Scientists discover molecule crucial for long-term memories

Whether it’s a first-time visit to a zoo or learning to ride a bicycle, childhood memories often stay with us well into adulthood. But what explains the persistence of these memories over a lifetime? A study published in Science Advances by an international team of researchers sheds light on this question, uncovering a biological mechanism … Read more

Revolutionizing automotive safety with bio-inspired AI cameras

Artificial intelligence (AI), in conjunction with a novel bio-inspired camera, has achieved a breakthrough in pedestrian and obstacle detection, boasting a 100-times increase in speed compared to current automotive cameras. Researchers from the University of Zurich spearheaded this significant advancement, which holds promise for dramatically enhancing the safety of automotive systems and self-driving vehicles. The … Read more

Neuroplasticity: Brain’s Ability to Change and Adapt

Neuroplasticity, also known as brain plasticity or neural plasticity, is a fundamental property of the brain that refers to its ability to change and adapt throughout life in response to experiences, learning, environmental stimuli, injury, and disease. This remarkable capacity for structural and functional reorganization enables the brain to modify neural pathways, establish new connections, … Read more

Study solves lag mystery in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs)

Researchers who want to bridge the divide between biology and technology spend a lot of time thinking about translating between the two different “languages” of those realms. “Our digital technology operates through a series of electronic on-off switches that control the flow of current and voltage,” said Rajiv Giridharagopal, a research scientist at the University … Read more

Neurobiology: Exploring the Nervous System

Neurobiology is a fascinating field of study that delves into the intricacies of the nervous system, which serves as the body’s communication and control center. The nervous system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that coordinate sensory perception, motor function, cognition, and behavior. In this exploration of neurobiology, we will delve into … Read more

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Astronomy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the field of astronomy by enabling new approaches to data analysis, pattern recognition, and knowledge discovery. From processing vast amounts of observational data to enhancing simulations, AI techniques are enhancing our understanding of the universe and accelerating scientific discoveries. The role of AI in astronomy encompasses a wide range of … Read more

Novel laser technique enables 20-level programmable photonic integrated circuits

Researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology proposed a pixelated programmable photonic integrated circuit (PICs) with record-high 20-level intermediate states of phase change materials (PCMs). The work, reported in the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, could pave the way for the applications of laser-induced PCMs in neuromorphic photonics, optical computing, and reconfigurable metasurfaces. Prof. Jinlong Zhu, corresponding … Read more

Study reveals unexpected memory capabilities in quantum neural networks

Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science that focuses on the use of data and algorithms to allow computers to learn without explicitly being programmed. While discussions surrounding AI algorithms, such as ChatGPT and other generative models, are taking place at all levels of society, the machine learning capabilities of … Read more

How the brain snaps back from daydreams and forms memories

Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital have shed light on how our brains manage to stay tethered to reality even while daydreaming. Their findings, published in Nature on March 13, 2024, reveal a crucial role played by the dentate gyrus, a region in the hippocampus. When our minds wander, the brain typically engages in replaying past … Read more

Latent Dynamics Networks: A new machine learning tool for understanding spatio-temporal processes

The result of a new study on the intrinsic dynamics of spatio-temporal processes conducted at the MOX laboratory of the Politecnico di Milano (Department of Mathematics) by Francesco Regazzoni, Stefano Pagani, Matteo Salvador has been published in Nature Communications. The Politecnico researchers introduced an innovative type of artificial neural network called “Latent Dynamics Network” (LDNet), … Read more

New study paves the way for scalable, energy-efficient optical neural networks

New research from U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) researchers delivers a novel contribution to fiber optics computing. Titled “Fiber optic computing using distributed feedback,” the paper published in Communications Physics journal brings the Navy one step closer to faster, more efficient computing technologies. Optical computing uses the properties of light such as its speed and … Read more

Researchers develop hybrid waveguide devices for enhanced control of optical signals

Researchers have developed a new way to control and manipulate optical signals by embedding a liquid crystal layer into waveguides created with direct laser writing. The new devices enable electro-optical control of polarization, which could open new possibilities for chip-based devices and complex photonic circuits based on femtosecond-written waveguides. “Laser writing of waveguides and electro-optical … Read more

What is a microprocessor?

A microprocessor is a pivotal component of modern computing devices, serving as the brain that executes instructions and performs calculations. It is a miniature electronic device that contains millions or even billions of transistors etched onto a single semiconductor chip. The evolution of microprocessors has been instrumental in advancing computing technology, enabling the development of … Read more

High-speed modulation structured illumination microscopy for enhanced 3D imaging

In the dynamic landscape of microscopy, recent advancements in both hardware and algorithms have propelled our capacity to delve into the microscopic wonders of life. However, the quest for three-dimensional structured illumination microscopy (3DSIM) has faced hurdles due to the complexities of polarization modulation and speed limitations. Introducing the groundbreaking high-speed modulation 3DSIM system dubbed … Read more

New study shows handwriting boosts brain connectivity and memory recall compared to typing

As digital devices progressively replace pen and paper, taking notes by hand is becoming increasingly uncommon in schools and universities. Using a keyboard is recommended because it’s often faster than writing by hand. However, the latter has been found to improve spelling accuracy and memory recall. To find out if the process of forming letters … Read more

MiV unveils open-source In vitro platform for unprecedented neural interfacing

The intricate dance of neurons orchestrates vital bodily functions and complex thoughts within a vast network. Traditional neuroscience, relying on in vivo electrophysiology within living organisms, grapples with the brain’s overarching complexity. An alternative method involves extracting cells and studying them in vitro, on a culture dish, offering researchers better control and precision in probing … Read more

How do biometric authentication systems work?

Biometric authentication systems represent a sophisticated approach to verifying an individual’s identity by leveraging unique biological characteristics or behavioral patterns. As technology continues to evolve, biometrics have become increasingly prevalent in various applications, from unlocking smartphones to securing access to sensitive facilities. To comprehend the inner workings of biometric authentication systems, one must delve into … Read more

How do neurotransmitters function in the nervous system?

Neurotransmitters are essential signaling molecules in the nervous system, playing a central role in transmitting information between neurons and facilitating communication throughout the intricate neural networks. These chemical messengers enable the transmission of signals across synapses, the junctions between neurons, allowing for the precise and rapid communication necessary for various physiological processes. Understanding how neurotransmitters … Read more

Long short-term memory

Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) represents a crucial breakthrough in the field of artificial intelligence, specifically in the realm of recurrent neural networks (RNNs). LSTMs are a type of neural network architecture designed to address the challenges of learning long-term dependencies in sequential data. Introduced by Sepp Hochreiter and Jürgen Schmidhuber in 1997, LSTMs have since … Read more

Feature learning

Feature learning is a fundamental concept in machine learning and artificial intelligence that involves the automatic discovery and extraction of relevant features from raw data. The process of feature learning enables algorithms to identify meaningful patterns and representations, facilitating the creation of more effective models. Whether in computer vision, natural language processing, or other domains, … Read more