Links for 2023-08-25
Brain-reading devices allow paralysed people to talk using their thoughts: Two studies report considerable improvements in technologies designed to help people with facial paralysis to communicate. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02682-7
Building transformers from neurons and astrocytes: demonstrates that neurons-astrocyte networks in the brain can naturally perform the core computation of a transformer https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2219150120
Learn about an approach that leverages in-context learning and a novel algorithmic prompting technique to enable algorithmic reasoning capabilities (i.e., applying a set of abstract rules to solve a task) in large language models https://ai.googleblog.com/2023/08/teaching-language-models-to-reason.html
Singapore workers are the world’s fastest in adopting AI skills, LinkedIn report says https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/20/singapore-workers-adopting-ai-skills-at-the-fastest-pace-linkedin.html
“…we’re thrilled to share our study expanding the gene editing toolbox to enable virtually any kind of edit in gene transcripts at the order of thousands of bases.” https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.08.18.553620v1
A survey of IVF patients (and their partners) in Boston finds that ~80% accept screening embryos for polygenic disease risk (n=469 in 2018, n=172 in 2021; ~75% white). Similar acceptance rates also for genome editing. https://www.rbmojournal.com/article/S1472-6483(23)00169-4/fulltext
Scientists Bioengineer Plants to Have an Animal-Like Immune System https://bigthink.com/life/scientists-bioengineer-plants-animal-like-immune-system/
“In Geretsried, Germany, Eavor™ is writing the next chapter of the energy transition. The Eavor-Loop™ is a closed-loop geothermal system where a benign working fluid circulates in an industrial-sized, underground heat exchanger without the need for a pumping system.” https://eavor-geretsried.de/en/
Racial differences in homicide rates are poorly explained by economics https://randomcriticalanalysis.com/2015/11/16/racial-differences-in-homicide-rates-are-poorly-explained-by-economics/
The Right Can't Beat The Left At Its Own Game https://www.zerohedge.com/political/right-cant-beat-left-its-own-game
Cost of sequencing a human genome 🔬:
• 2001 - $95 million
• 2008 - $342,502
• 2011 - $7,743
• 2023 - $200 with the new Illumina machine
Midjourney evolution: One year ago vs. today
Source: https://twitter.com/javilopen/status/1694507580687581501
In a sample of 251,120 15-year-old students in 61 countries, at every level of mathematical performance, males expressed a greater desire to pursue study and career opportunities in mathematics.
Source: https://twitter.com/cremieuxrecueil/status/1694401630660161654
Ukraine links:
“Ukrainian military have landed and conducted operations in Crimea,” the GUR reports. https://twitter.com/Tendar/status/1694663958215705062 (More exclusive footage from that operation reportedly: https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1694664452149219482)
This video came out today of a Ukrainian assault. https://twitter.com/AndrewPerpetua/status/1694775020608713145
Zaluzhny allegedly said Ukraine is on the verge of a breakthrough. But it is hearsay rather than a direct quote. https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/u-s-ukraine-clash-over-counteroffensive-strategy-cb5e4324 [https://archive.is/epfji] (In the Robotyne area the situation looks like this: https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1694823692260315476)
The Ukrainian flag waves over Robotyne. The fight has moved southwards towards Novoprokopivka. https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1694971374392025286
“Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations in the #Bakhmut direction on August 24 and advanced north of Bakhmut. Geolocated footage published on August 24 indicates that UKR forces advanced west of Zaliznyanske (12km NW of Bakhmut).” https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1694907688763732476
U.S. Will Train Ukrainian F-16 Pilots, Ground Crews https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3504621/us-will-train-ukrainian-f-16-pilots-ground-crews/