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14/03/2023 ---- 19/03/2023

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19.03.2023
THEME: TECHNOLOGY

Organoid Intelligence: bridging the gap between the human brain and AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Imagine a world where biological computers harness the power of the human brain to solve complex problems and unlock the secrets of our most intricate organs. It may sound like a far-fetched sci-fi novel, but recent advancements in organoid intelligence could make this a reality sooner than we think. In a recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Science, a team of researchers led by Dr Thomas Hartung has proposed a fascinating plan to develop organoid intelligence. This cutting-edge field combines the power of brain organoids and AI. Brain organoids are lab-grown tissues resembling organs derived from stem cells, containing neurons capable of brain-like functions. The researchers believe these organoids could be combined into biological hardware, more energy-efficient than supercomputers, and capable of revolutionizing pharmaceutical testing, providing insight into the human brain and changing the future of computing.

While AI has made remarkable progress in recent years, it still cannot fully replicate the human brain's capabilities. Our brains are more energy-efficient, better at learning, and more adept at making complex logical decisions than any AI system. Organoid intelligence seeks to bridge this gap by leveraging the best of both worlds – the human brain's power and AI's computational prowess. Biocomputing, as envisioned by the researchers, would surpass current technological limits by compacting computational power and increasing efficiency. It would allow for a better understanding of neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, and offer new ways to study the human brain by performing experiments that would be ethically impossible on living brains. By integrating organoid intelligence with AI, researchers could create a mutually beneficial communication channel that would enable them to explore each other's capabilities and unlock new possibilities in human medicine, cognition, and computing.

Although organoid intelligence is still in its infancy, the potential impact on human medicine, cognition, and computing is immense. For example, brain organoids could be developed from skin samples of patients with neural disorders, allowing scientists to test different medicines and study the cognitive aspects of these conditions. Furthermore, researchers could use organoid intelligence to investigate and understand complex mental issues in neurological disorders such as autism. Developing organoid intelligence to the level of a computer with the brainpower of a mouse could take decades, but there have already been promising results. In a recent experiment, a team in Melbourne, Australia, demonstrated that brain cells could learn to play Pong, a simple video game. This achievement already fulfils the basic definition of organoid intelligence. The researchers believe it's just a matter of building the tools and technologies to realize their full potential. However, the development of organoid intelligence also raises ethical concerns, such as whether these brain organoids could develop consciousness or feel pain. The researchers are committed to addressing these ethical issues by partnering with ethicists and involving the public in the research process. The convergence of human cognition and machine intelligence through organoid intelligence presents a groundbreaking opportunity to advance our understanding of the brain and revolutionize AI. As technology and biology race forward, we must ensure that the ethical and moral discussions keep pace to prevent technology from plunging into a moral abyss. As we stand at the cusp of this exciting new frontier, the possibilities are endless, and the impact on society could be transformative.

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15.03.2023
THEME: ENVIRONMENT

Air pollution may hinder the reproduction of insects and drastically lead to population decline

Fruit flies reproduce through sexual reproduction, which involves the fusion of gametes from male and female fruit flies. Female fruit flies select their mates through the scent of their pheromones. Mating typically involves a brief courtship ritual. The male attempts to convince the female to mate by performing a series of behaviours such as wing vibration, leg tapping, and genital licking. Once the male has successfully mated with the female, he deposits a package of sperm, called a spermatophore, into the female's reproductive tract. After mating, the female fruit fly begins laying eggs on suitable food sources, such as rotting fruit or vegetables. She can lay up to 500 eggs during her lifetime, with each egg developing into a larva that undergoes several moults before pupating and eventually emerging as an adult fruit fly.

Environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, and nutrient availability, highly influence the reproductive cycle of fruit flies. A recent study published in the journal Nature Communications led by Markus Knader, a researcher of evolutionary neuroethology at the Max Plank Institute, shows that ozone pollution can disrupt the male's ability to emit their characteristic odour (pheromones) therefore posing a threat to how successfully fruit flies and other insects reproduce. Scientists tested nine species of Drosophila fruit flies by exposing half the males from each species to ambient air and half to an atmosphere with ozone levels at 100 parts per billion. Average industrial ozone levels are roughly 40 parts per billion, but regions like India, China or Mexico experience magnitudes as high as 210 parts per billion. They found the males exposed to higher ozone levels started emitting fewer pheromones. As a result, they had trouble attracting female partners. Insect pheromones are based on chains of molecules latched together by two carbon molecules. Still, ozone can break up these carbon bonds and dissolve the pheromone strings. The effect in nature is likely to be amplified, as ozone is just one of many environmental pollutants that can do this.

It is essential to highlight that in the lab, it does not matter whether the male has to wait one or two minutes longer to mate. Still, in the field, there is a lot of selection pressure. The flies must be efficient, so they must give everything to find the female as soon as possible, copulate and fertilise her eggs before a predator kills them. What fruit flies are experiencing could be happening for several other insects, including moths, ants, or pollinators like bees, who not only mate but also communicate and coordinate their colonies and nests with unique pheromone signatures.

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15.03.2023
THEME: ECONOMY

The banking system is under intense pressure in the stock market worldwide

At its core, a financial crisis is a sudden and severe disruption in the normal functioning of the financial system. It can be triggered by various factors, from excessive borrowing and risky investments to market bubbles and regulatory failures. Whatever the cause, the impact can be devastating, with millions of people losing their jobs, homes, and savings. The most recent crisis is often called the 2008 global financial crisis. A severe economic downturn started in the United States and quickly spread to other countries. The crisis was triggered by a combination of factors, including the housing bubble, subprime mortgage lending, and the widespread use of complex financial instruments. When the bubble burst and many mortgages began to default, it led to a credit crunch, a severe contraction in lending, and a deep recession. The crisis had far-reaching consequences, including widespread job losses, foreclosures, and a long-lasting impact on the global economy.

The global banking system has weathered many storms over the years, but the next crisis may be just around the corner. As economies worldwide continue to struggle with the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the banking system is hit particularly hard by rising interest rates. Last week, on Friday, March 10, a well-known institution - the Silicon Valley Bank, SVB - collapsed within a few hours. SVB was one of America’s 20 largest commercial banks, with $209 billion in total assets at the end of last year. It is now under the control of the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation after it could not pay back customers who withdrew their deposits. The collapse of SVB had a knock-on effect, with the four largest US banks losing more than $50 billion in market value. Bank shares in Asia and Europe also fell sharply on Friday. In an extraordinary action to restore confidence in America’s banking system, the Biden administration on Sunday guaranteed that customers of the failed Silicon Valley Bank will have access to all their money starting Monday. In a related action, the government shut down Signature Bank. Recently, this regional bank has been teetering on the brink of collapse. Signature’s customers will receive a similar deal, ensuring that even uninsured deposits will be returned to them Monday.

Although the prompt action of the US government has reinsured investors to some extent, in recent days, the stock market value of most banks in the US and EU has seen a steep downturn. A bank that is particularly under pressure is Credit Suisse. In 2021, Credit Suisse faced significant financial losses due to its exposure to the collapse of Archegos Capital Management and the Greensill Capital scandal, resulting in a sharp drop in its stock market value. The recent events added further pressure, and the value of the shares dropped by nearly 40% in the last month. Similarly, HSBC has seen a drop of more than 10%, Barclays and UBS about 17%, and Goldman Sachs 18% in the last month. Hopefully, this will not be the beginning of a new global crisis for which new unknown dynamics may be unveiled.

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