Artificial intelligence

DeepMinds Agent57 AI agent can best human players across a suite of 57 Atari games

Development of artificial intelligence agents tends to frequently be measured by their performance in games, but theres a good reason for that: Games tend to offer a wide proficiency curve, in terms of being relatively simple to grasp the basics, but difficu Read more at TechCrunch

Researchers Built an App That Aims to Detect Covid-19 by Listening to Your Coughs

One of the major problems right now with tackling the novel coronavirus is that tests arent widely available for everyone. To help fix that, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have developed a free, experimental app that uses artificial intelligence Read more at Gizmodo.com

Terrifying Things Happen When an AI Generates Fake Faces Synced to Music

Were still trying to figure out the best applications for neural networks, machine learning, and all the recent advancements in artificial intelligence. Amongst all the practical research being conducted, theres also lots of frivolous experimentation being Read more at Gizmodo.com

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Bioinformatics

James Taylor (JHU bioinformatics leader) has died at 40

He is remembered for his 'transformational' and 'immeasurable' contributions to scientific research
Read more at Jhu.edu

Podcast.__init__: Building The Seq Language For Bioinformatics

An interview about building the Seq language for bioinformatics, why it is necessary, and the inspiration that it draws from Python.
Read more at Pythonpodcast.com

Screenager: screening times at bioRxiv

When a preprint is uploaded to bioRxiv, it undergoes screening before it appears online. How long does it take for Affiliates to screen preprints at bioRxiv? tl;dr I used R to look at bioRxiv screening times. Even though bioRxiv has expanded massively, screen Read more at R-bloggers.com

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Genomics

Color is launching a high-capacity COVID-19 testing lab and will open-source its design and protocols

Genomics health technology startup Color is doing its part to address the global COVID-19 pandemic, and has detailed the steps its taking to support expansion of testing efforts in a new blog post and letter from CEO Othman Laraki on Tuesday. The efforts incl Read more at TechCrunch

The Next Trillion-Dollar Market

How AI, genomics, and automation are powering biotech breakthroughs.
Read more at Hbr.org

Los Angeles Authorities Sue Company For 'Illegally' Selling At-Home COVID-19 Test

The Food And Drug Administration says it has not authorized any at-home tests for the coronavirus. After one company started selling an at-home test in March, the city attorney of Los Angeles sued. Read more at Npr.org

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Genetics

This DNA kit uses genetics to give tips for improving overall well-being

TL;DR: Discover your family history with the Well-Being and Ancestry Kit from Living DNA for $149, a 16% savings as of April 1. National DNA Day is coming up in less than a month and there's no better time to learn about your family's history and genetic make Read more at Mashable

Genetics firm Color is launching a coronavirus testing lab

This story was delivered to Business Insider Intelligence Digital Health Briefing subscribers earlier this morning. To get this story plus others to your inbox each day, hours before they're published on Business Insider, click here. Color is launching a coro Read more at Business Insider

Understanding the virus: Iceland lab's testing suggests 50% of cases have no symptoms

There's a lot about Iceland that other countries could envy: Its spectacular natural surroundings, its place among the world's happiest countries, and, now, its large-scale testing for the novel coronavirus, which could influence how the world understands the Read more at CNN

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GWAS

Emerging phenotyping strategies will advance our understanding of psychiatric genetics

Most psychiatric genetics research has contrasted diagnosed cases and controls. Here the authors describe alternative approaches leveraging large population-based cohorts and examining disease-related endophenotypes. Read more at Nature.com

The genetic architecture of membranous nephropathy and its potential to improve non-invasive diagnosis

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a rare autoimmune disease of podocyte-directed antibodies, such as anti-phospholipase A2 receptor. Here, the authors report a genome-wide association study for MN and identify two previously unreported loci encompassing the NFKB Read more at Nature.com

Meta-analysis of 542,934 subjects of European ancestry identifies new genes and mechanisms predisposing to refractive error and myopia

Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of 542,934 individuals identifies 336 novel loci associated with refractive error and implicates eye development, circadian rhythm and pigmentation pathways in controlling myopia. Read more at Nature.com

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Data science

Cnvrg.io launches a free version of its data science platform

Data science platform cnvrg.io today announced the launch of the free community version of its data science platform. Dubbed CORE, this version includes most but not all of the standard feature in cnvrgs main commercial offering. Its an end-to-end sol Read more at TechCrunch

UCSF app want to use your biometric data to track the spread of coronavirus

A new UC San Francisco initiative will give you a way to help advance our understanding of the coronavirus pandemic, even if you're not a scientist or a medical professional. The COVID-19 Citizen Science project welcomes contributions from anyone over 18, so Read more at Engadget

'One of the Toughest Jobs' on Earth: Studying Melting Ice

Spring is looming in the northern hemisphere. It is habitually a key and busy time for environmental science fieldwork, no more so than for the select community that travel great lengths and endure perilous conditions to study some of the worlds highest glac Read more at Gizmodo.com

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Population genetics

Understanding the virus: Iceland lab's testing suggests 50% of cases have no symptoms

There's a lot about Iceland that other countries could envy: Its spectacular natural surroundings, its place among the world's happiest countries, and, now, its large-scale testing for the novel coronavirus, which could influence how the world understands the Read more at CNN

Iceland is allowing everyone in the country to be tested for the coronavirus. The government says it spent years perfecting its approach.

Iceland, an island country home to about 364,000 people, has taken a different approach to the coronavirus than many other countries. The government allows testing for anyone who wants it. Iceland is also working to identify people who have the virus quickly Read more at Business Insider

Emerging phenotyping strategies will advance our understanding of psychiatric genetics

Most psychiatric genetics research has contrasted diagnosed cases and controls. Here the authors describe alternative approaches leveraging large population-based cohorts and examining disease-related endophenotypes. Read more at Nature.com

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Inheritance

It's OK to feel overwhelmed. Here's what to do next | Elizabeth Gilbert

If you're feeling anxious or fearful during the coronavirus pandemic, you're not alone. Offering hope and understanding, author Elizabeth Gilbert reflects on how to stay present, accept grief when it comes and trust in the strength of the human spirit. "Resil Read more at Ted.com

Chybik + Kristof designs greenhouse-style pavilion for Czech abbey

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Read more at Dezeen.com

Book review: Why Bhagat Singhs inheritance is a difficult subject to engage with

A new book, Indias Revolutionary Inheritance, profiles the freedom fighters surprisingly mature intellectual legacy.
Read more at Indianexpress.com

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Bioinformatics AI

Machine learning puts a new spin on spin models

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have used machine learning to analyze spin models, which are used in physics to study phase transitions. Previous work showed that an image/handwriting classification model could be applied to distinguish states Read more at Phys.org

At Stanfords AI Conference, Harnessing Tech to Fight COVID-19

Stanford assembled an impressive array of scientists and public-policy researchers in an all-day symposium on how technology can be employed to tackle the spread of COVID-19. We bring you some of the highlights. The post At Stanfords AI Conference, Harnessin Read more at Extremetech.com

Crowdfight Covid-19 Call for R-community action

Dear R-community, This is a rather unusual post for an R-blog, but unusual times may require that. I am not involved into organizing this effort except for volunteering in the same way I want you to do. So, if you arent aware of this initiative yet, please l Read more at R-bloggers.com

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Precision medicine

'There's nothing about it that will feel right': Hospitals are gearing up to choose which patients to save if they run low on crucial equipment

Ethicists are working around the clock to draft guidance for hospitals about how to ration scarce resources like ventilators if they run short because of the coronavirus. Governors are making sure healthcare workers won't be held liable for the tough decision Read more at Business Insider

Genetics firm Color is launching a coronavirus testing lab

This story was delivered to Business Insider Intelligence Digital Health Briefing subscribers earlier this morning. To get this story plus others to your inbox each day, hours before they're published on Business Insider, click here. Color is launching a coro Read more at Business Insider

The Surprisingly Long History of the Ventilator, the Machine You Never Want to Need

Modern ventilators were a hundred years in the making. Those generations of engineering have never been more important
Read more at Time

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Health

Where to Find Free Mental Health Resources During the Pandemic

If you feel like youre struggling with your mental health, youre not alone. Many of us are dealing with profound uncertainty and unanticipated stress, whether were worried about our health, our finances, our families, or how were going to make it through Read more at Lifehacker.com

Hims launches group therapy services as first foray into broader mental health initiative

Hims, the startup consumer health brand providing out-of-pocket physician services online, has launched group therapy services through its Hims and Hers brands as part of an initial push into mental health services. The company first began exploring opportuni Read more at TechCrunch

Health-Monitoring Smart Toilet Remembers Your Distinctive Butthole

What do your butthole and a snowflake have in common? Turns out no two of these are the same, allowing this smart toilet to differentiate your sphincter from others. By doing so, this toilet can monitor changes to your health over time and flag signs of dis Read more at Gizmodo.com

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Technology

How We Will All Solve the Climate Crisis

We only have one Earth. And we have the technology to save it.
Read more at Wired

A Brief History of the Censusand How Covid-19 Could Change It

Census-taking used to spur innovation. Now, the pace of technology, and the challenge of going go door to door, could force it to adopt existing systems instead. Read more at Wired

Microsoft hires Apples former wireless tech chief for its hardware division

Ruben Caballero, a former Apple executive, has joined Microsoft as corporate vice president for hardware design and technology. According to a new entry on his LinkedIn profile, which was first spotted by Bloomberg, Caballero will be part of Microsofts mixed Read more at Engadget

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Scientific publications

UK debunks 5G-coronavirus link after conspiracy theorists burn cell tower

The UK government responded publicly to a disinformation campaign falsely linking 5G to COVID-19 outbreaks, as lives and infrastructure are at stake. Read more at Venturebeat.com

Stem Cell Therapy: Hope for neurological conditions

Stem Cell Therapy expert Dr Alok Sharma is giving new hope to people with special needs, in his super speciality hospital NeuroGen Brain & Spine Institute. He is a neurosurgeon, neuroscientist and stem cell researcher who has 144 scientific publications for i Read more at The Times of India

Fourth new pterosaur discovery in matter of weeks

You wait ages for a pterosaur and then four come along at once. Hot on the heels of a recent paper discovering three new species of pterosaur, palaeobiologists have identified another new species -- the first of its kind to be found on African soil. Read more at Sciencedaily.com

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