Researchers have developed a new AI-powered method to detect signs of alien life with high accuracy, paving the way for potential detections on other planets. Led by Professor Robert Hazen, the technology could revolutionise the search for extra-terrestrial life.
AI Technology Used to Enhance Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life
Researchers have harnessed artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the search for signs of alien life. The new method, created by scientists at the Carnegie Institution’s Geophysical Laboratory and George Mason University, employs machine learning to distinguish between biological and non-biological samples with approximately 90% accuracy.
Key Details:
- What: AI-based method to detect signs of life.
- Where: Initially tested on Earth and applied to Mars samples.
- When: Announced on September 30, 2023.
- Who: Research led by Professor Robert Hazen.
Using samples from living cells, meteorites, and lab-made mixtures, the AI system can identify biological markers even in samples hundreds of millions of years old. Published findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science indicate this method could be revolutionary.
Prof. Robert Hazen stated that this technology might be integrated into robotic spacecraft and rovers to detect signs of life on other planets before samples are brought back to Earth.
Artificial Sweetener Xylitol Linked to Higher Heart Attack, Stroke Risk
A series of studies from the Cleveland Clinic have found that the artificial sweetener xylitol is associated with an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Published in the European Heart Journal, the research involved multiple studies showing that higher xylitol levels in blood correlated with cardiovascular events.
Key Findings:
- What: Xylitol linked to cardiovascular risks.
- Where: Cleveland Clinic, USA.
- When: Research published on June 7, 2024.
- Who: Study led by Stanley Hazen of Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute.
Three key studies were conducted:
1. Analysis of plasma samples from over 3,000 patients revealed higher xylitol levels in those who experienced cardiovascular events.
2. Laboratory studies with human blood and platelets showed xylitol induced clot formation.
3. A controlled study where subjects consuming xylitol-sweetened drinks exhibited increased blood clotting.
The research countered previous assumptions about the safety of xylitol, noting its use in products like baked goods, sugar-free candy, and gum. Notably, Calorie Control Council President Carla Saunders defended xylitol’s safety, citing existing scientific evidence.
