Soft robots are prized for their agility and gentle touch, which makes them ideal for traversing delicate or enclosed spaces to perform various tasks, from cultivating baby corals in laboratories to inspecting industrial pipes in chemical plants. However, achieving embodied intelligence in such systems, where sensing, movement and power supply work together in an untethered configuration, remains a challenge.
Flexible materials can deform and adapt, but their power sources are unable to do so. Conventional batteries often stiffen the robot’s body, drain quickly, or degrade under strain, all of which leave soft robots tethered or with a short lifespan.
Assistant Professor Wu Changsheng and his team from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, found a way to turn that limitation into an advantage. Their study, published in Science Advances, demonstrates that the same magnetic fields used to control soft robots can also enhance the performance of the batteries inside them.
The human body depends on accurate genetic instructions to keep its cells working properly. Cancer begins to form when these instructions become disrupted. As genetic mistakes build up over time, cells can lose their normal limits on growth and start multiplying in an uncontrolled way. Chromosomal abnormalities – numerical and structural defects in chromosomes – are often one of the earliest changes that push healthy cells toward becoming cancerous.
Researchers in the Korbel Group at EMBL Heidelberg have created a new AI-based tool that gives scientists a way to closely examine how these chromosomal abnormalities develop. The insights gained from this approach may eventually clarify some of the earliest steps that lead to cancer.
“Chromosomal abnormalities are a main driver for particularly aggressive cancers, and they’re highly linked to patient death, metastasis, recurrence, chemotherapy resistance, and fast tumor onset,” said Jan Korbel, senior scientist at EMBL and senior author of the new paper, published in the journal Nature. “We wanted to understand what determines the likelihood that cells undergo such chromosomal alterations, and what’s the rate at which such abnormalities arise when a still normal cell divides.”
The corpus callosum is critical for nearly everything the brain does, from coordinating the movement of our limbs in sync to integrating sights and sounds, to higher-order thinking and decision-making. Abnormalities in its shape and size have long been linked to disorders such as ADHD, bipolar disorder, and Parkinson’s disease. Until now, the genetic underpinnings of this vital structure remained largely unknown.
In the new study, published in Nature Communications, the team analyzed brain scans and genetic data from over 50,000 people, ranging from childhood to late adulthood, with the help of a new tool the team created that leverages artificial intelligence.
“We developed an AI tool that finds the corpus callosum in different types of brain MRI scans and automatically takes its measurements,” said co-first author of the study. Using this tool, the researchers identified dozens of genetic regions that influence the size and thickness of the corpus callosum and its subregions.
The study revealed that different sets of genes govern the area versus the thickness of the corpus callosum—two features that change across the lifespan and play distinct roles in brain function. Several of the implicated genes are active during prenatal brain development, particularly in processes like cell growth, programmed cell death, and the wiring of nerve fibers across hemispheres.
Notably, the study found genetic overlap between the corpus callosum and the cerebral cortex—the outer layer of the brain responsible for memory, attention, and language—as well as with conditions such as ADHD and bipolar disorder.
For the first time, a research team has mapped the genetic architecture of a crucial part of the human brain known as the corpus callosum—the thick band of nerve fibers that connects the brain’s left and right hemispheres. The findings open new pathways for discoveries about mental illness, neurological disorders and other diseases related to defects in this part of the brain.
Elon Musk plans to launch solar-powered AI satellites that could provide a nearly limitless source of energy to supercharge AI processing capacity, potentially disrupting traditional energy production and benefiting companies like Nvidia and Tesla ## ## Questions to inspire discussion.
Space Solar Power Economics.
🚀 Q: What’s the projected cost trajectory for space-based solar power? A: SpaceX could achieve $10 per watt for space solar by 2030–2032, down from previously estimated $100 per watt, with ultimate target of $1 per watt for operational systems, requiring 3–4 orders of magnitude cost reduction through Wright’s Law.
💰 Q: How much would launching 1 terawatt of space solar cost? A: Launching 1 terawatt of space solar power requires $1 trillion in launch costs alone, not including manufacturing and operational expenses.
⚡ Q: What energy advantage does space solar have over ground-based systems? A: Space solar plants generate 10x more energy than ground-based sources by operating 24/7 with double intensity, each equivalent to a nuclear power plant in output.
When I look back at how computing started, I remember a time when I could see the entire problem in my head and simply tell the machine exactly what to do. That world no longer exists. We allowed our systems to make their own decisions, and with that, we crossed into a new era of autonomy.
In this talk, I explain how AI moved beyond imitation and began outperforming us in ways we once believed were uniquely human. I walk through the early intelligence tests, the exponential doubling of capabilities, and the moment we touched the threshold of AGI. Most importantly, I explore what this means for us as a species.
I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic. I am realistic. The coming years will be challenging before they become extraordinary. And the outcome will depend far more on humanity than on the machines we’ve created.
In this video I talk about: • how we shifted from rule-based programming to autonomous decision-making. • the first AI IQ and capability tests and what they revealed. • why AI abilities doubled roughly every 5.7 months. • the early evidence of AGI and what it truly represents. • the meaning of the singularity and why we’re already feeling its effects. • the two eras ahead: augmented intelligence and machine supremacy. • why humanity’s biggest risk is not AI’s intelligence, but our own stupidity. • how we can guide this transition wisely instead of fearfully.
Genetic engineering and human enhancement are no longer science fiction — they’re here right now. In this episode of Longevity Science News, we explore the rise of gene therapy, anti-aging biotechnology, and the first wave of GMO Humans using real genetic enhancements to increase muscle, extend telomeres, boost IQ, and slow biological aging.
If you’re interested in longevity, life extension, biohacking, genetic modification, or cutting-edge anti-aging research, this video breaks down everything you need to know about the future of human evolution — and the people already jumping in.
HUME BODY ANALYZER: Use Code: LONGEVITY for up to 50% OFF https://humehealth.com//discount/LONG… FEATURED: BioViva Keynote by Liz Parrish Watch the full keynote here: • The First Person to Take Gene Therapy for… This talk covers viral vectors, telomere extension, muscle-growth gene therapies, cognitive enhancement, dementia treatment, and the global expansion of experimental genetic clinics. Chapters: 00:00 – Cold Open — FDA Gene Cures 00:35 – Liz Parrish & BioViva 01:35 – Sebastian A. Brunemeier 02:48 – HUME Body Pod 03:55 – Currently Available Genetic Cures 04:48 – How To Get Access 08:00 – Safety & Pricing 08:22 – Right to Try Debate 09:20 – Follistatin Results 10:50 – Telomere Extension 11:50 – Klotho & IQ Boost 13:26 – IQ & Society 14:35 – Dementia Gene Therapy 15:40 – Custom Therapies 16:20 – Conclusion • FDA-approved genetic cures • BioViva’s gene enhancement results • Follistatin gene therapy for muscle growth • Telomerase (TERT) for biological age reversal • Klotho gene therapy for cognitive enhancement • Dementia gene therapy case studies • Medical tourism for experimental gene treatments • How to access unapproved gene therapies • AI’s role in designing next-gen genetic interventions • Personalized & bespoke gene therapies • Ethical questions about enhancing IQ, strength, and lifespan • The future of human evolution & GMO humans 👤 EXPERTS & SOURCES FEATURED Liz Parrish — BioViva Sciences LinkedIn: / lizlparrish Sebastian Brunemeier — Cambrian Bio / Long Game Ventures LinkedIn: / sebastianlongbio Long Game Ventures: / longgame-vc Wired Magazine — Medical Tourism & Gene Therapy Pricing https://www.wired.com/story/bioviva-g… Extended Interview: Montana Senator Ken Bogner • Ken Bogner Full Interview 🔗 FULL INTERVIEWS & BONUS CONTENT Get extended conversations, deep dives, and behind-the-scenes research on Patreon: 👉 / u29506604 💬 JOIN THE DISCUSSION Would you use gene therapy to slow aging? Would you enhance your muscle, intelligence, or longevity? Do you think we should expand access to experimental anti-aging treatments? Let me know in the comments. 🧪 Longevity Science News PRODUCTION CREDITS ⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺ Executive Producer – Keith Comito @Retromancers Host, Producer, Writer – @emmettshort
🔬 FEATURED: BioViva Keynote by Liz Parrish. Watch the full keynote here: • The First Person to Take Gene Therapy for…
This talk covers viral vectors, telomere extension, muscle-growth gene therapies, cognitive enhancement, dementia treatment, and the global expansion of experimental genetic clinics.
DNA methylation has shown great potential in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) blood diagnosis. However, the ability of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which can be modified by DNA methylation, to serve as noninvasive biomarkers for AD diagnosis remains unclear.
We performed logistic regression analysis of DNA methylation data from the blood of patients with AD compared and normal controls to identify epigenetically regulated (ER) lncRNAs. Through five machine learning algorithms, we prioritized ER lncRNAs associated with AD diagnosis. An AD blood diagnosis model was constructed based on lncRNA methylation in Australian Imaging, Biomarkers, and Lifestyle (AIBL) subject and verified in two large blood-based studies, the European collaboration for the discovery of novel biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AddNeuroMed) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). In addition, the potential biological functions and clinical associations of lncRNAs were explored, and their neuropathological roles in AD brain tissue were estimated via cross-tissue analysis.
We characterized the ER lncRNA landscape in AD blood, which is strongly related to AD occurrence and process. Fifteen ER lncRNAs were prioritized to construct an AD blood diagnostic and nomogram model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the decision and calibration curves show that the model has good prediction performance. We found that the targets and lncRNAs were correlated with AD clinical features. Moreover, cross-tissue analysis revealed that the lncRNA ENSG0000029584 plays both diagnostic and neuropathological roles in AD.
Past psychology and behavioral science studies have identified various ways in which people’s acquisition of new knowledge can be disrupted. One of these, known as interference, occurs when humans are learning new information and this makes it harder for them to correctly recall knowledge that they had acquired earlier.
Interestingly, a similar tendency was also observed in artificial neural networks (ANNs), computational models inspired by biological neurons and the connections between them. In ANNs, interference can manifest as so-called catastrophic forgetting, a process via which models “unlearn” specific skills or information after they are trained on a new task.
In some other instances, knowledge acquired in the past can instead help humans or ANNs to learn how to complete a new task. This phenomenon, known as “transfer,” entails the application of existing knowledge of skills to a novel task or problem.
This video explains the leading theory about the origins of Pluribus and the hive mind’s ultimate purpose. Its terrifying plan unfolds in 4 steps. If you’re fascinated by hard sci-fi, the Dark Forest Hypothesis and alien civilizations, then this deep dive is for you.
This is a commentary video about the Plur1bus TV series streaming on Apple TV.
Chapters: 00:27 Step 1 — The Joining. 01:38 Step 2 — The Megastructure Antenna. 02:50 Step 3 — Interstellar Hive Mind. 04:10 Step 4 — The Universal Mind.
French startup Stellaria secures its first power reservation from Equinix for Stellarium, the world’s first fast-neutron reactor that reduces nuclear waste.
The agreement will allow Equinix data centres to leverage the reactor’s energy autonomy, supporting sustainable, decarbonized operations and powering AI capabilities with clean nuclear energy.
The Stellarium reactor, proposed by Stellaria, is a fourth-generation fast-neutron molten-salt design that uses liquid chloride salt fuel and is engineered to operate on a closed fuel cycle.
