Spiking silicon Researchers get spiking neural behavior out of a pair of transistors New approach to improving AI performance turns a silicon problem into a feature. John Timmer Mar 27, 2025 11:32 am | 4 Credit: jxfzsy Credit: jxfzsy Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreThe growing energy use of AI has gotten a lot of people working on ways to make it less power hungry. One option is to develop processors that are a better match to the sort of computational needs of neural networks, which require many trips to memory and a lot of communication between artificial neurons that might not necessarily reside on the same processor. Termed "neuromorphic" processors, this alternative approach to hardware tends to have lots of small, dedicated processing units with their own memory and an extensive internal network connecting them.Examples like Intel's Loihi chips tend to get competitive performance out of far lower clock speeds and energy use, but they require a lot of silicon to do so. Other options give up on silicon entirely and perform the relevant computation in a form of phase change memory.A paper published in Nature on Wednesday describes a way to get plain-old silicon transistors to behave a lot like an actual neuron. And unlike the dedicated processors made so far, it only requires two transistors to do so.Punching throughThe new work was done by a collaboration between researchers in Saudi Arabia and Singapore. Their goal was to simplify the basic requirements for neuromorphic computing down from the sorts of things being done by Intel, while at the same time keeping it compatible with existing silicon technology. To do so, they relied on a phenomenon that's typically considered a problem during the operation of normal silicon processors.Specifically, the researchers operate a transistor under what are called "punch-through conditions." This happens when charges build up in a semiconductor in a way that can allow bursts of current to cross through the transistor even when it's in the off state. Normally, this is considered a problem, so processors are made so that this doesn't occur. But the researchers recognized that a punch-through event would look a lot like the spike of a neuron's activity.The team found that, when set up to operate on the verge of punch-through mode, it was possible to use the gate voltage to control the charge build-up in the silicon, either shutting the device down or enabling the spikes of activity that mimic neurons. Adjustments to this voltage could allow different frequencies of spiking. Those adjustments could be made using spikes as well, essentially allowing spiking activity to adjust the weights of different inputs.With the basic concept working, the team figured out how to operate the hardware in two modes. In one of them, it acts like an artificial synapse, capable of being set into any of six (and potentially more) weights, meaning the potency of the signals it passes on to the artificial neurons in the next layer of a neural network. These weights are a key feature of neural networks like large language models.But when combined with a second transistor to help modulate its behavior, it was possible to have the transistor act like a neuron, integrating inputs in a way that influenced the frequency of the spikes it sends on to other artificial neurons. The spiking frequency could range in intensity by as much as a factor of 1,000. And the behavior was stable for over 10 million clock cycles.All of this simply required standard transistors made with CMOS processes, so this is something that could potentially be put into practice fairly quickly.Pros and consSo what advantages does this have? It only requires two transistors, meaning it's possible to put a lot of these devices on a single chip. "From the synaptic perspective," the researchers argue, "a single device could, in principle, replace static random access memory (a volatile memory cell comprising at least six transistors) in binarized weight neural networks, or embedded Flash in multilevel synaptic arrays, with the immediate advantage of a significant area and cost reduction per bit."That also has obvious consequences for energy use, since you'll need to use far less hardware to get very high counts of artificial neurons. The authors estimate that the energy requirements are similar to some of the implementations that rely on memristors, which don't require any energy to be maintained.That said, things aren't quite as simple as "you only need two transistors." A chip that relies on these devices will also need hardware that controls their state and potentially resets it quite often. While a stability of 10 million clock cycles sounds good, a lot of current hardware operates at speeds that mean this would lose state multiple times a second. (Although, to be fair, neuromorphic processors tend to run at far lower clock speeds.) There's also the issue of communications; the spikes have to be sent somewhere to matter, so any chip based on this system would need to keep track of where and have access to a communication mesh that would get the spikes there.The other issue is the fact that these work via spiking rather than simply sending on some sort of numerical output. It's possible to get pretty much any neural network to run as a spiking neural network, but there are some significant challenges, like converting the input into a series of spikes in the first place. Performance isn't always as good as you'd get from a non-spiking network in every use case, as well.Still, given the fact that the energy use of AI is putting us at greater risk of blowing past all of our climate targets, it's probably a good thing to have as many options as we can get to cut down on the energetic cost.Nature, 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08742-4 (About DOIs).John TimmerSenior Science EditorJohn TimmerSenior Science Editor John is Ars Technica's science editor. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. When physically separated from his keyboard, he tends to seek out a bicycle, or a scenic location for communing with his hiking boots. 4 Comments

Peatlands such as Mnnikjrve bog in Estonia are important carbon sinksVincent JasseyMicrobes in carbon-rich soils ramp up their rate of photosynthesis in warmer conditions, suggesting current climate models may be overestimating the total emissions expected from degrading landscapes as the climate warms.As the world warms, natural ecosystems like peatlands and permafrost are expected to start rapidly releasing stored carbon dioxide as microbial activity shifts in their soils. These environments could be huge sources of future emissions, with estimates suggesting the northern hemisphere stores 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon in permafrost, while the worlds peatlands

Quantum computers theoretically offer advantages over ordinary machinesQuantinuumQuantum computers could soon be able to solve genuinely useful mathematical problems faster than classical computers, claims quantum computing firm Quantinuum. It would be the first example of these exotic machines showing a true advantage over ordinary devices.Such problems relate to a branch of mathematics called knot theory, which is used to classify knots by the number and nature of the points at which they cross over. The concept has been applied to cryptography, physics and molecular biology; it has even been suggested as a way for spacecraft to navigate

Elon Musk at a White House press briefing with Donald Trump in February, 2025. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images 2025-03-27T16:36:44Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? The Trump administration announced a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles on Wednesday.Tesla is a winner from the tariffs because its US market vehicles are made domestically.Most competitors import at least some of their vehicles to the US.President Donald Trump's new 25% tariffs on imported passenger vehicles, which analysts at JP Morgan have called "draconian," sent shares of Ford, GM, and Stellantis plummeting Thursday morning.While there are still unknowns about how the rules will be enforced, there's one clear winner: Tesla. The EV maker's stock shot up by 4% in trading on Thursday.So why are tariffs, which Wall Street believes could cost the auto industry as much as $82 billion and slash earnings at Detroit's Big Three by up to 60%, such a potential boon for Tesla?Despite its global manufacturing footprint, including assembly plants in Germany and China, Tesla's vehicles sold in the US are made domestically at its factories in California and Texas. Trump and Musk stand next to a Tesla Model S at the White House. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images The Model Y SUV, Tesla's most popular product, will be a big beneficiary of that US production, as close to 50% of its rivals could be subject to tariffs, TD Cowen analysts said in a note to clients.Competitors like Ford and GM could see an additional $4,000 to $5,000 of input costs per vehicle when the tariffs take effect on April 3, UBS analysts estimated.While previously proposed auto tariffs covered primarily imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, the Trump administration has now expanded the scope to include imports from all countries, with some carve-outs for parts covered under the USCMA trade agreement.As are result, Chevrolets and Buicks from South Korea and Dodges from Italy are now subject to 25% tariffs. That's on top of the tariffs on non-US-produced vehicles from foreign automakers.It's all likely welcome news for Tesla, which is facing declining sales and pushback against CEO Elon Musk's highly visible role within the Trump Administration.Trump has been a supporter of the brand and publicly announced the purchase of a new Tesla Model S sedan at a White House press event with Musk earlier in March.However, Trump said he did not consult Musk on the auto tariff out of concern there may be a conflict of interest.Recommended video

Imogen Faith Reid plays Natalia Grace Barnett. Disney 2025-03-27T16:36:18Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Imogen Faith Reid stars as Natalia Grace Barnett in Hulu's new show "Good American Family."It's the first acting role for Reid, who was discovered through an international search.Reid's costar told BI she was a bright light on set, and the creators instantly knew she was right for the part.Hulu's latest series dives deep into the twist-filled story of Natalia Grace Barnett."Good American Family" is a fictionalized drama about the Ukrainian orphan who was accused by her adoptive parents, Kristine and Michael Barnett, of being an adult posing as a child. Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass play the Barnetts, whose perspectives take center stage in the early episodes of the season that premiered on March 19.Pompeo and Duplass are seasoned actors, but a complete newcomer was cast opposite them as the figure at the heart of the series and she's stealing every scene she's in.Here's what to know about Imogen Faith Reid, the breakout star who plays Natalia Grace on the new show.Imogen Faith Reid was the first person cast for 'Good American Family' Natalia Grace's adoption is portrayed in Hulu's "Good American Family." Disney/Ser Baffo "Good American Family" has been in development since 2020, when series creator and co-showrunner Katie Robbins was first approached by Hulu to develop a scripted series about Natalia's story. When the streamer finally ordered the show to series, it was contingent on casting Natalia.Robbins and her team cast a wide net to find the right Natalia, embarking on an international search. Reid, a UK-based actor who had only done some body-double and stand-in work before, submitted a self-tape. Robbins was impressed by the shades Reid brought to the character and knew instantly that the young actor had something special."It was that kind of moment where you see her and you're just like, this person is a star," Robbins told BI.After a series of callbacks, all over Zoom, Reid landed the role. Finding out she got the part was "surreal," as she'd assumed she wouldn't get the role since it was based in the US.Reid said Disney, which owns Hulu, hooked her up with an acting coach. She also worked with a dialect coach to learn Natalia's American accent.Unlike the real Natalia, who was a child during the events of the series, Reid is 27 years old. Robbins recalled that the team had many conversations before they decided to cast an adult, largely because the perspective-shift format of the show required Reid to play multiple (and sometimes very mature) versions of Natalia."She's playing a version from Kristine and Michael's perspective in which she appears to be an adult. She's playing a version of herself from Natalia's perspective in which she is a child," Robbins said. "The role demanded such emotional vulnerability and goes to such dark places that the idea of casting a young person in that role felt not right."Robbins said it was also important for them to cast authentically. Natalia has a form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita. Duplass told Today.com that Reid has a different type of dwarfism and had to work with a movement coach to learn how to move like Natalia.Reid told Today that she could relate to Natalia as a fellow little person. "I understand the daily struggles that we go through and the judgment that we perceive in everyday life," Reid said.Reid hasn't spoken to the real Natalia Grace The real Natalia Grace (left) and Reid (right). Investigation Discovery; Disney/Ser Baffo While some true-crime dramas have input from the real people they're based on, "Good American Family" doesn't. The showrunners and Reid confirmed they weren't able to speak with Natalia Grace. Robbins said they would have loved to speak to her, but it just "wasn't possible."Reid wasn't familiar with Natalia's story before working on the show, so she dove into research and developed her own version of the character. Despite not speaking to Natalia, she emphasized how important it was to her to fight for justice for the woman she was playing."Throughout the show, my passion for Natalia, for my version of Natalia, just grew stronger and stronger," Reid said. "I was so passionate about portraying this character and just wanting the empowerment and the fight for justice and for her story to be seen and heard."Reid was starstruck working with 'Grey's Anatomy' actor Ellen Pompeo Imogen Faith Reid, Ellen Pompeo, and Mark Duplass star in Hulu's "Good American Family." Disney/Ser Baffo After she was cast in "Good American Family," Reid posted the news on Instagram and shared how thrilled she was to work with Pompeo. Even now, Reid, a major "Grey's Anatomy" fan, still can't believe she got to work with Meredith Grey herself and said that it surpassed her expectations.Pompeo was a critical part of the experience for Reid, who praised her as an invaluable mentor."'Grey's Anatomy' was like my comfort show. So to have someone from my comfort show playing my mom was so surreal," Reid told BI. "And Ellen was just such an amazing mentor for me as a person who's just started out. She would remind me that I have a voice, I can speak up."The 'Good American Family' showrunners and Reid's costars praised the star Reid gives a multifaceted performance as Natalia Grace. Ser Baffo/Disney Robbins said she was "astounded" by Reid's performance as multiple versions of Natalia when they got to work on set."Immy, perhaps most of all, cares so deeply about doing justice to this story and worked so hard and gave so much of herself," she told BI. "There is such vulnerability in this performance."Duplass also sang Reid's praises, recalling how the younger actor brought a sense of infectious joy to the set. In particular, he said working with her reminded him of when he was new to the craft himself."Immy was such a bright light," he told BI. "Ellen and I have been doing this for a long time and we're so grateful for our jobs. But real talk for a second, you get grumpy, you get used to it, and you lose your ability to truly appreciate the space that you're in.""Then you get to see Immy, who is showing you and reminding you what it was like when I was at the Sundance Film Festival with my first $3 independent film when I was 25 years old. And I remember how grateful I need to be to be here. And every day she brought that to me and it was a real, real gift.""Thank you. I was just annoying," Reid joked in response."Good American Family" airs weekly on Wednesdays on Hulu.Recommended video

The Nintendo Switch 2 event is just days away, but today's Nintendo Direct was a more than fitting sendoff for the 2017 original and shows that the company's portfolio has never been strongerTech15:22, 27 Mar 2025The Switch has been a huge success for Nintendo(Image: Future via Getty Images)We were worried that today's Nintendo Switch Direct would feel a bit like having a good support band before the headliner fun, but a feeling of wanting it to be over.In Switch terms, that headliner is the Nintendo Switch 2 event which is happening next week, but instead this latest Switch 1 focused event felt a lot like a celebration.Article continues belowWhile we await the new console's preorder time, price and release date for next week, the appearance of Pokemon Legends Z-A, Metroid Prime 4, and some surprise returning favourites showed there's plenty to look forward to even if you're not looking to buy the new console.Today's Nintendo Direct had a little bit of everything you'd expect from the format which Nintendo has stuck to since 2011.There are your classic RPG remasters with SaGa Frontier 2 and Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD 2D, a smattering of slice-of-life sims like Tamagotchi Plaza and Story of Seasons Grand Bazaar, and surprise releases launching today like Rift of the Necrodancer.Mind you, I'm not sure anyone could have predicted we'd get a dark, sci-fi version of Pac-Man that appears to be a Metroidvania with Shadow Labyrinth.The Switch 2 is tipped for a June releaseThen there's Nintendo's own exclusives, with a new Pokemon Legends: Z-A trailer, a fresh look at Metroid Prime 4, and the return of Tomodachi Life in 2026.Even with no Mario and no Zelda, the whole thing just felt inherently Nintendo, aided by the company randomly confirming a much-requested Switch 2 feature and a Nintendo-focused news app coming to smartphones.It's a reminder that, despite the company's rough times, there's nothing quite like a Nintendo Direct even if you don't find anything for you.It is curious that Nintendo still has Metroid Prime 4 slated for '2025' but with no firmer date, but for our money, we're still convinced it's a cross-generation Switch 2 launch title and we'd be very, very surprised not to see it again in just a few days.Until then, I'm going to rewatch that trailer another dozen times. Don't tell my boss, yeah?Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

The new Virtual Game Card system that Nintendo announced at today's Nintendo Direct is a huge boon for Switch 2 buyers and shows Nintendo being ahead of the curveTech14:45, 27 Mar 2025Expect a whole host of news on April 2The Nintendo Switch 2 will be fully revealed in just a few days, but we got a sneak peek from today's Nintendo Direct that aired today.Virtual Game Cards will help Switch owners move their games between multiple consoles, something fans have been begging for in recent years. If your household has multiple Nintendo Switch systems, you'll know the challenges of digital game sharing.Article continues belowSo, as we wait for the Switch 2 console's price and preorder time, this has given us more confidence that Nintendo is taking things like digital ownership and quality-of-life systems more seriously than we had perhaps expected.Here's how the new system works.Content cannot be displayed without consentNintendo has compared the process of moving digital games via Virtual Game Cards as being like loaning a physical card to your friend or family member.The update, which is slated for late April, will allow Switch players the opportunity to manage digital games on a new Virtual Game Card screen on Nintendo Switch.From here, these can be sent to friends and family via a local wireless connection, but you can only lend a single game at a time.It's a reasonable limitation, however, but should help your kids both get a chance to play the same game (albeit not at the same time), or you and your partner or housemate to enjoy each other's games.The Switch 2 is tipped for a June releaseIt's a huge boon, and comes at the perfect time. With the Switch 2 on the horizon and many gamers likely to hand their current console down to their kids or someone else, you can rest safe knowing they can try out your games.You can share items freely between consoles under the same account, and you'll only need a direct connection the first time.Lending games to family members on their own consoles only lasts for two weeks, at which case the game will revert back to the original purchaser.Article continues belowFor more on Switch 2, be sure to check out all we know about how the console could use AI, and a report it could already be on US soil.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

Did anybody have these on their bingo card? (YouTube)Rumours of a niche Nintendo franchise being brought back for the original Switch have proven true in fact theres going to be two of them.With the Nintendo Switch 2 showcase happening next week, the annoucement of a surprise Nintendo Direct for the current Switch, on Thursday, was something of a shock.Although, when rumours of a Switch 1 focused showcase first made the rounds last month, it was suggested that Nintendos big announcement would be a new entry in a beloved niche franchise.Turns out that wasnt entirely accurate. Not because an announcement didnt take place, but because Nintendo is bringing back not one but two of its lesser-known franchises to Switch.The first is Rhythm Paradise (aka Rhythm Heaven and RhythmTengoku), which is a series of quirky rhythm games thats been around since 2006. While weve always prefered Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, Rhythm Paradise is still an incredibly charming series and one deserving of a new game.Entries have been few and far between though, with the most recent entry being 2016s Rhythm Heaven Megamix for the Nintendo 3DS. The series was long overdue a Switch entry and now its getting one with Rhythm Paradise Groove.The second comeback is even more of a surprise and something Nintendo deemed worthy of serving up as the final game reveal of the Direct: a Tomodachi Life sequel.If youre unfamiliar with it, Tomodachi Life is kind of like Nintendos take on The Sims, but with the Mii characters. Its only ever had two games (one of which was Japanese only), with the last one coming out for the 3DS in 2014.While amusing in places, we werent particularly enamoured with it due to how little interaction it offered. But its not without its fans and Nintendo clearly thinks theres enough of an audience to give it a Switch sequel.What is Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream on Nintendo Switch?Titled Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream, it promises to retain the same wacky sense of humour, although it looks like it could have a larger scale than its predecessor, thanks to its new island setting.At the very least, it should feature an option for same sex romances between Miis. This was something the 3DS game omitted, which drew enough controversy for Nintendo to promise it would rectify this if it ever made a sequel.More TrendingInterestingly, both games are slated for 2026, even though the Switch 2 will be out later this year, possibly in June. This just goes to show that Nintendo wont be completely ditching the original Switch any time soon; something it had already promised beforehand.Theres been no mention of whether the two games will see dedicated Switch 2 versions, although they probably dont need them since theyre not the most graphically intensive of games.Aside from these two, the only other Switch 1 games Nintendo has left are Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokmon Legends Z-A. Both games also appeared during todays Direct, but they still dont have exact release dates.Other surprise announcements included ports of the first two Patapon games and a new Everybodys Golf; both of which are PlayStation franchises published by Sony. These guys look like how Smash Bros. and Zelda fans must feel right now (YouTube)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Two PlayStation exclusives coming to Nintendo Switch as Sony goes multiformatGameCentralPublished March 27, 2025 3:28pmUpdated March 27, 2025 3:28pm Now that was unexpected (Bandai Namco)The Switch 1 Nintendo Direct has been party to some shock announcements, as Sony follows Xboxs lead in terms of multiformat releases.Nobody knew what to expect from Thursdays surprise Nintendo Direct, which was focused on the original Switch console, but going in there were some vague rumours, the two main ones of which turned out to be true.One suggested that Nintendo was bringing back a niche franchise, which they are (in fact, theyre bringing back two) and another that there would be a game that will cause a lot of conversation and its not necessarily a Nintendo one.That also turned out to be true. But while some had speculated that it would prove to be an Xbox exclusive, perhaps Halo, that wasnt the case at all. Instead, it was two former PlayStation exclusives: Patapon and Everybodys Golf.The irony is, there were no Microsoft games featured at all, in the 30 minute long showcase. Instead, the first annoucement was Patapon 1+2 Replay, which will be released on PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.Itll be published by Bandai Namco on Switch, so that will mean that, like Lego Horizon Adventures, Sony themselves wont be publishing games on a rival format. Although you can see their copyright details onscreen in the Nintendo Direct.It was thought that Lego Horizon Adventures may have been an exception, since Sony wanted to widen the audience for the Horizon franchise and they knew a Lego game would sell better on the Switch (in fact, the game was a flop on every format).But now we see that it was actually the vanguard of a new policy. Although, as with everything from Sony in the last few years, they havent actually communicated what theyre doing and theres no clue what, if any, other games will also be going multiformat.As with Lego Horizon Adventures, the two games will not be released on Xbox. The implication is that Sony sees Nintendo as less of a direct rival, although the declining sales of Xbox hardware probably made that a relatively easy decision.The first two Patapon games were originally released for the PSP in the mid-2000s and are a well regarded mixture of rhythm action and real-time strategy, as you control a tribe of warlike beings as the fight from left to right across the screen.Although the games are fondly remembered by many (theres an indie homage called Ratatan due out this year) they were never massive sellers, with 2011s Patapon 3 being the final entry.As for Everybodys Golf, thats been a PlayStation exclusive since 1997, originally developed by Mario Golf creators Camelot and thereafter by Clap Hanz.More TrendingThe PlayStation 5 is the first Sony console not to have a new mainline entry but thats presumably what Everybodys Golf Hot Shots is intended to be.Itll be released for PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch, although again the Switch version will be published by Bandai Namco.Everybodys Golf Hot Shots doesnt have a release date but Patapon 1+2 Replay will launch on July 11 (July 10 on PC). What is going on? (Bandai Namco)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Science & technology | Hunt for the red-hot OctoberClimate change may make it harder to spot submarinesThe sound of their engines will not travel as farPhotograph: U.S Navy photo Mar 27th 2025THE PENTAGON does not do climate-change crap, said Pete Hegseth, Donald Trumps defence secretary, on March 9th. We do training and warfighting. Fair enough. But a new NATO study illustrates how closely the two are linked.Explore moreThis article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline Hunt for the red-hot OctoberFrom the March 29th 2025 editionDiscover stories from this section and more in the list of contentsExplore the editionReuse this content