gurupanguji
GLP-1-der: Weight, there’s more.
Scrutinizing the poor beast, the scientists had a “eureka moment” when they discovered that anglerfish genes coded for several peptides related to the gut hormone glucagon. Scientists later identified that hormone as “glucagon-like peptide 1”—GLP-1. Further research showed that GLP-1 reduced blood sugar levels in mammals, making it a promising candidate for diabetes medication. The problem, however, was that the molecule’s half-life was much too short to serve as a useful medicine.
…
When he studied the lizard’s venom, he discovered that its saliva contained a hormone called exendin-4, which worked much the same way as GLP-1, but lasted much longer.
Original post: gurupanguji.com
The modern 4k iSight - featuring the brain of an Opal Tadpole
Linked artifact: https://mastodon.design/@rafa/114853078579169938
Original post: gurupanguji.com
Petal Power Play: The Secret Gardens Behind Home Depot’s Blooming Hits
To find those plants, Home Depot runs 25 trial gardens in nine climate zones across the U.S. and studies them in the field under a variety of conditions. After all, a plant that thrives in New Mexico might not survive in New Jersey. For security purposes, some of those experimental gardens are hidden in cornfields or through backyard donkey corrals, protected on secret farms before the plants are selected and patented. Each year, the company vets roughly 800 genetic enhancements before 400 make it to the planting stage. As they monitor the trials, Home Depot and its partners focus on key attributes like disease resistance, drought tolerance and “flower power,” industry shorthand for color vibrancy and bloom size. At the end of the summer, they select between 40 and 50 plants for production. They come to spring trials to see the results.
Original post: gurupanguji.com
Technology versus Technological Thinking - An Ontological Journey With Resolutions and Questions
This little sideshow is an easy demonstration of how LLMs can rewrite our interiority. Whether it is social engineering like above, or AI therapy, or just venting to ChatGPT about your day, LLMs have the ability to build a psychological profile of you and make you feel as it desires. This is kinda bizarre. The idea that we allow robots to control our psychology, or to elicit a response from us, is just plain weird. That doesn’t mean it is wrong! But it is new. The temptation with new technology is to question it to death. Pundits want to pull studies, figures, or anecdotes as justification for a position. (Almost always that position is “new technology bad”).
Instead, I would argue that the correct method to question AI and its impact comes from an essay written by a Nazi.
Original post: gurupanguji.com
Just One Good Thing
The one thing can be small or big, easy or labored, fleeting or long. I carve out time to go play drums for two hours, go for a bouldering session, do a shorter 20 minute run, read a page of a book, eat something I’m really excited about, and more. Even on the most difficult day, I can adjust and find the smallest thing that I am excited about and do it. I needed some way to change my outlook. Developing a habit that is less about more and embracing the simple and ordinary has brought me a semblance of peace. It’s allowed for adaptability and resilience when the days go sideways and joy and delight on days that go smoothly. Just. One. Good. Thing.
Original post: gurupanguji.com
The Era of Mental Heath days are Over - Welcome to Mental Days in Tech
The Microsoft memo portends the new reality of the technology industry. For years, the sector has been generous to its employees, offering unheard-of perks and placing a premium on skills such as software development. AI, however,inverts that relationship. As a result, we now face a different set of parameters.
- Loyalty has become a one-way street: Employees must be committed, but technology companies owe only “opportunities,” as and if they deem necessary.
- Layoffs will be used for strategic positioning, regardless of a company’s financial health.
- Profit provides an opportunity to invest in transformation, which sometimes involves eliminating jobs. Don’t be surprised if normalization of profitable layoffs becomes the next big Silicon Valley export to broader economy.
Original post: gurupanguji.com