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If youve ever wondered what a dinosaur might have actually sounded like, now theres a way to find out. It comes in the form of the Dinosaur Choir, a musical instrument created by artists Courtney Brown and Cezary Gajewski. The instrument, which takes the form of an accurate, life-sized dinosaur skull, allows human musicians to recreate possible dinosaur vocalizations by blowing into a mouthpiece. Its set to debut this weekend at the 27th Guthman Competition, a global contest to select the years most innovative new instrument of the future. The 10 semi-finalists hail from seven different countries, proposing prototypes that include everything from a customizable trumpet to a kind of guitar-harp combo and a flute-esque instrument called the Udderbot. Each of the contenders presents new musical possibilities, whether through the form of the instrument, the sound it produces, the user input, or some combination of the three. The Dinosaur Choir takes an extensive body of research into the anatomy of the adult Corythosaurus dinosaur and converts it into a playable, interactive experienceletting the musician actually embody the extinct creature itself. [Image: courtesy Guthman Musical Instrument Competition] Building an accurate dinosaur skull To begin mapping out the structure of the Dinosaur Choir, Brown and Gajewski first partnered up with paleontologist Thomas Dudgeon at the Royal Ontario Museum/University of Toronto, who provided them with a CT scan of a fossilized Corythosaurus skull. The scan allowed them to create an initial model of the dinosaurs skull and nasal passage structure. Then, using this 3D skull, Dudgeon and Brown carried out a process called retrodeformation. This is essentially a kind of restoration, performed using existing diagrams and scientific papers for reference, to resolve any damage to the structure caused by prolonged burial. After a skull is buried underneath the ground for millions of years, parts of it crush or bend, Brown explains. We use 3D modeling to restore the fossil so that it is closer to its original form. With the retrodeformation step complete, the Corythosaurus skull replica (including internal nasal passages) was ready to be 3D printed. Next, Brown set out to encode the dinosaurs actual vocalizations. Researchers in biology and human anatomy have created computational models of the mechanics of the voice: human, bird, and alligator, Brown says. These are sets of mathematical equations that describe the air pressure change (ie, sound) that result from the biological and physical processes of the vocal folds. [. . .] I take these equations and put them into computer code to create sound in real-time. Brown started by recreating bird vocal models based on existing models of the syrinx, or the avian vocal box. Then, she says, because the sound is created by simulating the physical anatomy with math, she was able to modify the model to fit with estimated dinosaur anatomy. We may never know exactly how dinosaurs sounded Despite all of these steps, theres still an inevitable uncertainty as to the accuracy of the final sounds. No non-avian dinosaur vocal organs have yet been found, Brown says, as the vocal organs tend to be made of soft tissue such as cartilage, and therefore are much less likely to fossilize or preserve. Additionally, vocalization is a behavior, Brown adds. An animal can potentially make more sounds using their anatomy than they actually producethis is true on an individual level but also on a species level. This behavior is very difficultperhaps impossibleto detect via the fossil record. What traces would the sounds leave behind? To account for this variability, Brown made two different vocal models for the Dinosaur Choir: one based on a dove syrinx and one based on a raven syrinx. Currently, she notes, shes also working on a third model based on an alligator larynx, as it is not settled science whether most dinosaurs had vocal organs closer to alligators or birds. The Dinosaur Choir is controlled by a camera and microphone, which detect the users mouth shape and breath, respectively. By manipulating these inputs, the musician can essentially play the Corythosauruss theorized vocal cords across a range of pitches and volumes, from a high, bright call to a low, almost mournful groan. Ultimately, we may never know exactly how our extinct predecessors sounded when they walked the Earthbut with the Dinosaur Choir, we can get pretty damn close.
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E-Commerce
Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology just invented a building material that could make construction projects stronger and more sustainableand it’s based on the skeleton of an invertebrate that lives at the bottom of the ocean. The material, recently presented in the journal Composite Structures, was developed by RMIT University engineers. Its inspired by the skeleton of the deep-sea sponge, whose lattice-like internal structures, which have been optimized over millions of years in the ocean, allow it to thrive thousands of feet underwater. The materials unique structural properties make it simultaneously lightweight, strong, and extra resilient under pressure, meaning that it could eventually help make buildings sturdier with less steel and concrete. How are steel and concrete damaging the environment? For years, engineers have been researching new ways to cut down on steel and concrete in construction. Thats because both materials are produced at a massive scale, with equally massive impacts on the environment. As of 2023, annual global production of concrete was around a whopping 30 billion tons, and the production of cementone of concretes key ingredientswas responsible for between 5% and 10% of global CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, the steelmaking industry churns out about 2 billion tons of the metal per year, accounting for around 7% of greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists have explored a wide range of alternatives to traditional steel and concrete, including a steel alternative made out of plastic and a form of concrete stabilized by recycled diapers. Biomimicry as a basis for design The RMIT teams sponge-inspired material could help reduce steel and concrete use in construction because of something called auxetic behavior. The word “auxetic” is a structural descriptor which means that, instead of becoming thinner when stretched and thicker when compressed, the material actually becomes thicker when stretched and thinner when compressed. A honeycomb, for example, is typically auxetic, as are biological materials like cat tongues and human muscle tendons. In the manufacturing world, auxetic materials are often used on the bottom of running shoes, allowing the footwear to expand while walking or running. Auxetic patterns are desirable in construction because they can absorb force and maintain their strength under intense pressure, just like the deep-sea sponge. Existing man-made auxetic materials typically use a honeycomb pattern, but RMIT’s new material uses a double lattice design supported by diagonal beams. Based on the teams testing, the innovative structure makes the material 13 times stiffer than other fabricated auxetics. For this reason, the new pattern could be used in construction to enable “thinner load-bearing walls and slimmer columns without compromising structural integrity,” according to Jiaming Ma, the lead author on the new study. That would cut down on the amount of steel and concrete necessary to achieve a sturdy result. The material is still in the testing phase, so it’s too early to predict what wide-scale commercial use might look like. Still, Ma believes it could eventually have applications across a wide range of industries, from creating earthquake-resistant buildings to improving vascular stents and strengthening protective sports gear.
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E-Commerce
AI is poised to reshape businesses, but too many executives are oversimplifying its potential, focusing on automation rather than collaboration. As someone whos spent my career studying the future of work, Im excited about AIs breakthrough potentialbut cautious of the narratives being rushed into the spotlight. Recently, I reviewed Anthropics study, Which Economic Tasks Are Performed with AI? Evidence from Millions of Claude Conversations, and found that AIs real impact isnt as clear-cut as many believe. While AI is transforming business, leaders are overlooking key realities about AIs impact and its real-world applications. Heres what many are still getting wrong. 1. AI Is More About Augmentation Than Automation According to Anthropics findings, AI isnt neatly fitting the narrative of the ultimate automation engine. The data consistently suggests a more balanced story of augmentation (57%) versus automation (43%). Yet, in research we conducted early last year, we found that 58% of global leaders viewed AI as mainly an automation toolone that can reduce headcount and cut costswhile only 42% saw it as a way to amplify or augment human capabilities. This outlook ignores a crucial insight: AI often shines brightest when its working with people, not replacing them. In fact, the Anthropic study found that almost a quarter (23.3%) of tasks in these AI interactions are learning or knowledge acquisition tasksmeaning humans are leveraging AI to gather insights, sharpen strategies, and make more informed decisions. 2. AIs Managerial Role Is Limited This bias toward automation is also manifesting in how the C-suite envisions AIs managerial potential. The assumption is that AI can instantly step in to coordinate projects, supervise teams, or even make high-level decisions. However, the Anthropic data suggests that managerial capabilities show only minimal presence of AI usagean important reminder of the practical limitations of current-generation AI tools. Effective management isnt just a matter of oversight and efficiency. Its about empathy, nuanced communication, and the capacity to inspire and guide people through complex organizational challenges. Todays AI can sift data, generate written recommendations, and even assist with performance evaluations, but it cant replicate the inherently human aspects of leadership that spark motivation and maintain trust. In other words, while AI can help managers be better managerssay, by flagging important trends or offering real-time feedback mechanismsit isnt replacing them anytime soon. 3. AIs Impact on Work Is About Tasks, Not Titles Far too many executives assess AIs influence as though its a straightforward, one-to-one replacement for entire roles when in reality, AI is infiltrating our workflows at the task level. This is why some leaders are underestimating how AI redefines the contents of a job, since a position is essentially a bundle of taskssome routine, some creative. Unpacking roles to isolate the tasks most ripe for AI support is critical. A startling statistic from the Anthropic report: 36% of occupations show AI usage in at least 25% of their tasks, and in many cases, these tasks involve demanding cognitive skills, like critical thinking and systems analysis. AI is also used for active listening, reading comprehension, and writing support, but it hasnt taken over the full scope of any single job as we might traditionally define it. Leaders who fail to disaggregate tasks from titles risk missing AIs real value propositionand short-changing both their organization and their people. 4. AI Adoption Rates Arent As High As Hype Suggests The hype suggests that nearly every industry is barreling toward AI ubiquity, with previous research forecasting 80% or more of roles quickly incorporating AI into at least 10% of their tasks. Yet, Anthropics real-world conversation data pegs that figure at 57%, not 80%. Thats a gap leaders need to take seriously. Its not that AIs transformative potential is in doubt, but rather that organizational readinessand the barriers to entry for these technologiesare more formidable than many realize. From regulatory constraints to outdated IT infrastructures to insufficient training, theres a lot that can stall AIs momentum once you move beyond the pilot stage. As I often remind business leaders, a successful AI deployment requires more than the technology itself; it needs culture change, skill-building, and a strategic plan that engages employees at all levels. 5. We Need Greater AI Literacy at All Levels The Anthropic study suggests that AI usage is not as high among those with extensive specialized training, which might seem counterintuitive. Why wouldnt advanced degree holders be at the forefront? Often, theyre operating in fields with strict regulations or complex intellectual frameworks that AI isnt yet equipped to navigate without significant human oversight. As we prepare the next generation of degree holders for an AI-infused workplace, we must teach them how to effectively integrate these tools into their expertise, not just how to code or prompt an AI system. Being AI-literate means understanding both its limitations and possibilitiesrecognizing when its a smart collaborator and when its an inadequate stand-in for deeper human judgment. Shifting Mindsets from ‘AI Versus People’ to ‘AI with People’ If theres a single takeaway for the C-suite, its this: Dont be so quick to believe your organizations future is solely about replacing humans with AI. Instead, focus on how human ingenuity can be amplified. Embrace the reality that AIs revolution is happening at the granular task level, not the job title level. And remember that the best managers will always be the ones capable of empathy, strategic vision, and nuanced communicationtraits AI, for now, can only tangentially support. Shifting from a mindset of AI versus people to AI with people is not just a semantic difference; its the key to unlocking AIs full potential for sustainable growth and innovation in the modern enterprise. If the past few decades taught us anything, its that technology alone doesnt define success; its how we adapt that sets us apart. And thats a distinctly human endeavor.
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E-Commerce
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