🤖 Computer Science

Animate, or Inanimate, That is the Question for Large Language Models

The paper investigates whether large language models (LLMs) can process the concept of animacy like humans do. Although LLMs are trained only on text, the study finds that they can exhibit human-like behavior when distinguishing between animate and inanimate entities. The research shows that LLMs can adapt to understand unconventional situations and recognize animacy, despite not having access to the extralinguistic information humans use.

Inferring building height from footprint morphology data

Researchers have developed a method to accurately infer building heights using only building footprint data, achieving 95% accuracy within 3 meters. This approach overcomes limitations of current methods that rely on expensive data acquisition or ancillary information. The new technique is scalable and can be applied globally, making it valuable for urban planning, energy projection, and environmental monitoring.

⚛️ Physics and Chemistry

Our world (still) cannot be anything but quantum, say physicists

Researchers at TU Wien in Austria have used neutron interferometry to test the Leggett-Garg inequality, which distinguishes between classical and quantum behavior. Their results confirm that no classical theory can fully describe reality, providing further evidence that particles can exist in a superposition of states, even when those states are separated by significant distances.

Up-cycling petroleum waste into a high-performance yet sustainable triboelectric nanogenerator

A striking sulfur landmark in Vancouver is being transformed into a valuable resource. Initially developed by Prof. Pyun's group, sulfur-rich polymers (SRPs) were created from elemental sulfur, commonly a byproduct of petroleum refining. These SRPs, traditionally used in infrared optics, are now being repurposed by Professor Jeong Jae Wie's team at Hanyang University for sustainable energy applications.

🧬 Biology & Medicine

FDA OKs New Drug for Treating Adults With Hypoparathyroidism

The FDA has approved palopegteriparatide (Yorvipath) for treating hypoparathyroidism in adults, a condition affecting up to 90,000 people in the U.S. This new drug, administered as a daily injection, provides stable parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, offering an advantage over conventional treatments that cause calcium level fluctuations and related complications.

FDA approves 1st needle-free alternative to EpiPens

The FDA has approved Neffy, the first needle-free treatment for anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction. Neffy is a nasal spray version of epinephrine, the same medication used in EpiPens, which helps quickly open airways and raise blood pressure during severe allergic reactions.

AlphaFold accelerates discovery of potential antipsychotic drugs by outperforming traditional methods

Researchers in Sweden used virtual screening of over 16 million compounds, aided by AlphaFold and homology modeling, to identify TAAR1 agonists for treating neuropsychiatric conditions. The AlphaFold-based approach had a higher success rate and led to a promising drug candidate that showed effects in mice.

🔭 Space & Astronomy

SpaceX announces first human mission to ever fly over the planet’s poles

SpaceX will launch the first-ever human spaceflight over Earth's poles later this year. The mission, led by cryptocurrency entrepreneur Chun Wang, will include a polar explorer, a roboticist, and a filmmaker. Named "Fram2," it will fly over the north and south poles, timed to pass over Antarctica during its summer solstice. The crew will fly aboard Crew Dragon Endurance, fitted with a cupola for photography and filming.

Martian Tremors Provide Strongest Evidence Yet of Liquid Water

NASA's InSight lander, which retired in December 2022, may have provided the best evidence yet of liquid water on Mars. Data from InSight's seismic readings of marsquakes, analyzed by researchers from UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, suggests the presence of liquid water in the Martian crust.

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