Researchers solve the Rubik’s cube puzzle using machine learning (deep learning). There has been a rise in the popularity of “deep learning” following some major breakthroughs in tasks like image recognition. Yet, at least as far as recommender systems are concerned, there are reasons to be skeptical of the good results being reported: In this … Continue reading Science and Technology links (July 20th 2019)
Drinking juice increases your risk of having cancer. College completion rates are increasing and this may have to do with lower standards. Australia is going to try a flu vaccine that was partially designed with help from an artificial intelligence called Sam. Sam acquires knowledge and has new ideas, according to its creators. I think … Continue reading Science and Technology links (July 13th 2019)
Jim Keller, the vice president of silicon engineering at Intel, is optimistic regarding the continued exponential progress in computing: “It’s going to keep going, Moore’s law is relentless.” England did away with free college. The result? England’s shift has resulted in increased funding per head and rising enrolments, with no apparent widening of the participation … Continue reading Science and Technology links (July 6th, 2019)
Consuming pornography has no effect on sexual desire for one’s partner. Exercise may increase the likelihood that a woman will become pregnant. Consuming more protein make it less likely that you will become frail as you age. There is no correlation between how often university professors fly and their academic success. Furthermore, academics who study … Continue reading Science and Technology links (June 29th 2019)
An implemented chip can improve long-term memory. It is currently impractical, but a start-up company will try to bring this technology to market. Never before so many simultaneous and distinct new approaches have been in development in the history of drug research. Once more, we have evidence that exercise can rejuvenate your muscles. After controlling … Continue reading Science and Technology links (June 22nd 2019)
We know that naked mole rats are ageless mammals, in the sense that their mortality rate appear constant (not increasing with age). We believe that many sea creatures are similarly ageless. However, new research shows that sea urchins actually age in reverse: their mortality rate diminishes with age. Many trees also age in reverse: older … Continue reading Science and Technology links (June 15th 2019)
There is a new drug reaching phase-3 clinical trials (the last phase) for knee osteoarthritis. It seems to be able to regrow cartilage. Bank of America analysts predict that human lifespan will soon reach 100 years old. If that sounds crazy, consider what demographers have been telling us for years: According to estimates published by … Continue reading Science and Technology links (June 7th 2019)
The DeepMind engineers built an artificial intelligence (a software program) that can learn to play 3D shooter games at super-human levels. Researchers have found a way to grow large quantities of cells that can generate blood; it works for mice. Europe passed a law to protect privacy online (GDPR). It comes with annoying warnings regarding … Continue reading Science and Technology links (June 1st 2019)
Oculus released the Quest, its latest VR goggles. It requires no wiring, no PC. It supports six degrees of freedom, so it is “true VR”. They cost less than $600. The reviews are critical. The goggles still weight too much for long term use and the software is much too limited. I have ordered a … Continue reading Science and Technology links (May 25th 2019)
Though depression has genetic components, the previous studies that identified “depression genes” are probably all bogus. They are the results of poorly conducted research, using underpowered studies to reach untenable conclusions. Many species of salmons die shortly after procreation, a bit like annual plants. Both can be viewed as an example of programmed aging and … Continue reading Science and Technology links (May 18th 2019)