UCF in the News

Scientists at the University of Central Florida are studying saliva from dementia patients to better understand how music can benefit aging brains. It’s no secret that music impacts people. Hearing a familiar song, especially one from your formative years, can bring back all sorts of memories. But there’s still a lot scientists don’t know about the effects of music, especially on people with dementia. Researchers at the University of Central Florida are hoping to learn more through a new partnership between UCF’s School of Performing Arts’ Pegasus String Quartet and the College of Medicine. On Friday, the Pegasus String Quartet will put on the second in a series of three concerts for dementia patients enrolled in a trial. The concerts are also open to the general public. For those enrolled in the trial, UCF scientists will take samples of saliva before and after the shows to see how the music affects their brains. “Nobody knows exactly how music affects your brain, because there's no way to look at your brain precisely (as music plays),” Dr. Kiminobu Sugaya, head of UCF’s neuroscience department and one of the researchers.

The excitement around artificial intelligence has already reached extraordinary heights, yet the world's richest tech leaders are now looking far beyond Earth. They believe the next generation of AI will demand such enormous computing power that traditional data centers may no longer be enough. This has pushed the idea of building data centers in outer space, and even on the Moon, into serious consideration. Currently, establishing data centers in space is extremely expensive. However, research by Phil Metzger, a former NASA scientist and professor at the University of Central Florida, indicates the business case could become viable within a decade. Metzger suggests that the energy demands of AI could accelerate the industrialization of space: "AI servers in space represent the first real business case that will lead to many more."

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a fun tool, it’s a force that’s reshaping how we work. A new Microsoft survey shows three out of four employees now use ai at their jobs, from writing and graphics to data analysis and diagnostics. But how is this powerful technology really affecting the workforce and what does it mean for your career? Research shows 75 percent of workers are already using AI tools in some capacity. “We think AI is here to stay and is going to change how we do business,” said Ivan Garibay, Professor of Industrial Engineering at the University of Central Florida. In a new report, researchers listed the top 40 jobs affected by AI. Rounding out the top five are: interpreters and translators, historians, people in customer service jobs, sales reps, and writers. “So, jobs, yes, phase out, will no longer exist in the new ai world, but many, many different jobs will be created. So, it’s our challenge to be future proof by having skills like critical thinking and knowing how to work with the ai as a collaborator,” explained Garibay.

Rosen College students are competing to send food that can be prepared in space.

SpaceX and Blue Origin push Florida’s Space Coast to unprecedented launch frequency as reusable rocket technology transforms the industryFlorida’s Space Coast is poised to shatter its annual orbital rocket launch record for the fourth consecutive year, with the unprecedented 94th liftoff scheduled to occur this weekend. The milestone demonstrates how reusable rocket technology has revolutionized the space industry and transformed the regional economy.