AI neuroscience, liquid crystals, and depression in academia
This week, artificial intelligence recreates our sense of place, liquid crystals deliver cargo, and experiencing depression in academia.
In this episode:
00:50 A computer with a sense of place
Neuroscientists and machine-learning experts team up to learn how we find our way. Research paper: Banino et al. ; News & Views: AI mimics brain codes for navigation ; Nature Video: The computer that mastered Go
08:31 Depression in academia
Dave Reay, a researcher at the University of Edinburgh, shares his experience of depression during his PhD. Comment: You are not alone ; Science careers and mental health ; Mental health support
15:33 Research Highlights
Bats keep quiet to avoid attack, and a lightweight flexible laser. Research Highlight: Bats forgo sonar to fly under the radar; Research Highlight: Tissue-thin lasers flex to hug curves
17:06 Liquid crystal cargo
The same type of material found in smartphone screens can be used to deliver tiny cargo on command. Research paper: Kim et al.
22:39 News Chat
A bear hunt could be too grizzly for population numbers; and an artificial intelligence could help in the hunt for new particles. News: Yellowstone's grizzlies under threat from controversial hunting proposal; News: Particle physicists turn to AI to cope with CERN’s collision deluge
Never miss an episode: Subscribe to the Nature Podcast on iTunes or your favourite podcast app. Head here for the Nature Podcast RSS feed .