logo
Studying a galaxy far, far away could become easier with help from AI, says researcher

Studying a galaxy far, far away could become easier with help from AI, says researcher

Yahoo3 days ago
A recent Memorial University of Newfoundland graduate says his research may help study galaxies more efficiently — with help from Artificial Intelligence.
As part of Youssef Zaazou's master's of science, he developed an AI-based image-processing technique that generates predictions of what certain galaxies may look like in a given wavelength of light.
"Think of it as translating galaxy images across different wavelengths of light," Zaazou told CBC News over email.
He did this by researching past methods for similar tasks, adapting current AI tools for his specific purposes, finding and curating the right dataset to train the models, along with plenty of trial and error.
"Instead of … having to look at an entire region of sky, we can get predictions for certain regions and figure out, 'Oh this might be interesting to look at,'" said Zaazou. "So we can then prioritize how we use our telescope resources."
Zaazou recently teamed up with his supervisors Terrence Tricco and Alex Bihlo to co-author a paper on his research in The Astrophysical Journal, which is published by The American Astronomical Society.
Tricco says this research could also help justify allocation of high-demand telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope, which has a competitive process to assign its use.
A future for AI in astronomy
Both Tricco and Zaazou emphasised the research does not use AI to replace current methods but to augment them.
Tricco says that Zaazou's findings have the potential to help guide future telescope development, and predict what astronomers might expect to see, making for more efficient exploration.
Calling The Astrophysical Journal the "gold standard" for astronomy journals in the world, Tricco hopes the wider astronomical community will take notice of Zaazou's findings.
"We want to have them be aware of this because as I was mentioning, AI, machine learning, and physics, astronomy, it's still very new for physicists and for astronomers, and they're a little bit hesitant about these tools," said Tricco.
Tricco praised the growing presence of space research in general at Memorial University.
"We are here, we're doing great research," he said.
He added growing AI expertise is also transferable to other disciplines.
"I think that builds into our just tech ecosystem here as well."
'Only the beginning'
Though Zaazou's time as a Memorial University student is over, he hopes to see research in this area continue to grow.
"I'm hoping this is the beginning of further research to be done," he said.
Though Zaazou described his contribution to the field as merely a "pebble," he's happy to have been able to do his part.
"I'm an astronomer. And it just feels great to be able to say that and to be able to have that little contribution because I just love the field and I'm fascinated by everything out there," said Zaazou.
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Taiwan plans AI projects to boost economy by $510 billion
Taiwan plans AI projects to boost economy by $510 billion

Yahoo

time9 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Taiwan plans AI projects to boost economy by $510 billion

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan plans to launch its "Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects" initiative, aimed at generating more than T$15 trillion ($510 billion) in economic value by 2040 as it strives to become a global leader in artificial intelligence. Premier Cho Jung-tai said in a Facebook post late on Tuesday that Taiwan aims to leverage its information and communications technology (ICT) sector and world-leading semiconductor manufacturing capabilities to become a global AI influencer and a "smart technology island." Under the initiative, Taiwan has identified three core technologies as strategic priorities: silicon photonics, quantum technology and AI robotics. Silicon photonics is a technology that Taiwan's TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, and many other firms in the industry are actively developing. The government aims to position Taiwan as a global leader in silicon photonics by aligning the sector with future AI development needs. Taiwan also hopes to become a key hub for AI robotics by tapping its hardware and ICT supply chains. Industry groups, including one led by Foxconn Chairman Young Liu, have backed the move with the formation of the Taiwan AI Robotics Industry Grand Alliance on Tuesday to support the local development of AI robotics and related ecosystems. Taiwan also plans to establish a quantum technology industry chain. The 10 projects also include the development of sovereign AI - ability to build and control domestic AI technologies - and computing infrastructure, efforts to balance AI development across different regions of the island, and the introduction of AI across a wide range of industries. The government also calls for expanding investment in AI innovation, with more than T$100 billion ($3.08 billion) in venture capital funding, as it seeks to become a global hub for AI talent and investment. The initiative targets the creation of 500,000 jobs and the establishment of three international-level research laboratories.

The Northern Lights May Dazzle Across 14 States Tonight—Are You in One of Them?
The Northern Lights May Dazzle Across 14 States Tonight—Are You in One of Them?

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

The Northern Lights May Dazzle Across 14 States Tonight—Are You in One of Them?

Here's when to see the dazzling display. If you're located in the northern U.S., you might be able to catch a spectacular light show tonight. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center, the northern lights will be visible in the northernmost parts of the U.S. as well as central Canada on July 22. The forecast predicts a minor geomagnetic storm, measured at a value of G1. Geomagnetic storms are ranked from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme), with G1 storms producing auroras that are visible at higher latitudes like northern Michigan and Maine. The NOAA also predicts that the Kp index will reach a peak of 5. The Kp Index is a numeric scale, ranging from 0 to 9, that measures geomagnetic activity. According to NOAA, higher Kp values increase the likelihood of seeing auroras at lower latitudes. Because of these conditions, 14 states have a chance of spotting the aurora borealis tonight, including, Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The geomagnetic conditions, which are caused by a stream of solar wind emanating from a coronal hole in the sun's outer atmosphere, are expected to persist through Thursday, according to NOAA. Areas far from light pollution are likely to offer the best views. Also, you'll want to head out during astronomical twilight—when the sky is dark enough that faint stars and celestial objects become visible—to spot the northern lights. Check to see when your area will experience this period. Read the original article on Martha Stewart Solve the daily Crossword

Return of wolves to Yellowstone has led to a surge in aspen trees unseen for 80 years
Return of wolves to Yellowstone has led to a surge in aspen trees unseen for 80 years

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Return of wolves to Yellowstone has led to a surge in aspen trees unseen for 80 years

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Yellowstone's wolves are helping a new generation of young aspen trees to grow tall and join the forest canopy — the first new generation of such trees in Yellowstone's northern range in 80 years. Gray wolves (Canis lupus) had disappeared from Yellowstone National Park by 1930 following extensive habitat loss, human hunting and government eradication programs. Without these top predators, populations of elk (Cervus canadensis) grew unfettered. At their peak population, an estimated 18,000 elk ranged across the park, chomping on grasses and shrubs as well as the leaves, twigs and bark of trees like quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). This stopped saplings from establishing themselves, and surveys in the 1990s found no aspen saplings. "You had older trees, and then nothing underneath," Luke Painter, an ecologist at Oregon State University and lead author of the new study, told Live Science. But when wolves were reintroduced in 1995, the picture began to change. As wolf numbers rose, the elk population in the park dropped sharply, and it is now down to about 2,000. In the new study, published Tuesday (July 22) in the journal Forest Ecology and Management, Painter and his colleagues surveyed aspen stands — specific areas of the forest where these trees grow. Related: Reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone helped entire ecosystem thrive, 20-year study finds The team returned to three areas surveyed in 2012 to examine changes to aspen sapling numbers. Of the 87 aspen stands studied, a third had a large number of tall aspen saplings throughout, indicating the trees are healthy and growing. Another third of the stands had patches of tall saplings. "We're seeing significant new growth of young aspen and this is the first time that we've found it in our plots," Painter said. These are young aspen with a trunk greater than 2 inches (5 centimetres) in diameter at chest height — which haven't been seen there since the 1940s, he added. "It doesn't mean that they're not going to get killed or die from something, but it's a pretty good indication that we're getting some new trees," Painter noted. "As they get bigger, they get more resilient." Such trees are old enough to spread themselves, either by sending up new shoots from their roots a fair distance from the main tree, or via seed production, he said. However, while Yellowstone's quaking aspen are recovering, they aren't out of the woods just yet. The elk population has declined, but bison (Bison bison) numbers have increased in some areas in recent years. Bison are a lot harder for wolves to take down, said Painter, so increasing numbers of bison may be emerging as a new constraint on aspen in some areas. Painter said that the variation in aspen recovery shows the effects of reintroducing a big predator to the top of the food chain, rather than to changes in the overall climate, for example. The re-emergence of aspen has widespread effects, he told Live Science. "Aspen are a key species for biodiversity. The canopy is more open than it is with conifers and you get filtering light that creates a habitat that supports a lot of diversity of plants." This means a boost to berry-producing shrubs, insects and birds and also species like beavers, because the trees are a preferred food and building material for the semi- aquatic rodents, along with the willows and cottonwoods that grow near to water in the region. RELATED STORIES —Yellowstone's 'queen of the wolves' killed by rival pack after living to 11 years old and having 10 litters of pups —Yellowstone National Park earthquake shakes hottest and oldest geothermal area —Giant coyote killed in southern Michigan turns out to be a gray wolf — despite the species vanishing from region 100 years ago There are also hints that the number of bears and cougars in the region have increased since wolves were introduced, Painter said, but it's not clear why. "The paper shows the important ecological benefits occurring from the restoration of wolves to Yellowstone National Park," Dominick Spracklen, a professor of biosphere-atmosphere interactions at the University of Leeds, U.K., who has studied the potential impacts of reintroducing wolves in Scotland, told Live Science. "Ecosystems that lack large carnivores are often increasingly out of balance," Spracklen said. "While reintroducing carnivores raises important challenges around human-wildlife coexistence, this work underscores the significant ecological benefits such restoration efforts can bring." Solve the daily Crossword

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store