Producing anti-venom is a complex and dangerous process involving the extraction of venom from snakes and the use of horses to develop antibodies. Anti-venom is not always widely accessible, leading to thousands of snakebite deaths each year. Scientists are exploring alternative methods to reduce costs and increase accessibility, including developing antibodies in a laboratory without the need for horses.
Zoologists have discovered that starfish are not just in possession of a head, but they are a head. This astonishing finding challenges centuries-old assumptions and opens up new avenues of research into understanding the evolution of echinoderms. The study reveals that starfish do not have a body per se; instead, their so-called “arms” are also heads. This revelation has significant implications for our understanding of starfish and echinoderms as a whole. The research, published in the journal Nature, also highlights the use of RNA tomography to study gene expression in starfish and unravel their unique evolutionary journey.
Wall Street analysts and investment research firms are highly optimistic about the long-term prospects of artificial intelligence (AI). Reports from companies like Bank of America, Carlyle, UBS, Citi, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, and Capital Economics argue that AI will boost worker productivity, reduce costs, and have a transformational impact on various industries. While there is a split between experts who believe the near-term AI hype is overdone and those who believe it’s justified, the consensus is that AI will have a significant impact in the long run. It’s compared to the birth of the internet and is expected to bring about job creation and economic growth. However, concerns have been raised about the potential for an AI bubble and the need for cautious investment.
Researchers from Northwestern University, MIT, and the University of Vermont asked an AI to design a walking robot. The result was a small, squishy, misshapen robot that walks by spasming when filled with air. This robot’s design looks nothing like any animal that has ever walked the earth, and researchers are uncertain why it has this peculiar shape and numerous holes. The study showcases the unexpected outcomes that can occur when combining AI and robotics, presenting new possibilities and paths that humans may not have considered.