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Neural Plasticity Depends On This Long Noncoding RNA’s Journey From Nucleus to Synapse

Summary: Study sheds new light on the role noncoded RNAs play at the synapse.

Source: Scripps Research Institute.

Making memories involves more than seeing friends or taking photos. The brain constantly adapts to new information and stores memories by building connections among neurons, called synapses. How neurons do this–reaching out arm-like dendrites to communicate with other neurons–requires a ballet of genes, signaling molecules, cellular scaffolding and protein-building machinery.

AI-driven audio cloning startup gives voice to Einstein chatbot

You’ll need to prick up your ears for this slice of deepfakery emerging from the wacky world of synthesized media: A digital version of Albert Einstein — with a synthesized voice that’s been (re)created using AI voice cloning technology drawing on audio recordings of the famous scientist’s actual voice.

The startup behind the “uncanny valley” audio deepfake of Einstein is Aflorithmic (whose seed round we covered back in February).

Intriguing Secret to Jupiter’s Curious Aurora Activity Revealed in New Research

Auroral displays continue to intrigue scientists, whether the bright lights shine over Earth or over another planet. The lights hold clues to the makeup of a planet’s magnetic field and how that field operates.

New research about Jupiter proves that point — and adds to the intrigue.

Peter Delamere, a professor of space physics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, is among an international team of 13 researchers who have made a key discovery related to the aurora of our solar system’s largest planet.

New Type of Battery Can Charge 10x Faster Than Lithium-Ion Models

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are basically everywhere, powering everything from smartphones to notebooks, earbuds to gaming devices, and so much more.

But while the convenience of this ubiquitous (and Nobel Prize-winning) battery chemistry has radically changed the way we use and charge portable technology, lithium-ion is far from perfect.

The performance of lithium-ion batteries degrades over time, and sometimes flaws in the battery cells can lead to overheating and dangerous fire hazards – with companies sometimes having to issue urgent recalls for products that can explode without warning.

Programmable Bacteria: Nature’s Most Powerful Tool

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Credits:
Narrator: Stephanie Sammann.
Writer: Ashleen Knutsen.
Editor: Dylan Hennessy (https://www.behance.net/dylanhennessy1)
Illustrator/Animator: Kirtan Patel (https://kpatart.com/illustrations)
Animator: Mike Ridolfi (https://www.moboxgraphics.com/)
Sound: Graham Haerther (https://haerther.net)
Thumbnail: Simon Buckmaster (https://twitter.com/forgottentowel)
Producer: Brian McManus (https://www.youtube.com/c/realengineering)

Imagery courtesy of Getty Images.

7 Innovative Projects Making Cities More Sustainable

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With an ever-increasing global population and rising urbanization, creating safe, resilient and sustainable cities is right at the top of the green agenda.

The United Nations included this mission among its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which together form a blueprint for collectively addressing the challenges the world faces.