Astronauts find their tastes dulled, and a VR ISS hints at why
The visual environment of the ISS seems to influence people's experience of food.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
65
Jacek Krywko
Associate Writer
Jacek Krywko is a freelance science and technology writer who covers space exploration, artificial intelligence research, computer science, and all sorts of engineering wizardry. He previously worked as a staff journalist at a science desk of Gazeta Wyborcza, one of the largest Polish newspapers, and his writing has been featured in Quartz and The Atlantic. He also coordinated projects contracted by ESA aimed at developing 3D printable compliant mechanisms and electrically triggered 4D printed actuators for space. Based in Olsztyn, Poland, Jacek spends his free time mountain-biking or trying to get out of Gold League 1 playing Protoss on the Starcraft 2 ladder.
Recent stories by
Jacek Krywko
We’re building nuclear spaceships again—this time for real
The military and NASA seem serious about building demonstration hardware.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
359
Researchers track individual neurons as they respond to words
When processing language, individual neurons respond to words with similar meanings.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
31
Giant salamander species found in what was thought to be an icy ecosystem
Found after its kind were thought extinct, and where it was thought to be too cold.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
27
Lightening the load: AI helps exoskeleton work with different strides
A model trained in a virtual environment does remarkably well in the real world.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
28
ChatGPT outperforms undergrads in intro-level courses, falls short later
Software that promises to detect AI-produced text fails to deliver.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
106
Saturn’s moon Titan has shorelines that appear to be shaped by waves
The liquid hydrocarbon waves would likely reach a height of a meter.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
71
DARPA’s planned nuclear rocket would use enough fuel to build a bomb
The US is still regulating some enriched uranium based on an analysis from the 1950s.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
133
Most Read
New camera design can ID threats faster, using less memory
New system is a mix of traditional camera and one that only highlights changes.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
83
Bizarre armor from Mycenaean Greece turns out to have been effective
People suspected the Dendra armor was ceremonial, but new tests show its utility.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
230
Whale songs have features of language, but whales may not be speaking
The features that whale calls share with language are very abstract.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
79
Nova explosion visible to the naked eye expected any day now
Sometime between May and September, a white dwarf is expected to go thermonuclear.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
91
Exploration-focused training lets robotics AI immediately handle new tasks
Maximum Diffusion Reinforcement Learning focuses training on end states, not process.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
26
Two seconds of hope for fusion power
A fusion reactor in San Diego surpasses a limit on plasma density.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
213
Tiny rubber spheres used to make a programmable fluid
The spheres collapse under pressure, giving the fluid very unusual properties.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
57
The largest marine reptile ever could match blue whales in size
Bones from the head of a reptile suggest a body that was well over 20 meters long.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
32
The best robot to search for life could look like a snake
Snaking into the ice on Enceladus might work better than drilling through it.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
29
After Concorde, a long road back to supersonic air travel
Supersonic flight without loud booms? NASA is working on that.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
246
Dogs’ brain activity shows they recognize the names of objects
Their reaction to the person naming an object might have masked signs of recognition.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
125
Seeding steel frames brings destroyed coral reefs back to life
It won't help with heat-driven bleaching, but other human damage can be fixed.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
52
Shields up: New ideas might make active shielding viable
Active shielding was first proposed in the '60s. We’re finally close to making it work.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
342
How would an AI turn out if you raised it like a child?
Stick a camera on a child, then feed what it captures to an AI, and it almost works.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
105
Can we drill for hydrogen? New find suggests additional geological source.
Problems at a chromium mine in Albania traced to nearly pure hydrogen in a fault.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
93
Building robots for “Zero Mass” space exploration
Ultra-lightweight building blocks can be assembled by simple robots.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
42
Definitely not Windows 95: What operating systems keep things running in space?
The updates don't come every spring and fall, but space operating systems keep evolving.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
127
Space-grade CPUs: How do you send more computing power into space?
Figuring out radiation was a huge "turning point in the history of space electronics."
Jacek Krywko
–
|
213
Deep space dial-up: How NASA speeds up its interplanetary communications
“Not much room to improve radio frequency tech... We're running out of low-hanging fruit."
Jacek Krywko
–
|
130
To make Curiosity (et al.) more curious, NASA and ESA smarten up AI in space
The future of deep-space exploration? "We can't deal with it without autonomy.”
Jacek Krywko
–
|
43
Siri can’t talk to me: The challenge of teaching language to voice assistants
Getting voice assistants to speak Slovakian first means getting better AI learning.
Jacek Krywko
–
|
87
The premature quest for AI-powered facial recognition to simplify screening
"This technology at the airport... is premature. It’s not the right way to go."
Jacek Krywko
–
|
46