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Thinking Slowly: The Paradoxical Slowness of Human Behavior
Caltech researchers have quantified the speed of human thought: a rate of 10 bits per second. However, our bodies’ sensory systems gather data about our environments at a rate of a trillion bits per second, which is 100 million times faster than our thought processes. This new study raises major new avenues of exploration for […]
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New Study Demonstrates How Autonomic Neurons Control Digestive Functions
The autonomic nervous system orchestrates the functions of internal organs such as the heart and gut, serving as a connection between the brain and the rest of the body. It is classified in two divisions—the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, often described as the body’s accelerator and brake, respectively. For example, the sympathetic nervous system activates […]
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Chen Institute Launches AI Talent Initiative to Find Global Leaders in “AI for Science”
The Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute has unveiled its AI Talent Initiative, an ambitious program aimed at finding and fostering future leaders in AI-driven scientific research. This initiative offers a unique platform for aspiring talent to push the boundaries of research, collaborating with some of the world’s top scientists to advance the deep integration of […]
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Will AI Help Solve the Global Mental Health Crisis?
Summary The global mental health crisis leaves over two-thirds of affected individuals untreated. AI technologies are emerging as transformative tools in addressing this issue. At Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, AI analyzes linguistic patterns to identify suicidality with 90% accuracy and detect anxiety months earlier than traditional methods. Dr. Frederike Petzschner of Brown University highlights AI’s potential […]
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Inaugural Chen Scholars Retreat
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Decoding the Hidden Signals of Aggression and Arousal in the Brain
Credit: AI-generated image courtesy of Aditya Nair A series of three papers from neuroscientist David J. Anderson’s laboratory, two in the journal Nature and one in the journal Cell, reveal new insights into the neural signals underlying internal emotional states including aggression and sexual arousal. The studies show that the state of aggression in male […]
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The Tianqiao & Chrissy Chen Institute’s OMNE Framework for Long-term AI Memory Claims Top Spot on GAIA Leaderboard
Redwood City, October 23, 2024. Drawing on their deep knowledge of the brain and memory, the Tianqiao & Chrissy Chen Institute’s internal AI team achieved a major breakthrough in artificial intelligence, with their self-developed OMNE Multiagent Framework which took the top position on the GAIA (General AI Assistants) benchmark leaderboard (https://huggingface.co/spaces/gaia-benchmark/leaderboard), published by Hugging Face. […]
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BBE Researchers Receive NIH Award for Transformative Research
An interdisciplinary team of Caltech researchers has received an NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award from the National Institutes of Health’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program. The grant is part of the NIH Common Fund, which supports high-impact programs across NIH institutes and centers. The Transformative Research Award, established in 2009, promotes cross-cutting, interdisciplinary approaches and is […]
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To Turbo-Charge Scientific Discovery, Researchers Are Turning to AI
Summary AI is revolutionizing scientific discovery, enabling breakthroughs that would have taken decades to achieve. Researchers are now using AI to tackle complex problems like protein engineering, material synthesis, and understanding brain function. For example, AI-powered tools have been crucial in developing next-generation vaccines and exploring neural mechanisms in both artificial and biological systems. The […]
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Joe Parker Named MacArthur Fellow
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has selected Joe Parker, assistant professor of biology and biological engineering, Chen Scholar, and director of Caltech’s Center for Evolutionary Science, as a 2024 MacArthur Fellow. The MacArthur Fellowship is an $800,000, “no strings attached” grant awarded to individuals in a variety of fields who have shown […]