LND topic: engineering page 33

engineering

Bye-Bye Benders: TJ Science Olympiad Sees Coaching Shift

November 17, 2024

After years of steering Thomas Jefferson's Science Olympiad team to victory, Rich Bender and Carol Haller have stepped down. Their retirement means more free time, but it also leaves a big gap in the world of middle school science competition. They've been the brains behind 31 straight state titles

science

Boosting Space Weather Tracking with Mini Quantum Magnetometers

November 16, 2024

Space storms can cause big changes in the magnetosphere and ionosphere, leading to ground-induced currents that matter a lot for both engineering and science. Right now, we use big networks of ground magnetometers to measure this, usually set up at special observatory sites. But what if we could mak

technology

Exploring the Power of Large Language Models in Software Development

November 16, 2024

Large Language Models (LLMs) are becoming increasingly popular. They're being used not just as smart tools, but also as parts of bigger software systems. These systems, called LLM-integrated applications, use LLMs to do tasks that would otherwise be tough or need a lot of coding. As this field grows

science

How Sulfur Gets Into Polyketides: Unveiling the SH Domain's Magic

November 16, 2024

Ever wondered how some natural products get their sulfur touch? Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are like brilliant artists, painting diverse polyketide compounds. But they don't often dip into the sulfur paintbox. Enter thiocysteine lyase (SH) domains, found in the leinamycin (LNM) family. We've been st

education

URI Receives Record Gift for STEM Scholarships

November 15, 2024

Imagine this: a woman graduates from the University of Rhode Island in the 1950s, a time when women pursuing higher education were rare. Fast forward to 2023, and her estate, along with her husband's, gifts URI a whopping $65 million—the largest donation in the university's history. Meet Helen Izzi

technology

Software Engineering: How LLMs and Agents Are Changing the Game

November 15, 2024

Large language models (LLMs) have made a splash in software engineering, especially in code generation and finding coding issues. But they're not perfect. Enter LLM-based agents, which could lead to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) by making LLMs more autonomous and capable of self-improvement.

entertainment

Leonardo da Vinci: The Man Who Knew Everything

November 15, 2024

Ken Burns, a well-known American documentary filmmaker, has just released a four-hour film about Leonardo da Vinci. Burns is known for his work on American history, but this time, he's exploring the life of the famous Italian polymath. The film delves into da Vinci's incredible achievements in art,

finance

Finance and Tech: A Decade-Long Dance

November 14, 2024

Imagine walking into a room filled with finance leaders, and you hear them talking about the future of their industry. Adena Friedman, the big boss at Nasdaq, and C. S. Venkatakrishnan, the top dog at Barclays, recently shared their thoughts at the Fortune Global Forum in New York City. Friedman bel

health

Simplifying MRI Scans: A New Way to Handle Implant Safety

November 14, 2024

Imagine you're at a hospital, waiting for an MRI scan. Suddenly, you're told they need to check your implant for safety first. This can take ages, or even lead to the scan being canceled. That's what happens when hospitals follow the UK guidelines for MR safety, which say they should contact the imp

science

What Happens When We Stress Out a Slime Mould?

November 9, 2024

Have you ever wondered how a slime mould handles stress? Scientists have found a unique way to study this. They looked at a type of slime mould called Physarum polycephalum, known for its ability to adapt to changes in its environment. Using two new techniques, they observed how the slime mould grow