Researchers in Israel and China have warned that the rising popularity of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) could lead to a significant surge in electronic waste, potentially reaching 2.5 million tons annually by 2030. The study’s authors have developed a framework to quantify and evaluate the e-waste generated by GAI, and they propose various mitigation measures…
Science on The Soothsayer / page 17
The rapid growth of generative AI has led to a surge in energy consumption, with some estimates suggesting that the AI sector could soon draw as much energy annually as the Netherlands. As the technology continues to advance, experts are sounding the alarm about the environmental impact of generative AI, from electricity generation and server…
Researchers at Google Quantum AI have achieved a significant breakthrough in quantum error correction, developing a quantum processor with error rates that decrease as the number of qubits grows. This achievement could lead to the creation of more complex algorithms and longer calculations on quantum computers. The team used a new superconducting processor called Willow,…
Scientists have made significant progress in unraveling the mysteries of the sun during the total solar eclipse that swept across the United States on April 8, 2024. The event provided a unique opportunity for researchers to study the sun’s corona, ionosphere, and gravity waves. Preliminary results from various experiments have shed light on the sun’s…
Researchers at Aoyama Gakuin University and the University of Tokyo have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding the behavior of squishy particles, which can deform by more than 10% of their size. By studying the flow and jamming of these particles, the team has developed a new model that explains how they respond to external…
The Perseverance Rover on Mars has made a groundbreaking discovery, uncovering the oldest rocks humans have ever seen and potentially evidence of a new setting that ancient Martian organisms could have inhabited. The rover has been exploring the Jezero Crater and has found rocks that are likely older than 4 billion years, making them the…
Scientists at the University of Queensland have made a significant breakthrough in aluminium-ion batteries, overcoming a major technical hurdle that could make them a more abundant, affordable, and sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries. The team discovered that pre-cycling, a process where the battery is charged and discharged in a controlled way before regular use, can…
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is set to reopen on December 8, marking a significant milestone in its restoration after the devastating 2019 fire. As part of the renovation, acoustics researcher Brian Katz has been studying the sonic qualities of the cathedral, aiming to recreate its original reverberant sound. The cathedral’s acoustics were severely impacted…
Researchers at the University of Iowa and University Medical Center Utrecht have made a significant breakthrough in cancer treatment by incorporating volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) delivery capabilities into the MR-linac. This innovation could improve plan quality and efficiency, reduce patient discomfort, and make MRI-guided treatments more accessible to patients. The team demonstrated that VMAT deliveries…
Mathematicians Ben Green and Mehtaab Sawhney have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of number theory, proving that there are infinitely many prime numbers that can be written as the sum of squares of other prime numbers. This breakthrough, which uses a powerful tool called the Gowers norm, has significant implications for our understanding…