Lifeboat Foundation

How do astronauts cope with life onboard the International Space Station (ISS) and how can scientists study it? This is what a recent study published in PLoS ONE hopes to address as an international team of researchers used archaeological investigation strategies to ascertain how ISS crew members managed their lives in space, specifically pertaining to the astronauts’ habits of using and storing the various materials onboard the orbiting outpost. This study holds the potential to help scientists better understand how humans cope with living in space for long periods of time, which could be useful for trips to the Moon and Mars, someday.

The study, known as the Sampling Quadrangle Assemblages Research Experiment (SQuARE) experiment, was conducted over a 60-day period between January and March 2022 where six common locations onboard the ISS were designated as “squares”, which is a common archaeology strategy of digging pits to ascertain the most viable areas of further investigation. During the study, the astronauts photographed each square every day to ascertain how they were used, and the researchers would compare that to the location’s original purpose.

Join Brian Greene and a team of researchers testing Google’s quantum computer to glean new insights about quantum gravity from their impressive–if controversial–results.

Participants:
Maria Spiropúlu.
Joseph Lykken.
Daniel Jafferis.

Continue reading “Did Einstein Crack the Biggest Problem in Physics…and Not Know It?” »

New approach creates skilled robots:

MIT researchers have developed a groundbreaking algorithm that enables robots to rapidly learn and master complex tasks.

The countdown is on.

You don’t need 0s and 1s to perform computations, and in some cases it’s better to avoid them.

A new ultra-thin material created by scientists at Oxford University could revolutionize solar collection technology.

Microwaves in homes, offices and laboratories have been found to host diverse microbiomes, highlighting the importance of regular cleaning.

By James Woodford

In the search for less energy-hungry artificial intelligence, some scientists are exploring living computers.

By Jordan Kinard

Artificial intelligence systems, even those as sophisticated as ChatGPT, depend on the same silicon-based hardware that has been the bedrock of computing since the 1950s. But what if computers could be molded from living biological matter? Some researchers in academia and the commercial sector, wary of AI’s ballooning demands for data storage and energy, are focusing on a growing field known as biocomputing. This approach uses synthetic biology, such as miniature clusters of lab-grown cells called organoids, to create computer architecture. Biocomputing pioneers include Swiss company FinalSpark, which earlier this year debuted its “Neuroplatform”—a computer platform powered by human-brain organoids—that scientists can rent over the Internet for $500 a month.

More than one singularity.

The singularity could soon be upon us. The PESTLE framework, developed by this episode’s guest Daniel Hulme, expresses not one but six types of singularity that could occur: political, environmental, social, technological, legal and economic. ‪@JonKrohnLearns‬ and Daniel Hulme discuss how each of these singularities could bring good to the world, aligning with human interests and pushing forward progress. They also talk about neuromorphic computing, machine consciousness, and applying AI at work.

Continue reading “The Six Singularities (There’s Not Just One)” »