Touchpoint 1
DeepMind’s AI can ‘predict how all of life’s molecules interact with each other’
What is it?
The third version of AlphaFold from DeepMind is promising to help scientists understand how all of life’s molecules interact with each other. Using AI, AlphaFold 3 can show us how biological functions can lead to disease.
Potential message for students:
How long do you think it will be before we cure cancer? Do you think AI will be credited for the cure? Do you think humans will ever be disease-free because of AI? Do you think drug companies will try to profit off of AlphaFold 3?
Touchpoint 2
Study suggests every day is a ‘school day’ for chimps
What is it?
Chimps may learn how to use a stick as a tool from family, but they consciously work on improving these skills as they grow up. Scientists believe that larger brains allow for more learning over long periods of time.
Potential message to students:
Do you think the chimps are just getting better at physically using sticks or do you think their brains are problem-solving to improve tool use? Do you think each generation of apes passes these learnings on to offspring, who improve the tool use even more?
Touchpoint 3
New heart, new you? Can organ transplant change who we are?
What is it?
Patients who get organ transplants believe the new organ has an effect on their personality. They believe they take on some of the interests or behaviors of those who donate the organ to them.
Potential message to students:
Do you believe there are hormones or molecules in the donated organ that change the recipient? Do you think transplant patients are so grateful to be alive that they just change themselves?