In a remarkable display of intellectual trickery, physicist Alan Sokal pulled off an audacious hoax that left the academic world in a tizzy. The Sokal affair, or as some called it, the Sokal hoax, was an elaborate experiment designed to test the intellectual rigor of a leading cultural studies journal. With a touch of mischief and a sprinkle of nonsense, Sokal aimed to expose the intellectual laziness and ideological bias that he believed plagued certain sectors of the American academic Left.
In 1996, Sokal submitted an article titled "Transgressing the Boundaries: Towards a Transformative Hermeneutics of Quantum Gravity" to the journal Social Text. The article proposed that quantum gravity, a topic of immense scientific complexity, was nothing more than a social and linguistic construct. Sokal's intention was to investigate whether the journal would publish an article filled with gibberish as long as it flattered the editors' ideological predispositions.
To Sokal's astonishment, the article was accepted and published in the journal's spring/summer 1996 issue, which was aptly themed "Science Wars." It seemed that the editors had fallen for Sokal's intellectual prank hook, line, and sinker. However, just three weeks later, in the magazine Lingua Franca, Sokal revealed that his article was nothing but an elaborate ruse.
The revelation sparked a firestorm of controversy, raising questions about the scholarly merit of commentary on scientific matters by those in the humanities, the influence of postmodern philosophy on social disciplines, and academic ethics. Some wondered whether Sokal had crossed a line by deceiving the editors and readers of Social Text, while others questioned whether the journal had adhered to proper scientific ethics.
Sokal's prank also led to further exploration of the broader issues at hand. In 2008, he published a book titled "Beyond the Hoax," delving into the history of the affair and its enduring implications. The hoax served as a wake-up call, reminding academia of the importance of intellectual rigor, critical thinking, and responsible scholarship.
Despite the serious debates it ignited, the Sokal affair provided a dose of humor to the often dry world of scholarly discourse. Sokal himself humorously remarked that those who believed the laws of physics were merely social conventions were welcome to test their validity by defying them from the windows of his twenty-first-floor apartment.
In the end, the Sokal affair highlighted the need for thoughtful examination of ideas, rigorous scholarly inquiry, and a healthy dose of skepticism. It served as a reminder that while the pursuit of knowledge is noble, sloppy thinking and intellectual shortcuts have no place in the hallowed halls of academia.
Dimeo Lane Resource Recovery Center is a bustling hub where trash is transformed through a remarkable process. A dedicated team of three navigates the challenges of backing up a trash truck onto the Food Scrap Pre-Processor's narrow ramp. The truck unloads its contents into the processor, initiating a conversion that yields a brown mash resembling a unique blend of applesauce. Leslie O'Malley, the waste reduction program manager for the City of Santa Cruz, humorously explains that mixing all the colors of the rainbow results in brown.
The Food Scraps Recovery Program, operational for nearly a year, is a response to the SB1383 mandate to reduce organic waste by 75% compared to 2014 levels by 2025. This reduction is critical for curbing greenhouse gas emissions, with landfill methane and food scraps being the third-largest contributors.
Every week, an astonishing 33 to 40 tons of raw food scraps arrive at the facility from commercial and residential units in Santa Cruz. After undergoing pre-processing, the material continues its journey in tanks aboard another truck to Sustainable Organic Solutions in Santa Clara, where it is transformed into animal feed. O'Malley clarifies that the waste is not pig slop, but rather processed into pellets for animal consumption, with some portions utilized for biodiesel and fertilizer production.
Unlike nearby Watsonville, which combines food scraps with yard waste and transports it to an industrial composter in Marina, Santa Cruz has chosen a different approach. The city utilizes the food-scrap processor to minimize the carbon footprint associated with transportation. O'Malley explains that commingling yard waste and food scraps would have required seven trucks a day to Marina solely for that purpose, adding the complexity of collecting recycling and garbage. With the current system, Sustainable Organic Solutions collects the waste every ten to fourteen days.
Furthermore, the food scraps processor paves the way for a future transition to a localized solution—digesting the food waste at Santa Cruz's Wastewater Treatment Facility. O'Malley envisions incorporating food waste digestion and energy capture in the city's own "waste-shed," considering the facility's proximity within six to ten miles of the processor.
However, challenges persist. John Lippi, a former sanitation supervisor overseeing operations at the Resource Recovery Center, faces ongoing issues. Plastic bags, both conventional and compostable, frequently entangle the machinery, causing disruptions. Lippi emphasizes the need to avoid their usage to ensure smooth machinery operations. Maintaining the optimal moisture content in the mash also poses a concern, requiring meticulous monitoring and occasional adjustments using agricultural material.
Santa Cruz has implemented an extensive outreach program to educate residents about the system. Last August, single-family homes received postcards explaining food scraps collection, along with six-gallon brown pails for convenient participation. Implementing the program in multi-family residences presents additional complexities. Residents in buildings with five or more units coordinate with property managers, who then arrange for counter-top pail collectors and central food scrap collection containers in collaboration with the city. Additional staff members have been hired to streamline enrollment for over 400 multi-family residences in Santa Cruz.
The success of achieving the 75% reduction goal will be evaluated through a Waste Characterization Study, categorizing and measuring waste in representative trash truck loads by third-party contractors. Despite challenges and occasional reassessment, O'Malley remains optimistic about the dedication and momentum in meeting the SB1383 targets.
While the Food Scraps Recovery Program is a positive step, O'Malley emphasizes prevention as the most effective means of combating food-waste-related greenhouse gas emissions. She urges individuals to reconsider their relationship with food, shifting from reliance on disposal methods to reducing food waste at its source. O'Malley advocates for the three Rs of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, emphasizing the importance of working together to make a significant impact.
In the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), the Dark Web has emerged as an unlikely yet captivating source for training generative AI models. While conventional generative AI is trained on the visible, relatively safe surface-level web, the Dark Web provides a treasure trove of malicious and disturbing content. This unexplored territory has sparked debates about the potential benefits and risks associated with developing generative AI based on the underbelly of the internet.
The Dark Web, a hidden part of the internet that standard search engines don't index, harbors a range of unsavory activities. It attracts cybercriminals, conspiracy theorists, and those seeking anonymity or restricted content. By specifically training generative AI on Dark Web data, researchers aim to tap into the unique language and specialized patterns of this secretive domain.
Proponents argue that Dark Web-trained generative AI could serve as a valuable tool to identify and track evildoers. Its ability to comprehend specialized languages and detect endangering trends could aid in cybersecurity and provide legal evidence for criminal prosecutions. Moreover, some believe that exploring the Dark Web's emergent behaviors through generative AI research could yield valuable insights.
However, ethical concerns loom large. Critics argue that delving into the Dark Web for generative AI training poses significant risks. They fear that it could inadvertently strengthen the capabilities of malicious actors and potentially undermine human rights. The potential misuse of Dark Web-trained generative AI is a worrisome aspect that demands careful consideration.
It is important to note that both conventional and Dark Web-trained generative AI models are susceptible to errors, biases, and falsehoods. While Dark Web-based generative AI may uncover hidden patterns and insights, it also runs the risk of perpetuating and amplifying malicious content. The challenges and potential pitfalls associated with interpreting and utilizing generative AI outputs from the Dark Web are similar to those of conventional AI.
Despite the risks, researchers have already embraced the concept of Dark Web-trained generative AI. Various projects, often referred to as "DarkGPT," have emerged, although caution must be exercised to avoid scams or malware posing as legitimate Dark Web-based generative AI applications.
One notable research example is DarkBERT, a language model trained on the Dark Web specifically designed for cybersecurity tasks. Researchers have found it to be more effective in handling Dark Web-specific text compared to models trained on conventional web data. DarkBERT showcases the potential of Dark Web-based generative AI, particularly in domains like cybersecurity.
The debate surrounding Dark Web-based generative AI is still in its early stages. The intersection of AI ethics and AI law is critical to navigate the development and deployment of AI systems responsibly. Striking the right balance between leveraging the potential benefits of Dark Web-trained generative AI while mitigating the associated risks remains a paramount challenge.
As AI continues to evolve, the question of whether we should expose AI systems to the Dark Web's depths requires careful consideration. The potential insights gained from the Dark Web could help society identify and combat evildoing. Alternatively, it could expose AI systems to an abyss that might shape their behavior and decision-making in unexpected and potentially detrimental ways.
Ultimately, the development and deployment of generative AI, whether based on the conventional web or the Dark Web, necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its capabilities, limitations, and ethical implications. As we embark on this technological journey, let us tread cautiously, guided by wisdom and a clear understanding of the potential consequences.
In a move that echoes tech behemoths Google and Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing arm of Amazon, has announced its foray into the world of generative AI. However, unlike its competitors, AWS has a different target audience in mind, aiming to attract corporate customers rather than the general public. The company is expanding its array of artificial intelligence tools and providing access to custom-made chips specifically designed to optimize the efficiency and affordability of running AI software.
Adam Selipsky, CEO of Amazon Web Services, emphasized the nascent nature of generative AI, stating, "This whole area is really, really new, and it truly is day one in generative AI. There's going to be a lot of invention by a lot of different companies."
As the leading global provider of cloud computing services, AWS is following the trend set by other tech giants by unveiling its generative AI strategy. The major players in cloud computing have all recognized the transformative potential of generative AI in revolutionizing work and creativity, thanks to its impressive ability to generate sophisticated memos and computer code. This surge of interest has spurred AWS, Microsoft, and Google to integrate generative AI into their sales pitches, seeking to rekindle demand for their cooling cloud services.
Shishir Mehrotra, CEO of AI document startup Coda and an early tester of AWS's new AI products, expressed his excitement, drawing parallels between the current rush to adopt generative AI and the transition from computers to smartphones.
Each cloud infrastructure leader is carving out its own distinct path within the generative AI landscape. Microsoft has taken the lead by investing billions in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, while Google has directed substantial funds, totaling hundreds of millions, into the development of another generative AI platform, Anthropic. Both companies have primarily focused on creating AI tools for consumer use.
In contrast, AWS has charted a different course. It has refrained from major investments in external AI firms or consumer-oriented tools. Instead, AWS positions itself as a neutral platform, catering to businesses seeking to incorporate generative AI features. By avoiding exclusive partnerships, AWS presents itself as the Switzerland of the cloud giants, accommodating the diverse needs of its customers and offering access to multiple large language models.
In summary, Amazon Web Services is joining the race in generative AI, capitalizing on the growing interest in this groundbreaking technology. While competitors Google and Microsoft have honed in on the general public, AWS has set its sights on the corporate realm. With an expanded suite of AI tools and efficient custom-made chips, AWS aims to solidify its position as the go-to platform for businesses embracing generative AI. The race is on among the cloud giants, each forging its own unique path to harness the vast potential of generative AI.
In the midst of a whirlwind of game trailers and exciting announcements, Sony took a brief moment during its recent PlayStation Showcase livestream to reveal two new hardware products that left gamers buzzing with anticipation.
The standout announcement was undoubtedly Project Q, although the final name for this highly-anticipated device is still pending. Confirming long-standing rumors, Sony unveiled a new PlayStation handheld that promises to revolutionize gaming on the go.
Unlike its predecessors, Project Q will primarily focus on streaming capabilities. Sony plans to offer users the ability to stream any non-VR game from a local PlayStation 5 console using Remote Play over Wi-Fi. However, it's important to note that the handheld won't be capable of playing games on its own. Its true power lies in its streaming functionality.
Sony is no stranger to Remote Play, as the company has been offering this feature on other devices for some time now. By syncing a DualSense controller with their macOS, Windows, iOS, or Android device, players can already stream their favorite games over Wi-Fi or the Internet. However, streaming games over the Internet can come with latency challenges that impact the overall gaming experience.
As for the specifics of Project Q, the handheld boasts an impressive 8-inch HD screen, providing gamers with a vibrant and immersive display. In addition, it will feature ""all the buttons and features of the DualSense wireless controller,"" ensuring that players have a familiar and comfortable gaming experience in their hands.
In addition to Project Q, Sony also revealed plans to launch Bluetooth earbuds that resemble the popular AirPods. What sets these earbuds apart is their ability to simultaneously connect to a PlayStation console, a mobile device, as well as PCs. This versatility allows gamers to seamlessly switch between different platforms without the hassle of constantly pairing and unpairing their audio devices.
While Sony has not yet announced release dates or pricing for these new products, it's clear that these announcements serve as a statement of intent from the PlayStation brand. Gamers can look forward to a future where gaming becomes even more accessible, whether it's through the convenience of streaming on a handheld or the flexibility of audio connectivity.
In a clash that could rival the epic battles between superheroes and supervillains, Gannett, the heavyweight champion of U.S. newspaper publishers, has thrown down the gauntlet and filed a civil lawsuit against Google and its parent company Alphabet. The accusation? Unlawfully monopolizing the advertising technology tools that publishers and advertisers rely on to trade online ad space.
According to the lawsuit, Google exerts its power to dictate how publishers sell their coveted ad slots, strong-arming them into offering more space to Google at discounted rates. This allegedly leaves publishers with reduced revenue, while Google's ad-tech competitors are left counting their losses as Google's pockets grow heavier.
This legal maneuver by Gannett comes hot on the heels of the U.S. Justice Department and eight states taking a swing at Google in January with their own antitrust lawsuit. Their claim? Google has an iron grip on the entire online advertising ecosystem, sidelining any potential competition.
But the fight doesn't end there. The European Union (EU) has also stepped into the ring, launching its own investigation into Google's digital ad dominance last year. And just last week, EU regulators landed a fresh blow on Google, slapping it with more antitrust charges. Their knockout punch? To break up Google's digital ad business by forcing it to divest certain parts.
This escalating showdown between the EU and Silicon Valley's giants mirrors similar actions taken by U.S. authorities in their attempts to dismantle Google's alleged stranglehold on the online advertising realm.
Mike Reed, Gannett's CEO, took to the pages of USA Today, owned by Gannett, to rally support for the cause. In an opinion piece, he voiced the company's mission to "restore fair competition in a digital advertising marketplace that Google has demolished." Reed asserts that Google's bid-rigging practices have left local news outlets reeling.
But the gloves come off on Google's side, with Dan Taylor, the vice president of Google Ads, refuting Gannett's claims. Taylor insists that publishers have a plethora of options when it comes to monetizing their content through advertising technology. He argues that publishers retain the lion's share of revenue when utilizing Google's tools and extols the virtues of Google's advertising products.
Gannett's lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, aims for an undisclosed amount of damages and injunctive relief. With an eye on a jury trial, Gannett is ready to go toe-to-toe with Google in the legal arena.
In a case of real estate gone wild, the owners of a vacation rental in Glen Ellen were in for a nutty surprise when they discovered that acorn woodpeckers had transformed their property into a giant storage unit. Exterminator Nick Castro stumbled upon this astonishing sight while inspecting the home for mealworms in December, revealing a whopping 700 pounds of acorns tucked away within the home's chimney.
Castro, the owner of Nick's Extreme Pest Control in Santa Rosa, was left dumbfounded by the sheer scale of this unconventional hoarding endeavor. "I've never seen anything like that," he remarked. "The more acorns I pulled out from the wall, the more there were. It felt like it wasn't going to end."
The culprits behind this spectacle were a pair of acorn woodpeckers, renowned for their clownish faces and striking red caps. These big-eyed birds are notorious for squirreling away vast amounts of acorns, but their choice of storage location left the homeowners flabbergasted. The woodpeckers had pecked holes in the chimney stack and ingeniously concealed their treasure trove inside.
The previous owners of the house had taken measures to protect their abode after the woodpeckers wreaked havoc on its wood siding. They wrapped the structure in vinyl, hoping to deter further mischief. However, it appears that the determined birds were undeterred by this defensive barrier. Instead, they ingeniously dropped their precious oak nuts down the chimney stack, bypassing the vinyl blockade.
Castro and his crew embarked on a mission to liberate the rental property from this unconventional storage solution. With sheer determination and a dash of laughter, they managed to extract over 700 pounds of acorns from the chimney. "We could barely pick up the bags," Castro chuckled.
According to Castro's estimations, the woodpeckers had been amassing their stash for a period ranging from two to five years. Unfortunately, the accumulated stockpile had been rendered unusable due to the presence of fiberglass and rat droppings, so it was swiftly discarded.
Acorn woodpeckers are commonly found in oak and mixed oak-evergreen forests along the West Coast and in the Southwest. These resourceful birds usually drill small holes in dead trees during the fall, collecting acorns and storing them in the holes to sustain themselves throughout the winter. Some trees become multi-generational storage units, boasting up to 50,000 holes.
However, as Castro's peculiar discovery demonstrates, these birds sometimes exhibit unusual storage habits. Scott Jennings, an avian ecologist with Marin County nonprofit Audubon Canyon Ranch, suggests that this behavior could be attributed to the woodpeckers adapting to an ever-changing landscape. When their natural habitats are encroached upon by human infrastructure, these resilient birds find innovative ways to accommodate themselves.
"It's an anecdote I've heard a lot," Jennings commented.
In the end, the homeowners can rest assured that their vacation rental is now free from acorn-infested walls. The acorn woodpeckers have left behind an indelible mark, serving as a reminder that even the most seemingly ordinary creatures can surprise us with their resourcefulness and penchant for unconventional real estate ventures.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia shows no signs of abating in 2024, as both sides refuse to negotiate an end to the war, according to a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency assessment obtained by The Washington Post. The analysis suggests that even if Ukraine manages to recapture significant territory and inflict unsustainable losses on Russian forces, it would not lead to peace talks. The leaked document sheds light on the deep concerns within the U.S. national security establishment about the trajectory of the war. Critics of the war are calling on major powers like the United States and China to push for a settlement between Kyiv and Moscow. The assessment's findings could galvanize those efforts.
The assessment, based on detailed analysis of troop counts, weaponry, and equipment on both sides, highlights the potential for an ongoing costly conflict with limited territorial gains. The document suggests that a stalemate is the most likely scenario, where neither side achieves a decisive advantage. It predicts that Ukraine may face internal frustration and criticism due to the prolonged war, potentially leading to leadership changes. On the Russian side, Moscow is expected to integrate captured territories into Russia and rely on degraded reserves due to dwindling combat power.
While the leaked document provides valuable insights into the war's trajectory, caution is necessary due to the small sample size and the fluid nature of the conflict. The U.S. government continues to stand with Ukraine, providing support and equipment to bolster its position. However, the decision on when to negotiate ultimately rests with President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people.
The leaked assessment underscores the challenges of finding a resolution to the conflict, as the demands and positions of both Ukraine and Russia remain far apart. Despite international calls for negotiations, there is little progress, and both sides are preparing for escalated fighting in the coming months. The Biden administration remains skeptical about the value of peace negotiations and emphasizes Ukraine's right to fight to regain its territory. As the conflict continues, the humanitarian toll rises, displacing millions and causing immense loss of life.
The leaked document leak has sparked a significant reaction, with investigations underway and concerns raised about the broader implications for national security. While the assessment provides valuable information, its accuracy and nuanced analysis may evolve over time as the situation on the ground develops. Efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict remain elusive, and the war's impact continues to be deeply felt by the people of Ukraine and the international community.
Neurologists have made significant progress in utilizing deep brain stimulation to measure and predict chronic pain intensity. Published in Nature Neuroscience, the study identified distinct brainwave patterns that objectively differentiate chronic pain from acute pain.
Chronic pain poses a challenge for doctors due to its subjective nature, but by analyzing brain signals, neurologists successfully predicted pain levels. The research aims to develop personalized brain stimulation therapy, offering relief to the 51.6 million Americans suffering from chronic pain.
Statistics from JAMA Network Open reveal that chronic pain rates rival those of prevalent health conditions such as diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure. Understanding how the brain processes acute and chronic pain is crucial for improving treatment outcomes.
The study involved four individuals with uncontrollable long-term pain, including stroke survivors and a phantom limb syndrome patient. Deep brain stimulation, typically used for neurological conditions, was employed for chronic pain for the first time. Electrodes were implanted in pain-associated areas of the brain—the anterior cingulate cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex.
Participants reported pain severity and quality over three to six months and triggered the electrode implants to record brain activity. Using these recordings and survey responses, a computer generated pain severity scores, with the orbitofrontal cortex playing a significant role in developing personalized neural signatures.
Differences between chronic and acute pain emerged, with changes in the orbitofrontal cortex strongly associated with chronic pain and the anterior cingulate cortex more related to acute pain. This highlights that chronic pain involves distinct brain circuits, going beyond being a prolonged version of acute pain.
Understanding these neurological distinctions offers hope for developing targeted brain stimulation therapies for severe discomfort, particularly in cases resulting from strokes and traumatic brain injuries.
While the study's results are fascinating, caution is advised due to the small sample size. Researchers plan to expand the study in phase two with more patients to validate the approach further. Surgical brain implants come with inherent risks, necessitating careful consideration. However, a future vision includes small wearable devices that can track brainwaves, revolutionizing pain management.
Objective measures for pain assessment and treatment hold immense potential, as they address the subjectivity and unequal treatment of pain. This study's pursuit of such measures has the power to transform the field of pain management.
In a surprising move, the NCAA's Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports has proposed halting cannabis testing at championship events. This potential change marks a significant departure from the organization's long-standing practice of conducting drug tests since 1986. The committee's recommendation is currently under review, with a final decision expected this fall.
The proposal comes as the United States is witnessing a growing number of states legalizing medical or recreational marijuana use. Recognizing this shifting landscape, the committee believes it is time to reevaluate the role of cannabis testing in collegiate sports.
Earlier this year, the committee already made some adjustments to its policies. It increased the threshold for a positive THC test, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, from 35 to 150 nanograms per milliliter. This change aligns with the standards set by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Importantly, the committee emphasized that marijuana and its derivatives are not considered performance-enhancing substances.
Instead of focusing solely on penalties, the committee suggests adopting a more comprehensive approach. It encourages schools to view positive cannabis test results as an opportunity to identify and address potential issues related to problematic cannabis use. Additionally, the committee intends to provide schools with further guidelines on managing cannabis-related matters.
In a separate proposal, the committee also aims to set a trace level for the hormone GW1516 at 0.1 nanograms per milliliter. This threshold is designed to prevent athletes from inadvertently ingesting the substance through contaminated supplements. GW1516, initially developed for diabetes treatment but discontinued in 2007, has been associated with positive doping tests in endurance-related sports.
Before these proposed changes can take effect, the legislation must be introduced and approved by all three NCAA divisions. Administrators in Divisions II and III had already requested a thorough examination of the issue, leading to the current review process.
As the NCAA explores potential adjustments to its cannabis testing policies, athletes and stakeholders across the country are closely watching the outcome. With more states embracing marijuana legalization, the organization faces the challenge of striking the right balance between upholding competitive integrity and acknowledging evolving societal norms.