Science Saturday: Exploring the Frontiers of Knowledge
Welcome to Science Saturday! This week, we delve into the mysteries of ancient human brains, the creative prowess of artificial intelligence, the resilience of penguins against bird flu, and the cosmic secrets of our galaxy's origins.
Ancient Human Brains
An Oxford University research team has compiled a groundbreaking archive of over 4,000 ancient human brains, marking the most comprehensive study of archaeological literature to date. These specimens span all continents except Antarctica and date back as far as 12,000 years. Researchers hope these findings will shed light on how certain conditions preserved these delicate organs over millennia. Additionally, the archive provides a unique opportunity to investigate whether diseases prevalent today were also present in the past, offering insights into the effects of modern lifestyles and environmental factors on human health.
AI vs. Human Creativity
A recent study from the University of Arkansas has revealed that artificial intelligence (AI) can outperform humans in creativity tests. In a series of three divergent thinking tasks, GPT-4 was pitted against 151 human participants, including entrepreneurs, young professionals, and students. The AI consistently produced more original and elaborate responses, such as imagining the consequences if humans didn't need sleep and generating lists of unrelated nouns. However, researchers emphasized that AI's creativity is heavily dependent on human input, as it remains inactive without prompts.
Penguin Flu in Antarctica
Adélie penguins in Antarctica have tested positive for H5N1 bird flu, yet they show no symptoms and continue to forage normally after two months of observation. This unexpected resilience offers a ray of hope amidst fears of a catastrophic impact on the penguin population. Scientists remain cautiously optimistic but continue to monitor the situation closely, aware that asymptomatic penguins could potentially spread the virus to other vulnerable species in the region.
Galactic Origins Unveiled
Astronomers using the European Space Agency's Gaia space telescope have discovered two ancient star streams, Shakti and Shiva, which are believed to be remnants of the Milky Way's earliest building blocks. These streams are thought to be relics from other galaxies that merged with the budding Milky Way around 12 billion years ago and are currently located within approximately 30,000 light years of the galactic center. Studying the fusion of Shakti and Shiva will provide valuable insights into the galaxy's origins and the processes that shaped its formation.
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Science Saturday: Human brains, AI's creativity and penguin flu
cgtn.com
