🤖 Computer Science

A robust self-supervised approach for fine-grained crack detection in concrete structures

This work tackles concrete deterioration from fine-grained cracks using a self-supervised 'you only look once' (SS-YOLO) approach with the YOLOv8 model. It combines advanced attention mechanisms and pseudo-labeling for improved crack detection and segmentation. The method achieves over 90% mAP, an 87% F1 score, and faster inference, outperforming other techniques.

Video-MME: The First-Ever Comprehensive Evaluation Benchmark of Multi-modal LLMs in Video Analysis

Multi-modal Large Language Models (MLLMs) have focused mainly on static image understanding, with limited exploration of sequential visual data processing. This paper introduces Video-MME, the first comprehensive Multi-Modal Evaluation benchmark for assessing MLLM performance in video analysis.

⚛️ Physics and Chemistry

A new way to see viruses in action: Super-resolution microscopy provides a nano-scale look

A Stanford University team used advanced microscopy to study SARS-CoV-2 replication in cells, revealing detailed images of the virus's RNA and replication structures forming spherical shapes around the nucleus. This nano-scale insight, reported in Nature Communications, may enhance drug development precision.

Nitrogen-using bacteria can cut farms’ greenhouse gas emissions 

Nitrogen-using bacteria can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from farms by enhancing nitrogen utilization and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. This approach can lead to more sustainable agricultural practices. Researchers emphasize its potential to mitigate climate change impacts from farming.

New imager acquires amplitude and phase information without digital processing

Researchers at UCLA have developed an all-optical complex field imager that captures both amplitude and phase information of optical fields without digital processing. This breakthrough could revolutionize biomedical imaging, security, sensing, and material science. The findings are published in the journal Light: Science & Applications.

🧬 Biology & Medicine

Ozempic and Wegovy Might Be Supercharging Your Taste Buds

Preliminary research suggests semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, can improve taste sensitivity, especially to sweetness. Scientists found this effect in women taking the drug, potentially explaining its effectiveness in weight loss. The findings provide new insights into how these drugs aid in obesity management.

A woman kept getting drunk despite not drinking. Fungi in her gut were brewing their own alcohol.

A woman repeatedly ended up in the emergency room with symptoms of intoxication, despite not drinking alcohol. Doctors diagnosed her with auto-brewery syndrome, a rare condition where gut microbes produce alcohol. Over two years, her excessive sleepiness, slurred speech, and alcohol-like breath led to seven emergency visits, causing significant disruptions to her daily life and work.

First pig-to-human liver transplant recipient ‘doing very well’

A 71-year-old man in China is the first living person to receive a liver transplant from a genetically modified pig and the fifth person to receive a pig organ. Two weeks post-surgery, the man is doing well, according to lead surgeon Sun Beicheng. Researchers, including transplant surgeon Burcin Ekser, find the success encouraging.

🔭 Space & Astronomy

Astrophotographer captures stunning close-up views of sunspot region that spawned May's auroras

Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy captured detailed footage of sunspot AR3697 from his Arizona backyard, highlighting the sunspot's turbulence. McCarthy noted that the sun constantly changes, featuring exciting events like flares and coronal mass ejections, making it always interesting to observe.

NASA’s Hubble Temporarily Pauses Science

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope entered safe mode on May 24 due to an issue with one of its gyroscopes, suspending science operations. The telescope and its instruments remain stable and in good health. NASA will provide further updates in early June.

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