🤖 Tech & Computer Science

No, LLMs still can’t reason like humans. This simple test reveals why.

In an experiment where a tomato and carrot are placed on a plate and the plate is flipped upside down, the expected answer for how many vegetables remain on top is “zero,” as they would fall off. However, large language models like GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 often incorrectly choose one or two remaining vegetables, illustrating their struggle with simple logical scenarios.

AI pareidolia: Can machines spot faces in inanimate objects?

In 1994, Diana Duyser sold a grilled cheese sandwich she believed had the Virgin Mary's image for $28,000, showcasing pareidolia—the tendency to see faces in random objects. A new MIT study created a dataset of 5,000 pareidolic images, revealing that AI struggles to recognize these faces like humans do. Interestingly, training AI to identify animal faces improved its ability to detect pareidolia, suggesting an evolutionary link between face recognition and survival instincts.

⚛️ Physics and Chemistry

Researchers witness nanoscale water formation in real time

Researchers at Northwestern University have, for the first time, observed hydrogen and oxygen atoms merging to form tiny water bubbles at the molecular scale. This study focused on how palladium catalyzes this reaction, revealing new strategies to accelerate water generation. Since the reaction occurs under ambient conditions, it could provide a practical method for rapidly producing water in arid environments and even on other planets. The findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Structural battery is world’s strongest, say researchers

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed the world’s strongest structural battery, combining energy storage with mechanical strength. This innovation aims to reduce weight and space in electric vehicles (EVs). Building on previous prototypes, this battery integrates carbon fibers and lithium iron phosphate electrodes for improved efficiency.

🧬 Biology & Medicine

Subjective Smell Improvement Endures 6 Months After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

A study revealed that subjective olfactory improvements in patients after endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps persisted for up to six months. The research highlights the need for real-world data on treatment outcomes, especially with growing interest in FDA-approved biologics that may enhance smell. Findings were presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2024 Annual Meeting.

AI outperforms radiologists in brain tumor diagnosis

A study at Osaka Metropolitan University found that ChatGPT achieved a 73% diagnostic accuracy for preoperative brain tumor MRI reports, slightly outperforming neuroradiologists (72%) and general radiologists (68%). Its accuracy was higher (80%) with neuroradiologist reports. The results suggest ChatGPT could serve as a valuable second opinion in radiology.

🔭 Space & Astronomy

NASA Seeks Innovators for Lunar Waste Competition 

NASA has launched the LunaRecycle Challenge, offering $3 million in prizes for innovative recycling solutions for deep space missions. As part of its Artemis program, NASA seeks to process inorganic waste from lunar missions, focusing on turning trash into usable products. The challenge aims to develop energy-efficient and sustainable recycling technologies that can enhance long-duration human space travel and improve waste management both in space and on Earth.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Grounded Indefinitely After Missing Its Landing Spot

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket has been grounded again after a malfunction during the Crew-9 mission on September 28, where its upper stage missed the landing zone. The rocket will remain grounded until the issue is resolved. This year, it has completed 89 launches, aiming for a record 148, but has faced multiple anomalies, including a booster failure in August.

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