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Researchers from Nagoya University in Japan and the Slovak Academy of Sciences have unveiled new insights into the interplay between quantum theory and thermodynamics. The team demonstrated that while quantum theory does not inherently forbid violations of the second law of thermodynamics, quantum processes may be implemented without actually breaching the law.

This discovery, published in npj Quantum Information, highlights a harmonious coexistence between the two fields, despite their logical independence. Their findings open up new avenues for understanding the thermodynamic boundaries of quantum technologies, such as and nanoscale engines.

This breakthrough contributes to the long-standing exploration of the second law of thermodynamics, a principle often regarded as one of the most profound and enigmatic in physics.

A 2020 assessment of IKN by the National Planning and Development Agency highlighted the risks, citing data including the abundance of disease-carrying mosquitoes. At least two construction workers caught malaria in 2022 while at the site, according to the Ministry of Health. Last year, 54 cases were reported there, but the ministry claimed the patients were infected elsewhere. Although the construction authority has taken some control measures, such as handing out mosquito nets to workers, it’s not well-equipped for the job, says Mirza Buana, a legal scholar at Lambung Mangkurat University in South Kalimantan: “It has all the authorities but no capabilities.” The agency has shifted most of the tasks—such as vector control and screening workers entering or leaving IKN—to district health officials, who have struggled to keep up.

Surendra is particularly worried about the potential spread of P. knowlesi, a parasite first discovered in the 1930s. It emerged as a public health threat in the early 2000s, in areas in the Malaysian part of Borneo where forests were cleared for oil palm plantations. It has since been identified in many Southeast Asian countries.

P. knowlesi primarily infects long-tailed macaques, highly adaptable monkeys that thrive at the forest edge, and is spread by forest-dwelling Anopheles mosquitoes that occasionally bite humans as well. People working in or near the forest, including hunters and loggers, are at the highest risk. Because it has an animal reservoir, the disease is impossible to eliminate completely. Mosquitoes don’t transmit P. knowlesi between people—or very poorly—but some scientists worry that could change.

Question Were the liberalization of medical cannabis and the legalization of nonmedical cannabis in Canada associated with changes in the population-attributable fraction of cannabis use disorders associated with schizophrenia?

Findings In this population-based cohort study comprising 13 588 681 individuals, the population-attributable fraction of cannabis use disorder associated with schizophrenia increased significantly from 3.7% in the prelegalization period to 10.3% during the postlegalization period.

Meaning These findings suggest that the association between cannabis use disorders and schizophrenia is an important consideration for the legalization of cannabis.

Josh Mitteldorf suggests new protocol for experimental young plasma therapy.

Scientists explore concentrated plasma infusions for stronger anti-ageing effects.

01-Feb-2025Key points from article :

Scientists have long observed the remarkable rejuvenation effects of young plasma in ageing rats, but translating these findings into human therapies has been slow due to intellectual property barriers and funding challenges. In the meantime, a niche industry has emerged in Texas, where ageing individuals can receive plasma infusions from young donors for tens of thousands of dollars. However, these treatments, which replace about 35% of a patient’s plasma, fall short of the dramatic regeneration seen in laboratory animals. Researchers suspect that the exosome dosages in these human procedures are too low to match the full rejuvenation potential seen in rats.

To address this, a new approach suggests concentrating young plasma by removing excess water, allowing for higher doses without overloading the circulatory system. Freeze-drying plasma, a long-standing technology, could be adapted to reconstitute plasma at three or more times its normal strength. However, modifications would be necessary—such as removing platelets to avoid clotting risks and adjusting albumin levels for safety.

Description:
Sam Altman admitted OpenAI might have been wrong about keeping its AI models private and acknowledged DeepSeek’s open-source approach is making waves in the industry. Meanwhile, DeepSeek claims to have built an AI model as powerful as OpenAI’s GPT-o1 for a fraction of the cost, raising concerns about potential data theft and U.S. chip restrictions. At the same time, Altman is pushing a $500 billion AI data center project called “Stargate” while facing a personal lawsuit, as Google quietly adjusts its AI strategy and Microsoft investigates DeepSeek’s rapid rise.

*Key Topics:*
- *Sam Altman’s shocking admission* about OpenAI’s past mistakes and DeepSeek’s rising influence.
- How *DeepSeek claims to rival OpenAI’s GPT-o1* at a fraction of the cost, raising legal concerns.
- The *AI arms race escalates* as OpenAI, DeepSeek, Microsoft, and Google battle for dominance.

*What You’ll Learn:*
- Why *OpenAI might change its stance on open-source AI* after DeepSeek’s disruptive impact.
- How *Microsoft is investigating DeepSeek* over alleged unauthorized use of OpenAI’s data.
- The *$500 billion “Stargate” project* and why experts doubt Altman’s ambitious AI infrastructure plans.

*Why It Matters:*

In today’s AI news, ElevenLabs said on Thursday it has raised $180 million in a new funding round that triples the voice cloning artificial intelligence startup’s valuation to $3.3 billion. The Series C funding round was co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and Iconiq Growth, with participation from additional new investors.

On Thursday, OpenAI announced that it is deepening its ties with the US government through a partnership with the National Laboratories and expects to use AI to “supercharge” research across a wide range of fields to better serve the public.

“This is the beginning of a new era, where AI will advance science, strengthen national security, and support US government initiatives,” OpenAI said.

In other advancements, Cerebras Systems announced today it will host DeepSeek’s breakthrough R1 artificial intelligence model on U.S. servers, promising speeds up to 57 times faster than GPU-based solutions while keeping sensitive data within American borders. The move comes amid growing concerns about China’s rapid AI advancement and data privacy.

And, the US Copyright Office issued AI guidance this week that declared no laws need to be clarified when it comes to protecting authorship rights of humans producing AI-assisted works. “Questions of copyrightability and AI can be resolved pursuant to existing law, without the need for legislative change,” the Copyright Office said.

Recent advances in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) are enabling the development of a wide range of systems with unique characteristics designed for varying real-world applications. These include robots that can engage in activities traditionally only completed by humans, such as sketching, painting and even hand-writing documents.

These robots could have interesting applications in both professional and creative contexts, as they could help to automate the creation of artistic renderings, legal papers, letters and other documents in real time. Most to date have considerable limitations, such as high production costs (around $150) and a large size.

Two researchers affiliated with the global student non-profit organization App-In Club recently developed a new cost-effective robotic handwriting system that could be more affordable for individual consumers, schools, universities and small businesses. This system, introduced in a paper on the arXiv preprint server, integrates a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller and other components that can be produced via 3D printing.

A new twist on a decades-old anticancer strategy has demonstrated significant potential against various cancer types in a preclinical study conducted by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is a prestigious private Ivy League research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin, Penn is one of the oldest universities in the United States. It is renowned for its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary education and its professional schools, including the Wharton School, one of the leading business schools globally. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across various fields such as law, medicine, engineering, and arts and sciences. Penn is also known for its significant contributions to research, innovative teaching methods, and active campus life, making it a hub of academic and extracurricular activity.

When dealing with a human brain, preventing perception would require even more care. If a person’s brain inched toward consciousness under such an experiment, the consequences would be thorny, according to Hank Greely, a biomedical legal expert at Stanford University in California. “That’s very tricky ethically, legally and scientifically,” he told New Scientist.

Vrselja told the publication that he and his colleagues “have no intention of plugging anyone at the point of death into their BrainEx machine.” But what they’ve accomplished so far is a significant step toward proving that brain death may not be as final as we once thought, arousing fresh hope that patients who are hovering between life and death can still be saved.

In the meantime, the researchers have had some success in keeping brains “cellularly active for up to 24 hours” so they can test treatments for neurological conditions. They hope to help patients with diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.