You Go When a Robot Takes Your Job?

Posted by in categories: economics, education, government, health, robotics/AI

Smart strategies like this can help workers learn to embrace technological change. If the government helps people plan their next move if and when they’re no longer needed in their current job, workers will be able to roll with the economy’s punches more easily. Combined with national health insurance, education and retraining assistance — and a robust unemployment insurance system — it could make terror of job loss a thing of the past.


The U.S. government must assuage people’s anxiety about technology upending their working lives, in part by helping them forge new career paths.

Jun 22, 2021

Mathematicians Prove 2D Version of Quantum Gravity Really Works

Posted by in categories: mathematics, quantum physics

In three towering papers, a team of mathematicians has worked out the details of Liouville quantum field theory, a two-dimensional model of quantum gravity.

Jun 22, 2021

Helion Energy Achieves 100 Million Degrees Celsius Fusion Fuel Temperature and Confirms 16-Month Continuous Operation of Its Fusion Generator Prototype

Posted by in categories: business, climatology, engineering, physics

REDMOND, Wash.—()—Helion Energy (Helion), a clean electricity company committed to creating a new era of clean energy through fusion, today became the first private company to announce exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius in their 6th fusion generator prototype, Trenta. Reaching this temperature is a critical engineering milestone as it is considered the ideal fuel temperature at which a commercial power plant would need to operate. Helion will be presenting these operational results at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics. See abstract below.

“These achievements represent breakthroughs with major implications for how the world meets its expanding future electricity needs while dramatically reducing climate impact on a relevant timescale” Tweet this

Helion also announced their Trenta prototype recently completed a 16-month testing campaign, which pushed fusion fuel performance to unprecedented levels and performed lifetime and reliability testing on key components of the fusion system. Helion will be presenting these results at the 2021 IEEE Pulsed Power Conference & Symposium on Fusion Engineering. See abstract below.

Jun 22, 2021

An ally for alloys: AI helps design high-performance steels

Posted by in categories: economics, health, physics, robotics/AI

Machine learning techniques have contributed to progress in science and technology fields ranging from health care to high-energy physics. Now, machine learning is poised to help accelerate the development of stronger alloys, particularly stainless steels, for America’s thermal power generation fleet. Stronger materials are key to producing energy efficiently, resulting in economic and decarbonization benefits.

“The use of ultra-high-strength steels in power plants dates back to the 1950s and has benefited from gradual improvements in the materials over time,” says Osman Mamun, a postdoctoral research associate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). “If we can find ways to speed up improvements or create new materials, we could see enhanced efficiency in plants that also reduces the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere.”

Mamun is the lead author on two recent, related journal articles that reveal new strategies for machine learning’s application in the design of advanced alloys. The articles chronicle the research outcomes of a joint effort between PNNL and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). In addition to Mamun, the research team included PNNL’s Arun Sathanur and Ram Devanathan and NETL’s Madison Wenzlick and Jeff Hawk.

Jun 22, 2021

Plasma wind tunnel annihilates satellite model in atmospheric reentry test

Posted by in category: futurism

Satellite parts that melt away during reentry reduce the risk of space debris impacts on Earth.

Jun 22, 2021

Could mitochondria be the key to a healthy brain?

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

Some researchers suspect these bacterial ancestors living within our cells may contribute to a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

By Diana Kwon.

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Jun 22, 2021

Boston Dynamics is officially part of Hyundai Motor Group

Posted by in categories: military, robotics/AI

Hyundai Motor Group said Tuesday that it has officially completed its acquisition of robotics company Boston Dynamics. The deal was announced in December and valued Boston Dynamics at $1.1 billion. The purchase sees Hyundai pick up an 80 percent controlling stake in the company, with the previous owner, Softbank, retaining 20 percent ownership.

The deal will hopefully create a stable home for Boston Dynamics, which has continued to pump out the world’s most impressive robots despite continual ownership changes. The company was spun off from MIT in 1992 and survived for most of its life on DARPA research grants. Google acquired the independent Boston Dynamics in 2013 as part of a brief interest in robotics led by Android co-founder Andy Rubin. Google freed the company from surviving on military contracts, but when Rubin left Google a year later, the executive interest in robotics left with him.

Jun 22, 2021

A Robot Has Learned to Combine Vision and Touch

Posted by in categories: information science, robotics/AI

Summary: Combining deep learning algorithms with robotic engineering, researchers have developed a new robot able to combine vision and touch.

Source: EBRAINS / human brain project.

Continue reading “A Robot Has Learned to Combine Vision and Touch” »