Virginia Tech researchers have created a robotic arm that assists people with mobility issues in complex tasks like preparing a pizza.
Category: food
A thermodynamic approach to machine learning: How optimal transport theory can improve generative models
Joint research led by Sosuke Ito of the University of Tokyo has shown that nonequilibrium thermodynamics, a branch of physics that deals with constantly changing systems, explains why optimal transport theory, a mathematical framework for the optimal change of distribution to reduce cost, makes generative models optimal. As nonequilibrium thermodynamics has yet to be fully leveraged in designing generative models, the discovery offers a novel thermodynamic approach to machine learning research. The findings were published in the journal Physical Review X.
Image generation has been improving in leaps and bounds over recent years: a video of a celebrity eating a bowl of spaghetti that represented the state of the art a couple of years ago would not even qualify as good today. The algorithms that power image generation are called diffusion models, and they contain randomness called “noise.”
During the training process, noise is introduced to the original data through diffusion dynamics. During the generation process, the model must eliminate the noise to generate new content from the noisy data. This is achieved by considering the time-reversed dynamics, as if playing the video in reverse. One piece of the art and science of building a model that produces high-quality content is specifying when and how much noise is added to the data.
Discovery of bumblebee medicine’s simple structure makes synthetic production viable
Researchers at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague have successfully developed a method to chemically synthesize callunene, a natural compound that protects bumblebees from a deadly gut parasite. In a recent discovery, the team also determined that the naturally occurring compound is a 50/50 mixture of its mirror-image forms, meaning the synthetic version can be used directly to safeguard vital pollinator colonies.
The study, published in the Journal of Natural Products, addresses the threat posed by the parasite Crithidia bombi. This protozoan infects bumblebees, impairing their ability to find nectar-rich flowers, which ultimately leads to starvation, reduced colony fitness, and death. The problem is especially acute in commercial indoor farming operations that rely on healthy pollinator colonies. Not only because of the farming effectiveness, but also because parasites might be spread from indoor pollinators to wild colonies.
Nature provides a defense in the form of callunene, a compound found in the nectar of heather (Calluna vulgaris). Bumblebees that forage on heather are prophylactically protected from Crithidia infection. However, the loss of heathland habitats and the difficulty of isolating the compound from natural sources have made this solution impractical on a large scale.
MIT unveils 3D printer that turns food scraps into household items
Explore how the 3D FOODres. AI Printer transforms food waste into useful items, promoting eco-friendly practices every day.
Research brings hope for new treatments for spinal muscular atrophy, autism
Ancient bacteria that have evolved to become integral to our cells—converting nutrients from food into energy—may also contribute to neurologic disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and autism, according to research in the lab of Yongchao Ma, Ph.D., from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
Called mitochondria, these mysterious parts of the cell have even retained their own DNA. Traditionally they are known as the “powerhouse of the cell.”
In recent years, however, mitochondria have been recognized as regulating many functions, including gene expression and how cells communicate. Dr. Ma’s research focuses on how dysregulation by mitochondria may lead to motor neuron degeneration in SMA or improper neuron connections in autism.
The Lasting Impact Of Daniel Dennett In Philosophy And Leadership
An academic whose work reaches beyond the Ivory Tower is rare. Scholarly writing tends to be highly technical, filled with footnotes and references, and often lacks a compelling narrative to captivate the reader. Not to mention that the work itself is usually deemed irrelevant and impractical for public knowledge.
The American philosopher Daniel Dennett (1942−2024) was, without a doubt, one of these generational thinkers who transcended the academic box. Why? His writing is filled with clear and interesting thought experiments, allowing anyone to grasp his theories, which span from philosophy, cognitive science and evolutionary biology to farming, sailing, and religion. Any curious person can find a relevant topic relating to their life in Dennett’s vast body of work, and it will likely have them questioning whether they actually understood the topic in the first place.
To celebrate the life and work of Dennett, the aptly named Dennett Prize was introduced in 2024. Like Dennett, the winner should “challenge received ideas and introduce new perspectives.” The prize is presented as part of the International Center for Consciousness Studies (ICCS) annual conference, held this year in Heraklion, Crete, earlier this month. The inaugural winner of the Dennett Prize was given to Andy Clark, professor of cognitive philosophy at the University of Sussex.
What If WW3 Starts Tomorrow? | The 5 Things You Must Do in the First 24 Hours
It’s 3:43 AM. Sirens are howling. Your phone lights up: DEFCON 1. Multiple ICBMs inbound.
World War 3 has just begun.
Would you know what to do in the first minutes? Most people freeze. This guide is for those who act.
In this video, we walk you through the real first steps to take if global war breaks out — not theory, not panic, but practical survival strategy for the first 24 hours: from identifying if you’re in a high-risk zone, to securing water and food, to communicating with loved ones when the grid is down.
💥 Whether it’s a nuclear attack, an EMP, or a cyber blitz — this is what you need to know before it’s too late.
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This Common Blood Pressure Drug Extends Lifespan, Slows Aging in Animals
The hypertension drug rilmenidine has been shown to slow down aging in worms, an effect that in humans could hypothetically help us live longer and keep us healthier in our latter years.
Previous research has shown rilmenidine mimics the effects of caloric restriction on a cellular level. Reducing available energy while maintaining nutrition within the body has been shown to extend lifespans in several animal models.
Whether this translates to human biology, or is a potential risk to our health, is a topic of ongoing debate. Finding ways to achieve the same benefits without the costs of extreme calorie cutting could lead to new ways to improve health in old age.