🤖 Tech & Computer Science

AI protein-prediction tool AlphaFold3 is now open source

Google DeepMind has released the code for AlphaFold3, its latest protein-structure prediction model, for non-commercial use. Initially, access was restricted to a web server, limiting drug-interaction predictions. Now, academic scientists can freely use AlphaFold3 to explore protein interactions, a boost for research and drug discovery.

A novel binary hashing for agricultural scenery classification

This study presents PerceptHashing, a technique for classifying large-scale agricultural images by using human gaze shifting paths (GSPs). Key image patches are identified and connected, with GSPs capturing gaze patterns across these areas. Converted into hash codes, GSPs enhance classification accuracy, shown through a study comparing typical observers and Alzheimer’s patients. The approach outperformed other methods, achieving high accuracy across 1.22 million agricultural images.

⚛️ Physics and Chemistry

Physicists create tiny hurricanes of light that could transport huge amounts of data

Researchers at Aalto University have developed a method to encode information using tiny light vortices, or "light hurricanes," created by manipulating metallic nanoparticles within an electric field. This approach, based on quasicrystal geometries, was developed by doctoral researchers in Professor Päivi Törmä's Quantum Dynamics group and offers new possibilities for data transmission. The vortices, which vary with the symmetry of the particle arrangement, could lead to innovative ways of encoding data for optical communications. This study is published in Nature Communications.

Quantized vortices seen in a supersolid for the first time

For the first time, researchers in Austria have observed quantized vortices in a supersolid, confirming that supersolids exhibit superfluid-like behavior with crystalline order. This discovery, achieved by using a technique called magnetostirring to rotate magnetic dysprosium-164 atoms in a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), provides insight into the unique properties of supersolids. Unlike regular superfluids, these vortices allow the supersolid to remain irrotational under rotation, "healing" from rotation without carrying bulk angular momentum. This finding has potential applications in quantum physics and could offer insights into phenomena like neutron star behavior.

🧬 Biology & Medicine

Oral Semaglutide 25-mg Dose May Provide Most Benefit

New research from Novo Nordisk’s OASIS 4 trial shows that a 25 mg dose of oral semaglutide is as effective for weight loss as the investigational 50 mg oral dose and the 2.4 mg injectable dose (Wegovy). Dr. W. Timothy Garvey of the University of Alabama highlighted the importance of a low-dose oral option, as it may improve long-term adherence to obesity treatments. Obesity expert Dr. Joseph Skelton praised the study’s focus on finding effective lower doses, which can offer patients more accessible options.

MethylGPT unlocks DNA secrets for age and disease prediction

A recent bioRxiv study introduces MethylGPT, a transformer-based foundation model for analyzing DNA methylation, a key epigenetic modification involved in gene regulation and genomic stability. DNA methylation shows promise as a biomarker across various diseases, but current diagnostic models struggle to capture its complex, non-linear patterns. MethylGPT aims to address this by applying advanced transformer architectures to DNA methylation, similar to how models like AlphaFold3 and Enformer have transformed proteomics and genomics. This approach could enhance molecular diagnostics by accurately analyzing diverse methylation patterns across tissues and cell types.

🔭 Space & Astronomy

Look for 'fireball' meteors over the US tonight as the North Taurid meteor shower peaks

The North Taurid meteor shower peaks tonight, Nov. 11-12, offering skywatchers the chance to see "shooting stars" and occasional bright fireballs, despite a nearly full moon making faint meteors harder to spot. The Taurids are two overlapping showers—the South Taurids (peaking Nov. 4-5) and the North Taurids—resulting from debris left by Comet 2P/Encke. Both showers have broad peaks, providing about five meteors per hour, with potential for large, bright fireballs often called "Halloween fireballs."

Marslink? SpaceX Wants to Develop a Version of Starlink Around the Red Planet

SpaceX is proposing a "Marslink" satellite network to NASA, based on its Starlink constellation, to support communication for future Mars missions. The Marslink constellation would involve multiple satellites in Mars orbit to facilitate connectivity for ground and orbital assets. SpaceX, which recently launched its 7,000th Starlink satellite and provides internet in 102 countries, ultimately aims to deploy 42,000 satellites in low Earth orbit.

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