Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Rising emissions, depleting water and vanishing land—UN scientists: AI is threatening natural resources for billions

The global data centers powering artificial intelligence are projected to consume nearly triple the combined annual electricity use of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria by 2030. AI's environmental cost is being systematically mismeasured, with its water footprint equaling the basic annual domestic water needs of all 1.3 billion people ...

International research team develops AI tool to simplify and scale complete genome assembly, supporting advances in diagnostics and precision medicine

A new AI tool, HERRO, corrects errors in nanopore sequencing reads to produce high-quality complete genome assemblies. This innovation enables researchers to build more accurate and complete genome maps with a simpler workflow, unlocking potential for precision medicine advancements.

Audits help change a chatbot’s bad behavior

A new framework, SUVA, enables organizations to measure and adjust AI chatbots' social preferences, improving their performance in customer complaints and other human-AI interactions. By understanding an LLM's existing tendencies, organizations can decide whether an available model already fits its values and usage scenarios.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalInformation Systems Research·DateMay 28, 2026

Feral AI gossip with the potential to spread damage and shame will become more frequent, researchers warn

As chatbots become more sophisticated, they are likely to generate and spread gossip, leading to reputational damage, shame, and social unrest. Drs. Joel Krueger and Lucy Osler warn that this 'feral' AI gossip can be particularly damaging due to its ability to operate unconstrained by human norms.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalEthics and Information Technology·TypeCase study·DateDec 22, 2025

Clues to Alzheimer’s disease may be hiding in our ‘junk’ DNA

Researchers have identified DNA switches that control how brain cells called astrocytes work, which are known to play a role in Alzheimer's disease. The study used CRISPRi technology and single-cell RNA sequencing to test nearly 1000 potential switches, finding that about 150 of them controlled genes implicated in Alzheimer's disease.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 18, 2025

Landmark genetic study sheds new light on how the eye develops its sharpest vision

Researchers have identified over 120 genetic signals shaping foveal development, including pathways involved in vitamin A metabolism and retinal cell fate. The study provides the first comprehensive genetic dissection of human foveal pit architecture, revealing new insights into childhood visual disorders.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 18, 2025

AI tools fall short in predicting suicide, study finds

A systematic review of 53 studies found that machine learning algorithms for predicting suicidal behavior have low accuracy. The algorithms were poor at identifying individuals who would later self-harm or die by suicide, while exceling in detecting those who would not.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeSystematic review·DateSep 11, 2025

Machine learning-based design enables more efficient wireless power transfer

A new machine learning-based design method has been proposed to achieve stable and efficient wireless power transfer. The approach uses real-world circuit modeling and numerical simulations to optimize system performance, demonstrating significant improvements in output voltage stability and power-delivery efficiency.

SourceChiba University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I Regular Papers·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 5, 2025

While AI could be the game changer in predicting health outcomes it should not be the only method

Combining AI with traditional mathematical modeling can improve cancer treatment outcomes by providing specificity and accuracy. The researchers emphasize the importance of ethically sharing health data to create reproducible science, protecting patient privacy while promoting scientific integrity.

SourceUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine·JournalNature Biotechnology·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateApr 15, 2025

Tired jackdaws sleep more deeply

A study of European jackdaws reveals that sleep-deprived birds prioritize deep sleep over vigilant wakefulness. The findings suggest that even flexible sleep strategies have limits, highlighting the importance of understanding animal sleep patterns to better comprehend human sleep loss.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 3, 2025

Mapping DNA's hidden switches: A methylation atlas

The study identified over 34,000 genomic regions with distinct ON/OFF methylation patterns, including novel imprinted regions and tissue-specific variability. This atlas provides valuable insights into epigenetic regulation and may help explain the inheritance patterns of genetic diseases such as CHARGE syndrome.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 11, 2025

How AI bias shapes everything from hiring to healthcare

A recent study emphasizes the urgent need to address bias in generative AI systems, which can distort outcomes and erode public trust. The research suggests that developing and deploying ethical, explainable AI is crucial to ensure fairness and transparency in critical decision-making areas.

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalInformation & Management·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 5, 2025

Many Roads Lead to… the embryo

A team of researchers has developed a theoretical model forecasting the ideal body plan of a fruit fly's early embryo, indicating that evolution might have had many optimal options. The study suggests that optimization is a key driving force in nature, with biological systems often having multiple optimal solutions for the same problem.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 22, 2025

Polygamy is (not) for the birds

Lekking, a mating system where males display for females without forming lasting bonds, is found to be remarkably stable and rarely evolves into other systems. In contrast, resource-defense polygamy is identified as fragile and frequently reverts to monogamy, often associated with higher extinction rates.

SourceRice University·JournalEvolution·DateJan 13, 2025

Advances and applications in single-cell and spatial genomics

This review highlights the transformative capabilities of single-cell and spatial genomics, providing critical insights into disease mechanisms and developing innovative therapies. The technologies enable comprehensive cell atlases, tracing the evolution of sequencing methods and incorporating multi-omics approaches, which significantl...

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Life Sciences·DateJan 12, 2025

Acoustic battles for the harem: How the calls of Siberian wapiti reveal their status and individuality

Researchers found that rutting calls of Siberian wapiti stags reflect their harem-holding status and individual characteristics. The study suggests that these acoustic displays enable females to assess a male's quality from a distance, while also signaling to rivals whether it's worth challenging him.

Study: The evolutionary origins of poor long-term decision making

A new study led by UNLV anthropologist Brian Villmoare models thousands of generations to understand why animals, including humans, prioritize short-term benefits over long-term returns. The research suggests that organisms choose a more distant reward only if it's substantially higher and has a high degree of reliability.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalPLOS One·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 12, 2024

Genetic background of pregnant women can influence the result of the Non-Invasive Prenatal Test

A recent study published in Cell Reports reveals that a pregnant woman's genetic background significantly affects the effectiveness of Non-Invasive Prenatal Tests (NIPTs). The study found that a specific genetic variant in approximately 7% of women increases the odds of inconclusive results and impairs test sensitivity. This discovery ...

SourceAmsterdam University Medical Center·JournalCell Reports·TypeObservational study·DateSep 26, 2024

Machine learning could help reduce hospitalizations by nearly 30% during a pandemic, study finds

A new study published in JAMA Health Forum found that machine learning can be more effective than traditional methods for distributing scarce treatments to patients most vulnerable during a public health crisis. The model reduces expected hospitalizations by about 27 percent compared to actual and observed care.

Evolving the framework of cancer theory

Researchers propose a new approach to understanding cancer evolution, acknowledging the importance of environmental influences and epigenetic changes. By refining the clonal evolution model, they aim to develop more effective cancer therapies that consider the full complexity of cancer cell evolution.

SourceArizona State University·JournalNature Reviews Cancer·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 10, 2024

Tarantulas have surprising partnerships with other species and their hairiness may be a defense mechanism

A recent study reveals tarantulas have mutually beneficial relationships with various species, including amphibians and army ants. The spiders' dense hair may serve as a defense mechanism against these predators. Tarantulas also employ unique escape strategies and potentially utilize chemical defenses to deter attacks.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalJournal of Natural History·DateAug 22, 2024

Pusan National University researchers use artificial intelligence to create powerful sound-dampening materials

A new deep learning-based inverse design method allows for the optimization of complex acoustic metamaterials, reducing noise pollution while maintaining ventilation. The approach enables ultra-broadband sound attenuation across various peak frequencies.

SourcePusan National University·JournalEngineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 8, 2024