New insights into ape’s evolution have been given by long-awaited ape genomes
The Nature Podcast: Synthesis of six ape species and full genome wiring diagram of a mammal brain using laser-plasma accelerators
New sequencing analyses fill in long-awaited gaps in the genomes of six ape species — plus, evidence that laser-plasma particle accelerators could work as well as conventional kinds.
After decades of research, physicists have demonstrated that, in principle, an alternative kind of particle accelerator can work just as well as more conventional designs. Radio-frequency particles that are used in large experiments are not as strong as their magnetic fields can be. The new work shows how smaller amounts of gas could be used to accelerate particles.
You never have to miss an episode. Subscribe to the Nature Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music or your favourite podcast app. An RSS feed can be used to feed the NaturePodcast.
Reducing our dogs environmental footprint is something we can do. The complete genomes of six ape species and a detailed wiring diagram of a mammal brain are included.
Brain stem cells as invisible shields for the immune system: Is AI worth it? The public believes it will improve safety and the environment in Alzheimer’s disease
Human brain cells engineered to evade detection by the immune system have successfully restored muscle control in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease. The alterations to the eight genes in the stem cell line acted as an invisible shield for the immune system. The cells were suitable for treating Parkinson’s disease. The study is one step in the process of development of a universal cell line that can be used to cure a plethora of diseases, including type 2 diabetes, without the need for anti-rejection drugs.
54% of 4,260 global researchers who responded to a survey believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will bring more benefits to society than risks. That makes them seemingly a lot more optimistic than the general public: for example, in a similar survey just 13% of the UK public shared the same rosy view. More researchers and the public said that there is a problem with misinformation from the use of artificial intelligence. The survey’s most striking finding is that fewer than one-third of AI scientists think that the technologies should be developed as quickly as possible, says Robert Trager, director of the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative. “They seem to want a more considered approach to development to mitigate risks.”
The estimated energy that data centres will use in 2030 — roughly equivalent to the current annual electricity consumption of Japan and more than twice as much as today — mostly because of power-hungry artificial intelligence systems. 3 min read.
Source: Daily briefing: Dogs have a serious environmental impact — but owners can mitigate it
Managing pets: The impact dogs have on the environment – and owners can mitigate it (AdS/CST/WS1211)
The past decade has seen the development of a class of drugs that effectively induces sleep with fewer side effects and a lower risk of dependence compared with other sleep aids. Dual orexin receptor antagonist (DORA) drugs approved in the United States include suvorexant (sold as Belsomra), lemborexant (Dayvigo) and daridorexant (Quviviq). “The beauty of it is it does nothing but block the stimulation of wakefulness,” says neurologist Joe Herring.
But DORA therapies are available only in a few countries, and their high cost keeps them out of reach of many people who could benefit from them. “I’m aware that each pill I pop before bed is about the same price as ordering a fancy cocktail,” writes journalist Rachel Nuwer, who is trying the treatment after learning about it while reporting the story.
Bill and Lauren Gilson are behavioural ecologists who write about the effects of pets on the environment. Pets kill wildlife, disturb habitats with their scent and droppings, ruin habitats with toxic flea treatments, consume vast amounts of meat, and produce equivalent volumes of waste. The dog owners can do a lot to improve the situation. Follow leash laws, don’t let your pooch chase animals, always pick up its poo and consider buying sustainable dog food, he suggests.
Source: Daily briefing: Dogs have a serious environmental impact — but owners can mitigate it
A 200,000-million-cell brain diagram created by the Artificial Intelligence Project from Cortical Networks (MICR Networks)
Researchers have created the largest and most detailed wiring diagram of a mammalian brain to date, by mapping cells in a cubic millimetre of a mouse’s brain tissue. The high-resolution map shows 200,000 brain cells, with 82,000 of them Neurons. It also includes more than 500 million of the neuronal connection points called synapses and more than 4 kilometres of neuronal wiring, all found in a tiny block of tissue in a brain region involved in vision. (Nature | 5 min read)
The map was created by the Machine Intelligence from Cortical Networks project, who describe their work in a package of eight papers.
