China chases real-world success with BCIs
Start-up firms in China are ramping up their efforts to develop artificial-intelligence-powered brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) that can help people move, speak and control external devices. One company, NeuroXess, has run a small trial in which a BCI enabled one man with a spinal cord injury to control appliances by moving a computer cursor with his thoughts. The company has also developed a large language model that enables a brain implant to decode Mandarin at a rate faster than the average talking speed of a native speaker.
The race to trial Ebola treatments is on
Scientists are racing to trial experimental treatments and potentially vaccines against the rare Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus, which is spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. A World Health Organization-sponsored clinical trial is set to test two treatments — a broad-acting antiviral and a mixture of two antibodies that recognizes diverse strains of Ebola — pending approval by the two countries’ governments. Options for vaccines are limited, but health officials are considering whether an approved vaccine for another species of Ebola virus could be trialled in the current outbreak.
Artificial egg aims to hatch extinct birds
The de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences says it has developed a key technology for bringing back extinct birds and rescuing endangered ones: an artificial egg. Colossal says it hopes to use the egg as part of its plan to resurrect the extinct South Island giant moa (Dinornis robustus). The egg is detailed in a press release and video, but not in a paper or preprint. “It could be really important, it could be fantabulous,” says stem-cell biologist Paul Mozdziak . “Without data, it’s really impossible to judge.”
How AI is transforming mathematics
A string of remarkable successes for AI in mathematics has led some in the field to anticipate a time when the technology autonomously makes contributions at the level of the greatest mathematicians — and beyond. Others say — considering that AIs have superhuman access to all of existing mathematics, and never get tired — it’s surprising how little the systems have yet accomplished. A key issue is how to verify a solution generated by a technology that is known for its extremely convincing ‘hallucinations’ and difficult-to-spot mistakes.
Books of a feather reviewed together
As a follow-up to his book focused on the challenges faced by migrating birds in a changing climate, naturalist Scott Weidensaul’s The Return of the Oystercatcher celebrates the successes of conservation efforts helping bird species to bounce back. Ornithologist Louis Lefebvre’s A Bird’s IQ offers good news of a different sort — namely, that birds are smarter than we think and remarkably resilient.
Use ‘steroid Olympics’ to spur change
This week, the first ‘Enhanced Games’ — which permits the use of performance-enhancing drugs — is taking place in the United States. The head of the US anti-doping agency has called it a “dangerous clown show”, but it could play a role in highlighting the cracks in the current sports system, argues sociologist April Henning . “The sporting world needs an integrity organization that encompasses anti-doping, safeguarding, anti-bullying and anti-match-fixing policies” to better support athletes, who are under immense financial, mental and physical pressures, Henning writes.
Quote of the day
“It is not so much longing for the past as an attempt to hold onto the kinds of everyday spaces that once made the city feel alive.”
A certain elephant-shaped slide was once commonplace in China’s neighbourhood playgrounds. Urban-planning researcher Qing Qin ponders why its disappearance has prompted adults to organize elephant-slide searches, and what it tells us about how to make a city truly child friendly. (Nature Cities | 7 min read)
Today I’m imagining what I would do if majestic penguins started moving into my backyard. I hope I’d rise to the occasion as well as former kindergarten teacher Cecilia Durán Gafo, in Chile. When king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) settled on her land, she started patrolling the beach to protect them — from predators, selfie-snapping tourists and even from supposed ‘scientists’. “They put [the penguins] in cages, and took them to Japan … supposedly for scientific research. Later, we found out [most] had gone to zoos [or homes] as pets,” Durán says. Things ramped up, and Durán eventually established a private penguin reserve.
For those wondering about our own penguin-protection policies, of course we keep Leif Penguinson safe — there is a comfortable dower house on the grounds of Briefing Towers that serves as a home-base when Leif is not hiding in locations around the world.
Thanks for reading,
Flora Graham , senior editor, Nature Briefing
With contributions by Jacob Smith