Latest news with #UniversityofAmsterdam
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Terrifying new Earth-sized planet found with deadly secret that would instantly kill anyone visiting
A NEW Earth-sized planet has been discovered in a faraway constellation - and it would kill any astronaut who dare travel there. Some 117.4 light-years away from Earth, scientists have stumbled across a nightmarish alien world where the planet's surface is likely molten. 5 The surface of molten exoplanet Credit: Alamy 5 An artist's impression of a molten exoplanet Credit: Alamy The planet, dubbed TOI-2431, orbits quite close to its nearest star over a very short period, resulting in a high surface temperature. Unlike Earth, which has an orbital period of 365 days, TOI-2431 orbits its star in only 5.4 hours - making it one of the shortest period exoplanets ever discovered. The alien world, located in constellation Cetus, is thought to have a surface temperature of about 1,700C (3092F). Anything that lands there would be immediately incinerated. READ MORE ON SPACE The international team of astronomers, led by Kaya Han Taş of the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, detected the new exoplanet orbiting a nearby star using Nasa's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). 5 Nasa's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Credit: Nasa "We have confirmed the ultra-short period planet TOI-2431 b using a combination of photometric transit data from TESS, precise radial velocity observations with the NEID and HPF spectrographs, and ground-based speckle imaging with the NESSI instrument," researchers wrote in the new The Nasa tool monitors about 200,000 bright stars near Earth, scanning for hidden planets that might cause any blips of light as they pass their star. Just last week, researchers revealed they used TESS to follow a Most read in Science Since its launch in April 2018, the satellite has identified more than 7,600 possible exoplanets - which are nicknamed TESS Objects of Interest, or TOI. Exactly 638 of these have been confirmed as alien worlds so far. Best-ever sign of ALIEN life found on distant planet as scientists '99.7% sure of astounding biological activity signal' The planet's host star is only about two-thirds the size and mass of our Sun, and appears to be pulling the planet towards a fiery death. Researchers estimated that the planet has a tidal decay timescale of about 31 million years - which is fairly short in the grand schemes of the universe. Tidal decay causes a planet's orbit to gradually shrink and spiral towards its host star - eventually leading to its destruction. The 2billion-year-old host star, which researchers believe is roughly double the temperature of its nearby planet, will eventually collide with the planet. Researchers hope they can secure time with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to study TOI-2431 b more closely. Doing so could shed more light on the planet's surface composition, and may answer the question of whether or not it has an atmosphere. The $10 billion telescope 5 The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Credit: Alamy 5 An artist's impression of a molten exoplanet Credit: Alamy All you need to know about planets in our solar system Our solar system is made up of nine planets with Earth the third closest to the Sun. But each planet has its own quirks, so find out more about them all... How old is How many moons does What colour is How far away is How big is How many moons does Does How many moons does How big is How hot is the
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Terrifying new Earth-sized planet found with deadly secret that would instantly kill anyone visiting
Anything that lands there would be immediately incinerated NIGHTMARE WORLD Terrifying new Earth-sized planet found with deadly secret that would instantly kill anyone visiting A NEW Earth-sized planet has been discovered in a faraway constellation - and it would kill any astronaut who dare travel there. Some 117.4 light-years away from Earth, scientists have stumbled across a nightmarish alien world where the planet's surface is likely molten. 5 The surface of molten exoplanet Credit: Alamy 5 An artist's impression of a molten exoplanet Credit: Alamy The planet, dubbed TOI-2431, orbits quite close to its nearest star over a very short period, resulting in a high surface temperature. Unlike Earth, which has an orbital period of 365 days, TOI-2431 orbits its star in only 5.4 hours - making it one of the shortest period exoplanets ever discovered. The alien world, located in constellation Cetus, is thought to have a surface temperature of about 1,700C (3092F). Anything that lands there would be immediately incinerated. The international team of astronomers, led by Kaya Han Taş of the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, detected the new exoplanet orbiting a nearby star using Nasa's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). 5 Nasa's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Credit: Nasa "We have confirmed the ultra-short period planet TOI-2431 b using a combination of photometric transit data from TESS, precise radial velocity observations with the NEID and HPF spectrographs, and ground-based speckle imaging with the NESSI instrument," researchers wrote in the new research paper. The Nasa tool monitors about 200,000 bright stars near Earth, scanning for hidden planets that might cause any blips of light as they pass their star. Just last week, researchers revealed they used TESS to follow a repetitive flicker of starlight to a new 'Super Earth' 154 light-years away. Since its launch in April 2018, the satellite has identified more than 7,600 possible exoplanets - which are nicknamed TESS Objects of Interest, or TOI. Exactly 638 of these have been confirmed as alien worlds so far. Best-ever sign of ALIEN life found on distant planet as scientists '99.7% sure of astounding biological activity signal' The planet's host star is only about two-thirds the size and mass of our Sun, and appears to be pulling the planet towards a fiery death. Researchers estimated that the planet has a tidal decay timescale of about 31 million years - which is fairly short in the grand schemes of the universe. Tidal decay causes a planet's orbit to gradually shrink and spiral towards its host star - eventually leading to its destruction. The 2billion-year-old host star, which researchers believe is roughly double the temperature of its nearby planet, will eventually collide with the planet. Researchers hope they can secure time with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to study TOI-2431 b more closely. Doing so could shed more light on the planet's surface composition, and may answer the question of whether or not it has an atmosphere. The $10 billion telescope discovered its first-ever exoplanet just last month, but has been used to analyse others on its journey through space. 5 The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Credit: Alamy 5 An artist's impression of a molten exoplanet Credit: Alamy All you need to know about planets in our solar system Our solar system is made up of nine planets with Earth the third closest to the Sun. But each planet has its own quirks, so find out more about them all... How old is Earth? Plus other facts on our planet How many moons does Mercury have? What colour is Venus? How far away is Mars to Earth? And other facts on the red planet How big is Jupiter? How many moons does Saturn have? Does Uranus have rings? How many moons does Neptune have? How big is Pluto? How hot is the Sun?
News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Netherlands Princess, Who Wrote Thesis On AI, Didn't Get Her Degree; Here's Why
Last Updated: Princess Catharina-Amalia studied Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE) at the University of Amsterdam. The Netherlands King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima recently toasted the graduation of their daughter Princess Catharina-Amalia. While the family attended her convocation ceremony on July 14, the Princess is yet to get her degree. Princess Catharina-Amalia's Convocation Ceremony The 21-year-old royal's graduation event was attended by her parents, paternal grandmother, Princess Beatrix, and younger sisters, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane. The official Instagram account of the Royal House of the Netherlands shared a couple of pictures from the event — one of which featured Catharina-Amalia holding a document and another had all the royal members. What caught the attention of social media users is the content of the document. Donning a graduation cap, the Princess held a certificate of attendance and not completion of degree. What Did Princess Catharina-Amalia Study? Catharina-Amalia began her programme in 2022 and studied Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE) at the University of Amsterdam. The topic of her thesis was – 'Beyond Disclosure: Bridging the Gap Between the Artificial Intelligence Act and the Charter of Fundamental Rights with Deepfaked Bodies'. As part of the research, she examined the tension between AI legislation and European fundamental rights. But Why No Degree? The University of Amsterdam explained that Princess Catharina-Amalia still has one course left to complete. 'Due to a broken arm, she still has one course left to complete, but the diploma will follow soon," it mentioned. The 21-year-old has been granted a deferment and therefore, will receive her bachelor's degree at a later date. The post went on to add that the Princess will start a Law degree at the university next year and join the Defensity College. Born on December 7, 2003 in The Hague, Catharina‑Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria is the eldest daughter of King Willem‑Alexander and Queen Maxima. Since her father's accession in April 2013, she has held the title Princess of Orange, given to the heir apparent. After attending public schools in Wassenaar and at Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet in The Hague, she graduated in 2021 with distinction followed by her enrolment at the University of Amsterdam. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
6 days ago
- Science
- Mint
AI can write and code, but struggles with skills your brain uses every day without thinking
Every week it feels like ChatGPT and its AI cousins are getting smarter, whether it's perfecting poetry, solving maths puzzles, or writing code in a blink. But here's something you can actually gloat about at your next family dinner: humans still have a natural edge at a vital task that befuddles even the cleverest AI. It's that uncanny knack your brain has to size up the world around you and know what to do in an instant Imagine standing in front of a winding river, a busy street, or a mountain path. Instead of calculating and overthinking, your brain quickly figures out whether you should walk, cycle, swim, or just turn around and pick another route. You don't sweat over it, you simply know. Whether it's scoping out if you can leap across puddles or climb that fence, this instant 'scene sense' happens so quickly that you barely notice the process. Scientists at the University of Amsterdam recently decided to put this human advantage to the test. They invited participants to lie in MRI scanners and look at snapshots of ordinary places, from woodland trails to city intersections. Each person had to choose, by pressing a button, what sort of movement felt possible - could you walk, swim, bike, or did it seem impossible? As they did this, their brains lit up in ways that revealed not just recognition of objects or colours, but a split-second assessment of possible actions. Now, here's the twist. The same challenge was handed to leading AI models, including image-recognition systems and ChatGPT itself. Despite their powerful algorithms and rapid learning, the AI struggled when it came to matching the reflexive action planning we humans do with ease. Even when specifically trained to focus on actions, these models fell short, overlooking obvious cues or failing to link objects with potential movement. So why does this matter, especially as AI becomes more common in robotics, self-driving cars, and smart assistants? For machines to be genuinely helpful in real-world scenarios, they'll need to develop the same kind of intuitive navigation our brains have mastered. Recognising a river or a road is one thing, but figuring out, instantly, what you can actually do there is far more complex. That's where humans win, without even trying. So, next time you size up a flight of stairs and just know whether you can sprint up or need to take it slow, take a moment to appreciate your brain's silent brilliance. AI might be catching up in many arenas, but when it comes to navigating real life's twists and turns, humans are still leagues ahead. Until the bots figure it out, you can claim victory in the one race that matters most - the real world.
Tom's Guide
16-07-2025
- Science
- Tom's Guide
Study reveals ChatGPT and other AI systems lag behind humans in one essential skill — and it's entirely unique
ChatGPT seems to be outpacing us at every turn. The AI chatbot is a better poet, mathematician, and coder than we are. But don't worry, researchers at the University of Amsterdam have identified a point where AI lags behind humans and it's all to do with a simple concept our brains grapple with on a daily basis. When you see a mountain path, a busy road or meandering river, your brain can instantly determine how to navigate it, whether that be by walking, swimming, cycling or even arriving at the conclusion it's not possible to pass. This decision-making process is possible because of unique brain patterns. Normally, AI is pretty good at replicating human decision-making, but not in this case. "AI models turned out to be less good at this and still have a lot to learn from the efficient human brain," said Iris Groen, a computational neuroscientist who led the study. The team utilised MRI scanners to try to understand what happens in the brain in these navigational situations. Brain scans were taken while participants looked at various photos of both indoor and outdoor environments. Each participant was told to use a button, indicating if the image invited them to walk, cycle, drive, swim, boat, or climb. While they were set this task, their brains were analysed. 'We wanted to know: when you look at a scene, do you mainly see what is there, such as objects or colours, or do you also automatically see what you can do with it,' says Groen. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The answer, they found, was both. Participants' brain activity showed that they recognised both what was in the image and how to interact with it. 'Even if you do not consciously think about what you can do in an environment, your brain still registers it,' says Groen. The team of scientists wanted to see how well AI algorithms compared to the human brain in this test. They used image recognition models and GPT-4. In the tests, they were worse at predicting possible actions. "When trained specifically for action recognition, they could somewhat approximate human judgments, but the human brain patterns didn't match the models' internal calculations," says Groen. ChatGPT doesn't have to cross rivers or navigate busy streets. However, as AI becomes more and more prevalent, these kinds of problems will arise more. This didn't just occur with standard AI models without training. Even leading AI models didn't give exactly the same answers as humans, despite the task being so normal for us. But why does any of this matter? ChatGPT doesn't have to cross rivers or navigate busy streets. However, as AI becomes more and more prevalent, these kind of problems will arise more. AI chatbots are rolling out live video and audio discussions, and AI is finding its way into other areas like self-driving cars, robotics, and healthcare. As the technology gets more advanced, we are discovering areas where AI struggles to think in a human capacity. In other words, it struggles to interact with a world in the way it has been designed. ChatGPT and its competitors will likely quickly work out how to navigate environments. But in the meantime, feel some pride in the fact that you are smarter than an all-knowing chatbot when it comes to navigating across a rocky hill. As the technology gets more advanced, we are discovering areas where AI struggles to think in a human capacity. In other words, it struggles to interact with a world in the way it has been designed. ChatGPT and its competitors will likely quickly work out how to navigate environments. But in the meantime, feel some pride in the fact that you are smarter than an all-knowing chatbot when it comes to navigating across a rocky hill.
