All posts tagged: advanced

New SETI program helps students detect signs of advanced life beyond Earth

[ad_1] In a quiet part of Northern California, where pine trees brush the sky and the hum of giant satellite dishes fills the air, something big is happening in science education. A new wave of college students is getting the chance to explore the universe — not through textbooks, but with real data from a world-class observatory. Thanks to a growing program called ARISE Lab, students and teachers from community colleges are diving deep into the science of space, radio signals, and the search for alien life. The SETI Institute, which focuses on the scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence, has expanded this groundbreaking effort. With new support from a grant by the Amateur Radio and Digital Communication Foundation, the ARISE Lab (Access to Radio Astronomy for Inclusion in Science Education) is now reaching even more classrooms across the country. Making Space Science Hands-On The main idea behind ARISE is simple: when students get to do science themselves, they understand it better and stay interested longer. “Hands-on experiences are proven to improve student engagement and retention,” …

Ancient humans evolved to be better teachers as technology advanced

[ad_1] As technology progressed, humans also got better at passing on skills to others English Heritage/Heritage Images/Getty Images An analysis of more than 3 million years of human evolution shows that communication and technology developed in lockstep. As ancient humans came up with more advanced stone tools and other technologies, they also improved their communication and teaching skills, in order to pass their newfound abilities onto the next generation – and this enabled more technological progress. “We have a scenario for the evolution of the mode of cultural transmission in human evolution,” says Francesco d’Errico at the University of Bordeaux in France. “It appears to be a co-evolution, between the complexity of the cultural trait and the complexity in the mode of cultural transmission.” One distinctive feature of humans is that we have developed increasingly complex tools and behaviours. For instance, ancient humans created sharp stones that could be used for stabbing and cutting, then attached them to wooden sticks to create spears – a technique known as hafting. Crucially, we can tell other people …

New £8.2m Advanced Maths Programme Scheme launched

[ad_1] Two-hundred schools with low rates of “bright” girls going on to study advanced maths will get support under a refreshed government scheme. Schools Week reported in January how the Labour government had cut elements of its Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP). It was designed to increase uptake and improve teaching of maths at AS and A-level in disadvantaged areas. The government has today announced a reworked £8.2 million scheme that will “continue to provide the most impact for pupils by preparing them for the skills needs of the future”. Two hundred schools with low rates of high-attaining girls going on to study advanced maths will now be eligible for support under a new element of the scheme. Currently only one-third of A-level maths pupils are girls, and only 22 per cent of people working in AI-related roles like software engineer or data science are women, government said. Around 7,500 girls would be eligible for support, a press release said, but did not provide any further details. Schools eligible for support will be contacted by …

Get AI tools with the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan for just £61

[ad_1] TL;DR: Get lifetime access to 1min.AI‘s Advanced Business Plan, which offers a collection of almost all the major AI models for only £60.41 (reg. £407.89). There’s been talk about AI taking people’s jobs, and we’re here to say you should let it — at least when it comes to time-consuming or tedious tasks. Rather than use your time writing rejection emails or proofreading sales reports, AI could do it for you. All you need to have AI become your new favourite colleague is to grab this 1min.AI subscription for £60.41 (reg. £407.89). Lifetime access to GPT, Gemini, Llama, Midjourney, and more AI models with a one-time payment. User-friendly interface: This makes it easy to dive in and start creating, whether you’re familiar with or new to AI tools. PDF manipulation tools: Edit, merge, or split PDFs with ease — perfect for organising documents. Content generation: Speed up your workflow with AI tools for writing, designing, presentation creation, etc.  Use one of the AI models to join virtual meetings, code, or even edit videos. No need to bounce …

Advanced PowerPoint Tips for iPad Pro Users

[ad_1] Creating a presentation that truly captivates your audience can feel like a daunting task, especially when you’re juggling complex ideas, tight deadlines, and the pressure to stand out. If you’ve ever found yourself wishing for tools that make the process smoother, more interactive, and even a little fun, you’re not alone. Thankfully, Microsoft PowerPoint on the iPad Pro is packed with advanced features that can transform your slides from ordinary to extraordinary. Whether you’re an educator trying to simplify a tough concept, a project manager aiming to align your team, or a speaker preparing for a big pitch, these tools are designed to help you shine. What sets PowerPoint on the iPad Pro apart is how it blends creativity with practicality. From the precision of the Apple Pencil to the engaging Cameo feature that puts you front and center, this platform offers a fresh way to connect with your audience. And that’s just the beginning. In this guide, TD explores some of the most powerful features—like Smart Art, Presenter Coach, and interactive add-ins—that can …

One of the World’s Most Advanced AI Agents Is Completely Stuck Trying to Beat a Pokémon Game for Children

[ad_1] In case you haven’t heard, Anthropic has been livestreaming its AI model, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, attempting to complete a playthrough of Pokémon Red. The experiment, dubbed “Claude Plays Pokémon,” is intended to be a demonstration of “AI agents,” the industry’s ongoing race to create AI models that are capable of operating autonomously by interacting with their environment. Claude has managed to get surprisingly far into the game, clinching three Gym badges and reaching, as of this week, Cerulean City. But it plods along at a painstakingly slow pace, stopping to “think” after every single move, sometimes for longer intervals than others. For nearly 80 agonizing hours, for instance, Claude bumbled cluelessly around Mt. Moon, before finally finding the ladder it needed to escape. Invested Twitch viewers breathed a sigh of relief. Progress isn’t looking poised to speed up. The Anthropic AI’s excursion through the Kanto region has mostly devolved into running around in circles, unsure of its next move. It needs to hop on Route 5 to reach the next stage, but where and …

Unlocking advanced energy solutions with fusion research

[ad_1] SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is leading groundbreaking advancements in fusion research through innovative technologies, aiming to tackle the challenges of harnessing fusion as a viable energy source. Ever since the discovery that our Sun produces energy by fusing light atoms together to release heat, the prospect of reproducing that same process here on Earth to power our homes and industry has captured the minds of scientists. Following decades of fusion research dating back to the 1950s, it was only in December 2022 that a breakthrough occurred: a laser experiment on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) became the first laboratory fusion event to release more energy that was used to initiate it. This milestone, along with other promising approaches, has driven significant private investment in fusion energy, but many challenges still remain before fusion can be scaled to a viable power source. The High Energy Density Science (HEDS) division at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is at the forefront of tackling these obstacles. Leveraging SLAC’s unique capabilities, the HEDS division collaborates with academic and National laboratory …

Scientists create advanced sense-and-respond systems that mimic natural cellular behavior

[ad_1] Protein phosphorylation is a cornerstone of cellular communication, orchestrating rapid and precise responses to environmental signals. Recent breakthroughs in synthetic biology, led by researchers at Rice University, and published in the journal, Science, are revolutionizing how these pathways can be engineered for therapeutic purposes. By constructing modular phosphorylation circuits in human cells, this research opens the door to advanced sense-and-respond systems that mimic natural cellular behavior. Phosphorylation is a biochemical process where a phosphate group is added to a protein, altering its function. This modification plays a critical role in cellular activities such as movement, secretion, and gene expression. In multicellular organisms, phosphorylation cascades amplify external signals through interconnected cycles, akin to a series of falling dominoes. However, the inherent complexity of these pathways has historically limited their application in synthetic systems. The Rice University team addressed this challenge by reimagining phosphorylation cycles as modular units. Each cycle—composed of kinase and phosphatase activities—operates independently, enabling researchers to assemble entirely novel circuits. These synthetic cycles interact seamlessly with native cellular processes without compromising cell viability …

Advanced maths scheme cuts ‘short-sighted’

[ad_1] The education secretary has been accused of contradicting ambitions for growth set out by the government this week after a scheme to boost the uptake of advanced maths became the latest casualty of education cuts. Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Tuesday unveiled a vision to “kick start” the UK economy and end “stagnation and decline”. She declared Britain’s economy had “huge potential” and was at the “forefront of some of the most exciting developments in the world like artificial intelligence and life sciences”. Simultaneous cuts to a widely praised programme aimed at boosting advanced maths have meanwhile caused a furore. The Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP) is designed to increase uptake and improve teaching of core maths, AS and A-level mathematics and further mathematics. It provides special support to schools in disadvantaged areas. But its funding has been slashed – coming hot on the heels of the government also cutting its long-running Stimulating Physics Network and computing hubs. “If the economy is to grow it is a very short-sighted move to cancel a programme that …

CES 2025: The 7 most advanced smart glasses we tried on – and loved

[ad_1] Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET A lot of what’s showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show doesn’t make it to the market. Fortunately, some of the best smart glasses we saw at the show will, making the product category one of the most exciting ones going into the rest of 2025. Also: CES 2025: The 15 most impressive products so far Over the past week, ZDNET has been scouring the show floor to select the best of the best. The picks below aren’t just limited to AR glasses that compete with the Apple Vision Pro and similarly-functioning VR headsets; they include Meta Ray-Ban competitors, tint-changing wearables, and more. Here are our best picks, listed in no particular order. 1. Xreal One Pro Kerry Wan/ZDNET I flew into CES with my eyes set on smart glasses that didn’t simply extend or mirror my phone screen. With such AR glasses, the field of view is often too narrow for the comfortable, laid-back experience that companies pitch them to be. That changed when I put on the Xreal One Pro, which leverages a …