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☆ Scientists are closer than ever to deciphering the secret language of sperm whales. AI could be the key.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Using AI to decode clicks from sperm whales, the scientists discovered a sophisticated alphabet hidden in the animals' sounds. And similar to Morse Code, their clicks are what they mainly use to communicate and socialize with other sperm whales. AdvertisementThinking like baby whalesA Project CETI collaborator holds the drone that the researchers use to observe sperm whale behavior and body language. Project CETIIn partnership with the Dominica Sperm Whale Project, Project CETI observes and documents sperm whale communication using a variety of different technologies. The researchers supplement these auditory recordings with drone surveys of the whales' body language and field observations taken by Project CETI researchers.

Persons: —, David Gruber, Gruber, Brandon Sloter Organizations: Service, Business, Project, Morse, Nature Communications, Project CETI, NOAA Locations: Dominica, Eastern

☆ The evolutionary twist that could have helped dinosaurs rule Earth
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New research this week is adding fresh detail to one of paleontology’s biggest questions: Did dinosaur blood run hot or cold? Clues from fossilized eggshells and bones have now suggested that some dinosaurs were warm-blooded and others were not. Reinhard Dirscherl/ullstein bild/Getty ImagesMarine scientists have used artificial intelligence to decode previously unknown complexity in the calls of sperm whales. The whales produced a catalog of clicking sounds, which the researchers described as akin to a “phonetic alphabet” for sperm whales. What sperm whales are saying with their clicks remains a mystery to human ears, but understanding the scope of their vocal exchanges is an important step toward linking their calls with specific behavior.

Persons: Dinos, Davide Bonadonna, Jeff Lichtman, Reinhard Dirscherl, Napoleon Bonaparte, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, Vigo, UCL, Google Research, Lichtman, Harvard University, Google, Harvard, Northern, Central America, Getty Images Marine, —, Heritage, CNN Space, Science Locations: Universidade, North America, Scandinavia, Europe, Central, India, Dover, England

☆ ‘Alphabet’ of sounds reveals complexity of sperm whale communication, scientists say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

They’ve identified previously unknown complexity in whale communication by analyzing thousands of recorded sequences of sperm whale clicks with artificial intelligence. What sperm whales are saying with their clicks remains a mystery to human ears. “This work builds on a lot of prior work focused on understanding the calls of sperm whales. For the new study, the researchers used machine learning to detect patterns in audio data collected by The Dominica Sperm Whale Project, a repository for observations of sperm whales that inhabit the Caribbean Sea. The study authors defined four features in codas: rhythm, tempo, rubato and ornamentation.

Persons: They’ve, ”, Daniela Rus, ” Rus, Luke Rendell, Andrews, Rendell, “, it’s, Rus, ” Rendell, Brenda McCowan, McCowan, ” McCowan, ” Mindy Weisberger Organizations: CNN —, Nature Communications, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, MIT, University of St, University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Scientific Locations: United Kingdom, Dominica, Eastern, Caribbean, Alaska

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — I came. A New Hampshire lawmaker wants to amend state law to include an official pronunciation of the capital city, one of many communities called Concord across the country. Gallager said his bill would not be a mandate, just as the other state symbols are not universally embraced. “Even though the state fruit is the pumpkin, you can still grow other fruits besides pumpkins, which I’m sure our apple growers appreciate,” he said. “But with something more minor like this one, I think we can have a chance to bring people together and actually pass some legislation.”

Persons: —, Julius Caesar — “, Eric Gallager, ” Gallager, Dianne Schuett, Gallager, ”, “, aren’t Organizations: CONCORD, A New, ”, Democrat, Yankee, “ Locations: N.H, Concord, A, A New Hampshire, ” New Hampshire , Massachusetts, California, Hampshire, New Hampshire, Pembroke

The human brain has trouble pulling names out of stuffed memory banks on cue. But when are those and other verbal stumbles normal, and when might they be a sign of cognitive trouble? Former President Donald Trump, Biden's likely opponent in the November presidential election, has also. And while Trump often brags about passing a screening-style memory test several years ago, Lenze said the best assessment includes rigorous neuropsychological testing. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group.

Persons: Joe Biden, Macron, Mitterrand, I’m, ”, Jay Olshansky, Biden, ” Biden, Donald Trump, Biden's, Trump, Nikki Haley, Nancy Pelosi, “, Eric Lenze, Louis, Emmanuel Macron, Francois Mitterrand, ” Mitterrand, ” Lenze, It’s “, Olshansky, everybody's, Lenze Organizations: WASHINGTON, University of Illinois, White, GOP, Washington University, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Chicago, St

☆ WebMD parent company defends return-to-office video that mixed dancing with the ominous words 'don't mess with us'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

That is, unless it includes clips of employees dancing to the New Orleans song "Iko Iko" and ends on the vaguely ominous note, "Don't mess with us." The internal video was aimed at instructing employees to return to in-person work but was also made public on the company's Vimeo page. Regarding the video's strange tone, the message adds: "As to comments/criticisms on the tone/style, Yeah, corporate videos are corporate videos!" AdvertisementInternet Brands further emphasized in a separate statement to Business Insider that the tone the video struck was deliberate. "Our executive team feels strongly that both our company and our employees are more successful when they can collaborate in person," the company said.

Persons: —, Bob Brisco, we've, It's, hasn't, Pepper, Brisco Organizations: Service, Internet Brands, Business, Internet, We're, Brands Locations: New Orleans

Here are the meanings of the 10 hardest words that have also been used in Times articles. The labiodental flap is much more widely used but took longer to be recognized. (Some people still believe in a religious afterlife, but those with the cash would rather not risk it. Maybe he could have a high opinion of himself despite his evident flaws. — How Garfield Helped Me Make Peace With a Culture in Decline (Feb. 16, 2021)The list of the week’s easiest words:

Persons: poinciana, canopic, Isaiah Rashad, Solange Knowles, —, bandanna, “, Guy ’, Kaplan, cioppino, hamate, Mammon, monomaniac, Garfield Organizations: pompano, Lines, San, California’s State Food, Phonetic Locations: Philippines, San Francisco, Francisco, Burger, Napa Valley, Santa Maria, California’s State, Africa

☆ Searching for the ‘People’s Spelling Alphabet’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Sam Corbin | More About Sam Corbin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Phonetic alphabets, also known as spelling alphabets, came to prominence on the global stage in the mid-20th century, as world wars made urgent the need for clear, quick and secretive communication among Allied forces. The NATO Alphabet we know today (which begins with Alfa, Bravo, Charlie) was adopted officially in 1956 by the International Civil Aviation Organization, after earlier iterations such as the Able Baker alphabet proved inadequate. In a version used briefly by the British Royal Army, the spelling alphabet begins with Ack, Beer, which is what I say when I realize I’ve shown up empty-handed to a party. The NATO alphabet remains ubiquitous in ceremony — it comes up often in The New York Times’s crossword entries — but in practice, it’s somewhat niche. When was the last time you clarified the letter “Y” by saying “Yankee” instead of something like “yellow” or “yes”?

Persons: “, Charlie, Able Baker Organizations: Allied, NATO, Alfa, Bravo, International Civil Aviation Organization, British Royal Army Locations: Babel, Beer, New

☆ NYC is now using AI at some subway stations to track when and how fare evaders are getting through
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Kylie Kirschner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

NYC's MTA has started using AI software to track fare evasion in the subway system. The system tracks both when fare evasion spikes and the methods fare evaders use. The city's subway system is now using AI surveillance technology to track fare evasion. has been grappling with how to deal with fare evasion after it lost $690 million to fare evasion last year, according to a May report. Leonardo Munoz/VIEWpress via Getty Images"It helps us just measure the amount of fare evasion happening," the spokesperson told Insider.

Persons: AWAAIT, Leonardo Munoz, VIEWpress, it's, That's, It's Organizations: MTA, New York City, NYC's Metropolitan Transport Authority, Barcelona Locations: New York, NYC's, Spanish, Barcelona, NYC

☆ I Got My Name From Connie Chung. So Did They. - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Connie Wang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +21 min

In my freshman class alone, there was a Connie Zheng, a Connie Guo, a Connie Xu, a few Connie Chengs, and multiple Connie Wangs. That ayi was Constance Yu-Hwa Chung, or, as the world knows her, Connie Chung. Connie Chung hosting the “CBS Evening News” in 1991, the year after the author named herself Connie. Connie Wang Connie Koh Connie Yang Connie Tang Connie Jang Connie Chung Connie Moy Connie Huang Connie Kwok Connie Chang Connie Sun Connie Chung, center, surrounded by 10 members of Generation Connie. Clockwise from top right, Connie Yang, Connie Tang, Connie Moy, Connie Sun, Connie Chang, Connie Kwok, Connie Huang, Connie Jang, Connie Wang and Connie Koh.

☆ ‘Everybody Is Welcome Here’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Kurt Streeter | Mason Trinca | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

PORTLAND, Ore. — The soccer coach looked out at two dozen or so of his players and felt nervousness course through him like a rip current. His heart pounded, and his voice felt unsteady. In the four years since, Coach Kaig had become a friend, an ally and even, to some of his players, a father figure. How would they react once he told them he had been raised as a girl? He had always asked his players to be open and honest about their lives.

☆ From Nike to Nutella: Company names you have probably been mispronouncing your whole life
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Global company names often get Anglicized or Americanized to the point where they're unrecognizable, but brands could see some benefits if their names are pronounced correctly. Allianz: al-ee-anz"Allianz " is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the German word for "alliance." It isn't pronounced like the ancient Greek herald of the gods, Hermes, unlike the U.K. delivery company of similar spelling. Moët & Chandon: mow-et ey shon-donIn contrast to typical French pronunciation, there is a hard "T" sound at the end of "Moët." Heuer is the last name of the company's founder, Edouard Heuer.

☆ Swear words in different languages have one thing in common
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

What they found, though, was that in several languages, swear words are missing the l, r, w and y sounds. The only discernible pattern they could find among the swear words were the missing sounds throughout: the approximants l, r, w and y. (The researchers made up many of the words for this part of the study, based on existing words in different languages.) The participants were “significantly less likely” to select the words with approximants when asked to identify swear words, McKay and Lev-Ari wrote. Those almost-but-not-quite-curses are called “minced oaths,” words that sound similar to, but still notably different from, swear words.

☆ How Do You Pronounce Qatar? Probably Incorrectly.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Sarah Lyall | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

WORLD CUP 2022 The 2022 World Cup is being hosted in Qatar, which, as everyone knows, is pronounced . Sepp Blatter, the former FIFA president, announcing in 2010 that “Ka-TAR” would host the 2022 World Cup. Hassan Al Thawadi, secretary general of Qatar’s World Cup organization QatarThis has not helped alleviate the general confusion among visitors. “I know it’s probably not the correct way — KUH-ter is for those who probably know what they’re talking about a little bit more — but I’m going with Ka-TAR.”Walker Zimmerman of the United States national team knows he doesn’t say Qatar correctly. Martin Tyler, the legendary Sky Sports broadcaster who is working his 12th World Cup this year, said he would do the same.

☆ Grégoire de Fournas: French parliamentary session halted by lawmaker's shout "Go back to Africa"
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Xiaofei Xu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

A rightwing French lawmaker has caused uproar by shouting “Go back to Africa” during a Black lawmaker’s comments at a parliamentary session broadcast to the public on Thursday. Grégoire de Fournas, parliamentary representative from the National Rally (RN) party, interrupted Carlos Martens Bilongo, a representative from the far-left party France Unbowed (LFI) during a session of the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament. De Fournas interrupted, shouting “go back to Africa.”Chaos immediately ensued in the chamber, leading Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly, to temporarily suspend the session. Bilongo and his party have described the shout as a racist personal attack, though de Fournas’ party has argued that the interjection was actually intended for the migrants under discussion. Mathilde Panot, leader of the far-left France Unbowed group at the National Assembly, has demanded that de Fournas face the toughest punishment for a French lawmaker — expulsion.

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