GESDA's best pick from the press, web and science journals,
19-26 June 2020
A GESDA product curated by Olivier Dessibourg
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FOCUS 1
> Consciousness isn't just the brain: the body shapes your sense of self // 24.06.2020, NewScientist
Electrical signals coming from your heart and other organs influence how you perceive the world, the decisions you take, your sense of who you are and consciousness itself.
With mentions of EPFL's Olaf Blanke's work
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Image by Patrick George, for NewScientist
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GOOD READS ABOUT GESDA'S PLATFORMS THEMES
GESDA Platform 1: Quantum revolution and advanced AI
> If AI is going to help us in a crisis, we need a new kind of ethics // 24.06.2020, MIT Technology Review
> "Explaining" machine learning reveals policy challenges // 26.06.2020, Science
> The world's new fastest supercomputer is an exascale machine for AI // 25.06.2020, SingularityHub
> Honeywell claims it has built the most powerful quantum computer ever // 24.06.2020, NewScientist
> A new startup intends to build the world's first large-scale quantum computer // 22.06.2020, SingularityHub
> Thermodynamic study of D-Wave processor could lead to better quantum calculations // 22.06.2020, PhysicsWorld
Based on this paper "Thermodyncamics of a quantum annealer" // 18.06.2020, Quantum Science and Technology
> Value of quantum computing remains uncertain for at least 10 years, says Lux Research // 25.06.2020, SemiconductorDigest
Based on the report "Preparing for quantum computing", by Lux Research, a (self-declared) leading provider of tech-enabled research and advisory services, helping clients drive growth through technology innovation
> To live up to the hype, quantum computers must repair their error problems // 22.06.2020, ScienceNews
> Quantique: voyage dans un extraordinaire inconnu. Grand interview d'Etienne Klein // 26.06.2020, Le Point
> Neural network can determine lung cancer severity // 24.06.2020, NIH
GESDA Platform 2: Human augmentation
> A new way of making DNA is about to revolutionize the biotech industry // 23.06.2020, Forbes
> Un gène humain a permis de grossir le cerveau de singes // 23.06.2020, FuturaSciences
Based on this Science article: "Human-specific ARHGAP11B increases size and folding of primate neocortex in the fetal marmoset"
> CRISPR gene editing in human embryos wreaks chromosome mayhem // 25.06.2020, Scientific American
> Light-activated 'CRISPR' enables fast, precise gene editing and detection of DNA repair // 23.06.2020, NSF
Based on this Science article: "Very fast CRISPR on demand"
> Scientists used dopamine to seamlessly merge artificial and biological neurons // 23.06.2020, SingularityHub
Based on this Nature Materials article: "A biohybrid synapse with neurotransmitter-mediated plasticity"
> Aiming ultrasound at the brain raises hope of new treatments // 24.06.2020, Science
> Straightforward generation of ultrapure off-the-shelf allogenic CAR-T cells // 25.05.2020, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Press release from Cellectis (with Alexandre Juillerat, former UNIL and EPFL student)
> Accumulating fewer genetic mutations linked to living a longer life // 24.06.2020, NewScientist
> Gold nanoparticles to save neurons from cell death // 25.06.2020, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
> The Future of Brains // 16.06.2020, Kavli Foundation
The Kavli Foundation tells about its support to the OECD report "Recommendation on responsible innovation in neurotechnology" (of which it was the only philanthropic supporter) to underline that the 7 initiative worldwide working on the brain, and grouped in the International Brain Initiative, "rather than reactionary ethics, want to implement anticipatory ethics – tools and practices that will enable the science and innovation to continue."
GESDA Platform 3: Eco-regeneration and geoengineering
> L'EPFL plaide pour une meilleure gouvernance de l'ingénierie climatique //23.06.2020, Heidi.news
More infos and the report of the International Risk Governance Center IGRC at EPFL.
> How green sand could capture billions of tons of carbon dioxide // 22.06.2020, MIT Technology Review
> Solar geoengineering could cause unwanted changes in climate, new modelling suggests // 20.06.2020, PhysicsWorld
> 5 weird concepts to (theoretically) supercharge mask fabrics // 23.06.2020, WIRED
From diamonds to salt, researchers are exploring novel materials for face coverings. But don't expect to see these far-out ideas in stores anytime soon.
> Les Airbus de demain voleront-ils à l'hydrogène? // 24.06.2020, FuturaSciences
> DOE announces new lab consortia to advance hydrogen and fuel cell R&D // 23.06.2020, US DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
> AI could improve performance of lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells // 25.06.2020, Imperial College London
> Amazon creates a 2 billion $ climate fund, as it struggles to cut its own emissions // 23.06.2020, MIT Technology Review
> Researchers pioneer revolutionary keg-sized nuclear reactor with a 3D printed core // 23.06.2020, Mashable
> Energy transition 2030: academies describe path to carbon neutrality in Europe // 22.06.2020, Press release German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina; acatech – National Academy of Science and Engineering & Union of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities
GESDA Platform 4: Science and Diplomacy
> Der Hunderoboter Spot würde gut in einen Science-Fiction-Film passen – in Singapur läuft er als Covid-19-Polizist auf vier stählernen Beinen schon heute durch den Park // 24.06.2020, NZZ
> Citizenship: the great extinguisher of hope // June 2020, The MIT Press Reader
> SDG18 : Sustainable space: extending the SDGs beyond earth // 23.06.2020, SpaceWatch.Global
> For the first time, UN warns of "climate-related" refugees // 24.06.2020, Futurism
Based on this UN Global Trends report: "1 per cent of humanity displaced: UNHCR Global Trends report", 18.06.2020, UN
> The NIH claims joint ownership of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine // 25.06.2020, Axios
> "Ce n'est pas le moment de point du doigt l'OMS", dit Stella Kyriakides, Commissaire à la santé // 19.06.2020, Le Point
> Les robots vont supprimer 50 millions d'emplois au cours de la prochaine décennie en Europe, selon un rapport de McKinsey // 18.06.2020, ZDNet.fr
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How digital innovation can fight pandemics and strengthen democracy (YouTube video), with Audrey Tang, Taïwan's digital minister in charge of social innovation // 22.06.2020, TED2020 Talk
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OF INTEREST
> The long-term gains of Big Science // 26.06.2020, Axios
Based on this report: "Inventing the endless frontier: the effects of the World War II research effort on post-war innovation"
> EU lifts lid on its five research moonshots // 25.06.2020, Science|Business
> Confiance programmée : Chances et risques de la technologie blockchain // 26.06.2020, TA-Swiss
La technologie blockchain est considérée comme fortement novatrice, surtout en Suisse. Pour pouvoir évaluer son potentiel et ses risques, elle doit être évaluée dans son intégralité et dans un contexte international. C'est l'objet de l'étude « Blockchain : Capabilities, Economic Viability, and the Socio-Technical Environment », de TA-SWISS, la Fondation pour l'évaluation des choix technologiques.
> South Africa slashes science budget, funds for giant radio telescope // 25.06.2020, Science
> Le numérique tout-puissant // 25.06.2020, Numéro spécial du Courrier international
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Tools, ressources and partners
> Take part in citizen science for food security // 26.06.2020, ESA
The International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASA) and ESA, in partnership with the Wilson Center, the Earth Day Network and the US State Department, are giving citizens the opportunity to get involved in one of the world’s most challenging problems: ensuring a nutritious food supply to meet the needs of the growing global population
> Virtual reality has been boosted by coronavirus—here’s how to avoid it leading us to dystopia // 24.06.2020, SingularityHub
> Élection du premier comité directeur de la Jeune Académie Suisse // 23.06.2020, Communiqué presse A+
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EVENTS
> Asteroid day // 30.06.2020
Especially this panel: "Preparing for the future: making tools to investigate asteroids"
> Real world data: Transforming the future of European health? //30.06.2020, 10am-3:45pm (CET), organised by Science|Business
With among other guest Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education & Youth, European Commission
> Multilatéralisme, climat, inégalités: penser les mondes qui viennent // 02.06.2020, 6pm-7:30pm (CET), organised by Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques
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Have a very nice and fruitful week! :-)
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