🤖 Tech & Computer Science

OpenAI’s search engine is now live in ChatGPT

OpenAI has launched real-time web search in ChatGPT for paid users, with free and other users gaining access soon. Integrated into ChatGPT’s interface, the feature taps into live search as needed, powered by GPT-4o and Bing. This addition helps ChatGPT compete with Microsoft and Google’s AI tools, providing dynamic responses with links, maps, and interactive data across all platforms.

CoffeeSpace is a Hinge-like app that wants to help you find your co-founder

CoffeeSpace is a networking app that helps people find co-founders for their startup ideas, with over 7,000 users since its March launch. Users can match based on expertise, location, and more, with profiles combining LinkedIn data and private info. Operating on a freemium model, it offers 10 free matches, with a $50/month premium for unlimited matches and extra filters. CEO Hazim Mohamad aims to make finding business partners as easy as online dating.

⚛️ Physics and Chemistry

Easy to remove tag could make mRNA synthesis for vaccines quicker and cheaper

Researchers have developed a hydrophobic tag that enables high-purity production of a key intermediate for mRNA and circular RNA synthesis, which is used in research and mRNA vaccines. Traditional RNA synthesis is expensive and slow due to purification challenges. This new tag, a nitrobenzyl derivative, simplifies separation of 5’-monophosphorylated RNA from unwanted 5’-triphosphate RNA. It can be easily removed with UV light, making RNA production faster and more scalable for therapeutic applications.

Experiments demonstrate precise delivery of nanoparticles to lung via caveolae pumping system

Bio-medical engineers are exploring nanoparticles (NPs) to improve disease diagnosis and targeted drug delivery. Although promising, NPs face challenges like limited tissue penetration and rapid removal by the body’s immune system. Researchers at the Proteogenomics Research Institute demonstrated a new approach using the caveolae system to deliver NPs effectively into lung tissue, bypassing these limitations. Their findings, published in Nature Nanotechnology, show potential for precise NP delivery to target tissues, especially in the lungs.

🧬 Biology & Medicine

Fungi may not think, but they can communicate

Researchers in Japan found that the mycelial network of the fungus Phanerochaete velutina can adapt its growth patterns based on the arrangement of nearby wood. By incubating the fungus with wood blocks arranged in a circle or X shape, they observed distinct growth and decay patterns. In the X arrangement, the fungus showed stronger decay activity on the outer blocks, suggesting it could sense and prioritize nutrient-rich areas. This adaptive behavior indicates that fungal mycelia may process spatial information to optimize growth, even without a brain.

Finger-Prick Test for Alzheimer’s Disease?

A finger-prick blood test can reliably detect the Alzheimer's biomarker p-tau217, eliminating the need for invasive blood draws, temperature control, or storage requirements. In a study, p-tau217 levels from finger-prick samples showed a strong correlation with standard venous samples. This capillary test, developed by the DROP-AD project, could enhance accessibility for early Alzheimer's diagnosis. Results were stable at room temperature for up to two weeks, and unsupervised self-collected samples were as accurate as those taken by staff.

New imaging tool analyzes extracellular vesicles to track cancer progression

A research team at the University of Rochester has developed a new method for cancer detection using a "liquid biopsy," which is simpler, faster, and provides more information than existing techniques. Liquid biopsies analyze blood or other bodily fluids to find cancer cells or tumor-released molecules. Led by James McGrath, the team focused on collecting extracellular vesicles (EVs) that contain vital genetic and protein information. Their imaging-based tool sorts hundreds of thousands of EVs, allowing for earlier detection of cancer and insights into its spread and immune response. The study highlights potential for future clinical applications to improve treatment monitoring and trial outcomes.

🔭 Space & Astronomy

How to See November’s Fiery Meteor Display

The Leonid meteor shower will run from November 3 to December 2, peaking on November 18 around 1 a.m. ET. Best viewing is after midnight on November 17, away from the radiant in the constellation Leo. Bright moonlight from the full Moon on November 15 may hinder visibility. Known for fast, colorful fireballs, the Leonids travel at 44 miles per second.

Watch Japan launch military communications satellite early Nov. 4 on 4th flight of H3 rocket

Japan's H3 rocket will launch for the fourth time on November 4, carrying the Kirameki 3 military communications satellite from Tanegashima Space Center at 1:48 a.m. EST (0548 GMT). Live coverage will start at 1:20 a.m. EST on Space.com. The H3 is Japan's new medium-lift rocket, succeeding the H-2A, which has one final mission planned before retirement.

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