Even in the year that is about to end, science has offered stories that seem like something out of a science fiction book. From human brains grown in laboratories and interfaced with AI to communicative interactions with whales, each discovery has been a step forward in the mysterious journey of human knowledge. Here are the strangest of the year.
In 2023, the concept of the “mad scientist” has taken an unexpectedly tangible turn. Australian society Cortical Labs grew human brain tissue from stem cells, and then connected it to computer chips. To do what? Simulations, calculations and even play Pong.
Other teams have worked in the same direction: for example with “Brainoware”, brain organoids that have learned to recognize voices and perform mathematical tasks.
These developments mark the dawn of an era in which computers that work like the brain, or even “artificial consciousnesses” could become a reality. It goes without saying that the prospect of such advanced systems raises the need for rigorous guidelines for their development and use.
AI Dreams and Virtual Reality
After a long gestation period, in 2023 artificial intelligence "attacked" everyday reality with astonishing rapidity. This year systems like ModelScope e gen-2 by Runway have surprised the world with their ability to generate videos based on simple text prompts.
The result? A dive into a sea of surreal dreams (and digital nightmares), where deformed celebrities and strange everyday scenes transformed into strange visions distort our perception of reality. 2024 will be the year of improvements, which will bring us closer to the first "serious" short films made without shooting a single second of footage. Immediately after, feature films will arrive.
The James Webb Telescope and dark matter stars
The first year of James Webb Space Telescope it has literally opened a new window onto the universe, allowing us to peer deeper into the cosmos than ever before. With this advanced technology, astronomers have begun to observe phenomena that challenge our knowledge of the formation of the universe.
The discovery of giant ancient galaxies has led some scientists to speculate about the existence of strange “dark stars“, 10.000 times larger than the sun, powered by the annihilation of dark matter particles. If confirmed, this bold theory could revolutionize our standard model of cosmology.
Communication with whales
In fascinating research, a team of daring scientists have begun to explore the possibilities of communicating with non-human intelligences. The recent interaction with a whale through the technique of "interactive bioacoustic reproduction" tries to somehow decode the language of this majestic marine mammal. The first, fabulous step of a trip I've always dreamed of.
Although the results are still preliminary, this study lays the foundations for future attempts to decode and interact with any messages coming from extraterrestrial intelligences.
Does time pass faster?
Uno revolutionary study suggested that the perception of time has not been constant throughout the history of the universe. By analyzing ancient quasars, scientists have found that one second in the early universe could be equivalent to five seconds in our current time.
This observation, which is based on the principles of time dilation in relativity, offers a new perspective on how time and space can be perceived in radically different ways depending on the context.
Strange lessons from a mountain of guano
Finally, an unusual study explored the scientific potential of a huge accumulation of… condor guano in the Andes. Stuff that Hitchcock really avoided.
This sedimentary layer has preserved over 2.200 years of ecological history, offering scientists a single window on the evolution of the eating habits of these majestic creatures, as well as on the environmental and climate impacts over the millennia.
In summary, 2023 has left us with a bunch of strange discoveries that challenge our expectations and broaden our horizons. This research reminds us that the world of science is full of surprises, inviting us to embrace the incredible and the unusual in our ongoing journey to discover the wonderful universe in which we live.
