Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan[1], is one of the most important drugs in the United States’ fight against the opioid crisis. It reverses an opioid overdose nearly instantly, restarting breathing in a person who was unresponsive moments before and on the brink of death. To bystanders witnessing it being administered, naloxone...
In 3 years the AI chatbot has changed the way people look things up
Three years ago, if someone needed to fix a leaky faucet or understand inflation, they usually did one of three things: typed the question into Google, searched YouTube for a how-to video or shouted desperately at Alexa for help.
Today, millions of people start with a different approach: They open ChatGPT and just ask.
I’m a professor...
How synthetic data can make urban digital twins more humane
When city leaders talk about making a town “smart,” they’re usually talking about urban digital twins[1]. These are essentially high-tech, 3D computer models of cities. They are filled with data about buildings, roads and utilities. Built using precision tools like cameras and LiDAR – light detection and ranging – scanners, these twins...
Fern stems reveal secrets of evolution – how constraints in development can lead to new forms
There are few forms of the botanical world as readily identifiable as fern leaves. These often large, lacy fronds lend themselves nicely to watercolor paintings and tricep tattoos alike. Thoreau said it best[1]: “Nature made ferns for pure leaves, to show what she could do in that line.”
But ferns are not just for art and gardens. While...