Sign in

gihanperera.bsky.social

@gihanperera.bsky.social
32 followers 2 following 1.6K posts
PostsRepliesMedia
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 22h
Researchers in Japan have developed AI, modelled on the fruit fly's efficient smell-processing brain, that can recognise new odours from just a handful of examples. This could help with detecting explosives, allergens, drugs, or food safety issues in real-world field settings. #betterworld
thebrighterside.news
Fruit fly-inspired AI learns smells quickly with far less memory
A fruit fly-inspired artificial nose learns new odors from few examples while resisting catastrophic forgetting.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
Researchers in the USA have developed cement roof and wall tiles inspired by elephant skin, keeping surface temperatures up to 20°C cooler than conventional tiles – to reduce air conditioning demand in cities facing increasingly extreme heat. #betterworld
thebrighterside.news
Elephant-skin tiles could help buildings stay cool without air conditioning
Researchers created elephant-inspired cement tiles that trap water and cool buildings through slow evaporation.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
A US research trial found that giving low-income mothers around $4,000 extra per year measurably slowed the biological ageing of their children, with differences detectable in DNA samples taken at age four, compared with children whose families received only $20 a month. #betterworld
sciencealert.com
Scientists Gave Cash to Low-Income Moms, And It Altered Their Babies' Aging
We usually think of aging as something that catches up with us later in life.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Researchers at Edith Cowan University found that the iron ore deposits beneath the state's red dirt could be a vast source of naturally occurring hydrogen gas – with the potential to supply clean energy for generations and position Australia as a major clean energy exporter. #betterworld
sciencealert.com
Researchers Discover a Green Hydrogen 'Goldmine' Beneath Australia's Red Dirt
The search is on for natural sources of hydrogen that could potentially fast-track humanity to a low-carbon energy future.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Researchers in Finland have built an ultra-sensitive sensor that can detect almost tiny amounts of energy, a breakthrough that could open new doors in the hunt for dark matter, improve the accuracy of quantum computers, and advance research in astrophysics and cosmology. #betterworld
connectsci.au
New method detects miniscule amounts of energy
An ultra-sensitive sensor has detected an electromagnetic pulse of only 0.83 zeptojoules. This is less than a trillionth of a billionth of a joule or about enough energy to move a red blood cell a…
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Researchers in Canada have confirmed that mRNA vaccines are safe and effective – with serious side effects rare and consistently outweighed by protection against severe disease, hospitalisation, and death. Take that, anti-vaxxers. #betterworld
gavi.org
mRNA vaccines safe and effective, confirms Lancet review
Drawing together evidence from laboratory research, clinical trials and real-world studies, the review also highlights the technology’s potential beyond COVID-19.
031 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
When should you swap your petrol car for an EV?
connectsci.au
When should you swap your petrol car for an EV?
Is it more sustainable to run your petrol-powered car into the ground before switching to a new electric vehicle (EV) or should drivers make the change to an EV as soon as possible?These are the…
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Foreign Influence. How the Israel lobby bought Australian democracy - Michael West
michaelwest.com.au
Foreign Influence. How the Israel lobby bought Australian democracy - Michael West
No other lobby in Australia holds such power. Andrew Brown explains how the Israel Lobby bought Australian democracy
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Researchers have found the experimental drug bepirovirsen offers a "functional cure" for chronic hepatitis B in around one in five trial participants – which could transform the outlook for more than 250 million people worldwide. #betterworld
sciencealert.com
New Drug Offers 'Functional Cure' For Dangerous Liver Virus
WASHINGTON (AP) – A first-of-its-kind drug for hepatitis B is letting some patients stop treatment without showing signs of the dangerous liver virus, what's called a "functional cure," researchers reported Thursday.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
‘A maelstrom of his own making’: how Ed Sheeran’s tour turned into a full-blown culture war
theguardian.com
‘A maelstrom of his own making’: how Ed Sheeran’s tour turned into a full-blown culture war
Moment of reckoning for ‘Mr Nice Guy’ of music, who embraced Macklemore’s political cred only for pro-Palestine rapper to be dropped under pressure from billionaire
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Big Bash privatisation: Inside how Melbourne Renegades will be sold
cricinfo.com
Big Bash privatisation: Inside how Melbourne Renegades will be sold
After approval from the CA board earlier, Renegades will start their sales process this week with a model other teams will follow when, or if, they take that route
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Scientists in Germany and China have discovered a biological switch in the body that controls how much new bone is built, and found a compound that can turn it on. This approach could potentially reverse osteoporosis, offering new hope for millions of people worldwide. #betterworld
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Banks warn AI shopping bots raise scam, fraud and data-privacy risks - AOL
aol.com
Banks warn AI shopping bots raise scam, fraud and data-privacy risks - AOL
By Elizabeth Howcroft PARIS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Using AI agents for online shopping could increase the risk of scams, fraud and data-privacy breaches, banks including NatWest and Bank of America said
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Google launches Project Suncatcher, a step towards AI data centers in space
npr.org
Google launches Project Suncatcher, a step towards AI data centers in space
The fridge-size satellite with AI chips on board is part of Project Suncatcher, the company's moonshot effort to put AI data centers in space and harness solar energy.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
A 40-year global satellite analysis has found that mangrove loss has slowed dramatically in the past decade, with forests regenerating and expanding to the point where the net global decline since the 1980s is now less than 1%. #betterworld
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
China’s AI Companion Rules Target Emotional Attachment
theneuron.ai
China’s AI Companion Rules Target Emotional Attachment
China’s AI companion rules address emotional dependence and protect minors, while monitoring requirements raise privacy concerns.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
China has cracked down on AI relationships. Is it ahead of the game?
bbc.com
China has cracked down on AI relationships. Is it ahead of the game?
Beijing has cracked down on AI chatbots that can replicate human relationships. Experts are asking if this is the right thing to do.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have built a soft robotic model of the heart. This could speed up the development of cardiac devices, reduce the need for animal testing, and let doctors test treatments on a personalised model of a patient's own heart before surgery. #betterworld
connectsci.au
Soft, robotic artificial heart reproduces mechanics of disease
A robot designed to reproduce the complex movements and internal structures of the left side of the human heart could help improve our understanding of heart conditions.The new technology may also…
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
AI existential risk probabilities are (still) too unreliable to inform policy
normaltech.ai
AI existential risk probabilities are (still) too unreliable to inform policy
How speculation gets laundered through pseudo-quantification
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Researchers at the University of Queensland have used AI to build pressure maps of the sole of the foot using only a few measurement points – a breakthrough that could eventually enable simple, low-cost insoles to monitor foot health without expensive clinical equipment. #betterworld
connectsci.au
Could AI give foot-health monitoring technologies a step up?
Researchers in Australia have created a deep learning model which generates accurate, high-resolution pressure maps of the bottom of the foot and only requires minimal anatomical data.It could be…
013 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The vanishing advantage of specialization | Brookings
brookings.edu
The vanishing advantage of specialization | Brookings
AI is lowering the cost of specialized knowledge—pushing more work in-house and leaving outside specialists with only the hardest, rarest problems.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Your photos, your words and your work: will Labor make it easier for AI companies to take them for free? | Holly Rankin
theguardian.com
Your photos, your words and your work: will Labor make it easier for AI companies to take them for free? | Holly Rankin
Every family photo you ever posted would be fair game for AI companies unless you choose to opt out
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Indigenous ranger groups across northern Australia are using drones, AI, and traditional knowledge to locate and remove abandoned fishing nets that drift in from Southeast Asia and kill thousands of turtles, dugongs, and sharks each year along the Gulf of Carpentaria coastline. #betterworld
news.mongabay.com
Indigenous rangers pull killer ‘ghost nets’ from Australia’s northern coast
On a remote beach on Groote Eylandt, a large island in Australia’s Gulf of Carpentaria, Kirsten Eden and her colleagues found a fishing net that someone had tried to make disappear. It had been burned and melted into a lump while at sea, and thrown overboard. It didn’t sink, but floated to shore as a […]
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Ernst & Young to award $100 million in bonuses for employees who show people skills
cbsnews.com
Ernst & Young to award $100 million in bonuses for employees who show people skills
Management consulting firm EY said it will reward employees who demonstrate human skills, such as business acumen and judgment.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
IBM's Quantum Computer Completes in 19 Seconds What Could Take a Supercomputer a Century
sciencealert.com
IBM's Quantum Computer Completes in 19 Seconds What Could Take a Supercomputer a Century
Some computations are so hardcore that it takes a facility of extraordinary power to even think about running them.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
A 15-year UK study tracking nearly 3,800 children found moderate screen use had no lasting negative impact on emotional or behavioural development – though researchers advice caution because of the wider use of smartphones and tablets now. #betterworld
connectsci.au
New study finds no long-term effects of screen use on kids
A longitudinal study which followed almost 3,800 children for 15 years has found screen use did not have long-term negative impacts on psychosocial development except at the highest levels of use.The…
010 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Do AI and air traffic control mix? CEO addresses anxiety about new FAA tool
npr.org
Do AI and air traffic control mix? CEO addresses anxiety about new FAA tool
The FAA's ambitious overhaul of the air traffic control system comes amid rising public anxiety about AI. The CEO of the company that's building the software explains how it works.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Publishers finally have AI buyers for their content yet zero say in the price
fastcompany.com
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Canadian company DicinFoam turns timber offcuts and sawdust – waste that would otherwise sit on forest floors or landfill – into a biodegradable foam packaging material to replace polystyrene. This could offer manufacturers a practical, plastic-free alternative for packaging. #betterworld
goodnewsnetwork.org
'Wood Foam' Startup Uses Logging Waste as Substitute for Plastic, Producing 400 Pounds Daily
Already, a pilot plant in East Vancouver is producing around 400 pounds of the so-called wood foam every day. 
010 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
AI weapons systems are already here. Algorithms must not decide who lives and dies | Kenneth Roth
theguardian.com
AI weapons systems are already here. Algorithms must not decide who lives and dies | Kenneth Roth
Israel’s conduct in Gaza shows the danger of using AI in warfare. Humans must remain at the center of wartime decisions
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Researchers in the UK have developed AI that analyses a standard heart trace in under two seconds to detect heart failure and disease the human eye cannot spot – fast-tracking high-risk patients for further testing months sooner. #betterworld
theguardian.com
‘Superhuman’ AI tool spots heart disease in less than 2 seconds
Technology trained on millions of routine ECGs could fast-track high-risk patients for treatment
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The United Nations has voted to replace the Mercator world map – which distorts countries near the Equator, shrinking Africa – with the Equal Earth projection, which more accurately represents the size of all continents. Predictably, the USA voted against it. #betterworld
bbc.com
UN votes to adopt new world map to reflect Africa's true size
The Togo-sponsored resolution was backed by 164 nations - with the US as the only nation to vote against it.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Researchers at RMIT University have used high-frequency sound waves to gently spray a protective coating directly onto living plant leaves – acting like a sunscreen that blocks UV light. This could eventually help agriculture and manufacturing fragile electronics and medical materials. #betterworld
thebrighterside.news
Scientists use sound waves to create protective crystal coatings on crops
Researchers developed a sound-wave coating system that safely sprays protective crystal films onto living plant leaves.
001 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Researchers in Japan have developed a blood test that detects patterns of immune cell activity to identify pancreatic cancer at its earliest stages — correctly identifying 9 out of 10 early-stage cases, compared with just 1 out of 10 using the standard marker test currently in use. #betterworld
thebrighterside.news
New blood test successfully detects 90% of early-stage pancreatic cancers
New research shows a blood gene test may detect pancreatic cancer early, improving survival and diagnosis accuracy.
100 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Scientists have built the first global dataset tracking four key measures of soil health – salinity, acidity, nitrogen, and organic carbon – across all ice-free land on Earth from 1985 to 2023, using AI to combine ground samples with satellite data. #betterworld
connectsci.au
New global database reveals long term trends in soil health
A new dataset of soil properties spanning all global ice-free land will help inform efforts to address soil degradation arising from human activity and climate change.The HUMERIS framework uses…
011 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Researchers in the USA have developed a retro-style video game paired with a wearable arm sensor that helps stroke survivors retrain muscles at home, enabling more than 300 practice repetitions per day compared with about 30 typically achieved in conventional clinic-based therapy. #betterworld
thebrighterside.news
Retro video game therapy helps stroke survivors regain arm movement
Study shows retro video game therapy improves arm movement in stroke survivors through high-repetition home training.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Laos has suspended all imports of petrol and diesel passenger cars from June 2026, making it the only country in the world where virtually every new imported car must be electric – a policy driven not by climate ambition but by economics. #betterworld
electrek.co
This country went 100% electric vehicles overnight with a drastic approach
Laos suspended gas and diesel car imports through 2026, making nearly every new imported car electric. Here's the drastic policy behind the shift.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
University of Melbourne startup Meablex has developed a lightweight 3D-printed bionic arm with a user-adjustable socket – letting wearers adjust the fit as their limb changes shape throughout the day. #betterworld
thebrighterside.news
University of Melbourne start-up has developed a new, cutting-edge bionic prosthetic
The Meablex adjustable bionic arm uses soft robotics and magnetic sensors to improve comfort, safety, and control.
010 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Researchers in the UK have combined volunteer-collected field data, satellite imagery, and AI to produce a detailed three-metre-resolution map of lowland heathland – one of England's rarest habitats – at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional mapping methods. #betterworld
connectsci.au
Citizen scientists and satellites map endangered habitats
New research shows machine learning, citizen science and satellite imagery can be used to produce detailed maps of lowland heathland – one of the UK's rarest and most threatened habitats. The…
001 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Engineers in the UK have optimised the design of bladeless wind turbines – tall swaying masts that generate electricity through vibration rather than spinning blades. The technology operates quietly and poses no collision risk to birds. #betterworld
thebrighterside.news
Bladeless wind turbine 'skybrator' sways to generate quiet, clean, bird-safe power
A bladeless wind turbine design produced 460 modeled watts while balancing power, efficiency and structural safety.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
A Swedish nationwide study of over 7,000 patients with both Alzheimer's disease and atrial fibrillation found those taking newer-generation blood thinners showed a modestly slower rate of cognitive decline than those on older medication or no blood thinner at all. #betterworld
thebrighterside.news
Newer blood thinners linked to slower Alzheimer’s decline
New Swedish study links NOAC blood thinners to slower cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients with atrial fibrillation.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
For the first time, in July 2026, electric and other new energy vehicles accounted for more than 60% of all car sales in China, driven by lower running costs, improved battery range, and the world's largest charging network. #betterworld
global.chinadaily.com.cn
NEVs grab over 60% of deliveries in July
For the first time, China's new energy vehicles secured a more than 60 percent share of the country's overall automobile sales in July, under full-sector official statistics.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Researchers at the University of Queensland have developed “paraborgs – giant burrowing cockroaches with cameras and miniature auto-injectors that can be remotely guided to deliver emergency medication to trapped survivors, extending first responder capabilities in disaster zones. #betterworld
connectsci.au
Paramedic cyborg cockroaches created for search and rescue
The dangerous task of locating and delivering life-saving medication to survivors trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings, caves and other hazardous environments could one day be carried…
001 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Researchers from Monash University and The Alfred Hospital have won the 2026 Eureka Prize for proving that bacterial vaginosis – a condition affecting one in four women worldwide – is sexually transmitted, overturning decades of accepted medical thinking. #betterworld
monash.edu
Researchers from Monash and The Alfred win Eureka Prize 2026 for bacterial vaginosis discovery
You are here:
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
A team led by researchers from France has used AI originally designed to detect craters on Mars to scan seafloor maps and identify 73 previously unknown underwater volcanoes – which could help advance warnings for tsunamis, eruptions, and other far-reaching impacts. #betterworld
sciencealert.com
AI Trained to Find Craters on Mars Just Found 73 Hidden Volcanoes on Earth's Ocean Floor
Deep beneath the ocean waves, dangers lurk.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A 13-year-old student from the USA has developed a dissolvable tablet made from peanut shells and other agricultural waste that removes nearly 94% of pesticide residue from fruit and vegetables, offering a simple, affordable way to reduce pesticide exposure that builds up in the body. #betterworld
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Minnesota student Arika Kundu, 13, designed a method that turns peanut-shell waste into a material for removing pesticide residues from fresh produce; she is now competing for a $25,000 science prize - The Times of India
The Times of India brings the Latest & Top Breaking News on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Cricket, Sports, Business, Bollywood News and Entertainment, Science, Technology, Health & Fitness news & opinions from leading columnists.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
As the USA and other Western donor nations cut back on foreign aid, Indonesia is stepping up as a proactive development partner, offering not just funding but partnership models grounded in shared experience with fellow Global South nations. #betterworld
asianews.network
Indonesia steps up as global development donor landscape shifts
Following the US' announcement that it will dismantle USAID, a Foreign Ministry official said Indonesia, while still a developing country, sees this as an opportunity to expand its role as a development partner.
010 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
US researchers have discovered that pot marigold flowers – billions of dollars’ worth of which are discarded each year – contain proteins similar to quinoa that can withstand heat, bind oil and water, and add a natural savoury flavour, making them a promising food ingredient. #betterworld
thebrighterside.news
Billions of dollars of discarded marigold flowers could become a new source of sustainable food
Marigold flowers contain heat-stable proteins that could improve foods while turning floral waste into useful ingredients.
000 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Engineers in the USA have developed a compact, ultra-low-power 3D camera called SpiderCam, inspired by the way jumping spiders use multiple retinal layers to judge distance by comparing subtle differences in image sharpness – using less power than a standard night light. #betterworld
connectsci.au
Ultra-efficient 3D camera design mimics jumping spider eyes
Engineers have developed a highly energy-efficient 3-dimensional camera by copying a trick used by tiny, adorable jumping spiders.Now, some of you may take issue with calling any arachnid adorable.…
010 0
gihanperera.bsky.social @gihanperera.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
The First Human Who Will Live to 150 May Already Be 70
futuristspeaker.com
The First Human Who Will Live to 150 May Already Be 70
Longevity science isn’t just extending life anymore. It’s starting to treat age itself as a condition. By Futurist Thomas Frey Here’s a sentence worth sitting with for a moment: the person who…
000 0