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Deep-learning technique reveals 'invisible' objects in the dark

Researchers at MIT used a deep neural network to reconstruct transparent objects from low-exposure images taken in the dark. The technique could illuminate features of biological tissues and cells in low-light conditions, reducing the need for excessive light exposure that can damage specimens.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 12, 2018

Glutamate receptor affects the development of brain cells after birth

Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum discovered that kainate receptors affect the development of brain cells immediately after birth, causing increased activity and dendrite growth. The discovery sheds light on the role of glutamate receptors in early maturation of nerve cells.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalMolecular Neurobiology·DateDec 6, 2018

Get dressed!

Researchers develop novel method to realistically simulate dressing tasks using machine learning techniques, incorporating sense of touch to overcome challenges in cloth simulation. The approach enables single dressing sequences and a character controller that can successfully dress under various conditions.

SourceAssociation for Computing Machinery·DateNov 20, 2018
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Neural nets supplant marker genes in analyzing single cell RNA sequencing

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new method that uses neural networks to analyze single cell RNA sequencing data, identifying key genes and cell subtypes. This approach enables the analysis of all cell types, providing a method for comparative analysis.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 13, 2018

New attacks on graphics processors endanger user privacy

Researchers have discovered three types of attacks that can be launched using a computer's graphics processing unit (GPU) to spy on web activity, steal passwords, and break into cloud-based applications. The attacks work by exploiting vulnerabilities in the GPU's memory utilization and performance counters.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateNov 5, 2018

UMN Medical School researchers contribute to important neurological discovery

Researchers used calcium imaging techniques to visualize spontaneous activity patterns in the mature visual cortex, finding precise organizational networks in the cerebral cortex much earlier than previously thought. These networks predict future brain function and are critical for processing complex sensory input.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateOct 30, 2018

Surprising network activity in the immature brain

Researchers discovered robust long-range patterns of correlated spontaneous activity in immature ferrets, contradicting expectations. These early activity patterns served as a template for the development of mature distributed networks, suggesting that 'local connections build a network activity scaffold'.

SourceMax Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateOct 26, 2018
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Surprising network activity in the immature brain

Scientists discovered that developing brain networks act locally to build globally, with spontaneous activity patterns correlating between distant populations of neurons. This finding suggests that long-range order originates from neural activity driven by short-range connections.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateOct 25, 2018

Neural network-assisted bone fracture detection

A deep neural network trained on annotated radiographs from senior orthopedic surgeons helps reduce misinterpretation of fractures in emergency department clinicians. The system demonstrated the transfer of expertise from specialists to generalist clinicians, leading to improved accuracy.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 22, 2018

Announcing the discovery of an atomic electronic simulator

Researchers at the University of Alberta and Quantum Silicon Inc. have developed an atomic ultra-efficient electronics technology, enabling bespoke atomic patterns to control electrons. This innovation simulates neural networks, potentially training AI models more rapidly and accurately.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 15, 2018
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Resynchronizing neurons to erase schizophrenia

Researchers at UNIGE successfully resynchronized neurons to correct desynchronization in neural networks, suppressing behavioral symptoms associated with schizophrenia. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, offers promising results for a new therapeutic approach targeting defective inhibitory neurons.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateSep 17, 2018

Growing computers in petri dishes

A team of scientists from Lehigh University has successfully engineered a living neural network that can perform basic learning tasks. The project, supported by the National Science Foundation, aims to develop new ways to think about computer design and may influence brain-related research.

SourceLehigh University·DateSep 14, 2018
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

The next phase: Using neural networks to identify gas-phase molecules

Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have developed a new method using neural networks to identify the structural signatures of molecular gases. This breakthrough enables researchers to accurately sense unidentified chemicals or scan samples for impurities in a much smaller period of time.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateSep 13, 2018

What catches our eye

Scientists from TUM discovered that individual nerve cells create parallel connections to three areas of the brain, establishing feedback loops that reinforce salient stimuli while suppressing others. This automatic attention control mechanism is also shared by humans, revealing insights into perception and consciousness.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 11, 2018

A new theory for phantom limb pain points the way to more effective treatment

A new theory by Max Ortiz Catalan suggests that phantom limb pain results from neural entanglement between the missing limb's circuitry and pain perception networks. The 'stochastic entanglement' hypothesis explains how a novel treatment, Phantom Motor Execution (PME), can help alleviate pain by reactivating dormant brain areas.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalFrontiers in Neurology·DateSep 6, 2018

Getting your TV to understand you better

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a new AI-powered system that enables TVs to understand voice queries more accurately. The system, which was tested on Comcast's Xfinity X1 platform, can handle complex queries and personalize results based on user context.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·DateSep 5, 2018

More efficient security for cloud-based machine learning

A novel encryption technique combining homomorphic encryption and garbled circuits secures data used in online neural networks without significantly slowing their runtimes. This approach holds promise for using cloud-based neural networks for medical-image analysis and other applications that use sensitive data.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateAug 17, 2018
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Machine learning technique reconstructs images passing through a multimode fiber

Researchers use deep neural networks to recognize images transmitted over optical fibers, achieving high accuracy despite distortions caused by environmental factors. The technique has potential for improving endoscopic imaging in medical diagnosis and increasing the information-carrying capacity of fiber-optic telecommunication networks.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateAug 9, 2018

Past experiences shape what we see more than what we are looking at now

Researchers found that brain activity patterns shift towards stored representations of clear images, suggesting that past experiences play a significant role in perception. The study used fMRI to analyze how the brain processes blurred images and found that higher-order circuits were more affected by clear image-induced shifts.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·DateJul 31, 2018

NIST chip lights up optical neural network demo

Researchers at NIST have developed a silicon chip that uses light instead of electricity to precisely distribute optical signals across a miniature brain-like grid. The chip enables complex routing schemes necessary to mimic neural systems and has demonstrated uniform output with low error rates.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalAPL Photonics·DateJul 26, 2018

NIH renews NeuroNEXT for neurological clinical research

The Network for Excellence in Neuroscience Clinical Trials has been renewed for five more years, enabling the study of new treatments for brain disorders. Nine clinical trials are currently underway, demonstrating the potential of NeuroNEXT to expedite research and bring treatments to patients faster.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke·DateJul 24, 2018
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

How experience changes basics of memory formation

Researchers found that experienced animals form memories using different plasticity mechanisms than naive subjects, suggesting the way our neurons form new connections depends on their prior history. Previously activated neurons were more excitable, making them capable of different kinds of plasticity.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNeuropsychopharmacology·DateJul 23, 2018

Eagle-eyed machine learning algorithm outdoes human experts

Researchers trained a machine learning algorithm to analyze microscopic radiation damage, achieving an accuracy of 86% compared to humans. The algorithm can process images faster and more efficiently than humans, making it a promising tool for developing safe nuclear materials.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·Journalnpj Computational Materials·DateJul 20, 2018

Brain function partly replicated by nanomaterials

Scientists developed a neural network device using nanomaterials, generating spontaneous spikes similar to nerve impulses of neurons. The researchers replicated brain function by utilizing molecular junctions and negative differential resistance.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 12, 2018

Why are neuron axons long and spindly? Study shows they're optimizing signaling efficiency

Researchers at UC San Diego have found that axon geometry is crucial in information flow, with a 'refraction ratio' of 0.92 indicating optimal balance between signal latency and refractory period. This discovery has implications for understanding neurological disorders like autism and developing more brain-like artificial neural networks.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 11, 2018
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Scientists teach the neural network to carry out video facial recognition -- using a single photo

Researchers at the Higher School of Economics have developed a new method for recognizing people on video using only one photo, achieving higher recognition accuracy compared to existing methods. The algorithm uses information on how reference photos are related to correct errors in video frame recognition.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalExpert Systems with Applications·DateJul 5, 2018

Test tube artificial neural network recognizes 'molecular handwriting'

Researchers at Caltech developed an artificial neural network made of DNA that can accurately identify handwritten numbers. The network, designed by Kevin Cherry, uses a 'winner take all' competitive strategy and undergoes complex reactions to classify molecular information.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature·DateJul 4, 2018

Scientists visualize the connections between eye and brain

Researchers developed a means of tracking retinal neuron activity as it delivers visual information to the thalamus, revealing organized clusters and shared sensitivities among different types of neurons. This finding suggests the retina's version of Pointillism, where nearby dots fuse together to create diverse colors.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalCell·DateJul 2, 2018

Enhanced detection of nuclear events, thanks to deep learning

Scientists at PNNL have developed a deep neural network that accurately detects nuclear events with high accuracy, often exceeding human expert's performance. The network was trained on 32,000 pulses and achieved impressive results, correctly identifying 99.9% of signals with minimal noise.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·DateJun 21, 2018
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

AI for nanoparticles

Researchers at MIT have developed an AI-based method to design multilayered nanoparticles with desired properties, potentially speeding up the development of new materials. The technique uses computational neural networks to learn how a nanoparticle's structure affects its behavior, allowing for faster prediction and design.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 1, 2018

From face recognition to phase recognition

Scientists have developed a neural network that can recognize features in x-ray absorption spectra sensitive to atomic arrangement at fine scales. This method helps reveal details of atomic-scale rearrangements during iron's phase transition, and could be applied to study nanoparticles, catalytic materials, and other materials.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 31, 2018

Building a brain, cell by cell: Researchers make a mini neuron network (of two)

Researchers at The University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science describe a new method for creating one mini neuron network model, using microscopic plates to connect neurons together one cell at a time. This approach guides neurons to grow in a defined way and form functional communication hubs.

SourceInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalMicromachines·DateMay 22, 2018

Lab-on-a-chip device mimics eye damage due to intense light

Houston Methodist researchers developed a lab-on-a-chip technology that models human neural networks to study retinal diseases and potential treatments. The NN-Chip can quickly screen drugs for damaged neuron and retinal connections, offering new hope for treating conditions like macular degeneration.

SourceHouston Methodist·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 9, 2018

Deep learning: A superhuman way to look at cells

A groundbreaking study by Gladstone and Google AI uses deep learning to analyze cell images, identifying features that humans can't detect. The method uncovers important information that was previously impossible or problematic for scientists to obtain.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalCell·DateApr 12, 2018
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Can a smartwatch detect irregular heartbeat?

A smartwatch coupled with a machine learning algorithm detected atrial fibrillation (AF) with high accuracy in patients undergoing treatment for AF. The study used data from 9,750 participants and found promising results for the use of commercially available smartwatches to detect AF.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Cardiology·DateMar 21, 2018
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

ORNL researchers design novel method for energy-efficient deep neural networks

ORNL researchers design a novel method for energy-efficient deep neural networks, achieving nearly the same accuracy as original DNNs while consuming 38 times less energy. The approach uses 'deep spiking' neural networks with stochastic-based implementation, which overcomes tradeoff between energy efficiency and task performance.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·DateMar 14, 2018

Researchers find algorithm for large-scale brain simulations

A new algorithm enables larger parts of the human brain to be represented using the same amount of computer memory, significantly reducing the memory required for simulations. This breakthrough allows researchers to simulate neuronal networks on the scale of the human brain for the first time, enabling studies of complex brain functions.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Neuroinformatics·DateMar 5, 2018
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Understanding the smallest brain circuits

Researchers recorded electrical activity of hundreds of neurons in a mouse model for up to half an hour, discovering competing neural networks that operate at different timescales. The findings show that certain networks can synchronize their activity, while others slow down or speed up in a coordinated manner.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 28, 2018

'Memtransistor' brings world closer to brain-like computing

A novel 'memtransistor' device developed by Northwestern University's Mark C. Hersam can process information and store memory like the human brain, potentially revolutionizing computing. The memtransistor combines characteristics of a memristor and transistor, operating with multiple terminals similar to neural networks.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·DateFeb 21, 2018

Neural networks everywhere

MIT researchers developed a special-purpose chip that increases the speed of neural-network computations while reducing power consumption. The chip can calculate dot products for multiple nodes in a single step, improving efficiency and making neural networks more practical for handheld devices.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateFeb 14, 2018
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Artificial intelligence predicts corruption

Researchers created a computer model using neural networks to predict areas prone to corruption, finding that longer government terms and certain economic variables increase the likelihood. The study aims to contribute to anti-corruption efforts by targeting high-risk regions.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalSocial Indicators Research·DateJan 22, 2018

Noninvasive tinnitus treatment turns volume down on phantom noises

A new noninvasive approach to treat tinnitus has shown promising results in a double-blind study, alleviating symptoms in 20% of participants. The therapy involves alternating audio and somatosensory stimulation, delivered through headphones and mild pulses on the neck or cheek.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 3, 2018

Scientists learned to predict public corruption with neural networks

Researchers from HSE and University of Valladolid created a neural network prediction model to detect corruption cases in Spanish regions. The model uses macroeconomic and political determinants to estimate the probability of corrupt cases emerging over three years, providing valuable insights for anti-corruption measures.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalSocial Indicators Research·DateDec 21, 2017
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Memristors power quick-learning neural network

Researchers at the University of Michigan have created a new type of neural network made with memristors that can dramatically improve the efficiency of teaching machines to think like humans. The system, called reservoir computing, uses fewer nodes and requires less training time than traditional neural networks.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 21, 2017

Electrical stimulation in brain bypasses senses, instructs movement

A new study shows that very low levels of electrical stimulation can instruct an appropriate response or action in the brain, bypassing damaged senses. The findings have significant implications for the development of neuro-prosthetics and brain-computer interfaces.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalNeuron·DateDec 7, 2017

Neurons have the right shape for deep learning

A study published in eLife reveals that certain mammalian neurons have shapes and electrical properties well-suited for deep learning. The algorithm simulates how these neurons collaborate to achieve deep learning, offering a more biologically realistic approach.

SourceCIFAR·DateDec 4, 2017
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.