Frontiers

Large language models have been around for several years, but it wasn’t until 2023 that their presence became truly ubiquitous both within and outside machine learning communities. Previously opaque concepts like fine-tuning and RAG have gone mainstream, and companies big and small have been either building or integrating LLM-powered tools into their workflows.As we look ahead at what 2024 might bring, it seems all but certain that these models’ footprint is poised to grow further, and that alongside exciting innovations,…

Researchers in Finland have found that willow bark extract has potent antiviral properties against various viruses, including COVID-19 and enteroviruses, offering a promising basis for developing new antiviral treatments.Willow bark, already the origin of aspirin, could now be the key to a vital new antiviral medication.From seasonal colds to stomach bugs, it’s clear that viral infections are unwelcome and epidemics can have catastrophic impacts. To address future outbreaks, the development of safe and sustainable…

The reissue of Australian author Gerald Murnane’s fiction is introducing new readers to this most idiosyncratic and formally adventurous of novelists, now in his 80s. Postmodernism is at a nadir, but Murnane’s nested, self-reflexive narratives may be placed alongside the fabulations of Nabokov, Calvino and Borges, once grouped under that label. Murnane is known for not straying far from Goroke in Victoria – he is the anti-type of globe-trotting literary celebrity – but like those writers, and some of the modernists before…

Canadian researchers have found that women using Combined Oral Contraceptives (COCs) show changes in brain regions related to emotion regulation, raising concerns about the potential impact on brain development and emotional health. These effects may be reversible, highlighting the need for increased awareness and further research in this area.Scientists have discovered that the use of oral contraceptives may influence the morphology of brain regions related to fear. This finding could enhance our comprehension of…

PS Plus subscribers are counting down to the reveal of the Extra and Premium games for January 2024. The next batch of PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium titles will be unveiled in full at 4.30pm GMT UK time on the afternoon of January 10. The PS4 and PS5 games will be available to play less than a week later on the morning of January 16. Without any leaks to go by, fans have been attempting to predict the line-up ahead of the official Sony reveal.Indeed, in a popular but not particularly entertaining thread over on…

Avatar fans are very familiar with the Na’vi people of Pandora from the first two movies in James Cameron’s iconic franchise, but this is just the beginning.The game Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, released on December 7, is an open world action-adventure game, and introduces us to three new clans who live and thrive on Pandora.Without Jake Sully as the protagonist, there’s a new hero to follow as they discover more about Pandora - you.Watch the latest News on Channel 7 or stream for free on 7plus >>As the player of…

Since the original Avatar movie was released in 2009 fans have been captivated by the vibrancy and beauty of Pandora.Coinciding with the film’s release was a video game aptly titled Avatar: The Game.The original release was a third-person action game that had branching storylines, allowing you to play as either a human or Na’vi.Watch the latest News on Channel 7 or stream for free on 7plus >>But if reviews from the time are any indication, it was chalked up as a boring and uninspired gaming experience.The 2009 game…

Avatar: Frontiers of PandoraRating: 3/5Developer: Massive EntertainmentPublisher: UbisoftPlatform: PC, XBS, PS5Price: Rs 4,999 Frontiers of Pandora is not related to the movie; in fact, it takes place in a completely different area of Pandora. However, that doesn’t stop it from introducing familiar enemies, the gorgeous pandora landscape or the thrill of riding an ikran. The whole game starts when you are awoken from cryogenic suspension by Na’vi resistance fighters. You manage to escape the RDA forces and…

As a citizen of today, you enjoy several digital systems, be it smartphones, email, voice AI like Alexa, or IoT. If you are part of any digital system, you are vulnerable to a cyberattack. In an era dominated by interconnected systems, the constant threat of cyberattacks, and businesses and individuals increasingly relying on digital platforms, the need for robust defenses against cyber threats has never been more critical.In 2020, Air India, the country's flagship airline, fell victim to a cyberattack that compromised…

Scientists have discovered that methane trapped under Svalbard’s permafrost can escape, risking a warming cycle. Frequent methane accumulations found in wellbore studies highlight the potential for increased global warming as the permafrost thaws. Credit: SciTechDaily.com Scientists say vast quantities of methane may be trapped beneath the permafrost, and it could escape if it thaws.Studies in Svalbard have shown that methane is migrating beneath the permafrost. While lowland regions have ice-rich permafrost which acts as…