🤖 Tech & Computer Science

Photonic processor could enable ultrafast AI computations with extreme energy efficiency

MIT researchers created a photonic chip that uses light for all deep neural network computations, including nonlinear operations, achieving high speed and energy efficiency. It processes tasks in under half a nanosecond with over 92% accuracy, advancing scalable and fast optical machine learning.

A few-shot diabetes foot ulcer image classification method based on deep ResNet and transfer learning

Researchers developed a deep learning-based method for classifying diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) severity using ResNet models and transfer learning. The approach includes data augmentation to expand a small dataset, experiments with various ResNet architectures, and fine-tuning of a pre-trained ResNet50 model. Testing on augmented datasets improved accuracy significantly, achieving 98.67% average accuracy for zero, mild, and severe DFU grades. The method is efficient, low-cost, and suitable for aiding clinical diagnosis and treatment of DFU with minimal computational resources.

⚛️ Physics and Chemistry

Physicists close in on fractionally-charged electron mystery in graphene

Physicists identified the cause of fractional quantum anomalous Hall effects in pentalayer moiré graphene. Electron interactions in the moiré pattern create a "flat" band, suppressing kinetic energy and enabling fractional charge splitting. This breakthrough reveals how confined electrons in two-dimensional materials lead to exotic quantum behaviors.

Experiment realizes quantum advantage in data storage with a photonic quantum processor

Researchers demonstrated quantum advantage using a single qubit for a communication task without shared randomness, outperforming classical bits. Conducted on a photonic quantum processor with a custom-built polarimeter, the study reveals qubits' superior information storage in constrained scenarios, challenging prior assumptions. The findings could advance quantum technologies in communication and information processing.

🧬 Biology & Medicine

What’s the secret to living to 100? Centenarian stem cells could offer clues

Scientists in Boston have created reprogrammed stem cells from centenarians' blood to study longevity and healthy aging. These cells, part of a new research bank, aim to uncover genetic factors behind resilience to diseases and aging. Early findings provide insights into brain aging. The project, led by researchers at Boston University and Harvard Medical School, relies on centenarians from the New England Centenarian Study, selected through voter lists and care facilities. Many participants, cognitively healthy and independent, contributed willingly to this groundbreaking effort.

Novocure's Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Meets Main Goal in Late-stage Study

Novocure's Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy, combined with chemotherapy, extended survival in advanced pancreatic cancer patients, meeting the goal of a late-stage trial. Patients lived an average of 16.2 months compared to 14.16 months with chemotherapy alone, with a 33% improvement in 24-month survival. The portable device uses electric fields to target cancer cells. Full data will be shared at an upcoming meeting, with regulatory filings planned. TTFields is already approved for certain lung and brain cancers, generating $509M in 2023.

New algorithm identifies cells responsible for aggressive tumor growth

Scientists funded by Cancer Research UK have developed SPRINTER, the first algorithm to identify rapidly growing cell populations within tumors. Created by researchers at UCL and The Francis Crick Institute, it analyzed nearly 15,000 cells from a lung cancer patient, revealing that the fastest-growing cells drive metastasis and shed more DNA into the bloodstream. This insight may enable early detection of aggressive cancer cells and improve prognosis prediction, potentially leading to minimally invasive blood tests and targeted treatments for diverse tumor populations. Findings were published in Nature Genetics.

🔭 Space & Astronomy

Over the weekend, China debuted a new rocket on the nation’s path to the Moon

China's Long March 12 rocket successfully launched two experimental satellites, marking its debut and testing new high-thrust YF-100K engines. Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, the rocket is fully expendable and capable of delivering 12 metric tons to low-Earth orbit. It supports China's goals of deploying satellite mega-constellations and advancing lunar missions. Insights from this launch contribute to future projects like the reusable Long March 10 for crewed Moon missions and the super-heavy Long March 9 for sustained lunar exploration by the 2030s.

Upcoming Proba-3 Mission Will Create Artificial Solar Eclipses to Study the Sun

ESA's Proba-3 mission, launching on Wednesday, aims to study the Sun's corona by using two satellites flying in precise formation. The satellites will maintain a 492-feet (150-meter) distance with millimeter accuracy, creating a virtual telescope to observe the corona. This mission seeks to uncover the mysteries of the Sun’s outer atmosphere, including its extreme temperatures and role in solar wind. Proba-3 is a cost-effective mission with a two-year lifespan, focusing on technology demonstrations and advanced formation flying for solar research.

Thanks For Reading!

Please move this email to your Primary Inbox (if it is not already there) to make sure you don’t miss any of the exciting news and updates!
Reply directly to this email with any questions, comments or suggestions. 🚀