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Tiny heat pump that relies on changing ambient temperature could be key to powering IoT devices and sensors without batteries forever — Nanoparticles are critical to the process, posit scientists

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As IoT technology progresses, the question of how to power these devices, particularly in locations where reliable electrical sources are scarce, presents a significant challenge. 

Researchers at the University of Utah’s College of Engineering have pioneered a new form of battery that could help solve this dilemma. The solution, which is at the proof of concept stage, comes in the form of a pyroelectrochemical cell (PEC).

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changing Arctic fjord hints at our climate future

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Far north of the Arctic Circle lies a fjord on the front lines of climate change. Geir Wing Gabrielsen has been visiting this inlet, located on the northwest side of the Norwegian archipelago Svalbard, since 1981, when he first came to study the behaviour of Arctic birds. It used to be that each year when the ecotoxicologist would arrive in May or June — springtime in Svalbard — he could count on one thing: that the fjord would still be locked in ice.

But all of that has changed.

The Arctic is warming four times as fast as the rest of the world owing to climate change. And because of a quirk of ocean currents, the fjord, called Kongsfjorden, is warming even faster (see ‘Current situation’). So much so that, since 2006, it no longer freezes over — even when the Sun sets during the winter months, between October and February.

Current situation: Location of Kongsfjorden in Svalbard, Norway and the currents from Atlantic and Arctic coastal waters.

Source: Buchholz, F., Buchholz, C. M. & Weslawski, J. M. Polar Biol. 33. 101–113 (2009).

This has completely reshaped the fjord’s ecosystem, according to a study in Polish Polar Research published in January1. Arctic mammals such as beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) and ringed seals (Phoca hispida) that once called the fjord home have left. Meanwhile, more southerly animals including Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) and Atlantic mackerels (Scomber scombrus) have moved in. And new habitats have popped up along the shoreline where sea ice once suffocated plant growth.

For researchers such as Gabrielsen, at the University Centre in Svalbard, these changes are met with a sense of loss. But they are also viewed as an opportunity. The fjord “will provide information about how the Arctic will be in the future”, Gabrielsen says. And it could help to answer the big questions of which species will survive the shifting climate in the Arctic, and how.

“It’s incredible that I — in my time — have been able to see such dramatic changes,” he says.

Safe instruction of students from the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) standing Kongsfjorden sea-ice in April 2005.

As shown in this photo from April 2005, Kongsfjorden used to freeze over enough during springtime for students and researchers to safely walk on it.Credit: Kim Holmén

Vanishing Ice

Kongsfjorden, meaning ‘king’s fjord’, is arguably the best-studied Arctic fjord in the world. Norway established its first Arctic research station there in the 1960s in what was then the mining community of Ny-Ålesund. Since then, 11 other nations, including Germany, China and India, have set up camp there.

The density of research activity in the fjord has made it possible to track its environmental changes in detail. The eastern reach of Svalbard is pummeled by an Arctic current that keeps its frigid temperatures stable. Meanwhile, the western reach — where Kongsfjorden sits — is exposed to an offshoot of the Atlantic Gulf Stream. As a result, the fjord’s winter water temperature rose from 0.3 ºC in 2004 to 4 ºC in 2017. The most obvious effect of the warmer water hitting Kongsfjorden is the rapid retreat of its glaciers, says Kai Bischof, a marine biologist at the University of Bremen in Germany.

An aerial view of the town of Ny-Alesund near Kongsfjord, Svalbard, Norway, April 6, 2023, with snow and a fjord in the background.

A view of Ny-Ålesund from April 2023 showing the fjord free of sea ice.Credit: Lisi Niesner/Reuters

“If you go there, like me, every other year, you can really see the changes,” Bischof adds. He remembers how, in the 1990s, a retreating glacier revealed a surprise: a piece of land once covered in ice and marked on maps as a peninsula turned out to be an island. Scientists can now comfortably motor around it in boats. “The rate of change is accelerating,” Bischof says.

Out with the old, in with the new

Kongsfjorden has become something of a pilgrimage for politicians seeking to understand global warming. Both former UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon and former US secretary of state John Kerry have toured the fjord. The rapidly changing landscape makes it “a place where you can really experience the changing climate through your eyes”, says Bischof.

The fjord has already taught researchers that the Arctic is susceptible to tipping points. When it failed to ice over in 2006, it “was a great wake-up call”, Gabrielsen says.

But determining how exactly climate change will scramble the fjord’s ecosystem is a bit more difficult.

Researchers have so far recorded the effects on some species. For instance, ringed seals have mostly left the fjord because, without any sea ice in which to build their dens during the spring, their pups were exposed to predatory birds. In 2023, scientists recording the living symphony of the fjord also noted that the frequency of whale songs had diminished, compared with Svalbard’s northeast coast2.

Kittiwakes feeding in front of the glacier near Kongsfjorden, Svalbard.

Black-legged kittiwakes feed in Kongsfjorden.Credit: Geir Wing Gabrielsen

Meanwhile, some opportunistic species have moved onto the scene. Atlantic mackerels were first spotted in September 2013. The Atlantic puffin, spotted occasionally in the 1980s, is now thriving in Kongsfjorden. And a 19-year survey3 of the stomach contents of black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) in the fjord — a type of seabird in the gull family — suggests that, since around 2006, they have started to feast on a wide array of Atlantic fish that seem to have relocated, including Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), capelin (Mallotus villosus) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua).

The presence of these southern migrants seems to support the hypothesis that the Arctic will become more and more similar to the North Atlantic Ocean, a process aptly called Atlantification.

Arctic adapters

Some newcomers to Kongsfjorden present a challenge for researchers. Luisa Düsedau, a molecular biologist at the Alfred Wegner Institute in Bremerhaven, Germany, says that she and her colleagues now need to keep a watch out for polar bears (Ursus maritimus) as they walk the shoreline to collect specimens such as algae and kelp.

A polar bear eats common eider eggs near Kongsfjorden, Svalbard.

Polar bears now come into the fjord to eat the eggs of eiders along the shoreline.Credit: Geir Wing Gabrielsen

Once upon a time, these massive marine mammals would rarely come into the fjord. But with there being less and less sea ice — which polar bears rely on to hunt — the animals have started shifting tactics. Last summer, according to Gabrielsen, an unprecedented 20 polar bears and cubs travelled to the fjord to eat the eggs of common eiders (Somateria mollissima) and barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) nesting along the shore.

Polar bears aren’t the only new thing on the shoreline. Scientists used to have a hard time studying anything growing along the tide line because of the sea ice covering it for a large chunk of the year. They also assumed that the ice would prevent most plants from growing there, because it would scrape away anything that tried to take root. Today, thick strands of kelp and algae — some species entirely new to science, according to Düsedau — are flourishing.

Luisa Dusedau working in the intertidal zone of Hansneset in Kongsfjorden in June 2021.

Molecular biologist Luisa Düsedau works along the tide line of Kongsfjorden, where you can now see kelp and algae, in 2021.Credit: Nele Schimpf

“It’s like a tiny forest” that forms a home for crabs, worms, snails and many other creatures that used to live on the sea floor, says Düsedau. “It’s blooming.”

The growth is a reminder that nature can adapt, she says. But she also emphasizes that it used to be difficult to know what was actually under the sea ice, especially during the harsh conditions of winter.

With the shifting environment, that is changing. Researchers are trying to establish a baseline for what typically lives in the fjord so that they can systematically bear witness as the ecosystem continues to evolve.

Two years ago, for instance, polar ecologist Charlotte Havermans, also at the Alfred Wegner Institute, travelled with a team to Kongsfjorden to learn whether jellyfish stayed active during the polar winter. The researchers didn’t know whether they would succeed. But upon shining their headlamps into the dark, now-uncovered water, “we saw so many jellyfish”, she says, “it was incredible”. She adds: “There were so many more species in the winter than we thought.” Not only that, but the team found jellyfish DNA in the stomachs of amphipods — tiny crustaceans — also spending the winter in the fjord. It was the first time scientists had spotted Arctic amphipods naturally feeding on jellyfish, and suggested that the jellies play a much bigger part in the winter food chain that previously thought4.

(L-R): Annkathrin Dischereit, Charlotte Havermans and Ayla Murray, researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute, observe a jellyfish caught in the harbor of Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard.

Polar ecologist Charlotte Havermans (centre) and team sample amphipods in the water of Kongsfjorden during winter 2022.Credit: Alfred-Wegener-Institut/Esther Horvath

Kongsfjorden is powerful because it serves as a visual reminder of the power that climate change has to reshape the world, says Gabrielsen. Some 40 years ago, “I was so fascinated” by the fjord’s beauty, he says. Now, “I have grandchildren, and I wonder if they will be able to see what I have seen”.

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Estella Bergere Leopold (1927–2024), passionate environmentalist who traced changing ecosystems

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Estella Leopold with her pet squirrel in 1938

Credit: The Aldo Leopold Foundation and University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives

Estella Bergere Leopold was a palaeobotanist whose studies of fossil pollen and spores helped to reconstruct past environments and link them to the present. Her investigations of the Cenozoic era (from 66 million years ago to the present) provided some of the first insights into the evolution of modern plant communities and the factors that governed their development, including the consequences of long-term climate change, mountain building and volcanism. Few researchers before her had traced the rise of present-day ecosystems through time, and her discoveries helped to connect the relatively well-studied ice-age influences on vegetation with deep-time geological processes.

Leopold, who has died aged 97, was an ardent conservationist who argued that nature should be cherished and protected. She thought that science should be used in defence of the planet; this is evident in her writings, lectures and political activism.

Leopold was born in Madison, Wisconsin, the youngest daughter of conservationist Aldo Leopold and his wife Estella Bergere Leopold. All five Leopold children became esteemed scientists and conservationists in their own right. Her childhood, particularly her time spent at the family cabin, called ‘the Shack’, in central Wisconsin spurred an early interest in ecology. Leopold graduated with a degree in botany from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1948 and a master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1950. She moved to Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, to join a new graduate programme in conservation headed by Paul Sears, a pioneer in palynology (pollen analysis), and also to study with mathematical ecologist G. Evelyn Hutchinson and his former student Edward Deevey Jr. Her dissertation focused on the history of New England forests through the analysis of pollen and spores extracted from peat deposits, and palynology became her main research tool.

After graduating from Yale in 1955, Leopold was one of the few women who joined the US Geological Survey in Lakewood, Colorado, as a scientist. By meticulously comparing fossil pollen and spores with modern ones, she reconstructed past floras — innovative and insightful findings at the time. Her early study of the Eniwetok and Bikini atolls in the Pacific Ocean revealed the existence of a tropical rainforest in the south Pacific during the Miocene epoch (23 million to 5 million years ago). She examined Cenozoic plant-fossil sites for evidence of the origins of modern flora. Leopold described the transition from ancient species to newer variants in the Rocky Mountains of western North America, which showed an earlier modernization trend in the middle of the continent than in coastal areas, as a result of greater cooling, seasonality and mountain uplift.

Her research in Colorado on the Florissant fossil beds — well-preserved sediments from a 34-million-year-old lake — spurred her to lead a conservation effort in the area. In 1969, the 2,428-hectare Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument was established. Other successful actions included opposing oil-shale development in western Colorado, protesting dam building in the US Grand Canyon and stopping the shipping of highly radioactive materials through waterways that connected the Pacific Northwest region to the Pacific Ocean. Leopold also served on several conservation boards and was president of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, which she founded with her siblings to promote ethical land stewardship.

From 1976 to 1982, she directed the Quaternary Research Center at the University of Washington in Seattle and maintained an active research programme there, studying the palaeoecology and palaeoflora of the western United States and comparable settings in China. She officially retired in 2000, but remained active in research until her death.

Leopold recognized the power of scientific credentials in environmental activism. Throughout her career, she promoted palaeobotany as a tool for land protection. She argued that the value of a place was partly the result of its ecological history and how environmental events shape it. One of those events is fire. Using ethnographic and palaeoecological studies, Leopold highlighted the importance of Native American burning practices before European settlement for maintaining the health of prairies and woodland; she actively supported deliberate fire management.

In 1969, Estella was named conservationist of the year by the Colorado Wildlife Federation; she received the International Cosmos Prize for contributions to conservation in 2010. But those awards, and numerous others, scarcely do justice to the personal influence that she had on students. I met Estella at the US Geological Survey as an undergraduate student and was overjoyed when she accepted me for graduate studies at the University of Washington. Her unbridled enthusiasm for science and environmental protection was inspiring. Estella had what we students called a ‘1,000-volt look’ whenever an idea piqued her interest — to experience this was electrifying.

Estella will be remembered for her important contributions to ecology and for a life-long crusade to protect the land. More than most individuals, her scientific interests were inextricably linked to her environmental activism. She was keenly aware of her family heritage and, like her father, advocated simple outdoor living as a way to learn and appreciate nature. As a woman in a male-dominated field, she maintained a strong sense of humour and fearlessness throughout her career; yet, she also had immense grace and generosity. Estella leaves behind colleagues, former students and environmental activists who treasure her influence and their time with her.

Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

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#SundayReset – why changing your bed sheets is a surprising TikTok wellness trend

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It’s Sunday, 3pm, when it hits you: in just a few hours the weekend will be over. You probably want to hide under the covers and pretend it’s Saturday morning again, but is the better solution for the so-called Sunday Scaries actually to grab those covers, strip the bed, and get cleaning?

Regular sheet changes are essential to keeping your best mattress and best pillow in tip-top shape, and Sunday afternoon might be the perfect time to wash and change your bedding. “By doing it at this time, you can distract yourself from any negative feelings and, instead, experience the positive outcomes of a tidy space,” explains Martin Seeley, sleep expert and CEO at Mattress Next Day.



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How the next-gen QD-OLEDs from MSI are changing the game

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There’s been a sea change in the gaming monitor market: Endgame OLED has arrived. The first-generation Quantum Dot OLED panels which superseded the fast, colourful, high-contrast, original OLED panels, have evolved into ultimate gaming displays that fix the foibles of the first generation while taking colours and contrast to the next level.

These new QD-OLED monitors are faster, brighter, display better text and, thanks to MSI QD-OLED, come with peace of mind against the dreaded image burn-in which blighted the technology. In short, there’s never been a better time to upgrade your display.

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Vision Pro health apps are changing medical care

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Powerful new health and wellness apps take advantage of visionOS’s “infinite canvas” to use spatial experiences to improve patient outcomes in clinical settings and at home, Apple said Monday. It seems that Vision Pro health apps are changing medical care.

“We’re thrilled to see the incredible apps that developers across the healthcare community are bringing to Apple Vision Pro,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. “The imagination and drive of our developers, combined with the technical capabilities of visionOS, are igniting new possibilities for physicians, frontline workers, and even students, and we can’t wait to see what’s to come.”

visionOS health apps benefit users through spatial experiences

Accordingly, Apple pointed out that medical institutions and developers have worked with products like iPad and iPhone for a long time. Apple gear has helped improve patient outcomes, increase efficiency, save money and supercharge research. Now it’s Vision Pro’s turn.

“Vision Pro seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world, unlocking powerful spatial experiences in an infinite canvas,” Apple said. “And with the unique capabilities of visionOS, healthcare developers are creating new apps that were not previously possible. [They] transform areas such as clinical education, surgical planning, training, medical imaging, behavioral health and more.”

In support of the premise, the iPhone giant listed some choice examples of healthcare and wellness apps.

Aiding behavioral health and wellness

Cedars-Sinai’s Xaia app (pictured above; watch a video demo) uses Vision Pro to support patients’ mental health. The app’s “trained digital avatar offers patients AI-enabled, conversational mental health support in relaxing spatial environments where they can also do deep breathing exercises and meditation.” The patient could be at home or somewhere like a beach. And privacy remains intact, as the app requires no patient information.

“Apple Vision Pro’s stunning display offers a gateway into a world of immersive, interactive behavioral health support — a quantum leap beyond previous technologies,” said Brennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS, professor of medicine, director of Health Services Research, and director of the master’s degree program in Health Delivery Science at Cedars-Sinai.

“With Xaia, we leverage every pixel of that remarkable resolution and the full spectrum of vivid colors to craft a form of immersive therapy that’s engaging and deeply personal,” he added. “With this remarkable device, our team was able to completely reimagine how spatial computing can support behavioral health and overall wellbeing in ways never before possible.”

And you can explore other behavioral health and wellness apps:

  • The Mindfulness app on Vision Pro creates calm, immersive environments for users.
  • TRIPP delivers illuminating visuals and Spatial Audio for guided breathing exercises and sleep experience.
  • Healium helps Vision Pro users “relax and build resilience by creating stress-reducing memories of nature-based escapes.”
  • Odio uses Spatial Audio and intuitive gestures to display 3D images for focus, relaxation or peaceful sleep.

Surgical planning and education with Vision Pro health apps

Apple pointed out Stryker’s new myMako app for the company’s Mako SmartRobotics hip and knee replacement surgeries. The app helps surgeons use Vision Pro and iPhone to extend their experience in and beyond the operating room for better surgical outcomes. It helps surgeons prepare by visualizing and reviewing patients’ Mako surgical plans through immersive visuals.

“The myMako app for Apple Vision Pro allows surgeons the ability to access intricate surgical plan details and insights at their fingertips in a 3D-native, intuitive, and dynamic way. This level of insight — anytime, anywhere — was previously not possible,” said Robert Cohen, Stryker’s president of Digital, Robotics, and Enabling Technologies.

“With Apple Vision Pro, Stryker’s market-leading enabling technologies such as Mako SmartRobotics have the exciting potential to transform the way surgeons think about preoperative planning and the intraoperative experience, all consistent with Stryker’s mission to make healthcare better.”

Virtual environments for training

Vision Pro health apps - CyranoHealth
Boston Children’s Hospital created CyranoHealth, an app that offers immersive, comprehensive training on new medical equipment for frontline workers.
Photo: Apple

In addition, Apple cited Boston Children’s Hospital’s CyranoHealth app. Its comprehensive learning experience in a virtual environment helps with onboarding and training of clinicians. This is especially helpful in prepping them for real-world use of new medical equipment.

“CyranoHealth utilizes spatial computing to revolutionize the training of healthcare professionals, offering immersive, lifelike simulations to enhance learning and combat burnout. The app represents a significant leap forward in healthcare training, blending technology and medicine to create a future-ready workforce,” said John Brownstein, Ph.D., Boston Children’s chief innovation officer.

And you can explore other surgical planning and education apps:

  • Fundamental Surgery delivers surgical training through spatial computing.
  • CollaboratOR 3D by KARL STORZ enhances surgical learning opportunities.
  • Elsevier’s Complete HeartX “delves into … the human body to create a realistic and engaging learning environment.”
  • Insight Heart helps users understand the human heart. With ARKit, they can scan physical surroundings and visualize 3D hearts using CT data.

Interactive holograms

Siemens Healthineers’ Cinematic Reality app for Vision Pro lets clinicians and patients see immersive, interactive holograms of the human body taken from medical scans.

So here’s Apple’s description of how it works:

Using Metal and the power of the M2 processor, the app integrates advanced path-tracing technology, simulating light interactions with virtual objects to deliver breathtakingly realistic lighting and reflections.

“Cinematic Reality gives people the opportunity to immerse themselves in a world of photorealistic renderings of the human anatomy,” said Christian Zapf, of Siemens Healthineers. “Apple Vision Pro perfectly presents that three-dimensional experience, combined with great flexibility and standalone use. We see great potential for the technology for clinical as well as educational purposes.”

Vision Pro health apps: Collaborative medical histories

Vision Pro health apps - Epic Spatial Computing Concept
Epic Spatial Computing Concept allows physicians to experience charting, secure chat, and in-basket workflows with Apple Vision Pro using gestures.
Photo: Apple

And another good example of an enhanced health app involves all-important medical records.

Epic Systems’ Epic Spatial Computing Concept for Vision Pro helps healthcare workers in various ways. They can “easily complete charting, review labs, communicate using secure chat, and complete in-basket workflows through intuitive gestures.”

“Creating the first electronic health record experience for spatial computing was an exciting project for our developers,” said Seth Howard, Epic’s senior VP of R&D. “With Apple Vision Pro, clinicians will be able to interact with their patients’ health information in new, immersive ways. We welcome ideas from the physician community about how this technology can expand the future of healthcare delivery.”

And you can explore other productivity and collaboration apps:

  • Visage Ease VP supports immersive spatial experiences for diagnostic imaging and multimedia. UC San Diego Health became the first health system to pilot the technology t0 improve patient care.
  • Falcon Vue unleashes the power of spatial medical imaging viewing.
  • Medivis brings SurgicalAR Vision to Apple Vision Pro, enhancing medical imaging to support surgical precision.



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how WebAssembly is changing scientific computing

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In late 2021, midway through the COVID-19 pandemic, George Stagg was preparing to give exams to his mathematics and statistics students at the University of Newcastle, UK. Some would use laptops, others would opt for tablets or mobile phones. Not all of them could even use the programming language that was the subject of the test: the statistical language R. “We had no control, really, over what devices those students were using,” says Stagg.

Stagg and his colleagues set up a server so that students could log in, input their code and automatically test it. But with 150 students trying to connect at the same time, the homegrown system ground to a halt. “Things were a little shaky,” he recalls: “It was very, very slow.”

Frustrated, Stagg spent the Christmas holidays devising a solution. R code runs in a piece of software called an interpreter. Instead of having students install the interpreter on their own computers, or execute their code on a remote server, he would have the interpreter run in the students’ web browsers. To do that, Stagg used a tool that is rapidly gaining popularity in scientific computing: WebAssembly.

Code written in any of a few dozen languages, including C, C++ or Rust, can be compiled into the WebAssembly (or Wasm) instruction format, allowing it to run in a software-based environment inside a browser. No external servers are required. All modern browsers support WebAssembly, so code that works on one computer should produce the same result on any other. Best of all, no installation is needed, so scientists who are not authorized to install software — or lack the know-how or desire to do so — can use it.

WebAssembly allows developers to recycle their finely tuned code, so they don’t have to rewrite it in the language of the web: JavaScript. Google Earth, a 3D representation of Earth from Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is built on WebAssembly. So are the web version of Adobe Photoshop and the design tool Figma. Stagg, who is based in Newcastle but is now a senior software engineer at Posit, a software company in Boston, Massachusetts, solved his exam server issues by porting the R interpreter to WebAssembly in the webR package.

Daniel Ji, an undergraduate computer-science student in Niema Moshiri’s laboratory at the University of California, San Diego, used WebAssembly to build browser interfaces for many of his group’s epidemiological resources, including one that identifies evolutionary relationships between viral genomes1. Moshiri has used those tools to run analyses on smartphones, game systems and low-powered Chromebook laptops. “You might be able to have people run these tools without even needing a standard desktop or laptop computer,” Moshiri says. “They could actually maybe run it on some low-energy or portable device.”

That being said, porting an application to WebAssembly can be a complicated process full of trial and error — and one that’s right for only select applications.

Reusability and restrictions

Robert Aboukhalil’s journey with WebAssembly began with an application that he created in 2017 for quality control of raw DNA-sequencing data. The necessary algorithms already existed in a tool called Seqtk, but they weren’t written in JavaScript. So Aboukhalil, a software engineer at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative in Redwood City, California, rewrote them — but his implementations were relatively slow. Retooling his application to use WebAssembly improved performance 20-fold. “It was awesome, because it gave me more features that I didn’t have to write myself. And it happened to make the whole website a lot faster.”

C and C++ code can be ported to WebAssembly using the free Emscripten compiler; Rust programmers can use ‘wasm-pack’, an add-on to Rust’s package-manager and compilation utility, ‘cargo’. Python and R code cannot be compiled into WebAssembly, but there are WebAssembly ports of their interpreters called Pyodide and webR, which can run scripting code in these languages.

Quarto, a publishing system that allows researchers to embed and execute R, Python and Javascript code in documents and slide decks, is compatible with WebAssembly, too, using the quarto-webr extension (see our example at go.nature.com/4c1ex). WebAssembly can also be used in Observable computational notebooks, which have uses in data science and visualization and run JavaScript natively. There’s even a version of Jupyter, another computational-notebook platform, called JupyterLite that is built on WebAssembly.

Aboukhalil has ported more than 30 common computational-biology utilities to WebAssembly. His collection of ‘recipes’ — that is, code changes — that allow the underlying code to be compiled is available at biowasm.com. “Compiling things to WebAssembly, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward,” Aboukhalil explains. “You often have to modify the original code to get around things that WebAssembly doesn’t support.”

For instance, modern operating systems can handle 64-bit numbers. WebAssembly, however, is limited to 32 bits, and can access only 232 bytes (4 gigabytes) of memory. Furthermore, it cannot directly access a computer’s file system or its open network connections. And it’s not multithreaded; many algorithms depend on this form of parallelization, which allows different parts of a computation to be performed simultaneously. “A lot of older code won’t compile into WebAssembly, because it assumes that it can do things that can’t be done,” Stagg says.

Compounding these challenges, scientific software sits atop a tower of interconnected libraries, all of which must be ported to WebAssembly for the code to run. Jeroen Ooms, a software engineer in Utrecht, the Netherlands, has ported roughly 85% of the R-universe project’s 23,000 open-source R libraries to WebAssembly. But only about half of those actually work, he says, because some underlying libraries have not yet been converted.

Then, there’s the process of web development. Bioinformaticians don’t typically write code in JavaScript, but it is needed to create the web pages in which those tools will run. They also have to manually handle tasks such as shuttling data between the two language systems and freeing any memory they use – tasks that are handled automatically in pure JavaScript.

As a result, WebAssembly is often used to build relatively simple tools or applied to computationally intensive pieces of larger web applications. As a postdoc, bioinformatician Luiz Irber, then at the University of California, Davis, used WebAssembly to make a Rust language tool called Branchwater broadly accessible. Branchwater converts sequence data into numerical representations called hashes, which are used to search databases of microbial DNA sequences. Rather than having users install a conversion tool or upload their data to remote servers, Irber’s WebAssembly implementation allows researchers to convert their files locally.

Bioinformatician Aaron Lun and software engineer Jayaram Kancherla at Genentech in South San Francisco, California, used WebAssembly to implement kana, a browser-based analysis platform for single-cell RNA-sequencing data sets. The goal, Lun and Kancherla say, was to allow researchers to explore their data without a bioinformatician’s help. About 200 users now use kana each month.

The porting process took “six months, maybe a year’s worth of weekends”, Lun says, and was complicated by the fact that they were starting from C++ libraries glued together with R code. But that was nothing compared with the challenge of crafting a smooth, friendly user experience. “I can see why web developers get paid so much,” he laughs.

Powering up

Developers who need more computing power can supercharge their tools through a related project, WebGPU, which provides access to users’ graphics cards.

Will Usher, a scientific-visualization engineer at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and his team used WebGPU and WebAssembly to implement a data-visualization algorithm called ‘Marching Cubes’, with which they manipulated terabyte-scale data sets in a browser2. Computer scientist Johanna Beyer’s team at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, created a visualization tool for gigabyte-sized whole-slide microscopy data, using an algorithm called ‘Residency Octree’3. And developers at UK firm Oxford Nanopore Technologies built Bonito, a drag-and-drop basecalling tool that translates raw signals into nucleotide sequences, for the company’s sequencing platform.

Chris Seymour, Oxford Nanopore’s vice-president of platform development, says the company’s aim was to make its tools accessible to scientists who lack the skills to install software or are barred from doing so. Installation can be “a barrier to entry for certain users”, he explains. But WebAssembly is “a zero-install solution”: “They just hit the URL, and they’re good to go.”

There are other benefits, too. Data are never transferred to external servers, alleviating privacy concerns. And because the browser isolates the environment in which WebAssembly code can be executed, it is unlikely to harm the user’s system.

Perhaps most importantly, WebAssembly allows researchers to explore software and data with minimal friction, thus enabling development of educational applications. Aboukhalil has created a series of tutorials at sandbox.bio, with which users can test-drive bioinformatics tools in an in-browser text console. Statistician Eric Nantz at pharmaceuticals company Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, Indiana, is part of a pilot project to use webR to share clinical-trial data with the US Food and Drug Administration — a process that would otherwise require each scientist to install custom computational dashboards. Using WebAssembly, he says, “will minimize, from the reviewer’s perspective, many of the steps that they had to take to get the application running on their machines”.

WebAssembly, says Niema, “bridges that gap that we have in bioinformatics, where bio people are the users, computer-science people are the developers, and how do we translate [between them]?”

Still, brace yourself for complications. “WebAssembly is a great technology, but it’s also a niche technology,” Aboukhalil says. “There’s a small subset of applications where it makes sense to [use it], but when it does make sense it can be very powerful. It’s just a matter of figuring out which use cases those are.”

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New Jackal battle drone is changing the battlefield forever

Jackal warfare battle drone

New drone technology is changing the face of warfare and how engagements will take place. Imagine a battlefield where the skies are dominated by a new kind of warrior, one that doesn’t tire, doesn’t fear, and operates with precision that is nearly impossible for human pilots. This isn’t a scene from a futuristic movie; it’s a reality that’s unfolding right now with the introduction of the Jackal drone. This advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is poised to redefine aerial combat with its cutting-edge features and capabilities.

Developed by Flyby Technology, in collaboration with Turkish and UK partners, the Jackal drone is a response to the changing landscape of warfare, as evidenced by recent conflicts such as those in Ukraine. It’s designed for quick deployment, and its ability to take off and land vertically means it can be used in a variety of environments without the need for a runway. This versatility is crucial for military operations in diverse and often difficult terrains.

New Jackal drone equipped with rockets is changing the battlefield forever

As someone with a semi-technical background, you’ll find the Jackal’s missile system particularly interesting. It can launch lightweight multi-role missiles, a capability that has already been successfully tested with the Royal Air Force. This feature allows the Jackal to potentially take over the roles traditionally filled by manned attack helicopters and fighter jets, especially in air-to-ground combat missions.

Rocket equipped Jackal drone

One of the standout features of the Jackal is its modular design. This means that as technology evolves and warfare tactics change, the drone can be updated to meet new operational requirements. This adaptability is essential for maintaining a cutting-edge fleet without the excessive costs of developing entirely new models.

Stealth is another key element of the Jackal’s design. It can operate beyond the line of sight, making it much harder for enemy forces to detect. This stealth capability, combined with its autonomous control for reconnaissance and surveillance, allows the Jackal to carry out covert operations with a high degree of effectiveness.

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Vertical takeoff and landing

The Jackal’s vertical takeoff and landing capability is especially useful in challenging terrains that are typical in war zones. This feature ensures that the drone can be quickly deployed to support military operations in areas that are otherwise inaccessible to traditional aircraft. The Jackal drone has garnered interest from countries with more limited defense budgets, such as Ukraine, Iraq, and Taiwan. Taiwan, in particular, has placed a significant order, seeing the Jackal as an affordable solution to their defense needs.

Features of the Jackal Drone built for warfare

  • Small, Lightweight Design: JACKAL is compact and designed for agility, facilitating operations in tight spaces and rapid maneuvering.
  • Modular VTOL Capabilities: It features vertical take-off and landing, eliminating the need for runways and enabling deployment from concealed or unprepared locations.
  • Multi-Role Attack Functionality: Capable of engaging targets over land, sea, and air, including air interdiction, close air support, and engaging helicopters and tanks.
  • Payload and Range: It has a 15kg payload capacity and can operate up to a range of 130km, with a maximum altitude of 4,000m.
  • Missile Launch Capability: Equipped to launch lightweight multi-role missiles (LMM), enhancing its combat versatility.
  • Plug-and-Play System: Allows for the easy integration of new equipment and technology, adapting to evolving mission requirements and standards.
  • Advanced Sensors and C2 Links: Features multi-spectral sensors for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, and operates on secure command and control (C2) links with an operational range of up to 150km.
  • Engine and Propulsion: Utilizes twin contra-rotating propellers for VTOL and electric ducted fan (EDF) engines for forward flight, enabling high-speed maneuvers and cruising.
  • Speed: Can reach a maximum speed of 160km/h and cruise at 108km/h.
  • Autonomous Flight Capabilities: Advanced software and sensor technology enable autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance, enhancing its utility for reconnaissance and surveillance.
  • Future Compatibility: Designed with a modular approach to accommodate future technological upgrades and regulatory requirements.
  • Affordability and Accessibility: Provides an unmanned air combat solution for nations seeking cost-effective alternatives to traditional manned aircraft.

Advanced weaponry

The ongoing development and the move towards full-scale production of the Jackal drone signify an important development in aerial warfare. With its advanced weaponry, stealth features, and autonomous capabilities, the Jackal is indicative of a shift towards a future where unmanned systems play a crucial role in military strategy. It offers a cost-effective and flexible option for defense forces worldwide, ensuring that they can keep pace with the rapid advancements in military technology.

The Jackal drone is not just another UAV; it’s a sophisticated piece of technology that could very well become the backbone of air combat in the years to come. Its introduction into military arsenals around the world will likely have a significant impact on how conflicts are fought and won. With the Jackal in the sky, the dynamics of warfare could be altered in a way that prioritizes speed, stealth, and precision above all else.

Military Technology

As the world watches the evolution of military technology, the Jackal drone stands out as a prime example of how innovation can lead to more efficient and effective defense strategies. It’s a clear indication that the future of aerial warfare will be shaped by the capabilities of unmanned systems, and the Jackal is at the forefront of this transformation.

The implications of the Jackal’s deployment are far-reaching. Not only does it have the potential to save lives by reducing the need for manned missions in dangerous environments, but it also represents a shift in the balance of power. Smaller nations with tighter budgets now have access to technology that can level the playing field against larger, more established military forces.

The Jackal drone is a significant step forward in the realm of aerial warfare. Its combination of advanced technology, adaptability, and cost-effectiveness makes it a formidable tool for any nation’s defense. As the Jackal takes to the skies, it’s clear that the future of combat will be heavily influenced by the power and potential of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Image Credit : FlyBy

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Adapting to the Changing Job Market with Google Bard

Google Bard

This guide is designed to show you how to use Google Bard to adapt to the ever-changing job market. In this rapidly evolving environment, the importance of enhancing and adapting one’s skill set cannot be overstated. To not just survive but thrive in this changing landscape, individuals must proactively engage in learning and development, ensuring their skills are relevant and up-to-date. This is where Google Bard emerges as an invaluable ally. It stands as your personalized AI assistant, dedicated to the task of upskilling, empowering you to meet the demands of this new era with confidence and competence.

As you delve into this detailed guide, you’ll find a wealth of knowledge and a suite of tools at your disposal. This guide is meticulously designed to provide you with the insights and resources necessary to navigate through these changes. It will offer you strategies to harness the potential of AI and automation while equipping you to face the challenges posed by globalization. With this guide, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the skills required in the contemporary job market and beyond.

1. Navigate the Changing Job Market:

  • Identify emerging trends: Bard can analyze job market data and identify skills in high demand across various sectors. Use Bard to stay ahead of the curve and anticipate which skills will be valuable in the future.
  • Understand your strengths and weaknesses: Google Bard can analyze your resume, work experience, and online presence to provide a personalized skills assessment. This helps you identify areas for improvement and prioritize your upskilling efforts.
  • Explore career options: Unsure where to take your career next? Bard can suggest potential career paths based on your interests, skills, and market demand.

2. Upskill with Google Bard:

  • Access curated learning resources: Bard curates a vast library of online courses, tutorials, and educational content from top universities, platforms, and industry experts. Find resources tailored to your specific skill goals, whether you want to learn coding, data analysis, or communication skills.
  • Personalized learning plans: Bard can create personalized learning plans based on your skill gaps and learning style. These plans recommend the right resources, learning activities, and practice exercises to help you achieve your goals efficiently.
  • Interactive learning experience: Bard is more than just a search engine. It can engage in interactive learning sessions, answer your questions, and provide feedback on your progress. This makes learning engaging and effective.

3. Adapt and Thrive in the New World of Work:

  • Develop future-proof skills: Google Bard can help you hone skills crucial for success in the AI-driven economy, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and adaptability. These skills will remain relevant even as technology continues to evolve.
  • Build your personal brand: Bard can help you create a compelling online presence that showcases your skills and experience. This is crucial for attracting employers and building your professional network in the digital age.
  • Embrace lifelong learning: The future of work requires a commitment to continuous learning. Bard can be your lifelong learning companion, providing you with new resources and challenges to keep your skills sharp and relevant.

Beyond the guide, remember:

  • Be proactive: Don’t wait for your skills to become obsolete. Take the initiative to upskill and adapt to the changing job market.
  • Network and connect: Building relationships with professionals in your field can open doors to new opportunities. Use Bard to connect with like-minded individuals and build a strong professional network.
  • Stay curious: The world of work is constantly evolving. Embrace a curious mindset and be open to new ideas and technologies.

With Google Bard as your guide and companion, you can navigate the changing job market with confidence and build a successful future in the AI-powered world. So, take the first step today and start your upskilling journey with Bard!

Bonus Tip: Bard can also help you practice your interview skills by providing mock interview questions and feedback. This can help you build confidence and prepare for your next job opportunity.

Remember, the future of work belongs to those who adapt and embrace change. With Google Bard by your side, you can future-proof your skills and thrive in the exciting new world of work!

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How foundation models are changing the world of AI

artificial intelligent robotic hands touching a human hand due to the creation of foundation models

Artificial intelligence is becoming a part of our daily lives faster than anyone thought possible. It’s changing the way we live in many ways, every day, week, and month, as companies introduce new innovations. They are competing to create the most advanced AI tools and services. In this competition, foundation models have become key. These are much more than typical machine learning tools. They’re huge in the world of technology, trained with huge and diverse amounts of data. Their impact on AI is huge, completely changing how we see and understand the field.

What are AI foundation models?

Think of foundation models as the robust scaffolding upon which modern AI is constructed. Their training is extensive, covering a broad spectrum of data, which empowers them to decipher complex patterns and connections that were previously out of reach. This is not a simple training process but a thorough and diverse one, preparing these models to be customized for specific needs. The effectiveness of this method is evident in the leaps AI has made recently, pushing the envelope of what we believed possible.

  • Large-Scale Training: Trained on vast, diverse datasets.
  • Versatile Foundation: Serves as a base for building specialized AI systems.
  • Extensive Pre-Training: Undergoes rigorous pre-training on a wide range of tasks.
  • Fine-Tuning Capability: Can be customized for specific applications.
  • Efficiency in Development: Reduces the need to create new models for each task.
  • Broad Applicability: Useful in various industries like healthcare, finance, and transportation.

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A Paradigm Shift in AI

The advent of foundation models has indeed revolutionized the field of AI, altering the traditional approach of model development. Here’s an expanded view of this transformation:

  • The Traditional Approach: Previously, AI development predominantly focused on creating specific models tailored for individual tasks. This approach, while effective for targeted applications, had its drawbacks. Each new task required starting from the ground up, developing a model from scratch. This process was not only time-consuming but also demanded significant computational resources and expertise. It often resulted in a siloed development environment where the progress in one task didn’t necessarily translate to others.
  • The Emergence of Foundation Models: Foundation models have shifted this paradigm. Unlike their predecessors, these models are not designed for a single, specific purpose. Instead, they are trained on enormous and diverse datasets, covering a wide array of information and tasks. This extensive pre-training equips them with a broad understanding and adaptability, making them a versatile tool in the AI arsenal.
  • Broad Pre-Training and Fine-Tuning Abilities: The real power of foundation models lies in their ability to be fine-tuned. After the initial, extensive pre-training, these models can be adapted to specific tasks with relatively minimal additional training. This is a stark contrast to the traditional method, where each new task might require building an entirely new model.
  • Efficiency and Resource Utilization: The efficiency gained through this approach is twofold. Firstly, it significantly reduces the time and resources required to develop AI solutions. Developers can now take a pre-trained foundation model and tailor it to their needs, bypassing the lengthy and resource-intensive process of training a model from zero. Secondly, it optimizes computational resources, as the same foundational model can be reused across multiple applications.
  • Democratization of AI: Perhaps one of the most impactful aspects of foundation models is their role in democratizing AI. Their adaptability and efficiency make advanced AI technologies accessible to a broader range of users and developers, including those with limited resources. Smaller organizations, startups, and even individual researchers can leverage these powerful models, leveling the playing field in AI development and innovation.

The rise of foundation models represents a fundamental shift in how AI systems are developed and applied. This shift not only enhances efficiency and resource utilization but also broadens the scope of AI, making cutting-edge technologies more accessible and equitable.

The Wide-Reaching Impact of Foundation Models

The impact of foundation models in AI transcends the realms of efficiency and resource management, heralding new capabilities that were once thought to be exclusively within the realm of human intelligence.

  • Understanding and Generating Human Language: Foundation models have significantly advanced the field of natural language processing (NLP). They are capable of understanding nuances, contexts, and even subtleties in human language, a feat that was once challenging for AI. These models can generate coherent, contextually relevant, and sometimes even creative textual content. This ability has applications in a wide range of areas, from automated customer service and chatbots to content creation and language translation services.
  • Recognizing Complex Images: In the realm of computer vision, foundation models have made strides in enabling machines to recognize and interpret complex visual data. They can identify objects, scenes, and activities in images and videos with a high degree of accuracy. This capability is crucial in various applications, such as medical imaging for disease diagnosis, autonomous vehicle technology, and surveillance systems. The sophistication of these models in image recognition mirrors human-like understanding, allowing for more nuanced and accurate interpretations.
  • Mastering Intricate Games: Foundation models have demonstrated their prowess by mastering complex games, which require strategic thinking, planning, and decision-making skills akin to human players. Games like chess, Go, and various strategy video games, traditionally requiring deep cognitive abilities, are now arenas where AI can perform at or above the level of the best human players. This achievement not only showcases the advanced computational and strategic capabilities of these models but also provides insights into how AI can handle complex, multi-layered decision-making scenarios in real-world applications.
  • Beyond Traditional AI Boundaries: These advancements mark a significant departure from the earlier limitations of AI. Foundation models have pushed the boundaries, venturing into areas that require a level of understanding, reasoning, and learning that was previously considered exclusive to humans. This shift is not just about performing tasks; it’s about imbuing AI systems with a level of cognition and adaptability that closely mirrors human intelligence.
  • Implications and Potential: The abilities of foundation models open up a plethora of possibilities across various sectors. In healthcare, they can aid in diagnostic procedures and patient care management. In the automotive industry, they contribute to the development of more sophisticated autonomous driving systems. In entertainment and arts, they assist in creating complex, dynamic content. The list of applications is ever-growing, indicating a future where AI’s role is integral and pervasive in solving some of the most intricate challenges and tasks.

AI foundation models are not just enhancing the efficiency of AI systems; they are redefining what AI can achieve. By mastering language, visual understanding, and complex problem-solving, these models are bridging the gap between artificial and human intelligence, opening up unprecedented possibilities across a myriad of industries and applications.

Transforming Industries with Foundation Models

The influence of foundation models is far-reaching, creating a ripple effect that is transforming multiple industries in significant ways.

  • Healthcare: In the healthcare industry, foundation models are revolutionizing both diagnostics and treatment planning. For instance, in medical imaging, AI can now accurately interpret X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, often identifying nuances that might be missed by the human eye. This capability enhances diagnostic accuracy and speeds up the process, leading to quicker and more effective patient care. Additionally, AI-driven predictive models are being used to forecast patient outcomes, personalize treatment plans, and even assist in drug discovery and development.
  • Finance: The financial sector is leveraging foundation models for a range of applications, from fraud detection to personalized financial advice. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of financial data at an unprecedented speed, identifying patterns indicative of fraudulent activity. This helps in mitigating risks and protecting consumers. Moreover, AI is being used to tailor financial products and services to individual customers, enhancing customer experience and satisfaction.
  • Entertainment: In the world of entertainment, these models are transforming content creation and recommendation systems. AI algorithms can analyze user preferences and viewing habits to recommend personalized content, enhancing user engagement. Furthermore, AI is being used in the creation of realistic visual effects and even generating new content, such as music, art, and literature, opening new avenues for creative expression.
  • Transportation: The transportation sector is seeing a significant impact, especially in the development of autonomous vehicle technology. Foundation models are key in processing and interpreting the vast array of sensory data required for self-driving cars, from recognizing traffic signals and obstacles to making real-time navigation decisions. This advancement not only holds the promise of reducing traffic accidents but also aims to revolutionize the way we commute.
  • Accelerated AI Research and Development: Beyond these industry-specific applications, foundation models are fueling a rapid acceleration in AI research and development as a whole. Breakthroughs in natural language processing (NLP) have led to more sophisticated voice assistants and translation services. In computer vision, advancements have improved object recognition and scene interpretation. Reinforcement learning, powered by foundation models, is enabling AI systems to learn and adapt from their environment, making decisions based on complex datasets and simulations.
  • Broadening the Scope of AI: These developments are broadening the scope and capabilities of AI, enabling it to tackle more complex, multifaceted problems. AI is no longer confined to narrow, specific tasks but is increasingly capable of handling tasks that require a degree of understanding, reasoning, and learning that was once thought to be the exclusive domain of humans.

Foundation models are more than just a step forward in AI; they represent a paradigm shift. They have redefined the development and application of AI systems, leading to impressive advancements in capabilities. As they continue to evolve, they promise to further reshape the landscape of AI, unlocking new potential and opportunities. With foundation models, the future of AI looks not only bright but boundless.

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