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⚡️The First Immortal Fly is Here!
Yep, you heard that right. Scientists have fully digitized the brain of a fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster).
Quick recap:
Once upon a time, people dreamed of digitizing Lenin’s brain, but it was too complex (just like a mouse brain with its 70 million neurons). So they started small: a roundworm (Caenorhabditis elegans) with just 302 neurons. And now, they’ve mapped the fly’s brain: 139.5k neurons and 54.5M synapses.
The project began in 2016, took 33 person-years of work, and was made possible by cutting-edge tech and an international team of researchers.
What’s cool about the fly’s brain?
• Specialized neurons for forward movement, backward movement, and stopping — each with its own circuits.
• Half the brain is dedicated to processing visual information.
• It’s basically a real-time operating system with complex internal networks.
Now, the brain of this first immortal fly is available for download (just 14 GB!) and ready to run. Welcome to the future!
Check out the data here: codex.flywire.ai
Elon Musk: Rockets to Replace Airplanes?
Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, envisions a future where airplanes are replaced by spacecraft. Imagine traveling from New York to Shanghai in just 40 minutes, London to New York in 29 minutes, or New York to Sydney in 49 minutes.
This bold concept relies on the Starship rocket, capable of reaching speeds of 27,000 km/h. If realized, it could revolutionize long-distance travel, making the world more connected than ever before.
What do you think: Is this the future of transportation or just science fiction?
@science
An extraordinary “drawing” has appeared on the Martian surface: a smile formed by a ring of salt deposits and two impact craters. However, don’t expect to snap this cosmic grin with your phone while flying over Mars!
Salt deposits like these are visible only in the infrared spectrum, and this image was captured using the TGO (Trace Gas Orbiter) spacecraft’s infrared camera. It’s a reminder of the fascinating and unexpected beauty hidden in the details of the Red Planet.
#mars #science
In a groundbreaking study, scientists have engineered mice with an enlarged cerebral cortex, resulting in more active and sociable behavior compared to typical rodents. By introducing Yamanaka factors early in development, these mice experienced brain growth with a greater number of neurons and glial cells. Remarkably, the same treatment suppressed degeneration in adult mice models of Alzheimer’s disease, likely by boosting cell proliferation. Read more here.
Such cell technologies may soon enable us to manipulate organ size or cellular composition—transforming one cell type into another. Recently, human blood cells were reprogrammed into corneal cells to restore vision in people with poor eyesight, applied in a thin layer over the eye (source). Other researchers are converting cancer cells into immune cells within tumors, effectively “dissolving” the tumor from the inside (source). In another bold experiment, mature cells were reverted to embryonic states, hinting at the potential for limb regeneration akin to that seen in axolotls (source).
While these are still early experiments, they’re growing rapidly in number and in significance. The potential of managing cell fate in vivo could revolutionize medicine, enabling us to heal, replace, rejuvenate, or even redesign tissues, organs, and organisms. The impact of this technology could be profound.
A fresh perspective sees the cell not as a simple ‘chemical factory’ but as a programmable agent, capable of assuming a vast array of identities. A new study even suggests that memory and learning aren’t exclusive to neurons; other cells exhibit a form of “cognition,” distributing a sort of agency across tissues (source).
Finally, a thought-provoking Cell review suggests that brain organoids might soon enable the human brain’s development to take on previously unknown pathways:
“Pushing evolution further may reveal new mechanisms, even leading to engineered cell types capable of tasks beyond the current abilities of the human brain.” (source).
#BiotechRevolution #CellEngineering #FutureOfScience
The eyes of the deep-sea telescope fish, which lives in perpetual darkness, are uniquely adapted to see both visible light and infrared radiation. Even more remarkable, each eye can rotate independently, allowing the fish to look in two different directions at the same time. This dual capability is essential for survival in the pitch-black depths, helping the fish detect subtle changes in its environment and spot both prey and potential threats.
Fascinating, isn’t it?
Man appears to be the missing link between anthropoid apes and human beings.
NASA’s spacecraft has sent back the clearest images of Jupiter yet!
The Juno spacecraft recently completed its 66th flyby of Jupiter and its moons, capturing breathtaking images with the JunoCam, a camera with a two-megapixel resolution. These images reveal jellyfish-like, colorful spots across Jupiter’s surface. Juno even got closer to Amalthea, Jupiter’s fifth-largest moon.
Launched in 2011, Juno reached Jupiter’s orbit five years later and began transmitting images of the largest planet in our Solar System and its moons. Juno’s mission is set to conclude on September 15, 2025, when Jupiter’s gravity will ultimately pull the spacecraft in, causing it to burn up in the gas giant’s atmosphere, according to NASA.
#Science #SpaceExploration #JunoMission
Skipping breakfast can be DANGEROUS for your health—it increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Studies show that people who skip their morning meal tend to overeat at night to make up for missed calories and essential nutrients during the day.
If you often find yourself indulging in late-night snacks, doctors recommend sticking to a three-meal-a-day routine.
Don’t skip breakfast!
#Science #HealthTips #HealthyEating
Australian mathematicians have debunked the theorem suggesting that if a monkey were given infinite time with a typewriter, it would eventually produce all of Shakespeare’s works.
Scientists calculated that even if all 200,000 chimpanzees on Earth were made immortal and typed continuously, they still wouldn’t complete Shakespeare’s works before the end of the universe. They based their calculations on the prediction that our universe will cease to exist in a googol years (a number with 100 zeros) according to the heat death theory. Moreover, they didn’t take into account how these typing monkeys would survive the Sun’s eventual engulfment of Earth, expected to happen in a few billion years.
The mathematicians noted that a single chimpanzee would only have a 5% chance of typing the word “banana” in its lifetime. And the probability of a monkey producing a coherent sentence like “I am a chimpanzee, therefore I exist” is one in 10 million billion billion. Shakespeare’s complete works, in comparison, contain 884,647 words.
So, while the theorem holds true in abstract mathematics, it is misleading, as it’s practically unachievable due to the constraints of our actual universe.
#Mathematics #science #MonkeyTheorem
Money begets money, success begets success, and Nobels beget Nobels.
Believe it or not, according to Nature, 95% of Nobel laureates (702 out of 736) belong to a single vast academic family tree, a network that I reflects their academic “lineage.” This isn’t just biological; it’s about mentorship—one scientist guiding another, usually as an advisor or mentor. Only a rare few, just 32 laureates, somehow achieved the Nobel without being part of this formidable academic network (you can see them on the left side of the network diagram).
Inside this colossal network lie 33 generations of laureates, all tracing their academic roots back to one progenitor—Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466–1536). He pioneered a system of mentorship that laid the foundation for today’s structured guidance, where knowledge, skills, connections, and experience are passed from one scientist to another, often leading to the highest accolades in science, such as the Nobel.
Opinion:
Success in a scientific career is not so much a matter of talent and hard work, but of connections and prestige.
1. Mentorship is the key driver behind the rise of superstars.
2. Elite mentorship propels scientists to the highest echelons of success.
3. The most critical factor in elite career trajectories isn’t just talent, and it’s not mere luck. It’s specific luck: the luck of having the right mentor.
Thus, superstars are born through mentorship.
Now, after Nature’s publication, the “Mentor Effect” in the “science of success” has earned experimental validation.
Take note, parents and grandparents: where—and with whom—your children and grandchildren learn can shape their paths in ways you might never expect.
Here are some relevant hashtags for your post:
#Science #NobelPrize
🚀 China Successfully Tests Supersonic Passenger Jet
The Chinese company Space Transportation has completed successful tests on a passenger jet that can reach speeds of up to Mach 4—twice as fast as the iconic Concorde, which retired in 2003.
According to the company, this revolutionary jet could take passengers from Beijing to New York in just two hours. The first commercial flight is expected as early as 2027, promising a new era in high-speed travel.
#Aviation #SupersonicFlight #science
🚀 Boston Dynamics Unveils Impressive New Demo of Atlas Robot
Boston Dynamics recently released a fascinating video showcasing its humanoid robot, Atlas. In the demo, Atlas autonomously moves engine covers from one container to another—no remote control, no cheats, just pure automation. This subtle dig at other robotics initiatives, like Elon Musk’s Optimus, underscores Boston Dynamics’ commitment to genuine autonomy.
The demo is impressive: Atlas maintains stable mobility, performs complex tasks with minimal errors, and shows a clear capacity for “intelligent” actions. If this isn’t cherry-picking but a real demonstration of Atlas’s consistent capabilities, it might just be the most advanced humanoid robot in the world right now.
#BostonDynamics #AtlasRobot #HumanoidRobots #Robotics #ArtificialIntelligence #Automation #AI
#science
Water in Zero Gravity! 🚀
Astronaut Don Pettit demonstrates the wonders of microgravity by injecting dye into a floating water sphere aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Without gravity, the water takes on a perfect spherical shape, revealing the fascinating behavior of fluids in space. 🌌💧
#Science #Microgravity #FluidDynamics #ISS #Astronomy #Physics #DonPettit #ScienceIsCool #STEM #SpaceExploration
🇺🇸 Texas: A single hailstorm destroyed thousands of acres of solar panels, turning the land into a toxic waste site within minutes.
@science
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#Texas #Hailstorm #SolarPanels #EnvironmentalDisaster #ToxicWaste #ClimateImpact #RenewableEnergy #ExtremeWeather #Sustainability #ClimateChange #SolarEnergy #DisasterRecovery #GreenEnergy
A Strange Spider Within a Spider: Cyclosa’s Astonishing Decoy
Something large and bizarre, seemingly assembled from whatever was available – web threads, debris, and remnants – isn’t a creature of nightmares. It’s a decoy.
The real spider, much smaller (only about 5 mm), hides beneath the “abdomen” of its intimidating counterpart.
These clever decoys are crafted by spiders of the Cyclosa genus from the orb-weaver family (Araneidae). Typically, the real spider positions itself on the edge of the web, subtly pulling on the silk threads. This causes the fake spider to move, creating the illusion of a living, menacing predator from afar.
The decoy itself is a masterpiece of recycling. Cyclosa spiders construct it from leaf fragments, leftover egg sacs, and the desiccated bodies of previous victims. These creations serve as a diversion, tricking predators like paper wasps, birds, or lizards into attacking the decoy instead of the spider. This distraction gives the real spider precious time to escape.
There’s also a hypothesis that these web decorations attract more prey. Organic debris on the web hosts yeast-like fungi, which release chemicals that lure insects into the trap, increasing Cyclosa’s hunting success.
#Science #Biology #Arachnology #Spiders #Nature #Evolution #Insects #Survival #Decoy
Quantum physics is seriously mind-blowing. It explains pretty much everything happening around us. Want to know how atoms work? Why light can be both a wave and a particle at the same time? Or how a cat in a box can somehow be both alive and dead? Yep, that’s all quantum mechanics, no doubt about it.
But here’s the weird part: there’s one thing that totally breaks quantum physics. Gravity. Yep, the same force that keeps us from floating off into space and makes apples fall to the ground. Why? Because gravity is a whole different ballgame—it runs on Einstein’s general theory of relativity. And relativity? It doesn’t play well with quantum rules.
Take black holes, for example. On one hand, quantum mechanics says you can calculate everything in the universe down to the tiniest particle. On the other hand, black holes have something called an “event horizon” — a boundary where everything, even light, gets sucked in and disappears. So here’s the kicker: where does the information about what gets sucked in go? Quantum mechanics insists that information can’t just vanish, while gravity shrugs and says, “Gone. Poof. Deal with it.”
What you end up with is a showdown between two theories that each work flawlessly on their own but refuse to get along together. Scientists have been scratching their heads over this for decades, trying to bridge the gap. Maybe, one day, we’ll have a “theory of everything” that explains both quantum effects and gravity. But for now, we’re stuck with two brilliant, yet totally incompatible rulebooks. Crazy, right?
AI vs. Prompt Engineers: Is the Profession Becoming Obsolete?
Google Cloud has introduced Prompt Writer, a tool that could revolutionize the way prompts are created for generative models. Now, artificial intelligence takes over the job of writing, testing, and optimizing prompts—a role that was previously handled by highly-paid prompt engineers.
Not long ago, being a “prompt engineer” seemed like a promising career path. Crafting precise prompts was a complex and valuable skill. But now, that need might simply disappear. AI can generate task-specific prompts, analyze the outcomes, and refine them until the desired result is achieved—all without human intervention.
This development not only streamlines the use of generative models but also raises a bigger question: is there still a role for humans in this process? AI seems to be closing in on a niche that was once considered exclusive.
So, what’s next for prompt engineers? Will they pivot to new roles or find areas where AI can’t yet replace their expertise? The future of the profession hangs in the balance.
#AI #science #prompt
The top image shows the final results of the recent U.S. presidential election, won by Trump with a score of 312 to 226. Remarkably, no human could predict this outcome—not experts, super-forecasters, exit polls, prediction markets, nor even psychics. But the AI model ChatGPT-4o did, as shown in the bottom image, where it accurately forecasted a 309 to 229 outcome back in September at Wuhan University (yes, once again China and once again Wuhan).
The precision of this prediction is rooted in an extraordinary foundation. Instead of relying on real human opinions, the AI analyzed simulated “social replicas.” Two years ago, a breakthrough technology emerged, enabling the creation of algorithmic replicas of any social group. Astonishingly, these algorithms proved indistinguishable from real people in surveys. This discovery, sitting at the intersection of natural language processing, cognitive science, and sociology, offers enormous potential for social hacking.
In 2023, this technology evolved to create algorithmic replicas of citizens from any nation. While still far from achieving AGI, these systems now simulate the collective unconscious of entire societies. From this, I formulated two key hypotheses:
✔️ A paradigm shift transforming psychohistory into a practical science—one akin to Asimov’s fictional discipline that mathematically examines societal processes to accurately forecast the future.
✔️ A cultural phase shift ushering in a new era: algocognitive culture.
Now, just three months later—at a pace unimaginable before the age of technological singularity—researchers in Wuhan have provided experimental support that these hypotheses are not mere futurist speculation; they may indeed reflect reality.
In other words, it’s likely that our world has already undergone a profound transformation. The roles of humans and algorithms in science, culture, individual lives, and the “algorithmically enriched societies” of today will never be the same. What’s next? Let’s find out!
#AIRevolution #CognitiveScience #FutureSociety
#science
The Surface of Venus!
Venus is enveloped in a dense, impenetrable atmosphere that’s opaque to visible light. To map its surface, we rely on radar imaging (right image), as radio waves can penetrate the thick atmosphere and reflect back to give us a view. On the left, we see images captured by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe using the WISPR instrument during a close flyby of Venus. These images showcase the planet’s night side and were taken in the near-infrared range, allowing us to glimpse features beneath the clouds, revealing hints of the planet’s rugged landscape.
#space #science
📢 Breaking New Ground in Vision Restoration: iPSC-Derived Corneal Transplant Surgery 🌱👁️✨
A pioneering clinical study in Japan has successfully used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to regenerate corneal tissue in patients suffering from limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), a condition causing severe vision impairment. In this groundbreaking study, four patients with LSCD received transplants of iPSC-derived corneal epithelium, leading to promising outcomes like improved visual acuity, reduced corneal opacification, and minimal adverse reactions.
Key Highlights:
1. Patient Outcomes: Over two years, no serious adverse effects, such as immune rejection or tumor formation, were observed. Visual improvements were significant, especially in early-stage patients.
2. Immunological Insights: Surprisingly, iPSC-derived cells showed reduced immune system activation, indicating lower rejection rates even without matching patients’ immune profiles.
3. Future Directions: With success in this initial trial, researchers plan to expand the study to further test efficacy across larger, diverse groups, potentially revolutionizing treatments for LSCD.
Could this technology pave the way for safer, more accessible eye transplants in the future? Only time and further trials will tell, but the outlook is bright for vision restoration!
#StemCellTherapy #VisionRestoration #MedicalInnovation
💡 This underscores the importance of natural resources to the global economy and illustrates how resource distribution impacts the geopolitical influence of nations.
Source: Statista, Elements.visualcapitalist.com
Unusual angle on camera…
Sharks 😀
Sharks have always been a favorite for the thrill factor, but seeing them from unexpected perspectives opens up a whole new appreciation. It’s not every day we get a close-up of these ancient predators from unique angles!
#nature #sharks #fun
Karl Ward showcases his invention — a pedal-powered unicycle. Los Angeles, 1971.
Instead of a traditional wheel, Ward’s creation used artificial legs. The pedals drove a mechanism that propelled the structure forward and helped maintain balance. The concept aimed to allow people to “walk” while seated.
Ward’s invention earned a unique place in the world of alternative transportation. However, due to its lack of speed and challenging operation, it never gained widespread popularity.
#ForgottenInventions #AltTransport #RetroGadgets
Recent studies on Drosophila (fruit flies) reveal a promising approach to combat brain aging by regulating actin polymerization. Researchers found that an age-related accumulation of F-actin (filamentous actin) in the brain is linked to cognitive decline and shorter healthspan. By using interventions like diet, genetic modifications, and specific drugs to lower F-actin levels, scientists observed improved brain function and extended healthspan in the flies.
This breakthrough suggests that targeting the actin cytoskeleton could restore youth-like function in aging brains and potentially delay age-associated neurodegenerative changes. Could actin-modulating therapies be the next frontier in promoting brain health?
🔬 #BrainAging #Neuroscience #Actin
🚀 SpaceX to Attempt First-Ever Starship-to-Starship Refueling in March 2025
NASA has announced that SpaceX will conduct a groundbreaking test of orbital fuel transfer between two Starship spacecraft as early as March next year. This in-orbit refueling demonstration is crucial, as it could enable larger payload deliveries beyond Earth’s orbit and support future unmanned missions. Should the test succeed, SpaceX is set to land astronauts on the Moon in September 2026.
#SpaceX #Starship #NASA #SpaceExploration #OrbitalRefueling #MoonMission #FutureOfSpace #TechNews #Science
An ‘ice tsunami’ is often triggered by a sudden rise in temperature. As the ice begins to melt, it becomes more susceptible to movement, especially under the influence of strong winds.
These images capture the Amur River embankment in Khabarovsk / Russia 2021.
#IceTsunami #ClimateChange #ScienceNews #Khabarovsk #NaturePhenomena #AmurRiver #Meteorology #science
A Strong Contender for the Next Nobel Prize
The startup Iambic has made a breakthrough that surpasses Google DeepMind’s AlphaFold. While AlphaFold, the AI system developed by Google DeepMind, recently earned a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for predicting the 3D structure of how molecules bind to target proteins, this is just the beginning. It’s impressive but not enough to drastically reduce the time (10-15 years) and costs ($1-2.6 billion per drug) required to bring new medicines to market.
Iambic has taken it a step further by developing an AI model that predicts, with remarkable accuracy, how well a human body will absorb a specific drug candidate. The predictions are validated against real-world data, making it a promising tool for pharmaceutical development.
The success of a drug candidate depends on several key properties—pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and toxicity. These are exactly the factors predicted by Iambic’s AI-powered drug discovery platform called Enchant, which boasts a predictive accuracy of 0.74, compared to just 0.58 achieved by previous models.
The Enchant model could potentially cut the costs of drug development in half, allowing pharmaceutical companies to assess a drug’s potential success at the earliest stages of research.
To understand the significance of Iambic’s breakthrough, consider the vast competition in the “AI in Biomedicine” sector, where more than 8,600 companies are racing to unlock the next major innovation (as shown in the chart above). In the sub-segment of “AI-based Analytics Platforms for Drug Development” alone, the number of companies has grown fourfold in the last three years, now standing at 950 competitors (see the chart below).
#AI #DeepPharma #DrugDiscovery #Biotech #Pharmacology #AlphaFold
#science
A Jurassic-period colony of sea lilies, spanning nearly 100 square meters, has been uncovered! These ancient echinoderms were meticulously excavated by German paleontologists over 18 years. Now, you can marvel at this incredible fossil at the Urweltmuseum Hauff in Holzmaden.
#Paleontology #Fossils #SeaLilies #Jurassic #Echinoderms #ScienceNews #NaturalHistory #MuseumExhibit
#science
The United States receives more Nobel Prizes in science than the rest of the world combined. However, 43% of PhD holders in the U.S. were born abroad.
🌍🎓 #NobelPrize #Science #Education #Innovation #GlobalScience #Immigration #STEM @science
EngineAI Unveils SE01 Humanoid Robot with Natural Gait
The young Shenzhen-based startup EngineAI has announced a full-sized humanoid robot, SE01.
What sets SE01 apart is its unique biomechanics, offering smooth, natural movements with 12 degrees of freedom.
The development team consists of experts from UC Berkeley, Tsinghua University, and the Beijing Institute of Technology.
A friendly shoutout to everyone who used to laugh at awkwardly moving robots — the engineers in China have made their point loud and clear! 🤖
The real fear begins when these machines become indistinguishable from humans. Now imagine if it had the cognitive capabilities of Anthropic’s AI or a 1TB model within the next decade.
There might be no place left for humans — not in manufacturing, services, or even daily life.
#EngineAI #SE01 #robotics #China