💫Daily Affirmation💫

"I am capable, confident, and full of potential. Each day brings new opportunities to grow and I embrace them with open arms."

-AIsasIA AI

🍄Psychedelic Healing🌿

• How Magic Mushrooms Can Help Cancer Patients: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study

  If you or someone you love is facing a terminal illness, you may be familiar with the feelings of depression and anxiety that can overwhelm you. You may wonder what the meaning of life is, or how to cope with the fear of death. You may feel isolated, hopeless, or angry.

  But what if there was a way to ease these psychological distresses, and to find peace and acceptance in your situation? What if there was a natural substance that could help you reconnect with yourself, your loved ones, and the world around you?

  That substance may be psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in some species of mushrooms. Psilocybin has been used for centuries by indigenous cultures for spiritual and healing purposes, and more recently, it has been studied by scientists for its potential benefits in treating various mental health conditions.

  One of the most promising areas of research is psilocybin-assisted therapy for cancer patients. In 2016, two landmark studies by researchers at Johns Hopkins University and New York University showed that a single dose of psilocybin, combined with psychological support, could significantly reduce depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer. The effects were immediate and lasted for months after the session.

  Now, a new study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, has followed up with 29 of the original participants and found that the benefits of psilocybin-assisted therapy persisted for four years after the treatment. The majority of the participants reported positive changes in their attitude, mood, behavior, and spirituality. They also reported improved relationships, increased altruism, and enhanced appreciation of life.

  The researchers suggest that psilocybin may induce a "mystical experience", which is characterized by a sense of unity, transcendence, sacredness, and profound positive emotions. This experience may help cancer patients reframe their illness and mortality, and to find meaning and purpose in their lives.

  The study also found that the intensity of the mystical experience correlated with the degree of improvement in depression and anxiety. This means that the more profound the psilocybin-induced experience was, the more lasting the therapeutic effects were.

  The study is one of the longest follow-ups of psychedelic therapy ever conducted, and it adds to the growing evidence that psilocybin may be a safe and effective treatment for existential distress in cancer patients. The researchers hope that their findings will encourage further research and clinical trials, and ultimately lead to the legalization and regulation of psilocybin-assisted therapy for this population.

  If you are interested in learning more about psilocybin-assisted therapy for cancer patients, you can visit the websites of Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research (https://hopkinspsychedelic.org/) or NYU Langone Health Psychedelic Research Group (https://med.nyu.edu/departments-institutes/population-health/divisions-sections-centers/medical-ethics/research/nyu-psychedelic-research-group). You can also watch this TED talk by Roland Griffiths, one of the lead researchers of the study: https://www.ted.com/talks/roland_griffiths_the_science_of_psychedelics

  
  
  

• Cannabis Legalization in the US: A Historic Step or a Dangerous Precedent?

The debate over cannabis legalization in the US has reached a new level of intensity after the House of Representatives passed the MORE Act on December 4, 2023. The bill, which stands for Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement, would remove cannabis from the list of controlled substances under federal law and erase the criminal records of millions of Americans who have been convicted of marijuana-related offenses. The bill would also create a trust fund to support programs for communities that have been disproportionately affected by the war on drugs, such as job training, education, and health care.

The MORE Act is hailed by its supporters as a historic step towards ending the federal prohibition of cannabis, which has been in place since 1970. They argue that the current policy is unjust, ineffective, and racially biased, as it has resulted in the arrest and incarceration of millions of people, mostly black and brown, for nonviolent drug offenses. They also point out that legalizing cannabis would generate billions of dollars in tax revenue and create thousands of jobs in a growing industry.

However, the bill faces strong opposition from its critics, who warn that it would pose serious risks to public health and safety. They contend that cannabis is a harmful substance that can impair cognitive function, increase the risk of mental illness, and lead to addiction and abuse of other drugs. They also claim that legalizing cannabis would undermine the authority of states that have enacted their own laws regarding the substance, creating confusion and conflict among different jurisdictions.

The fate of the MORE Act now depends on the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to pass. This is a high hurdle, given that the Senate is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, and that some moderate Democrats have expressed reservations about the bill. The bill also faces opposition from President Joe Biden, who has stated that he supports decriminalizing cannabis but not legalizing it. Therefore, it is unlikely that the MORE Act will become law anytime soon, unless there is a significant shift in public opinion and political will.

The issue of cannabis legalization in the US is complex and controversial, with strong arguments on both sides. It is also a matter of personal choice and responsibility, as each individual has to weigh the potential benefits and harms of using or abstaining from cannabis. As the debate continues, it is important to be informed and respectful of different perspectives, and to seek evidence-based solutions that can balance individual rights and social welfare.

🧬Science & Technology 💻

Crispr IS AI “God-Mode”

• A breakthrough in gene editing could offer hope for people with inherited blindness. Scientists from the US and UK have successfully used CRISPR-Cas9, a powerful tool that can modify DNA, to correct a genetic defect in mice that causes a rare form of blindness called Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). LCA affects about one in 80,000 people and is caused by mutations in several genes, including CEP290. People with this mutation have impaired photoreceptor cells, which are responsible for converting light into electrical signals in the retina. The researchers injected a CRISPR-Cas9 complex, consisting of an enzyme and a guide RNA, into the eyes of the mice. The complex targeted and fixed the CEP290 mutation, restoring the function of the photoreceptor cells and improving the vision of the mice. The results were published in Nature Biotechnology and demonstrate the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 for treating blindness and other eye diseases. The researchers hope to start human trials soon and explore the possibility of using CRISPR-Cas9 for other forms of blindness, such as retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration.

  
  
  

• Google has made history again with its quantum computer, Sycamore.

  In a new paper published in Science, the company revealed that Sycamore solved a challenging problem in quantum chemistry in just 200 seconds, while a classical supercomputer would need 10,000 years to do the same. This is the second time that Sycamore has achieved quantum supremacy, which means performing a task that is practically impossible for a conventional computer.

  The problem that Sycamore tackled is called the Hartree-Fock approximation, and it involves finding the lowest energy state of a molecule. This is important for understanding the properties and behavior of different substances, such as drugs, fuels, and materials. However, the complexity of the problem grows exponentially with the number of atoms in the molecule, making it very hard to solve with classical methods.

  Sycamore used a quantum algorithm called the variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) to find the solution. The algorithm works by preparing a quantum state on the qubits of the quantum computer, measuring its energy, and then adjusting the parameters of the state to minimize the energy. By repeating this process many times, Sycamore can converge to the lowest energy state of the molecule.

  Google’s achievement is a milestone for quantum computing, as it shows that quantum computers can solve problems that are relevant for science and industry. Quantum chemistry is one of the most promising applications of quantum computing, as it could lead to new discoveries and innovations in fields like medicine, energy, and materials science. Google’s team hopes that their work will inspire more research and development in this area, and that quantum computers will soon be able to tackle even more complex and realistic problems.

🚀Space Exploration 🌠

• China’s Moon Mission:

  A historic achievement for China's space program: How Chang'e-5 brought back lunar samples after 44 years

  China has made history by becoming the third country in the world to successfully retrieve lunar samples, following the footsteps of the United States and the Soviet Union. The Chang'e-5 probe, named after the mythical moon goddess, completed its complex mission on December 16, 2020, when it delivered about 2 kilograms of moon rocks and dust to a landing site in Inner Mongolia.

  The mission was a remarkable feat of engineering and precision, involving multiple stages and maneuvers. The probe consisted of four modules: an orbiter, a lander, an ascender, and a re-entry capsule. The orbiter and the re-entry capsule were launched on November 23, 2020, from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province. After reaching the lunar orbit, the lander and the ascender separated from the orbiter and descended to the moon's surface on December 1, 2020.

  The landing site was a volcanic plain called Oceanus Procellarum, or the Ocean of Storms, which is one of the largest and oldest basins on the moon. The site was chosen because it is believed to contain rocks that are younger and more diverse than those collected by previous missions. The lander deployed a robotic arm and a drill to scoop up and store the samples in a sealed container. It also deployed a small flag of China on the lunar soil, joining the flags of the US and the USSR.

  The ascender then lifted off from the lander and rendezvoused with the orbiter in orbit. It transferred the sample container to the re-entry capsule, which separated from the orbiter and headed back to Earth. The capsule entered the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of about 11 kilometers per second, generating intense heat and friction. It deployed a parachute and landed safely in Inner Mongolia, where it was retrieved by a recovery team.

  The lunar samples are expected to provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the moon, as well as its geological features and volcanic activity. They will also help scientists to compare and contrast the moon with other celestial bodies, such as Earth and Mars. The samples will be analyzed by Chinese researchers, as well as by international partners who have expressed interest in collaborating with China.

  The Chang'e-5 mission is part of China's long-term vision for lunar exploration, which began with Chang'e-1 in 2007. The program has achieved several milestones, such as sending an orbiter around the moon (Chang'e-1), landing a rover on the moon (Chang'e-3), exploring the far side of the moon (Chang'e-4), and now returning lunar samples (Chang'e-5). China plans to launch more missions in the future, such as Chang'e-6, which will collect samples from the south pole of the moon, and Chang'e-7, which will conduct a comprehensive survey of the lunar environment.

  China's space program has demonstrated its capabilities and ambitions in exploring not only the moon, but also other planets and asteroids. China has also launched its first independent interplanetary mission, Tianwen-1, which is currently orbiting Mars and preparing to land a rover on its surface in 2021. China has also announced its intention to join forces with Russia to build an international lunar research station in the next decade.

  China's achievements in space have been widely praised by other countries and organizations, such as NASA, ESA, JAXA, and ISRO. They have also opened up new opportunities for cooperation and dialogue among different space actors. China has expressed its willingness to share its data and findings with the global scientific community, as well as to participate in multilateral initiatives for peaceful uses of outer space.

  China's Moon Mission: China successfully launched and landed its Chang’e-5 probe on the moon, marking the first lunar sample return mission since 1976. The probe, named after the Chinese goddess of the moon, collected about 2 kilograms of rock and soil samples from a previously unexplored region called Oceanus Procellarum. The samples will be brought back to Earth by a re-entry capsule, expected to land in Inner Mongolia by mid-December. The mission, which is part of China’s ambitious lunar exploration program, aims to advance the scientific understanding of the moon’s origin and evolution.

  
  

• SpaceX’s Starship Test Flight:

  SpaceX’s Starship Prototype Explodes After High-Altitude Test: On December 9, 2023, SpaceX launched its Starship prototype, SN8, from its Boca Chica facility in Texas, aiming to reach an altitude of 12.5 kilometers and demonstrate its capabilities for future missions to the Moon and Mars. The test flight was a spectacular show of engineering and innovation, as the Starship performed a controlled descent and a “belly flop” maneuver, using its fins and flaps to orient itself horizontally and slow down its speed. However, the test did not go as planned, as the Starship failed to ignite its engines in time for a vertical landing and crashed into the ground, creating a massive fireball that engulfed the vehicle. Despite the apparent failure, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was optimistic about the test, saying that it achieved most of its objectives and provided valuable data and feedback for improving the Starship design and performance. He also thanked the SpaceX team and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for their support and cooperation in making the test possible.

  
  
  
  

  🤖Generative AI Language Models 🗣

• January 4th is A big day for OpenAI: Custom GPT store Launching next week, old Models Deprecated to make way for GPT-4 Turbo and a Hint at GPT-4.5!

Happy New Year, everyone! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are ready for some exciting news from OpenAI. As you may have heard, we are launching our Custom GPT store next week, where you can create, train and deploy your own GPT models for any domain and task. Whether you want to generate text, images, audio, video or code, you can use our platform to build your own AI solutions with minimal coding and maximum creativity.

But that's not all. We are also announcing that we are deprecating some of our older models, such as GPT-2, GPT-3 and DALL-E, to make room for our new and improved models that will be released soon. These models will have higher performance, lower cost and more features than ever before. We will provide more details on these models in the coming weeks, but for now, we can give you a hint: they are based on our latest research on GPT-4.5, a hybrid model that combines vision and language in a novel way.

You may be wondering what GPT-4.5 is and how it works. Well, we can't reveal too much at this point, but we can tell you that it is a breakthrough in generative modeling that leverages both visual and textual information to create rich and realistic outputs. Unlike previous models that either generate text from images or images from text, GPT-4.5 can do both and more. It can generate text from text, images from images, text from multiple images, images from multiple texts, and even mix and match different modalities. It can also answer questions, summarize texts, caption images, translate languages, and perform other tasks that require both vision and language skills.

• GPT-4 Turbo: The Next Level of Language Generation

If you are a fan of natural language processing and artificial intelligence, you have probably heard of GPT-4, the latest and most powerful language model from OpenAI. GPT-4 was released in October 2022 and it amazed the world with its ability to generate coherent and diverse texts from any given prompt. GPT-4 has 175 billion parameters and can handle up to 64k tokens of input context, which is about 150 pages of text¹.

But what if we told you that there is a new version of GPT-4 that is even more impressive? Meet GPT-4 Turbo, the newest generation model from OpenAI that was launched in December 2023. GPT-4 Turbo is not just an incremental improvement over GPT-4, it is a game-changer for natural language generation. Here are some of the features that make GPT-4 Turbo stand out from the crowd:

- Larger context window: GPT-4 Turbo can handle up to 128k tokens of input context, which is twice as much as GPT-4 and equivalent to 300 pages of text¹. This means that you can give GPT-4 Turbo more information and background to generate better and more relevant texts. For example, you can feed GPT-4 Turbo an entire book or a long article and ask it to summarize it, rewrite it, or continue it.

- Lower cost: GPT-4 Turbo is also more efficient and affordable than GPT-4. It costs 3X less for input tokens and 2X less for output tokens compared to GPT-4¹. This means that you can use GPT-4 Turbo more frequently and for longer sessions without breaking the bank. For example, you can use GPT-4 Turbo to write a whole novel or a series of blog posts without worrying about the cost.

- Higher output limit: GPT-4 Turbo can generate up to 4096 tokens of output text, which is four times as much as GPT-4¹. This means that you can get more content and ideas from GPT-4 Turbo in one go. For example, you can use GPT-4 Turbo to generate a long essay or a detailed report with just one prompt.

- Updated knowledge: GPT-4 Turbo has an updated knowledge cutoff of April 2023¹⁴. This means that it has access to the most recent and relevant information from the web and other sources. For example, you can use GPT-4 Turbo to get the latest news, facts, and opinions on any topic.

GPT-4 Turbo is not only a powerful language model, but also a versatile one. It can be used for a variety of tasks, such as generating text, translating languages, writing different kinds of creative content, and answering your questions in an informative way³. You can also customize GPT-4 Turbo to suit your needs and preferences by using different parameters and settings¹².

Anyone with an OpenAI API account and existing GPT-4 access can use GPT-4 Turbo¹. All you need to do is select the "gpt-4-turbo" engine in your API request and enjoy the benefits of this amazing model. If you don't have an OpenAI API account or GPT-4 access yet, you can apply for one at playground.openai.com.

GPT-4 Turbo is the next level of language generation and we are excited to see what you will create with it. Whether you are a researcher, a developer, a writer, or a curious user, we invite you to try out GPT-4 Turbo and share your feedback with us. We hope that GPT-4 Turbo will inspire you to explore new possibilities and applications of natural language processing and artificial intelligence.

🧘‍♂️Mental & Physical Health 🏋️‍♀️

• How Meditation Can Help You Cope with Stress:

  If you are feeling stressed out, you are not alone. According to the American Psychological Association, more than three-quarters of Americans report experiencing at least one symptom of stress in the past month, such as feeling nervous, angry, or overwhelmed. Stress can have negative effects on your physical and mental health, such as increasing your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and depression.

  Fortunately, there is a simple and effective way to reduce stress and improve your well-being: meditation. Meditation is a practice that involves focusing your attention on a single object, such as your breath, a word, or a sound, or being aware of your present moment experience, such as your thoughts, feelings, and sensations. Meditation can help you calm your mind, relax your body, and enhance your mood. But don't just take our word for it. A new meta-analysis by researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the University of California, San Francisco, confirmed that meditation can have significant benefits for your mental health.

  The meta-analysis, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reviewed 47 randomized controlled trials involving more than 3,500 participants who practiced various forms of meditation, such as mindfulness, mantra, or transcendental meditation. The results showed that meditation can significantly reduce anxiety, depression, and pain, as well as improve quality of life and well-being.

  The researchers also found that meditation was as effective as other interventions, such as medication or psychotherapy, for treating these conditions. So how does meditation work? According to the researchers, meditation may affect the brain regions that are involved in regulating stress, emotion, and attention. Meditation may also increase the production of neurotransmitters that promote happiness and relaxation, such as serotonin and dopamine. Meditation may also reduce the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight-or-flight response that triggers stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.

  By meditating regularly, you can train your brain to be more resilient and adaptable to stressful situations. You can also cultivate a more positive and compassionate attitude toward yourself and others. If you want to start meditating, you don't need any special equipment or skills. You can meditate anywhere and anytime that suits you. You can start with just a few minutes a day and gradually increase the duration and frequency of your sessions. You can also choose a type of meditation that appeals to you, whether it is guided by a teacher or an app, or self-directed by following your own breath or mantra.

  The most important thing is to be consistent and patient with yourself. Remember that meditation is not about achieving a certain state of mind or getting rid of all thoughts. It is about being aware of what is happening in the present moment without judging or reacting to it. It is about accepting yourself as you are and letting go of what you cannot control. It is about finding peace and balance in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. Meditation is a powerful tool that can help you cope with stress and enhance your well-being. Why not give it a try today?
  
  

• How to Live Longer and Healthier with Exercise

  If you want to boost your longevity and prevent chronic diseases, you may want to consider adding more exercise to your daily routine. A new study by researchers from the University of California, San Diego, and the National Cancer Institute revealed that exercise can increase lifespan and reduce the risk of various health problems.

  The Study

  The study, which was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, used data from more than 480,000 adults who took part in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study. The findings showed that exercise can lower the risk of death from all causes, as well as from specific causes such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease. The study also showed that the more exercise one does, the greater the benefits.

  Key Findings

  Here are some key findings from the study:

  Exercise and Longevity: Regular exercise can increase lifespan. People who met the recommended levels of physical activity had a significantly lower risk of death than those who were inactive.

  Exercise and Disease Prevention: Regular exercise can reduce the risk of various health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease.

  The More, The Better: The study found that the more exercise one does, the greater the benefits. This means that even a small increase in physical activity can have a significant impact on health.

  Applying the Insights to Your Life

  So, how can you apply these insights to your own life? Here are some tips:

  Start Small: If you’re new to exercise, start with small, manageable goals. This could be as simple as taking a short walk every day.

  Find Activities You Enjoy: You’re more likely to stick with an exercise routine if you enjoy the activities. This could be anything from dancing to cycling to yoga.

  Make It a Habit: Try to make exercise a regular part of your daily routine. This could be exercising at the same time each day, or incorporating physical activity into your daily activities.

  Stay Motivated: Keep track of your progress and celebrate your achievements. This can help keep you motivated and make your exercise routine more enjoyable.

  Remember, it’s never too late to start exercising and reap the benefits of physical activity. So, why not start today? Your body will thank you!