Links for 2022-03-18
Introducing GopherCite, a fine-tuned version of Gopher that used human feedback to learn to back up claims with supporting evidence from the web. GopherCite can also answer questions about a given document or abstain when unsure. https://deepmind.com/research/publications/2022/GopherCite-Teaching-Language-Models-To-Support-Answers-With-Verified-Quotes
DNA Gets Artificial Upgrade to Store Humanity’s Boundless Digital Data: “Scientists [added] seven new letters to the existing nucleotide alphabet, opening the door for extreme levels of data storage capacity. …’Imagine the English alphabet,’ Tabatabei said. ‘If you only had four letters to use, you could only create so many words. If you had the full alphabet, you could produce limitless word combinations. That’s the same with DNA. Instead of converting zeroes and ones to A, G, C and T, we can convert zeroes and ones to A, G, C, T and the seven new letters in the storage alphabet.’” https://www.cnet.com/science/biology/dna-gets-artificial-upgrade-to-store-humanitys-boundless-digital-data/
Magic Leap 2 Hands-On: AR Glasses That Can Dim the Real World https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/features/magic-leap-2-hands-on-ar-glasses-that-can-dim-the-real-world/
In Sweden, Drones Are Beating Ambulances to the Scene — and Saving Lives https://reasonstobecheerful.world/in-sweden-drones-are-beating-ambulances-to-the-scene-and-saving-lives/
2 Billion Genetically Modified Mosquitos Cleared for Release in California and Florida https://gizmodo.com/2-billion-genetically-modified-mosquitoes-cleared-for-r-1848630797
“Here is a thread in paper references demonstrating that current deep learning, especially transformers are amazingly powerful for symbol manipulation already” https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1502894639908474884.html
Carmakers Race to Control Next-Generation Battery Technology [NYT] https://archive.ph/4gDeJ
Switzerland is the *only country that has atomic shelters ready for the entire population* https://thelocal.ch/20220124/what-are-switzerlands-nuclear-bunkers-and-why-does-each-home-need-one/
"The 9 steps to de-extincting Australia’s thylacine: The reality of bringing back the Tasmanian tiger from extinction using its genome is now a step closer, but how will science make it happen?" https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/the-9-steps-to-de-extincting-australia-s-thylacine
AI and robotic arms are getting cheaper: Since 2018, the cost to train an image classification system has decreased by 63.6%, while training times have improved by 94.4%. The median price of robotic arms has decreased by ~74% in the past six years—from $50,000 per arm in 2016 to $12,845 in 2021. https://aiindex.stanford.edu/report/
Christianity in Japan: “In 1637, Christians in Japan rebelled against Amakusa and Shimabara over violent treatment towards Christians by Matsukura Katsuie, resulting in Ieyasu's ban on Christianity. This was the largest rebellion in the history of Japan and convinced the Shogunate that Christianity was a threat to them, causing them to isolate Japan from the outside world for almost 250 years.” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Japan
Christianity in China: Hong Xiuquan, an ethnic Hakka (a Han subgroup) and the self-proclaimed brother of Jesus Christ, started the bloodiest civil war in world history, with 20 to 30 million dead. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiping_Rebellion
War links:
Russia’s rapid thrust into Voznesensk was meant to showcase its military prowess. Instead, the Ukrainian town dealt Russian forces one of the most humiliating defeats of the war. [Wall Street Journal] https://archive.ph/ayphw
“Many Russian generals are talking on unsecured phones and radios. In at least one instance, they said, the Ukrainians intercepted a general’s call, geolocated it, and attacked his location, killing him and his staff.” https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/16/us/politics/russia-troop-deaths.html
UK supplying starstreak anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, defence minister Wallace tells BBC https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/uk-supplying-starstreak-anti-aircraft-missiles-ukraine-defence-minister-wallace-2022-03-16/
“The Ukrainians are fighting for their homes, while the Russians are fighting for some complicated historical theory Putin dreamed up while self-isolating from Covid.” ― Steve Sailer, https://www.takimag.com/article/putins-best-laid-plans/
“I accept the reasoning behind our stance. But suppose he uses chemical weapons or a tactical nuclear weapon, or tries to destroy Kyiv as he did Aleppo in Syria, without any regard to the loss of civilian life – is it sensible to tell him in advance that whatever he does militarily, we will rule out any form of military response? Maybe that is our position and maybe that is the right position, but continually signalling it, and removing doubt in his mind, is a strange tactic.” https://institute.global/tony-blair/immediate-challenge-ukraine-maximum-pressure-combined-structured-negotiation
Energy Security and Decarbonization in Response to Russian Aggression https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/energy/report-energy-security-and-decarbonization-in-response-to-russian-aggression
Are wealthy Russians fleeing Moscow while the government and command are moved to bunkers and far regions?