Monthly Archives: September 2024

‘Jelly’ batteries

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Caption: Researchers have developed soft, stretchable ‘jelly batteries’ that could be used for wearable devices or soft robotics, or even implanted in the brain to deliver drugs or treat conditions such as epilepsy. Credit: University of Cambridge

A July 18, 2024 news item on Nanowerk announces bioinspried stretchy batteries from the University of Cambridge,

Researchers have developed soft, stretchable ‘jelly batteries’ that could be used for wearable devices or soft robotics, or even implanted in the brain to deliver drugs or treat conditions such as epilepsy.

The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, took their inspiration from electric eels, which stun their prey with modified muscle cells called electrocytes.

Like electrocytes, the jelly-like materials developed by the Cambridge researchers have a layered structure, like sticky Lego, that makes them capable of delivering an electric current.

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A July 17, 2024 University of Cambridge press release (also on EurekAlert), which originated the news item, offers more details,

The self-healing jelly batteries can stretch to over ten times their original length without affecting their conductivity – the first time that such stretchability and conductivity has been combined in a single material. The results are reported in the journal Science Advances.

The jelly batteries are made from hydrogels: 3D networks of polymers that contain over 60% water. The polymers are held together by reversible on/off interactions that control the jelly’s mechanical properties.

The ability to precisely control mechanical properties and mimic the characteristics of human tissue makes hydrogels ideal candidates for soft robotics and bioelectronics; however, they need to be both conductive and stretchy for such applications.

“It’s difficult to design a material that is both highly stretchable and highly conductive, since those two properties are normally at odds with one another,” said first author Stephen O’Neill, from Cambridge’s Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry. “Typically, conductivity decreases when a material is stretched.”

“Normally, hydrogels are made of polymers that have a neutral charge, but if we charge them, they can become conductive,” said co-author Dr Jade McCune, also from the Department of Chemistry. “And by changing the salt component of each gel, we can make them sticky and squish them together in multiple layers, so we can build up a larger energy potential.”

Conventional electronics use rigid metallic materials with electrons as charge carriers, while the jelly batteries use ions to carry charge, like electric eels.

The hydrogels stick strongly to each other because of reversible bonds that can form between the different layers, using barrel-shaped molecules called cucurbiturils that are like molecular handcuffs. The strong adhesion between layers provided by the molecular handcuffs allows for the jelly batteries to be stretched, without the layers coming apart and crucially, without any loss of conductivity.

The properties of the jelly batteries make them promising for future use in biomedical implants, since they are soft and mould to human tissue. “We can customise the mechanical properties of the hydrogels so they match human tissue,” said Professor Oren Scherman, Director of the Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, who led the research in collaboration with Professor George Malliaras from the Department of Engineering. “Since they contain no rigid components such as metal, a hydrogel implant would be much less likely to be rejected by the body or cause the build-up of scar tissue.”

In addition to their softness, the hydrogels are also surprisingly tough. They can withstand being squashed without permanently losing their original shape, and can self-heal when damaged.

The researchers are planning future experiments to test the hydrogels in living organisms to assess their suitability for a range of medical applications.

The research was funded by the European Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Oren Scherman is a Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge.

Here’s a link to and a citation for the paper,

Highly stretchable dynamic hydrogels for soft multilayer electronics by Stephen J. K. O’Neill, Zehuan Huang, Xiaoyi Chen, Renata L. Sala, Jade A. McCune, George G. Malliaras, and Oren A. Scherman. Science Advances 17 Jul 2024 Vol 10, Issue 29 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn5142

This paper appears to be open access.

Two teaching fellow positions at Canada’s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (PI)

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A September 25, 2024 Perimeter Institute (PI) notice (received via email) about two jobs offers a short description of the opportunities,

Perimeter Institute is currently accepting applications for two Teaching Fellows to join our Academic Staff in support of our education and training mandates for the 2025-2026 Academic year.

This position will be offered as a 3-year fellowship to commence August 2025, though exceptional candidates may be considered directly for permanent Teaching Faculty positions. Successful incumbents will be called upon to provide outstanding support to all aspects of the programs offered by the Training Programs department.

Teaching Fellows are also encouraged to actively engage in research while at Perimeter in their field(s) of interest. Monetary support in the form of an annual research fund will be provided and active participation in ongoing research related activities at Perimeter will be encouraged.

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All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, however, special consideration will be given to applicants with a research and teaching expertise in the areas of mathematical physics, or quantum matter and machine learning.

Deadline for applications is November 8, 2024. 

Here’s a more detailed description from the PI’s 2025 Teaching Fellow webpage,

Perimeter Institute is pleased to be seeking two Teaching Fellows to join our Academic Staff in support of our education and training mandates for the 2025-2026 Academic year. This position will be offered as a 3-year fellowship to commence August 2025, though exceptional candidates may be considered directly for permanent Teaching Faculty positions. As the successful incumbent you will be called upon to provide outstanding support to all aspects of the programs offered by the Training Programs department.

Most notably, the Perimeter Teaching Fellows provide support to our flagship Perimeter Scholars International master’s program(PSI). As part of this support, fellows will typically give lectures, or support lectures given by faculty, organize and supervise tutorials and manage homework. Fellows may also have the opportunity to organize and deliver learning activities to students in other aspects of the department, including the PhD program, the PSI Start program, and the bridge program, and any other future initiatives and programs which might be developed. Fellows are involved in the admissions process for both the PSI and PSI Start programs, and other administrative duties as needed. Fellows interact on an ongoing basis with students in individual and group study and assist in the evaluations of students. For more information about the Perimeters Scholars International program, please visit perimeterscholars.org.

Teaching fellows are also encouraged to actively engage in research while at Perimeter in their field(s) of interest. Monetary support in the form of an annual research fund will be provided and active participation in ongoing research related activities at PI will be encouraged.

Applicants should hold a PhD in theoretical physics, have the ability to master the material taught in the courses, and have demonstrated aptitude and enthusiasm for teaching physics while ideally still carrying an active presence in the broader research community. Particular interest for this fellowship will be paid to applicants with research and teaching expertise in the areas of mathematical physics, or quantum matter and machine learning.

Applicants are requested to complete a short general information form and submit a curriculum vitae and a list of publications. Additionally, please include a statement describing your interest and experience in teaching, as well as an equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) statement describing your experiences and plans for creating/advancing a culture of equity and inclusion within your learning activities and within the Perimeter community.

If you are pre-selected based on your application, you will be contacted by our search committee to request at least 3 letters of reference on your teaching and research ability, which will be added to your application.

The salary will be commensurate with related experience and reflect any exceptional competencies. We welcome all applicants to apply by November 8, 2024. However, applications will be considered until the position has been filled. 

Perimeter Institute is committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, women, Indigenous/Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Applicants who require special accommodation in order to complete their application/interview are encouraged to contact accessibility@perimeterinstitute.ca for assistance.

Good luck!

Light-based neural networks

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It’s unusual to see the same headline used to highlight research from two different teams released in such proximity, February 2024 and July 2024, respectively. Both of these are neuromorphic (brainlike) computing stories.

February 2024: Neural networks made of light

The first team’s work is announced in a February 21, 2024 Friedrich Schiller University press release, Note: A link has been removed,

Researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz IPHT) and the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, along with an international team, have developed a new technology that could significantly reduce the high energy demands of future AI systems. This innovation utilizes light for neuronal computing, inspired by the neural networks of the human brain. It promises not only more efficient data processing but also speeds many times faster than current methods, all while consuming considerably less energy. Published in the prestigious journal „Advanced Science,“ their work introduces new avenues for environmentally friendly AI applications, as well as advancements in computerless diagnostics and intelligent microscopy.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is pivotal in advancing biotechnology and medical procedures, ranging from cancer diagnostics to the creation of new antibiotics. However, the ecological footprint of large-scale AI systems is substantial. For instance, training extensive language models like ChatGPT-3 requires several gigawatt-hours of energy—enough to power an average nuclear power plant at full capacity for several hours.

Prof. Mario Chemnitz, new Junior Professor of Intelligent Photonic SystemsExternal link at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, and Dr Bennet Fischer from Leibniz IPHT in Jena, in collaboration with their international team, have devised an innovative method to develop potentially energy-efficient computing systems that forego the need for extensive electronic infrastructure. They harness the unique interactions of light waves within optical fibers to forge an advanced artificial learning system.

A single fiber instead of thousands of components

Unlike traditional systems that rely on computer chips containing thousands of electronic components, their system uses a single optical fiber. This fiber is capable of performing the tasks of various neural networks—at the speed of light. “We utilize a single optical fiber to mimic the computational power of numerous neural networks,“ Mario Chemnitz, who is also leader of the “Smart Photonics“ junior research group at Leibniz IPHT, explains. “By leveraging the unique physical properties of light, this system will enable the rapid and efficient processing of vast amounts of data in the future.“

Delving into the mechanics reveals how information transmission occurs through the mixing of light frequencies: Data—whether pixel values from images or frequency components of an audio track—are encoded onto the color channels of ultrashort light pulses. These pulses carry the information through the fiber, undergoing various combinations, amplifications, or attenuations. The emergence of new color combinations at the fiber’s output enables the prediction of data types or contexts. For example, specific color channels can indicate visible objects in images or signs of illness in a voice.

A prime example of machine learning is identifying different numbers from thousands of handwritten characters. Mario Chemnitz, Bennet Fischer, and their colleagues from the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) in Québec utilized their technique to encode images of handwritten digits onto light signals and classify them via the optical fiber. The alteration in color composition at the fiber’s end forms a unique color spectrum—a „fingerprint“ for each digit. Following training, the system can analyze and recognize new handwriting digits with significantly reduced energy consumption.

System recognizes COVID-19 from voice samples

“In simpler terms, pixel values are converted into varying intensities of primary colors—more red or less blue, for instance,“ Mario Chemnitz details. “Within the fiber, these primary colors blend to create the full spectrum of the rainbow. The shade of our mixed purple, for example, reveals much about the data processed by our system.“

The team has also successfully applied this method in a pilot study to diagnose COVID-19 infections using voice samples, achieving a detection rate that surpasses the best digital systems to date.

“We are the first to demonstrate that such a vibrant interplay of light waves in optical fibers can directly classify complex information without any additional intelligent software,“ Mario Chemnitz states.

Since December 2023, Mario Chemnitz has held the position of Junior Professor of Intelligent Photonic Systems at Friedrich Schiller University Jena. Following his return from INRS in Canada in 2022, where he served as a postdoc, Chemnitz has been leading an international team at Leibniz IPHT in Jena. With Nexus funding support from the Carl Zeiss Foundation, their research focuses on exploring the potentials of non-linear optics. Their goal is to develop computer-free intelligent sensor systems and microscopes, as well as techniques for green computing.

Here’s a link to and a citation for the paper,

Neuromorphic Computing via Fission-based Broadband Frequency Generation by Bennet Fischer, Mario Chemnitz, Yi Zhu, Nicolas Perron, Piotr Roztocki, Benjamin MacLellan, Luigi Di Lauro, A. Aadhi, Cristina Rimoldi, Tiago H. Falk, Roberto Morandotti. Advanced Science Volume 10, Issue 35 December 15, 2023 2303835 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202303835. First published: 02 October 2023

This paper is open access.

July 2024: Neural networks made of light

A July 12, 2024 news item on ScienceDaily announces research from another German team,

Scientists propose a new way of implementing a neural network with an optical system which could make machine learning more sustainable in the future. The researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light have published their new method in Nature Physics, demonstrating a method much simpler than previous approaches.

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A July 12, 2024 Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light press release (also on EurekAlert), which originated the news item, provides more detail about their approach to neuromorphic computiing,

Machine learning and artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly widespread with applications ranging from computer vision to text generation, as demonstrated by ChatGPT. However, these complex tasks require increasingly complex neural networks; some with many billion parameters. This rapid growth of neural network size has put the technologies on an unsustainable path due to their exponentially growing energy consumption and training times. For instance, it is estimated that training GPT-3 consumed more than 1,000 MWh of energy, which amounts to the daily electrical energy consumption of a small town. This trend has created a need for faster, more energy- and cost-efficient alternatives, sparking the rapidly developing field of neuromorphic computing. The aim of this field is to replace the neural networks on our digital computers with physical neural networks. These are engineered to perform the required mathematical operations physically in a potentially faster and more energy-efficient way.

Optics and photonics are particularly promising platforms for neuromorphic computing since energy consumption can be kept to a minimum. Computations can be performed in parallel at very high speeds only limited by the speed of light. However, so far, there have been two significant challenges: Firstly, realizing the necessary complex mathematical computations requires high laser powers. Secondly, the lack of an efficient general training method for such physical neural networks.

Both challenges can be overcome with the new method proposed by Clara Wanjura and Florian Marquardt from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in their new article in Nature Physics. “Normally, the data input is imprinted on the light field. However, in our new methods we propose to imprint the input by changing the light transmission,” explains Florian Marquardt, Director at the Institute. In this way, the input signal can be processed in an arbitrary fashion. This is true even though the light field itself behaves in the simplest way possible in which waves interfere without otherwise influencing each other. Therefore, their approach allows one to avoid complicated physical interactions to realize the required mathematical functions which would otherwise require high-power light fields. Evaluating and training this physical neural network would then become very straightforward: “It would really be as simple as sending light through the system and observing the transmitted light. This lets us evaluate the output of the network. At the same time, this allows one to measure all relevant information for the training”, says Clara Wanjura, the first author of the study. The authors demonstrated in simulations that their approach can be used to perform image classification tasks with the same accuracy as digital neural networks.

In the future, the authors are planning to collaborate with experimental groups to explore the implementation of their method. Since their proposal significantly relaxes the experimental requirements, it can be applied to many physically very different systems. This opens up new possibilities for neuromorphic devices allowing physical training over a broad range of platforms.

Here’s a link to and a citation for the paper,

Fully nonlinear neuromorphic computing with linear wave scattering by Clara C. Wanjura & Florian Marquardt. Nature Physics (2024) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-024-02534-9 Published: 09 July 2024

This paper is open access.

EGNITE, a derivative of graphene, improves performance of neuroprostheses

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A July 10,2024 news item on ScienceDaily announces work on a new material for use in neuroprostheses could help people who are paralyzed or have amputated limbs, Note: This research involves use of animal models,

Neuroprostheses allow the nervous system of a patient who has suffered an injury to connect with mechanical devices that replace paralyzed or amputated limbs. A study coordinated by the UAB Institut de Neurociències, in collaboration with the l’Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2), demonstrates in animal models how EGNITE, a derivative of graphene, allows the creation of smaller electrodes, which can interact more selectively with the nerves they stimulate, thus improving the efficacy of the prostheses. The study also demonstrated that EGNITE is biocompatible, showing that its implantation is safe.

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A July 10,2024 Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona press release (also on EurekAlert) provides more detail,

After an amputation or a severe nerve injury, patients lose to a greater or lesser extent the ability to move and feel a lost limb, which limits their autonomy in activities of daily living. Currently, the only strategy that allows to recover the lost functions consists of neuroprostheses: electrodes capable of stimulating the nerves, to induce specific sensations, and of recording motor signals that, once decoded, can be sent to a bionic prosthesis.

In the design of neuroprostheses, it is important that the electrodes are small enough that they are selective and interact electrically only with a reduced number of axons in the nerve. Therefore, although they have commonly been constructed from metals such as gold, platinum or iridium oxide, it is necessary to find other materials that have enhanced conductive capacity and allow the creation of even smaller electrode contacts. This is where graphene and its derivatives come into play; their excellent electrical properties have allowed the development of a new generation of microelectrodes.

A research coordinated by the UAB Institut de Neurociències (INc-UAB) has studied the capacity of a new material derived from graphene, EGNITE, to stimulate and record from the peripheral nerve. Furthermore, its biocompatibility has been validated, which is key for preserving the function of the interface over time. The research was carried out in the Neuroplasticity and Regeneration group of the INc-UAB, led by professor Xavier Navarro of the UAB Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, in collaboration with Jose Garrido’s research group at the Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2), which was in charge of developing the EGNITE together with the neural interfaces.

These electrodes, implanted in rat sciatic nerve, were shown to be capable of producing selective muscle activation for up to a maximum of 60 days. “The reduction in the electrical current necessary to produce this muscle activation is notable in comparison to other larger metal microelectrodes”, explains Bruno Rodríguez-Meana, postdoctoral researcher at the INc-UAB and first author of the article. Furthermore, the electrodes with EGNITE demonstrated to be biocompatible, since none of the functional tests showed significant alterations produced by the implanted interfaces nor was exacerbated inflammation observed.

“The next steps will consist of the optimization of the EGNITE-based technology and its application in pre-clinical studies for vagus nerve or spinal cord stimulation systems. In parallel, progress is being made towards its clinical translation in bioelectronic medicine approaches”, explains Professor Navarro.

Together, these results indicate the potential of the material derived from graphene to be part of neuroprostheses that allow patients to recover lost functions, thus improving their capacity and quality of life.

Here’s a link to and a citation for the paper,

Engineered Graphene Material Improves the Performance of Intraneural Peripheral Nerve Electrodes by Bruno Rodríguez-Meana, Jaume del Valle, Damià Viana, Steven T. Walston, Nicola Ria, Eduard Masvidal-Codina, Jose A. Garrido, Xavier Navarro. Advanced Science Volume 11, Issue 29 August 7, 2024 2308689 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202308689 First published: 11 June 2024

This paper is open access.

Wearable air curtain (an invisible mask) kills viruses and blocks 99.8% of aerosols

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If you are vegetarian or vegan or have some objections to animal processing plants, this video is most likely not for you,

A July 8, 2024 University of Michigan news release (also on EurekAlert) describe a technology primarily designed for use by agricultural and industrial workers,

An air curtain shooting down from the brim of a hard hat can prevent 99.8% of aerosols from reaching a worker’s face. The technology, created by University of Michigan startup Taza Aya, potentially offers a new protection option for workers in industries where respiratory disease transmission is a concern.

Independent, third-party testing of Taza Aya’s device showed the effectiveness of the air curtain, curved to encircle the face, coming from nozzles at the hat’s brim. But for the air curtain to effectively protect against pathogens in the room, it must first be cleansed of pathogens itself. Previous research by the group of Taza Aya co-founder Herek Clack, U-M associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, showed that their method can remove and kill 99% of airborne viruses in farm and laboratory settings. 

“Our air curtain technology is precisely designed to protect wearers from airborne infectious pathogens, using treated air as a barrier in which any pathogens present have been inactivated so that they are no longer able to infect you if you breathe them in,” Clack said. “It’s virtually unheard of—our level of protection against airborne germs, especially when combined with the improved ergonomics it also provides.”

Fire has been used throughout history for sterilization, and while we might not usually think of it this way, it’s what’s known as a thermal plasma. Nonthermal, or cold, plasmas are made of highly energetic, electrically charged molecules and molecular fragments that achieve a similar effect without the heat. Those ions and molecules stabilize quickly, becoming ordinary air before reaching the curtain nozzles.

Taza Aya’s prototype features a backpack, weighing roughly 10 pounds, that houses the nonthermal plasma module, air handler, electronics and the unit’s battery pack. The handler draws air into the module, where it’s treated before flowing to the air curtain’s nozzle array.

Taza Aya’s progress comes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the midst of a summer when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported four cases of humans testing positive for bird flu. During the pandemic, agriculture suffered disruptions in meat production due to shortages in labor, which had a direct impact on prices, the availability of some products and the extended supply chain.

In recent months, Taza Aya has conducted user experience testing with workers at Michigan Turkey Producers in Wyoming, Michigan, a processing plant that practices the humane handling of birds. The plant is home to hundreds of workers, many of them coming into direct contact with turkeys during their work day.

To date, paper masks have been the main strategy for protecting employees in such large-scale agriculture productions. But on a noisy production line, where many workers speak English as a second language, masks further reduce the ability of workers to communicate by muffling voices and hiding facial clues.

“During COVID, it was a problem for many plants—the masks were needed, but they prevented good communication with our associates,” said Tina Conklin, Michigan Turkey’s vice president of technical services.  

In addition, the effectiveness of masks is reliant on a tight seal over the mouth and noise to ensure proper filtration, which can change minute to minute during a workday. Masks can also fog up safety goggles, and they have to be removed for workers to eat. Taza Aya’s technology avoids all of those problems.

As a researcher at U-M, Clack spent years exploring the use of nonthermal plasma to protect livestock. With the arrival of COVID-19 in early 2020, he quickly pivoted to how the technology might be used for personal protection from airborne pathogens.

In October of that year, Taza Aya was named an awardee in the Invisible Shield QuickFire Challenge—a competition created by Johnson & Johnson Innovation in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program sought to encourage the development of technologies that could protect people from airborne viruses while having a minimal impact on daily life.

“We are pleased with the study results as we embark on this journey,” said Alberto Elli, Taza Aya’s CEO. “This real-world product and user testing experience will help us successfully launch the Worker Wearable [Protection] in 2025.”

There’s a bit more information about the 3rd party testing mentioned at the start of the news release in a June 26, 2024 posting by Herek Clack on the Taza Aya company blog. You find out more about Worker and Individual Wearable Protection on Taza Aya’s The Solution webpage, scroll down abut 55% of the way.

Science Meets [Canadian] Parliament (SMP) 2025

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This September 19, 2024 announcement (received via email) from the Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) features an application deadline for the 2025 Science Meets Parliament (SMP) initiative and information about two upcoming provincial editions,

CSPC is excited to announce that applications for Science Meets Parliament (SMP) 2025 are now open! 
 
This year, CSPC is thrilled to expand the program with the inaugural launch of Science Meets Parliament in Ontario, along with the continued success of the Federal and British Columbia programs.
 
Science Meets Parliament is a transformative program designed to foster stronger connections between the science and policy communities. The program provides unique opportunities for Early Career Researchers to engage with policymakers, gain a deeper understanding of the policymaking process, and contribute to evidence-informed decisions.
 
This year’s deadline to apply for the SMP programs is November 8, 2024!

SMP Federal
Interested in connecting with federal policymakers and experiencing the heartbeat of national decision-making? SMP Federal is a joint program with the Office of Chief Science Advisor and is a platform for researchers to learn about policymaking at the Federal Parliament and interact with Members of Parliament. 
 
Click here to find out more information and to apply for SMP Federal.

SMP Ontario – New!
We are excited to introduce the first-ever Science Meets Parliament Ontario! This new program offers Ontario-based researchers the opportunity to connect with provincial policymakers and learn about policymaking at the provincial level.
 
Click here to find out more information and to apply for SMP Ontario.

SMP British Columbia
SMP BC continues to provide opportunities to meet with provincial policymakers, build relationships, and learn about policymaking at the provincial level.

Click here to find out more information and to apply for SMP BC.

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There’s also the French language version,

Le CPSC est heureux d’annoncer que les candidatures pour l’édition 2025 du programme la SRP sont présentement acceptées!
 
Cette année, le CSPC est ravi d’élargir la portée du programme avec le lancement du programme La science rencontre le Parlement – Ontario qui vient s’ajouter aux programmes fédéral et de la Colombie-Britannique. 
 
Le programme la SRP est une initiative novatrice visant à renforcer les liens entre les communautés scientifique et politique. Il offre aux chercheurs en début de carrière une opportunité exceptionnelle d’interagir avec des décideurs politiques, de mieux comprendre le processus d’élaboration des politiques et de contribuer à une prise de décisions éclairées, fondées sur des données probantes. 
 
La date limite pour soumettre votre candidature pour l’un des programmes la SRC est le 8 novembre 2024!

La SRP – programme fédéral
Vous souhaitez entrer en contact avec les décideurs politiques fédéraux et découvrir le rythme cardiaque de la prise de décision nationale ? SRP Federal est un programme conjoint avec le Bureau du conseiller scientifique en chef et constitue une plate-forme 
permettant aux chercheurs de se renseigner sur l’élaboration des politiques au Parlement fédéral et d’interagir avec les députés.
 
Cliquez ici pour en savoir plus et soumettre votre candidature au programme fédéral la SRP.

La SRP – Ontario Nouveauté!
Nous sommes ravis de vous présenter le tout premier programme La science rencontre le Parlement de l’Ontario ! Ce nouveau programme offre aux chercheurs basés en Ontario l’occasion d’entrer en contact avec les décideurs politiques provinciaux et d’en apprendre davantage sur l’élaboration des politiques au niveau provincial
 
Cliquez ici pour en savoir plus et soumettre votre candidature pour le programme La SRP- Ontario.

La SRP – Colombie-Britannique 
SRP BC continue d’offrir des occasions de rencontrer des décideurs politiques provinciaux, d’établir des relations et d’en apprendre davantage sur l’élaboration de politiques au niveau provincial.

Cliquez ici pour en savoir plus et soumettre votre candidature pour le programme La SRP- Colombie-Britannique.

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Here’s a little more about the federal SMP programme, from the Science Meets Parliament webpage on the CSPC website,

The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) and the Office of the Chief Science Advisor (OCSA) are pleased to announce the fifth edition of the Science Meets Parliament Program. The applications are now being accepted for the program and the program is scheduled to take place in Ottawa in spring (late April/early May) 2025 [emphasis mine], with the in-person event taking place over two days (Monday-Tuesday), subject to Parliament being in session. In the event of an election, the timing of the program may be delayed.

CSPC and OCSA are pleased to present the 2025 edition of Science Meets Parliament (SMP) to continue to strengthen the connection between the science and policy communities. This program provides an excellent opportunity for researchers to learn about the inclusion of scientific evidence in policymaking in Parliament.

This year marks the fifth Science Meets Parliament program since its inauguration in 2018. During these events, more than 150 emerging leaders of the scientific community from across Canada were brought to the Canadian Parliament for extensive meetings with Parliamentarians, and attendance at the House and Senate standing committees. Scientists were able to learn first-hand about Parliamentary work, and the role of science in policymaking, and discuss their research with Parliamentarians.

Apply Now

The application deadline is November 8th, 2024.

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From the Science Meets Parliament Ontario 2025 webpage, Note: I couldn’t find a deadline for applications,

The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) is pleased to announce the inaugural edition of the Science Meets Parliament Program in Ontario with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Honourable Ted Arnott. The applications are now being accepted for the program and the program is scheduled to take place in Toronto in spring (mid/late March) 2025 [emphasis mine], with the in-person event taking place over two days (Monday-Tuesday), subject to Parliament being in session. In the event of an election, the timing of the program may be delayed.

Apply Now

From the Science Meets Parliament BC 2025 webpage, Note: I couldn’t find a deadline for applications,

The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) is pleased to announce the second edition of the Science Meets Parliament Program in BC with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The applications are now being accepted for the program and the program is scheduled to take place in Victoria in spring (mid/late April) 2025 [emphasis mine], with the in-person event taking place over two days (Monday-Tuesday), subject to Parliament being in session. In the event of an election, the timing of the program may be delayed.

Apply Now

From La science rencontre le Parlement webpage,

Le Centre canadien des politiques scientifiques (CCPS) et le Bureau de la conseillère scientifique en chef (BCSC) sont heureux d’annoncer la cinquième édition du programme La science au service du Parlement. Les demandes sont maintenant acceptées et le programme devrait se dérouler à Ottawa au printemps (fin avril/début mai) 2025, l’événement en personne se déroulant sur deux jours (du lundi au mardi), sous réserve que le Parlement soit en session. En cas d’élection, le calendrier du programme pourrait être retardé.

Le CSPC et l’OCSA sont heureux de présenter l’édition 2025 de Science Meets Parliament (SMP) afin de continuer à renforcer les liens entre les communautés scientifiques et politiques. Ce programme offre une excellente occasion aux chercheurs d’en apprendre davantage sur l’inclusion des preuves scientifiques dans l’élaboration des politiques au Parlement.

Cette année marque la cinquième édition du programme La science à la rencontre du Parlement depuis son inauguration en 2018. Au cours de ces événements, plus de 150 leaders émergents de la communauté scientifique de partout au Canada ont été invités au Parlement canadien pour des réunions approfondies avec des parlementaires et pour assister aux travaux des comités permanents de la Chambre et du Sénat. Les scientifiques ont pu en apprendre davantage sur le travail parlementaire et le rôle de la science dans l’élaboration des politiques, et discuter de leurs recherches avec les parlementaires.

Postulez Maintenant

La date limite de candidature est Novembre 8th, 2024.

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From La science rencontre le Parlement de l’Ontario 2025 webpage, no dealine mentioned,

Le Centre canadien sur les politiques scientifiques (CCPS) est heureux d’annoncer la première édition du programme La science au service du Parlement en Ontario, avec le président de l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario, l’honorable Ted Arnott. Les candidatures sont maintenant acceptées et le programme devrait avoir lieu à Toronto au printemps (mi-/fin mars) 2025, l’événement en personne se déroulant sur deux jours (du lundi au mardi), sous réserve que le Parlement soit en session. En cas d’élection, le calendrier du programme pourrait être retardé.

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From La science rencontre le Parlement BC 2025 webpage, no deadline mentioned,

Le Centre canadien sur les politiques scientifiques (CCPS) est heureux d’annoncer la deuxième édition du programme « La science rencontre le Parlement » en Colombie-Britannique avec le président de l’Assemblée législative de la Colombie-Britannique. Les candidatures sont maintenant acceptées et le programme devrait avoir lieu à Victoria au printemps (mi-/fin avril) 2025, l’événement en personne se déroulant sur deux jours (du lundi au mardi), sous réserve que le Parlement soit en session. En cas d’élection, le calendrier du programme pourrait être retardé.

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Good luck!

World’s first science fiction magazine (English language) launched in 1926

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Not sure how I tripped across this June 26, 2024 posting from the openculture.com archives with updates of the 2017 posting by Josh Jones but I’m glad for it, Note: Links have been removed,

If you haven’t heard of Hugo Gernsback, you’ve surely heard of the Hugo Award. Next to the Nebula, it’s the most prestigious of science fiction prizes, bringing together in its ranks of winners such venerable authors as Ursula K. Le Guin, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, Neil Gaiman, Isaac Asimov, and just about every other sci-fi and fantasy luminary you could think of. It is indeed fitting that such an honor should be named for Gernsback, the Luxembourgian-American inventor who, in April of 1926, began publishing “the first and longest-running English-language magazine dedicated to what was then not quite yet called ‘science fiction,’” notes University of Virginia’s Andrew Ferguson at The Pulp Magazines Project. Amazing Stories provided an “exclusive outlet” for what Gernsback first called “scientifiction,” a genre he would “for better and for worse, define for the modern era.” You can read and download hundreds of Amazing Stories issues, from the first year of its publication to the last, at the Internet Archive.

Like the extensive list of Hugo Award winners, the back catalog of Amazing Stories encompasses a host of geniuses: Le Guin, Asimov, H.G. Wells, Philip K. Dick, J.G. Ballard, and many hundreds of lesser-known writers. But the magazine “was slow to develop,” writes Scott Van Wynsberghe. Its lurid covers lured some readers in, but its “first two years were dominated by preprinted material,” and Gernsback developed a reputation for financial dodginess and for not paying his writers well or at all.

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“Within a decade,” writes Van Wynsberghe, “science fiction pundits were debating whether or not he had created a ‘ghetto’ for hack writers.” In 1986, novelist Brian Aldiss called Gernsback “one of the worst disasters ever to hit the science fiction field.” His 1911 novel, the ludicrously named Ralph 124C 41+: A Romance of the Year 2660 is considered “one of the worst science fiction novels in history,” writes Matthew Lasar. It may seem odd that the Oscar of the sci-fi world should be named for such a reviled figure. And yet, despite his pronounced lack of literary ability, Gernsback was a visionary. As a futurist, he made some startlingly accurate predictions, along with some not-so-accurate ones. …

If you have time definitely take a look at Jones’s June 26, 2024 posting for rest of the content and embedded images like this,

[https://www.openculture.com/2024/06/a-huge-archive-of-amazing-stories-the-worlds-first-science-fiction-magazine.html]

Presumably this image is in the public domain. Wish I could find information to credit the artist(s).

More about Hugo Gernsback

As noted previously, Gernsback was controversial and it’s noted in this October 4, 2012 article by Matt Novak for The Smithsonian,

Hugo “Awards” Gernsback was many different things to different people. To his fans, he was a visionary who started some of the most influential (not to mention the first) science fiction magazines of the early 20th century. Ray Bradbury was quoted as saying, “Gernsback made us fall in love with the future.” To his detractors, he was “Hugo the Rat,” known to men like H. P. Lovecraft for being a crooked publisher who sometimes stiffed his writers when payment was due. But above all else, he was a tireless self-promoter.

In 1904, Gernsback emigrated from Luxembourg to the U.S. at the age of 20. Not long thereafter he began selling radio kits to hobbyists, sometimes importing parts from Europe. His radio business and the catalogues he used to promote his wares evolved into a technology-focused magazine empire. Gernsback published over 50 different magazine titles in the course of his life, most of which were hobbyist magazines related to science, technology and the genre he helped popularize for so many in the 1920s: science fiction.

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Later in the article Novak goes on to focus on Gernsbacks insights and predictions on technology in the future. You may find the Hugo Gernsback Wikipedia entry provides a more comprehensive overview.

As sometimes happens, I came across one more intriguing tidbit..

First science fiction literature: Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh (earliest Sumerian text versions c. 2150–2000 BCE)?

There are two schools of thought as to when science fiction as a literary genre was born according to the History of science fiction Wikipedia entry, Note: Links have been removed,

The literary genre of science fiction is diverse, and its exact definition remains a contested question among both scholars and devotees. This lack of consensus is reflected in debates about the genre’s history, particularly over determining its exact origins. There are two broad camps of thought, one that identifies the genre’s roots in early fantastical works such as the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh (earliest Sumerian text versions c. 2150–2000 BCE).[1] A second approach argues that science fiction only became possible sometime between the 17th and early 19th centuries, following the scientific revolution and major discoveries in astronomy, physics, and mathematics.

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Ancient and early modern precursors

One of the earliest and most commonly-cited texts for those looking for early precursors to science fiction is the ancient Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh, with the earliest text versions identified as being from about 2000 BCE. American science fiction author Lester del Rey was one such supporter of using Gilgamesh as an origin point, arguing that “science fiction is precisely as old as the first recorded fiction. That is The Epic of Gilgamesh.”[3] French science fiction writer Pierre Versins also argued that Gilgamesh was the first science fiction work due to its treatment of human reason and the quest for immortality.[4] In addition, Gilgamesh features a flood scene that in some ways resembles a work of apocalyptic science fiction. However, the lack of explicit science or technology in the work has led some[5] to argue that it is better categorized as fantastic literature.

Ancient Indian poetry such as the Hindu epic the Ramayana (5th to 4th century BCE) includes Vimana, flying machines able to travel into space or under water, and destroy entire cities using advanced weapons. In the first book of the Rigveda collection of Sanskrit hymns (1700–1100 BCE), there is a description of “mechanical birds” that are seen “jumping into space speedily with a craft using fire and water … containing twelve stamghas (pillars), one wheel, three machines, 300 pivots, and 60 instruments”.[6] The ancient Hindu mythological epic the Mahabharata (8th and 9th centuries BCE) includes the story of King Kakudmi, who travels to heaven to meet the creator Brahma and is shocked to learn that many ages have passed when he returns to Earth, anticipating the concept of time travel.[7]

One frequently cited text is the Syrian-Greek writer Lucian of Samosata’s 2nd-century satire True History, which uses a voyage to outer space and conversations with alien life forms to comment on the use of exaggeration within travel literature and debates. Typical science fiction themes and topoi in True History include travel to outer space, encounter with alien life-forms (including the experience of a first encounter event), interplanetary warfare and planetary imperialism, motif of giganticism, creatures as products of human technology, worlds working by a set of alternative physical laws, and an explicit desire of the protagonist for exploration and adventure.[8] …

It goes on to mention Japanese writing, Arabic writing, medieval writers (from Europe and elsewhere) and more whose work could be thought of as science fiction. It’s a fascinating trip through history and cultures. If you have the time, here’s a link to the History of science fiction Wikipedia entry.

Dual functions—neuromorphic (brainlike) and security—with papertronic devices

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Michael Berger’s June 27, 2024 Nanowerk Spotlight article describes some of the latest work on developing electronic paper devices (yes, paper), Note 1: Links have been removed, Note 2: If you do check out Berger’s article, you will need to click a box confirming you are human,+

Paper-based electronic devices have long been an intriguing prospect for researchers, offering potential advantages in sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility. However, translating the unique properties of paper into functional electronic components has presented significant challenges. Traditional semiconductor manufacturing processes are incompatible with paper’s thermal sensitivity and porous structure. Previous attempts to create paper-based electronics often resulted in devices with limited functionality or poor durability.

Recent advances in materials science and nanofabrication techniques have opened new avenues for realizing sophisticated electronic devices on paper substrates. Researchers have made progress in developing conductive inks, flexible electrodes, and solution-processable semiconductors that can be applied to paper without compromising its inherent properties. These developments have paved the way for creating paper-based sensors, energy storage devices, and simple circuits.

Despite these advancements, achieving complex electronic functionalities on paper, particularly in areas like neuromorphic computing and security applications, has remained elusive. Neuromorphic devices, which mimic the behavior of biological synapses, typically require precise control of charge transport and storage mechanisms.

Similarly, physically unclonable functions (PUFs) used in security applications depend on the ability to generate random, unique patterns at the nanoscale level. Implementing these sophisticated functionalities on paper substrates has been a persistent challenge due to the material’s inherent variability and limited compatibility with advanced fabrication techniques.

A research team in Korea has now made significant strides in addressing these challenges, developing a versatile paper-based electronic device that demonstrates both neuromorphic and security capabilities. Their work, published in Advanced Materials (“Versatile Papertronics: Photo-Induced Synapse and Security Applications on Papers”), describes a novel approach to creating multifunctional “papertronics” using a combination of solution-processable materials and innovative device architectures.

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The team showcased the potential of their device by simulating a facial recognition task. Using a simple neural network architecture and the light-responsive properties of their paper-based device, they achieved a recognition accuracy of 91.7% on a standard face database. This impressive performance was achieved with a remarkably low voltage bias of -0.01 V, demonstrating the energy efficiency of the approach. The ability to operate at such low voltages is particularly advantageous for portable and low-power applications.

In addition to its neuromorphic capabilities, the device also showed promise as a physically unclonable function (PUF) for security applications. The researchers leveraged the inherent randomness in the deposition of SnO2 nanoparticles [tin oxide nanoparticles] to create unique electrical characteristics in each device. By fabricating arrays of these devices on paper, they generated security keys that exhibited high levels of randomness and uniqueness.

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One of the most intriguing aspects of this research is the dual functionality achieved with a single device structure. The ability to serve as both a neuromorphic component and a security element could lead to the development of highly integrated, secure edge computing devices on paper substrates. This convergence of functionalities addresses growing concerns about data privacy and security in Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

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Berger’s June 27, 2024 Nanowerk Spotlight article offers more detail about the work and it’s written in an accessible fashion. Berger also notes at the end, that there are still a lot of challenges before this work leaves the laboratory.

Here’s a link to and a citation for the paper,

Versatile Papertronics: Photo-Induced Synapse and Security Applications on Papers by Wangmyung Choi, Jihyun Shin, Yeong Jae Kim, Jaehyun Hur, Byung Chul Jang, Hocheon Yoo. Advanced Materials DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202312831 First published: 13 June 2024

This paper is behind a paywall.