Technology
press releases.

Technology20 Jun 2023

2023 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize honors pioneer in computational biology

The 2023 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize has been awarded to scientist David J. Lipman for his visionary work in the conception, design, and implementation of computational tools, databases, and infrastructure that transformed the way biological information is analyzed and accessed freely and rapidly around the world. The $500,000 award is bestowed by The Warren Alpert Foundation in recognition of work that has improved the understanding, prevention, treatment, or cure of human disease. The prize is administered by Harvard Medical School. Lipman will be honored at a scientific symposium on Oct. 11, 2023, hosted by HMS. For further information, visit ...

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Technology20 Jun 2023

Open-source software to speed up quantum research

Quantum technology is expected to fundamentally change many key areas of society. Researchers are convinced that there are many more useful quantum properties and applications to explore than those we know today. A team of researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have now developed open-source, freely available software that will pave the way for new discoveries in the field and accelerate quantum research significantly. Within a few decades, quantum technology is expected to become a key technology in areas such as health, communication, defence and energy. The ...

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Technology20 Jun 2023

Machine learning helps researchers identify hit songs with 97% accuracy

Every day, tens of thousands of songs are released. This constant stream of options makes it difficult for streaming services and radio stations to choose which songs to add to playlists. To find the ones that will resonate with a large audience, these services have used human listeners and artificial intelligence. This approach, however, lingering at a 50% accuracy rate, does not reliably predict if songs will become hits. Now, researchers in the US have used a comprehensive machine learning technique applied to brain responses and were able to predict ...

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Technology19 Jun 2023

Clean, sustainable fuels made ‘from thin air’ and plastic waste

Researchers have demonstrated how carbon dioxide can be captured from industrial processes – or even directly from the air – and transformed into clean, sustainable fuels using just the energy from the Sun. The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, developed a solar-powered reactor that converts captured CO2 and plastic waste into sustainable fuels and other valuable chemical products. In tests, CO2 was converted into syngas, a key building block for sustainable liquid fuels, and plastic bottles were converted into glycolic acid, which is widely used in the cosmetics industry. Unlike earlier tests ...

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Technology18 Jun 2023

A probiotic could help mitigate mercury absorption in the gut

Houston, TX – New research by a team at Pennsylvania State University suggests that microbes in the human gut could be harnessed to block absorption of toxic metals like mercury and help the body absorb useful nutritional ones, like iron. The group presents their findings at ASM Microbe 2023, the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. Methylmercury, a neurotoxin, is particularly worrisome, said Daniela Betancurt-Anzola, a graduate student at Penn State who led the new study. It ...

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Technology16 Jun 2023

AI could replace humans in social science research

In an article published yesterday in the prestigious journal Science, leading researchers from the University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania look at how AI (large language models or LLMs in particular) could change the nature of their work. “What we wanted to explore in this article is how social science research practices can be adapted, even reinvented, to harness the power of AI,” said Igor Grossmann, professor of psychology at Waterloo. Grossmann and colleagues note ...

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Technology15 Jun 2023

A new path for quantum physics to control chemical reactions

Controlling chemical reactions to generate new products is one of the biggest challenges in chemistry. Developments in this area impact industry, for example, by reducing the waste generated in the manufacture of construction materials or by improving the production of catalysts to accelerate chemical reactions. For this reason, in the field of polariton chemistry - which uses tools of chemistry and quantum optics - in the last ten years different laboratories around the world have developed experiments in optical cavities to manipulate the chemical reactivity of molecules at room temperature, ...

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Technology15 Jun 2023

Cleaner air with a cold catalytic converter

The so-called three-way catalytic converter in the exhaust system of a car consists of expensive materials and only works correctly when the exhaust gases have a temperature that is several hundred degrees Celsius. As a result, when you start your car, or when you drive a hybrid car in which the petrol engine and electric motor alternate between driving the powertrain, the gases leaving the exhaust still contain toxic carbon monoxide. In a new Science article, scientists led by Emiel Hensen now show that by modifying the carrier material of the catalyst, it is possible to almost completely convert toxic carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide gas even at room temperature. Noble ...

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Technology15 Jun 2023

If art is how we express our humanity, where does AI fit in?

The rapid advance of artificial intelligence has generated a lot of buzz, with some predicting it will lead to an idyllic utopia and others warning it will bring the end of humanity. But speculation about where AI technology is going, while important, can also drown out important conversations about how we should be handling the AI technologies available today. One such technology is generative AI, which can create content including text, images, audio, and video. Popular generative AIs like the chatbot ...

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Technology15 Jun 2023

Quantum interference of light : an anomalous phenomenon found

In a paper published in Nature Photonics, the research team from the Center for Quantum Information and Communication – Ecole polytechnique de Bruxelles of Université libre de Bruxelles, has found an unexpected counter-example to common knowledge on photon bunching. One of the cornerstones of quantum physics is Niels Bohr's complementarity principle, roughly speaking the fact that objects may behave either like particles or like waves. These two mutually exclusive descriptions are well illustrated in the iconic double-slit experiment, ...

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Technology15 Jun 2023

New biotech venture PHIOGEN, a spinoff of BCM’s TAILOR Labs, to tackle the global threat of antimicrobial resistance

The new biotech venture PHIOGEN is a spin-off company from Baylor College of Medicine’s TAILOR Labs, one of the United States only academic phage therapy cores with a decade’s worth of revolutionary research related to bacteriophages, viruses that infect and destroy bacteria. The company made its debut at the 6th World Conference on Targeting Phage Therapy in Paris, June 1-2, 2023. PHIOGEN’s R&D efforts are led by phage researcher Dr. Anthony ...

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Technology14 Jun 2023

A machine learning approach to freshwater analysis

From protecting biodiversity to ensuring the safety of drinking water, the biochemical makeup of rivers and streams around the United States is critical for human and environmental welfare. Studies have found that human activity and urbanization are driving salinization (increased salt content) of freshwater sources across the country. In excess, salinity can make water undrinkable, increase the cost of treating water, and harm freshwater fish and wildlife. Along with the rise in salinity has also been an increase in alkalinity over time, and past research suggests that salinization may enhance alkalinization. But unlike excess salinity, ...

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Technology14 Jun 2023

New UCF project launched to engage a diverse, new generation of researchers to aid aging populations

ORLANDO, June 14, 2023 — The number of older adults in the U.S. population is growing, expecting to nearly double by 2060, and becoming more diverse with racial and ethnic minority populations projected to increase by 105% by 2040. “As a society, we’re not ready for that,” says Norma Conner, a professor in the University of Central Florida’s College of Nursing. “We need to be cognizant of the large population of older adults that is going to be ours to care for, and we need to have a better understanding that reflects them.” To ...

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Technology14 Jun 2023

New data demonstrates potential role of probiotic supplementation in adults with Major Depressive Disorder

Study shows improvements in depression and anxiety scores among individuals supplementing with probiotics alongside standard antidepressant medication Data from a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial published today in JAMA Psychiatry A new study published today (14 June) in JAMA Psychiatry has found evidence that supplementing the diet with a probiotic blend containing 14 strains of bacteria can help individuals who are being treated for major depressive disorder with antidepressants. The research, led by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) ...

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Technology14 Jun 2023

New state-of-the-art robotics lab to be created at Maynooth University

The Maynooth University Foundation is delighted to announce a significant donation from Intel Ireland to support the creation of a state-of-the-art robotics lab. The lab will provide MU students with invaluable hands-on learning experiences using cutting-edge robotic technologies. The establishment of the robotics lab at a total cost of €150,000 will equip Maynooth University students with access to innovative robotic technologies and equipment used by engineers from Intel and other companies. This hands-on experience will enable them to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application, empowering them to develop and refine their skills in robotics. The ...

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Technology14 Jun 2023

Researchers succeed in arranging nanoscale quantum sensors on desired targets

Summary: The University of Tokyo scientists achieve the delicate task of arranging quantum sensors at a nanoscale, allowing them to detect extremely small variations in magnetic fields. The high-resolution quantum sensors will have potential uses in quantum materials and electronic device research. For example, the sensors can help develop hard disks that use nano-magnetic materials as storage elements. This is the world’s first successful high-resolution magnetic field imaging using a nanoscale arrangement of quantum sensors. Sensors surround us in our daily life, from garage lights ...

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Technology14 Jun 2023

Prediction of age of onset of SCA3 and DRPLA by survival analysis using machine learning

Niigata, Japan – Using machine learning, the Department of Neurology at Niigata University has developed a model to predict the asymptomatic probability at each age from the current age and number of CAG repeats in carriers of spinocerebellar degeneration. Polyglutamine diseases such as DRPLA and SCA3 are caused by an expansion of CAG repeats in the causative gene. In polyglutamine diseases, the number of CAG repeats is known to be inversely related to age of onset. Parametric survival analysis has traditionally been used to predict age of onset, but a more accurate prediction method has been desired. We ...

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Technology13 Jun 2023

ASCAP introduces slate of AI initiatives to help music creators navigate the future while protecting their work

NEW YORK, June 13, 2023 – With the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to create both massive disruption and great opportunity within the music industry, ASCAP — the only US PRO that operates on a not-for-profit basis — is introducing a slate of AI initiatives to help music creators navigate the future while protecting their work. These newly announced initiatives include: adoption by the ASCAP Board of Directors of a set of key ASCAP AI principles, creator education, startup incubation and policy development. Building upon ASCAP’s strong ...

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Technology13 Jun 2023

USTC provides comprehensive review of quantum teleportation in Nature Review Physics

A team led by Academician Prof. GUO Guangcan from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) provides a comprehensive overview of the progress achieved in the field of quantum teleportation. The team, which includes Prof. HU Xiaomin, Prof. GUO Yu, Prof. LIU Biheng, and Prof. LI Chuanfeng from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC),CAS, was invited to publish a review paper on quantum teleportation in Nature Review Physics. The paper was officially released online on May 24. As one of the most important protocols in the field ...

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Technology13 Jun 2023

USTC achieves thousand-kilometer quantum key distribution

A point-to-point long-distance quantum key distribution (QKD) over a distance of 1,002 km has been achieved by scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and their collaborators from Tsinghua University, Jinan Institute of Quantum Technology, and Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology (SIMIT), CAS. This milestone not only sets a new world record for non-relay QKD but also provides a solution for high-speed intercity quantum communication. The ...

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Technology12 Jun 2023

Digital divide hinders rural innovation, study shows

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Cloud-based computing directly contributes to business innovation, but rural businesses lacking sufficient broadband capacity to access cloud services are missing out on their innovation-boosting potential, according to a team of researchers from Penn State and the National Science Foundation. The findings can be used by policymakers and business-support organizations to foster greater opportunities for rural innovation. “Innovation plays a critical role in keeping businesses competitive and viable, and in turn, healthy businesses are essential to vibrant rural economies. Therefore, we’re interested ...

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Technology12 Jun 2023

Four-legged robot traverses tricky terrains thanks to improved 3D vision

Researchers led by the University of California San Diego have developed a new model that trains four-legged robots to see more clearly in 3D. The advance enabled a robot to autonomously cross challenging terrain with ease—including stairs, rocky ground and gap-filled paths—while clearing obstacles in its way. The researchers will present their work at the 2023 Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), which will take place from June 18 to 22 in Vancouver, Canada. “By providing the robot with a better understanding of its surroundings in 3D, it can be deployed in more complex environments ...

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Technology12 Jun 2023

Researcher explores vulnerabilities of AI systems to online misinformation

A University of Texas at Arlington researcher is working to increase the security of natural language generation (NLG) systems, such as those used by ChatGPT, to guard against misuse and abuse that could allow the spread of misinformation online. Shirin Nilizadeh, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, has earned a five-year, $567,609 Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for her research. Understanding the vulnerabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) to online misinformation is “an important and timely problem to address,” ...

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Technology12 Jun 2023

The Face Game: A citizen science project to learn how Artificial Intelligence will choose to appear to humans

Online, profile pictures of human faces are everywhere, and they play a crucial role in shaping the first impression we make on others. Right now, AI gives people the digital tools to transform their online appearance in any way they desire, often making themselves look younger or more attractive. But this is just the beginning: AI is not only helping us play this face game amongst ourselves, but it is also learning the game from us and quietly deciding which face it will showcase as itself when interacting with us. To better understand these mechanisms, researchers from the Max Planck ...

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Technology12 Jun 2023

Visionary report unveils ambitious roadmap to harness the power of AI in scientific discovery

Innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly shaping our world, from virtual assistants and chatbots to self-driving cars and automated manufacturing. Seizing on the potential of AI to transform science, the nation’s leading experts in science and technology have released a blueprint for the United States to accelerate progress by expanding its capabilities in AI and big data analysis. “AI for Science, Energy, and Security” lays out a comprehensive vision ...

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