A teenager in Canada is critically ill due to a mutated H5N1 avian influenza virus, which raises concerns about its capacity to infect humans more effectively. According to immunologist Scott Hensley, while there is cause for vigilance, it is not a moment for panic. The potential ability of this virus to adapt and jump from birds to humans has researchers worried, especially given its alignment with strains observed in US livestock.
Academics are expressing frustration over the limited access to computing resources essential for artificial intelligence research, particularly the high costs of GPUs. Stella Biderman from EleutherAI stated, 'The gap between academic and industry models is huge,' underscoring how prohibitive expenses can stifle innovation and the development of large language models by researchers who lack industry-level funding.
Many researchers are migrating from Twitter to the platform Bluesky as they seek a more constructive social media experience. Bioacoustics researcher Daryll Carlson mentioned, 'I'd really like it to continue to be a place of joy for me,' pointing to the need for healthier engagements among scientists. However, there are concerns regarding the diminishing presence of experts on established platforms, which could impact science communication.
Despite an uptick in various negative elements on Twitter/X, such as spam and abusive content, some believe the platform still holds value for scientific discourse. Tuberculosis researcher Madhukar Pai questioned, 'If good experts quit X, who will offer evidence-based input on X?' underscoring the challenge of maintaining credible scientific dialogue amidst a potential exodus of knowledgeable users.
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