May 2023

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Big News
AI dominates headlines…again.
Almost every month articles are published which highlight the unlimited promise and immense risk of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This month was no different. In particular, May saw significant progress in the role of AI in medicine. A notable example included a research group from Ontario, Canada, who trained a neural network to identify a new antibiotic which can kill the superbug Acinetobacter baumannii. This superbug, which resists existing antibiotics, is classified as a “priority pathogen” by the World Health Organization and this breakthrough gives us another tool in the aresnal against the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. In the world of medical imaging researchers at the University of Texas at Austin were able to use GPT1, a precursor to the well known chatbot ChatGPT, to convert MRI image sinto text, creating a rudimentary method to “read” the participants thoughts. The technology is in its early stages but once again goes to show another equally impressive and terrifying application of AI.

Progress in neuroscience technology is unlocking the ability to restore mobility.
This month a form of Brain-Spine Interface (BSI) technology was developed that allowed Gert-Jan Oskam, a man who was paralysed in a cycling accident 12 years ago, to walk again. The system relied on electronic implants which wirelessly transmited his thoughts to his legs and feet via a second implant on his spine, allowing him to walk. This impressive technology, developed by Swiss researchers, is still in early development but the long term goal is to develop the technology further and start using it in the clinic, hopefully to benefit other patients with paralysis. This kind of technology is currently receiving a growing level of interest, which is only reinforced by the recent annoucntment by the US FDA that they are approving human testing for Elon Musk’s company Neuralink. If progress continues in this field we could be on the verge of redefining treatment options for patients with motor dysfunctions and paralysis, providing hope for individuals seeking to reclaim their independence and quality of life.

Littles News
Mental health crisis continues.
Academia, like many places of work, is experiencing a crisis. Between toxic cultures, constant deadlines, and the need to secure funding, the demand placed on students, researchers, and faculty is taking its toll. A recent article in Nature highlights the extent to which the mental health of researchers suffer in the current system. While some institutions are attempting to foster a culture that destigmatizes seeking help and encourages open conversations about mental well-being, most academics agree that not enough is being done. In an ideal world, institutions would work to establish true work-life balance and alleviate the pressure created by our current academic environment. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and currently it would appear there are few, if any, solutions on the horizon to the current crisis.

What I’ve been enjoying
Crime thrillers.
I have been doing some travelling this month and have been carrying around a few books from the crime thriller section of my bookshelf. Two worth mentioning are The Vanishing Season, by Joanna Schaffhausen, and The Last Girl to Die, by Helen Sarah Fields. Both are fantastic examples of the genre; dark, gripping and difficult to put down once you get started. One day I hope to write my own crime novel and if they half as good as these I will consider it a success. I have already added more books from both authors to my birthday wish-list, but until they arrive I am on the lookout for more crime thrillers, if you have any suggestions let me know in the comments below.

P.S: If you want to read more content from me then check out my recent fiction work available now for free on Medium.