Discovery of Drug Compound Against Malaria Ushers In Age of Robot Scientists

Eve, the robot scientist based in the University of Manchester, has discovered a compound that can help in fighting malaria.

Eve found that the drug compound inhibits a key molecule known as DHFR in the malaria parasite.

The undisclosed compound was previously known for its anti-cancer properties.

The development of robot scientists is the next step towards automation in science. With the proper artificial intelligence, robot scientists like Eve can explain observations, develop and test hypothesis, run experiments and interpret results.

They can also record scientific knowledge as they can directly interface with computer based lab equipment.

As stated in the paper, The Automation of Science, science is based on the hypothetico-deductive method and the recording of experiments in sufficient detail to enable reproducibility. With the advent of robot scientists like Eve and its predecessor, Adam, scientific discovery is evolving with the automation of both.

GPS Data Reveal How Sheepdogs Herd Sheep

Scientists using GPS technology have figured out how sheepdogs efficiently herd sheep. This may help in developing robots that can perform similar activities and other applications.

They find that the dogs follow two basic instructions which allows them to tightly reign in the sheep and move them towards a single direction. The two instructions are to (1) collect the sheep when they are loose and (2) move them forward when they are gathered.

The scientists also attached gps devices on the sheep and the dog and observed how the movements of the animals appear on screen. They also built a computer model that simulates an efficient way of herding the sheep.

Surprisingly, the two models are similar.

This discovery can help in developing applications for use by robots in activities such as crowd control, cleaning up the environment, herding of livestock, keeping animals away from sensitive areas, and collecting or guiding groups of exploring robots.

Virtual Computer Patients With Artificial Intelligence Help Train Psychologists

Clinical psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, abnormal behavior and psychiatric problems. This field integrates the science of psychology with the treatment of complex human problems.

Treatment Approaches to Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychologists and psychotherapists use different treatment approaches when working with patients. Some focus on a specific treatment outlook, while others use what is referred to as an eclectic approach. This involves drawing on different theoretical methods to develop the best treatment plan for each individual client.

Some of these treatments are:

Psychodynamic Approach: Psychoanalysts use techniques such as free association to investigate a client's underlying, unconscious motivations. This approach is influenced by techniques pioneered by Sigmund Freud.

Cognitive Behavioral Perspective: Treatment is focused on the changing thoughts and behaviors of the patient that contribute to psychological distress. It is geared towards discerning how the patient's thoughts, feelings and behaviors interact.

Humanistic Perspective: The psychoanalyst focuses on the patient's self-actualization to help him realize their full potential. It is a holistic approach that is influenced by humanist thinkers such as Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.

New generation of virtual humans helping to train psychologists

New technology has led to the creation of virtual humans who can interact with therapists via a computer screen and realistically mimic the symptoms of a patient with clinical psychological disorders, according to new research presented at the American Psychological Association's 120th Annual Convention.

"As this technology continues to improve, it will have a significant impact on how clinical training is conducted in psychology and medicine," said psychologist and virtual reality technology expert Albert "Skip" Rizzo, PhD, who demonstrated recent advancements in virtual reality for use in psychology.

Virtual humans can now be highly interactive, artificially intelligent and capable of carrying on a conversation with real humans, according to Rizzo, a research scientist at the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies. "This has set the stage for the 'birth' of intelligent virtual humans to be used in clinical training settings," he said.

Rizzo showed videos of clinical psychiatry trainees engaging with virtual patients called "Justin" and "Justina." Justin is a 16-year-old with a conduct disorder who is being forced by his family to participate in therapy. Justina, the second and more advanced iteration of this technology, is a sexual assault victim who was designed to have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

WEEKEND VIDEO Alternative 4: The Transhuman Invasion - When Will Robots Rule The World?

This is another video from UFOTV. A real interesting conspiracy theory and as such, must be taken with a grain of salt or an open mind depending on ones' mindset. Still, it's fun and interesting to watch.

Alternative 4: The Transhuman Invasion deals with the theory that artificial intelligence and robots will ultimately make humans obsolete and will become the dominant inhabitants of the planet Earth.

This premise have been covered in movies such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, I, Robot, The Matrix series, and The Terminator series. Alternative 4 looks at programs that seem to guide civilization in total dependence on machines.

Even now, with the advent of Facebook, smartphones, and the Internet, people are now more dependent on automated systems than in manual labor. According to the movie, a symposium was held in 1957 about the future of the planet. Recommendations for survival of the species by the scientists were:

Alternative 1. Detonation of nuclear bombs in atmosphere to get rid of pollution.
Alternative 2. Construction of large underground living spaces
Alternative 3. Populate Mars through way stations on the Moon

And what is Alternative 4?