#University of Science and Technology of China

[thatshuffle]

A point-to-point long-distance quantum key distribution (QKD) over a distance of 1,002 km has been achieved by scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and their collaborators from Tsinghua University, Jinan Institute of Quantum Technology, and Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology (SIMIT), CAS. This milestone not only sets a new world record for non-relay QKD but also provides a solution for high-speed intercity quantum communication. The results were published in Physical Review Letters on May 25th.

QKD is based on the principles of quantum mechanics and enables secure key distribution between two remote parties. When combined with the "one-time pad" encryption method, it can achieve the highest level of security for confidential communication. However, the distance of QKD has been limited by factors such as the channel loss and system noise.

The twin-field QKD (TF-QKD) using sending-or-not-sending (SNS) protocol was demonstrated in the experiment, improving the relation between the key rate and channel transmittance from a linear η to its square root η. Therefore, it can achieve a much longer secure distance than traditional QKD protocols.

To achieve long-distance QKD, the research team collaborated with Yangtze Optical Fiber and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC) and used ultra-low-loss fiber based on pure silica core technology, which achieved a maximum attenuation of 0.16 dB/km. SIMIT developed ultra-low-noise superconducting single-photon detectors.

By implementing multiple filters at temperatures of 40 K and 2.2 K to suppress dark counts caused by thermal radiation, the noise of the single-photon detectors was reduced to around 0.02 cps. Furthermore, the team also developed a dual-band phase estimation scheme to avoid the spontaneous Raman scattering noise, reducing the system noise to below 0.01 Hz.

Based on the aforementioned technological developments, the team achieved TF-QKD over a record distance of 1,002 km, with a key rate of 0.0034 bps. This work not only verifies the feasibility of the SNS-TF-QKD scheme at extremely long distances but also demonstrates that this protocol can achieve high key rates in many practical scenarios.

The success of this study holds significant implications for the advancement of secure quantum communication. It opens up new possibilities for long-distance quantum key distribution and paves the way for the realization of high-speed intercity quantum communication networks.

[synthetic-soul]

"Jia Jia" from the University of Science and Technology of China

[joytherabbit]

[spacenutspod]

Astronomy Daily's Year-End Extravaganza! This episode of Astronomy Daily is packed with exciting space news, marking the end of 2023 with a bang!

Dream Chaser Takes Flight: Get ready for the first flight of Sierra Space's Dream Chaser spacecraft in 2024! Learn about its environmental testing and its role in transporting astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station.

Long March Reaches New Heights: China's Long March 5th rocket sets a new record with its extended fairing, boosting its capacity to carry larger payloads like the Yao-Gon 41 remote sensing satellite.

Listening to the Stars: Delve into the fascinating world of asterosysmology, where astronomers "listen" to the vibrations of stars to measure their distances with incredible accuracy. This technique helps calibrate data from ESA's Gaia mission and opens doors to understanding our place in the universe.

Bonus: Catch up on SpaceX's upcoming Falcon Heavy launch carrying the mysterious X-37B space plane and learn about its potential role in testing new space technologies.

For more Astronomy Daily the Podcast and to sign up for the daily newsletter, visit www.astronomydaily.io

[xtruss]

Washington Will Grow Increasingly Agitated As Its ‘Whack-A-Mole’ Containment Policy Exhausts

— Ding Gang | August 02 2023

Illustration: Chen Xia/Global Times

Many people enjoy playing the arcade game Whack-A-Mole. This game is characterized by the fact that, although you will get a high score in the allotted time, there will never be a complete victory, and the game seems to come to its end once the player is exhausted.

Washington's "Whack-A-Mole" containment policy is similar to a race against time, but time is clearly not on its side. The US is increasingly agitated by the exhaustion of such a policy.

China's manufacturing breakthroughs in various aspects are snowballing. The US is now facing not just one or a few major competitors, but rather a multitude of middleweight players that have quickly upgraded to heavyweight status.

Breakthroughs have occurred, from low-end toys and small electric appliances to high-end medical and mechanical equipment. Some of these breakthroughs are chip-related, but many more are chip-unrelated or use chips that China can manufacture independently.

I doubt whether the US has the "stamina" to continue to deal with the new battlefields popping up in all directions and engage in the no-end "war of science and technology."

According to the Biden administration's containment policy, there should be three phases: Firstly, deal a heavy blow to China's chip manufacturing, then restrain China's high-tech breakthroughs and development for a considerable period; and finally, enable the US to buy enough time to consolidate its global high-tech dominance and dominate the global market.

But time was not under Washington's control, and this containment policy has soon become exhausting.

Let's look at these new Chinese manufacturers that have emerged.

Firstly, China's production of new energy vehicles has had a significant impact on the global market. Some individuals in the US have expressed concerns that if not regulated, Chinese-made cars will dominate the streets of America. This is due to China's superior technology, such as advanced batteries, and their competitive pricing, which makes it challenging for the US to keep up.

Another area where China has shown technological superiority is the Chinese-made BeiDou system. The US National Space-based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board has warned that "GPS's capabilities are now substantially inferior to those of China's BeiDou."

Chips are what the US has stuck with and what it has a lot of. Still, Americans now fear China's massive investment in low- and mid-range chip manufacturing will eventually monopolize the entire market.

They believe that China would eventually isolate the high-end and make a breakthrough by encircling the low and mid-range. China is expected to soon be able to mass-produce 28nm chips, one of the most widely used worldwide and the most needed by the global manufacturing industry, including the US.

Of course, the US' biggest worry is whether China can independently develop and produce 5G chips. Will Huawei's upcoming phones be loaded with 5G chips? It's not confirmed yet, but speculation is already flying around, making Washington anxious. Some in the US Congress have chanted for stepping up comprehensive sanctions against Huawei.

More anxiety ensues.

China's breakthroughs in aircraft manufacturing, shipbuilding, high-speed rail, robotics, electronics, medical device manufacturing, agricultural technology, and many others will continue to grow, and the supply chains will expand in the coming years.

China's manufacturing breakthroughs to the high-end are inevitable at this stage. The US' containment has stimulated China to focus more on the high-end of the market and pay more attention to the low-end, mid-range innovation path.

The US has already experienced a period of explosive development, similar to what China is currently going through. Thanks to the information technology revolution, Washington has taken the lead in chip technology, computer usage, search engines, social media, big data and cloud computing. This wave of innovation has now reached China.

If the US attempts to hinder every innovation in Chinese manufacturing or any product that creates a dominant impact in the market and restricts those supply channels, Washington would need to excel in all manufacturing sectors.

However, achieving this objective is impractical. The politicians in Washington are relentlessly pursuing this unreachable aim. Let's see how things will develop.

— The Author is a Senior Editor with People's Daily, and currently a senior fellow with the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China.

[hrrtshape]

hi emma!!!! i loved reading all your historical drs, have you ever considered being a writer omg!!! i was wondering if you could do one of ancient china or ancient korea! i’ve been setting up a nobility dr for each!

also, i started burning incense while i take baths, and omg if that’s even kind of like what it was in babylon im so thrilled for you. i feel like a princess.

a guide on how to survive in ancient china.

hello, intrepid time traveler. i’m emma, your self-appointed shifting guidée and general lifeline as you hurl yourself into the vast, intricate, and utterly fascinating world of ancient china. this is not for the faint of heart, OK??? you are stepping into a civilisation spanning thousands of years, shifting (pun not intended) dynasties, and mind-bending customs. you need to be prepared. the great wall won’t save you, and confucius won’t be there to give you a pep talk. so i will.

your survival depends on understanding the nuances of daily life, from the silk-clad heights of imperial courts to the dusty roads of peasant villages. let’s get into it. how to dress, eat, navigate society, and, most importantly, how to not offend the wrong noble and end up in a very unfortunate situation (and by that, i mean executed).

꒰ 𝐝ynastic context . . .where are you in time?

ancient china isn’t just a single moment in history. it’s thousands of years of shifting rulers, laws, and customs. each period has its own political and cultural landscape, so research where you’re landing. here’s a quick guide to some of the major time periods you might find yourself in.

shang dynasty ( 1600 – 1046 bce ) : the bronze age, oracle bones, and human sacrifices. if you’re here, be careful. early china was intense.

zhou dynasty ( 1046 – 256 bce ) : the age of confucius, the mandate of heaven, and the rise of philosophy.

qin dynasty ( 221 – 206 bce ) : the first emperor, legalist rule, and the construction of the great wall. harsh punishments, so keep your head down.

han dynasty ( 206 bce – 220 ) : the golden age of china. silk road trade, confucian ideals, and thriving arts and sciences.

tang dynasty ( 618 – 907 ) : the height of chinese cultural brilliance. poetry, tea, and flourishing trade. if you’re here, congratulations. you’ve landed in one of the best times.

song dynasty ( 960 – 1279 ) : economic prosperity, gunpowder, and great advancements in technology. just watch out for the mongols.

 　　　　　 　　　　　 　　　　　┊

꒰ 𝐰hat to wear.

fabric and style : if you’re nobility, you’ll be wearing silk robes with intricate embroidery. if you’re a commoner, it’s hemp or cotton tunics and pants. men and women both wear hanfu, the traditional robe-like attire with wide sleeves and layered skirts. hair : hair is a BIG deal. long, neatly styled hair is a sign of respectability. women will have their hair pinned up with elaborate ornaments, while men tie theirs in a topknot or wear hats. colours : certain colours indicate status. yellow is reserved for the emperor, so do not wear it unless you want serious trouble. shoes : cloth or leather shoes for commoners, embroidered silk shoes for the wealthy. lotus shoes (for bound feet) exist but are not universal.

❛ pro tip from your travel guide ! clothes often reflect rank, so don’t dress above your station unless you want to get called out.

 　　　　　 　　　　　 　　　　　┊

꒰ 𝐡ygiene and personal care.

bathing : hot baths were a thing, especially for the wealthy, but commoners bathed in rivers or public bathhouses. soap existed, but herbal infusions were more common.

teeth cleaning : chew sticks made of aromatic wood or herbal pastes.

perfume and skincare : scented powders and oils made from flowers and herbs were common, especially among noblewomen.

toilets : public latrines existed, often near marketplaces. rich households had chamber pots.

 　　　　　 　　　　　 　　　　　┊

꒰ 𝐟ood and what you'll be eating.

staple foods : rice (southern china), millet and wheat (northern china), vegetables, and tofu.

meat or fish : pork was the most common, followed by chicken and duck. beef was rare due to buddhist influence.

street food : dumplings, noodles, and grilled skewers were available in bustling markets.

tea : a must-have, especially in later dynasties. if you’re in tang or song china, tea culture is booming.

chopsticks : learn how to use them. forks are not an option.

 　　　　　 　　　　　 　　　　　┊

꒰ 𝐦oney and shopping.

ancient china used copper coins with square holes in the centre, strung together for convenience. paper money appears in the song dynasty.

everything from silk to fresh produce to exotic spices can be found in bustling markets. bargaining is expected, so don’t accept the first price.

trade : silk, porcelain, and tea are major commodities. if you want to make money, consider trading luxury goods.

 　　　　　 　　　　　 　　　　　┊

꒰ 𝐬ocial class.

emperors or nobility : untouchable. bow deeply, avoid direct eye contact, and NEVER question them. scholars and officials : the ruling class of confucian-trained bureaucrats. respect them. merchants : despite their wealth, merchants were looked down upon as lower-class (confucian ideals valued scholars over businessmen). peasants and labourers : the majority of the population, hardworking and tied to their land. if you're asking what were women’s roles, it varies by dynasty, but generally, women are expected to be modest, obedient, and skilled in household arts.

❛ pro tip from your travel guide ! bowing is essential. use honourifics, speak respectfully, and never address a superior informally.

 　　　　　 　　　　　 　　　　　┊

꒰ 𝐩ersonal safety.

crime and punishment : punishments are often brutal, especially under legalist rule (think qin dynasty). avoid breaking the law.

superstitions : witchcraft accusations or defying social norms can be dangerous, especially for women.

if you're travelling, roads are dangerous, with bandits common in rural areas. if possible, travel with an armed escort.

military : avoid battles unless you’re a trained warrior. war is frequent between dynasties and neighbouring states.

 　　　　　 　　　　　 　　　　　┊

꒰ 𝐟inal tips for a successful integration.

please.....learn basic mandarin (or classical chinese). speaking the language is key. written chinese changes over time, so be aware of your era.

adopt confucian values, such as respect for elders, duty, and harmony are essential cultural pillars.

stay in your lane, because blending in is survival. don’t attract unnecessary attention.

rituals, festivals, and ancestral worship are vital parts of daily life. follow traditions.

if all else fails, claim to be a wandering scholar or lost noble (but tread carefully).

congratulations!!!! you now have the basic knowledge needed to navigate ancient china without causing a diplomatic incident. or worse, getting yourself executed. step lightly, speak wisely, and drink your tea politely. happy shifting, time traveler!!!!!

( p.s., the pretty dividers were inspired by the ever-so-lovely @solanasreality and i think @elysian-fawn 's beautiful creativity possessed as i edited this. so. )

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive

Some interesting science analyzed

BY BROOKS LEITNER

Imagine lying back in an enclosed chamber where you bask for 90 minutes in a sea of pure oxygen at pressures two to three times that felt at sea level. This is the world of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), a technology that’s been around for decades and is now being explored as a possible treatment for Long COVID.

"The silence on the inside is deafening at first,” says John M.,* who has undergone dozens of HBOT treatments for his persistent Long COVID symptoms. Fortunately, there is a television outside the chamber in view, and it is easy to communicate with the provider if needed. While the potential protocol is still being refined, patients may undergo up to 40 HBOT sessions to address some of the most problematic, lingering symptoms of this complex condition.

HBOT is a therapeutic process that has been widely used to treat such conditions as decompression sickness in scuba divers, carbon monoxide poisoning, and diabetic foot ulcers. In HBOT, the body is exposed to 100% oxygen, a significant increase from the 21% oxygen concentration we typically breathe. The therapy takes place in an enclosed chamber where the air pressure is elevated above normal levels. The combination of high-pressure and high-oxygen conditions enhances the amount of oxygen that can reach the body's tissues. The hope is that this therapy can provide the same relief and healing to people with Long COVID that it does for those with other conditions.

According to John M., HBOT was the first treatment that helped with his sleep and reduced his heart palpitations. “At one point after hospitalization, my Long COVID symptoms were so bad that I could barely walk or talk. HBOT was a great tool that really assisted with my recovery,” he said. John added that he hopes the medical community will achieve a better understanding of how HBOT can help relieve suffering for patients with Long COVID and that more research will increase access to this innovative therapy.

Does HBOT improve Long COVID symptoms? One key observation from the work of Inderjit Singh, MBChB, an assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) specializing in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, is that Long COVID patients often experience debilitating fatigue. Based on Dr. Singh’s previous Long COVID research, the exhaustion is thought to be linked to the muscles’ inability to efficiently extract and utilize oxygen.

To picture how HBOT might work, you can think of your muscles as engines sputtering, struggling to get the fuel they need. If oxygen is the gas that fuels the muscles, it’s as if you are trying to complete your daily routine while the gas tank is running on “empty.” By aiming to directly address this oxygen utilization impairment, HBOT may be a potential solution.

A systematic review by researchers at the China Medical University Hospital noted that HBOT could tackle another major factor in the Long COVID puzzle: oxidative stress. This relates to the body's struggle to maintain balance when harmful molecules, known as free radicals, run amok, causing chronic inflammation.

Research co-authored by Sandra K. Wainwright, MD, medical director of the Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Healing at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut, suggests that HBOT, with its high-oxygen environment, might dampen this chronic inflammation by improving mitochondrial activity and decreasing production of harmful molecules. Other potential benefits of HBOT in the treatment of Long COVID may include restoration of oxygen to oxygen-starved tissues, reduced production of inflammatory cytokines, and increased mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells—primary cells that transform into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

HBOT for Long COVID: Current and ongoing research Several small-scale reports have indicated that HBOT is safe for patients with Long COVID.

To address this question, a trial that followed the gold standard of modern medical research—a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind design—assigned 73 Long COVID patients to either receive 40 sessions of HBOT or a placebo of only 21% oxygen. The study observed positive changes in attention, sleep quality, pain symptoms, and energy levels among participants receiving HBOT. In a longitudinal follow-up study published in Scientific Reports, the authors at the Tel Aviv University found that clinical improvements persisted even one year after the last HBOT session was concluded. In a second study, the same authors focused on heart function, measured by an echocardiogram, and found a significant reduction in heart strain, known as global longitudinal strain, in patients who received HBOT.

In another study, 10 patients with Long COVID underwent 10 HBOT treatments over 12 consecutive days. Testing showed statistically significant improvement in fatigue and cognitive function. Meanwhile, an ongoing trial at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden has reported interim safety results wherein almost half of the Long COVID patients in the trial reported cough or chest discomfort during treatment. However, it was unclear whether HBOT exacerbated this symptom or if this adverse effect was due to the effort of participation by patients suffering from more severe Long COVID symptoms.

Is HBOT currently available as a treatment for Long COVID? For HBOT to become a mainstream treatment option for Long COVID, several critical priorities must be addressed. First, there is currently no established method for tailoring HBOT dosages to individual patients, so researchers must learn more about the specific features or symptoms that indicate potential benefits from HBOT. At the same time, we need to identify factors that may be associated with any adverse outcomes of HBOT. And finally, it’s important to determine how long these potentially beneficial effects last in a larger cohort. Will just a few HBOT trials be enough to restore patients to their baseline health, or will HBOT become a recurring component of their annual treatment regimen?

For now, HBOT remains an experimental therapy—and as such is not covered by insurance. This is a huge issue for patients because the therapy is expensive. According to Dr. Wainwright, a six-week course of therapy can run around $60,000. That’s a lot to pay for a therapy that’s still being studied. In the current completed studies, different treatment frequencies and intensities have been used, but it’s unclear how the treatment conditions affect the patient’s outcome.

“I have had some patients notice improvements after only 10 or 15 treatments, whereas some others need up to 45 treatments before they notice a difference,” notes Dr. Wainwright. “I think that HBOT is offering some promising results in many patients, but it is probably a strong adjunctive treatment to the other spectrum of things Long COVID patients should be doing, like participating in an exercise, rehab, and nutritional program.”

Dr. Singh notes that “a major challenge for research is the heterogeneity of Long COVID. It is hard to determine which symptoms to treat and enroll patients into trials based on them.”

Perhaps treatments that target multiple issues caused by Long COVID, like HBOT, may help overcome this challenge.

*Not his real name.

Brooks Leitner is an MD/PhD candidate at Yale School of Medicine.

The last word from Lisa Sanders, MD: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is just one of the many existing treatments that are being looked at to treat Long COVID. We see this with many new diseases—trying to use a treatment that is effective in one set of diseases to treat another. And there is reason for optimism: We know that HBOT can deliver high levels of oxygen to tissues in need of oxygen. That’s why it’s used to treat soft tissue wounds. If reduced oxygen uptake is the cause of the devastating fatigue caused by Long COVID, as is suggested by many studies, then perhaps a better delivery system will help at least some patients.

Studies referenced:

bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-023-08002-8

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8806311/

www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-53091-3

www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-15565-0

www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1354088/full

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11051078/#:~:text=Proposed%20Mechanism%20of%20HBOT%20o

[mindblowingscience]

A team of chemists and materials scientists at the National University of Singapore, working with colleagues from Manchester University, in the U.K., and Guangdong University of Technology, in China, has developed a type of sponge made of graphene oxide and chitosan, that can be used to extract gold from electronic waste. In their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes how they made their sponge and how well it worked during testing.

Continue Reading.

[risingshine]

@thesweetestsupervillains

"You are, but you're still slightly mistaken about how it all works." "There are two things acting on each other. There is the paradigm itself, and there is the tapestry, or how everything is connected together. So you could say it is like a filter, but the reality is different." "So when an individual, let's say a mage, decides to cast a fireball or turn lead into gold, they are pushing against reality. Now, in a magical paradigm, this is easy, and the tapestry is easier to push against and offers less resistance. In a technological paradigm, it's harder, and the various points that the individual is attached to are firmer, so it snaps back harder." "Of course, this applies to more than just magic and technology. If you took, say, an Aztec mage and dropped them in China, their magic would immediately give them the same backlash that using magic in a science paradigm does, because they're pulling very hard on things that are not willing to move." "In a similar vein, we have the guy who tried to stop world war one with airships and tesla coils, and reality stomped him into the ground because he was pushing things too much against a paradigm that refused to accept what he was doing." "So essentially, the tapestry is the universe; we're all connected to everything else. The paradigm is how malleable it is for us; is it unbending or is it something we can push against?"

"...I feel like I understand the point you are making, but your use of hte term of tapestry is now confusing me." its always one thing after the other with Iyana, unfortunatly.

"I understand the tapestry in the sense that everything is interconnected and influences eachother, to the point that nothing can be fully seperated from anything else - but where does a paradigm fit into it?

And why is it the thing we are pushing on? Surely trying to conjure fire doesn't influence bird migration patterns, right?"

[girlballs]

feel like posting about my Freaks but instead I'll post about the setting inhabited by my Freaks.

At The Arcane University takes place in 2053, in part of what used to be Wisconsin- the United States no longer exists as an entity, having been broken up after a second Cold War sort of situation around 2004 (the current big dog in town is China).

the titular Arcane University is part of an international organization called the Falke Institute, and the Madison campus is one of many around the world established to study magic- Campus 16 is by far the largest in terms of surface area and population, effectively being a self-sustaining city of about 90 thousand people.

magic has only really been properly understood as a science since about 1960, although its study has made it clear that magic has always been a subtle background element in human history. since the 60s, Aetheric Studies has led to massive advancements in essentially every other scientific discipline, from clean energy to agriculture to magnetic tape storage media.

Campus 16 (est. 2023) is partly an experiment by the F.I. to test a whole bunch of Aetheric technology mostly focused on sustainable food and energy production. everyone attending and working at the Arcane University is ultimately part of this experiment- students and staff are provided basically-free housing and amenities, with the understanding that everyone is expected to contribute to the common good and general campus upkeep.

given its size and enormous population for a university, Campus 16 is split into six Districts in an attempt to make management and coordination easier: the four main University Sub-Campuses (Allard, Hayes, Tai, and Belmonte, sometimes called Houses) which each contain student & staff housing, academic buildings, and various student services and recreational areas; the Daris District, a relatively small administrative area; and the Common District which encompasses the bulk of Campus 16's support infrastructure for food, power, transportation, etc.

some notable staff: Rector Ikaros Dume, head of the University Court; the four Housemasters: Deborah Kranz (Belmonte), Arran Darrow (Allard), Tugev Vasarraseppä (Tai), and Nalini Bhattacharya (Hayes); the Administrative Head of Housemasters, Raisa Böhmer; Tjeerd Geels, Chief Civil Engineer.

in addition to various magic disciplines, martial arts of various denominations are taught throughout Campus 16. every other winter season, there's a University-endorsed tournament arc.

okay that's it for tonight. maybe I'll post about my freaks tomorrow.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Researchers report January 30 in the Cell Press journal Joule that a more efficient and environmentally friendly form of refrigeration might be on the horizon. The new technology is based on thermogalvanic cells that produce a cooling effect by way of a reversible electrochemical reaction. Thermogalvanic refrigeration is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than other cooling methods because it requires a far lower energy input, and its scalability means that it could be used for various applications -- from wearable cooling devices to industrial-grade scenarios. "Thermogalvanic technology is on its way to our lives, either in the form of clean electricity or low-power cooling, and both research and commercial communities should be paying attention," says senior author Jiangjiang Duan of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China.

Read more.

[quicktosimp]

Touch and Sketch

AN: I may or may not have been procrastinating my course finals in order to get this done... But I am so glad it's finished! Warnings: Reader has Bad Parents (This is not Important), Doctor/Patient, inaccuracies, Sassy!Rafayel, Sub!Rafayel, Top!Reader, Bondage, Inhuman Biology, Rafayel has Two Dicks, Breast Fucking, Blowjobs, Cum Eating, Overstimulation, Drugged Cum (Kinda).

After many years of working your ass off and earning your degree, you now get a very interesting patient, an Artist who lives on Whitesand Bay

I have always been a girl of science; as a child, I was told I was only to get As or not return home. I remember many missed meals the nights I dared to bring home anything but perfection. Sports are nothing but a reckless endeavor in order to injure yourself for fame and glory; sympathy seekers, without a thought between their eyes, if I dared to ask to play soccer, my parents would ask me in return if I'd like them to start my journey of brain damage while holding a frying pan. Politicians are greedy scumbags; every single one of them is corrupt. Stealing from the poor, while smiling widely that they would make everything better; yet behind them is the man who pays the rest of their million dollar salary. The only "good" ones are useless; they will never get anywhere because no one powerful will ever indulge in their ideas for peace and prosperity for everyone. Obviously, there is no money to be found in housing the homeless and finding them jobs. My teacher sent home a pamphlet for the school's debate class, stating that I had shown exceptional understanding and had great potential in it. My parents were all for it, until she made a joke about how it could help me become a wonderful politician someday. The ride home was silent besides the thrum of the engine. Upon arriving home, my mother and father stood on each side of me, my mother yelling about how useless I would be in the real world of politics, while on the other side, my father screamed about how he didn't raise me to be a conniving thief. Looking back on that particular memory, I don't know whether what my mother or father spewed at me was worse.

However, there is one career field that they despised even more. Artists. In their mind, artists are even more useless than politicians; they are people with no brains or talent, simply living in their parents' basements and draining their money on meager supplies that cost more than a house mortgage, only for their "work" to sit and collect dust. Complete waste to society, they would say. I can recall every mutter and complaint in my kindergarten years when we had an art project, all the way through my elementary years until finally I was able to drop any and all art classes, relieving me of the pain of watching all my hard work go directly into the trash.

All the hard work eventually paid off; I graduated with high honors and was able to get scholarships to Harvard Medical. Several grueling years and I was able to transfer to Linkon. Quite a jump from America to China, but the education is incomparable. The technology and understanding of the human body is unparalleled; my student visa was expanded twice. Once for collaborating over the effects of Protocore Syndrome and the affects on the prefrontal cortex, that was how I met Zayne, now the lead surgeon at Akso Hospital, the two of us are good friends now, and are unexcelled as colleagues. We paired together for social events we were expected at, however I must say I was pleased when he brought the cute hunter with him. They truly complement each other. The first time I saw Dr. Zayne actually smile was with her.

The second time I extended my visa was when Linkon University offered a full-ride scholarship if I wished to expand my PHD in neuroscience and surgery and expand into neuropsychology. An additional benefit was that I would be contracted into working at Akso Hospital for an additional 10 years. I jumped at the chance and signed the contract without hesitation.

I’ve long ago graduated and am living in China on my work visa; my residency is long done, and I am now one of the top neurosurgeons in China, but I oddly found that I refer the psychology part of my job. Being able to help those who suffer the mental effects of Protocore Syndrome has become my passion. I even took on the Hunter girl in as a patient after her grandmother and childhood friend passed. Despite all the pain I see being able to help people work through their mental and emotional trauma, it makes me elated... no, that’s not the right word... I believe I'm healing that little girl who was never enough.

But it's little Miss Hunter who found me my most unusual client. She was worried about him after he made some comments about himself, and she didn't trust anyone else. I must say I was both insulted and intrigued when I was handed several NDA forms, but nonetheless, I signed them. I could visibly see Miss Hunter relaxed as I signed the forms, thanking me profusely for taking on this new client.

I raised my eyebrow at her, an uneasy feeling growing in the pit of my stomach. Miss Hunter isn't one to beg or apologize for something she didn't do. I cannot help but wonder just who my new mystery client is. But with unease comes the passion of challenge, like a fire lit in me leading me to now.

My heels sinking into the sand of Whitesand Bay, the warmth was pleasant, but the gritty feeling of the sand particles trapped in my shoe, chafing my skin. Despite that, the breeze was perfect under the beaming sun, cooling me from the stifling weather. The calls of the gulls sing around me as they dive and feast on the unknowing morsels hidden in the shallow ends of the sea.

The address I was given I figured it would be on the beach. But I underestimated just how close it would be. I follow along a long bar of sandy land, easily half a mile long; I make a note on my phone to wear more accessible shoes next time and to pay attention to the tides; otherwise, I may miss the appointment or be unable to leave his house afterwards. Well, house is in loose terms. It's far too large and grand to be a house. Steep walls that say it should be a two-story building, yet the window panels show otherwise, letting me see in from near floor to ceiling, and what I believe to be a giant statue in his living room.

Thick, sturdy, double wooden doors meet my view, so I raise my hand and knock on the door. He's just another client, after all.

Several minutes go by before I ring the doorbell; his house is quite large, and he probably couldn't hear my knocking. Several more minutes go by before I start to get antsy. Pulling out my phone, I quickly dial the number I was provided, only to hear the dial of being hung up on. Scowling at my phone, I call once again; this time, I notice that it didn't even ring; it was probably powered off.

As I contemplated heading back on that grueling walk, I looked back and saw that the tide was already coming back in. I would make it maybe halfway before the sandbar would be flooded. And considering I have electronics and paper files on me, the only option I have left is to enter his home.

I knock one more time out of curtsy before I open one of the heavy doors. The door opens to a vast room; papers, pencils, paint brushes, and other art supplies litter the floor, as random unlit candles were sporadically placed around the room. There was ample of light in the room; not only were the walls giant windows, but the ceiling itself was made of clear glass. What little walls there are painted white, while the floor is a delicate ash gray wood done in an intricate pattern. I wished to toe off my shoes in respect of his home, but seeing all the supplies and what I think are also rose petals, I choose to keep them on for my safety.

“Hello? Is anyone here?” I called out professionally as I took another step, my heels clicking against the floor and echoing through the room.

I take several more steps into the open room, where I am able to spot a large orange couch and a white lounge chair, several tropical house plants, and a gorgeous-looking hardwood coffee table. I can't say it’s homey feeling, no it's too open... almost clinical despite the chaotic environment. I wouldn't say it's overcompensating; truthfully, I wouldn't even say this is a home. It's an office where he happens to sleep in.

The soft padding of feet on the floor drew my attention to the other side of the room. Next to a large statue of a woman stood a man, dressed in pristine black slacks and an expensive-looking white shirt with a deep V-neck and long puffy sleeves. He dresses as expensively as his house.

I turned to face him and nodded my head slightly, "Apologies for the intrusion. I'm Dr. (Y/L/N). We have an appointment today. I would have waited outside, but the tide is rapidly coming in," I explained regally.

I examined his face, waiting for his response. He seemed to be at war, calculating how he should react. Slowly, his face relaxed into a lazy grin, leaning onto one foot, exuding confidence. But I could see under his facade; he's a predator, and he's sizing up his prey.

"Well, I can't say I'm surprised cutie, people like to stop by all the time," He pushes away from the statue moving closer to me, "Now I'd introduce myself, but I recon you already know who I am," He winked at me cockily.

Although I have no idea who he is, his confidence seems to be well-earned. There's no sign of any familial touches, and the few items he has are related to his work. This is a man who worked hard to get where he is.

Ignoring the pet name, I cleared my throat, "I do not profile my patients before I meet them. Our mutual friend Miss Hunter referred you to me, and she did not even share your name."

There was a brief moment in his eyes where he was genuinely confused, a slight narrowing before returning to the previous cocky attitude, "Well, I gotta say, that's a first. I know I do my best to say out of the limelight, but I'm pretty surprised that a cutie like you doesn't know my name," He walks past me before lowering himself into the white chair I noticed earlier, gesturing to the orange couch next to it, "Take a seat."

I sit on the stiff couch, the material didn't have any give, very obviously unused, "Thank you Mr.-" I trailed off in a question.

He leaned heavily into the chair, crossing his leg over his knee, "Rafayel, you can drip the mister part," He waved his hand, his dislike of being called mister genuine.

"Rafayel," I stated, testing his name on my tongue.

I reached into my bag, pulling out a clipboard and a pen, my preferred method when working with a patient. As I stated before, my name is Dr. (Y/L/N). I am your physiologist, as of four days ago when you signed the paperwork," I explained, pulling out the digital form showing his signature.

I handed it over to him. As he read the document, his brows furrowed as he scanned it. I let him read every word, never giving the impression of impatience; this is obviously critical to him, and I will not work with a patient who cannot or will not consent.

"Well, I guess I already agreed to this, so what can my lovely little shrink do for me?" He smirked, handing me back the file.

Despite his verbal willingness, Rafayel's body tells another story. The leg in the air is perfectly still, yet the one on the ground fights to keep from twitching; his fingers flex in the air, and no matter how perfect his calm, smug demeanor is, I could see the defensiveness in his eyes. He was studying me, just as I am here to study him.

I crossed my legs, while sitting primly, I clicked open my pen, "So what would you like to talk about?" I asked softly, giving him the room.

He leaned forward for a moment, his muted purple hair ruffling in the light breeze, "Shouldn't you tell me what to talk about? If Miss. Bodyguard is to be believed, then I need to work on my personal perspective and self worth," His words took a mocking tone at the end.

"Well, those are certainly things we can go over eventually if you're willing," I commented, noting down what he said, while holding eye contact, "However we've known each other for, "I glanced at my watch, "Approximately five minutes, and I find that those types of conversations, are typically inappropriate in these situations," I admitted with a slight turn of my lips, the best smile I can muster.

Several rings adorn his elegant fingers; I notice them as they glint in the sunlight. Definitely expensive tastes; one of those rings could pay my rent for the two months, "Well as you know now my name is Rafayel, this is my home, which doubles as my art studio," He states boastfully as he gestured to the room.

"Your house is quiet gorgeous," I replied respectfully, keeping my honest thoughts to myself for now, "The architecture is unique; I can't say I've ever seen it before," Several pieces displayed like they were commonly found at a local store, yet they all oozed the feeling of history and power.

Breifly, a flash of shock went by, quickly masked by suspicion, before going back to his cocky image: "I see you like the Lemurian pieces; they're just old knickknacks I managed to find," He waved them off like they were nothing, yet I could see they meant a lot to him even if they were just knickknacks.

I cocked my head to the side, "Lemurian? I've never heard of that before; what is the Lemurian time period? Where was it located?" I shifted forward, interested in this piece of history.

This seemed to take him by surprise: "You- What- Well..." My questions seemed to fry Rafayel's brain. He cleared his throat before continuing, "The Lemurians were a people; they're extinct now. A genocide caused by humans," He sneered at the word human, as if he was different from them...

"You seem to be the expert here; what else do you know of the Lemurians? I'm quite intrigued," I pushed my glasses up further on my nose, knowing this would be a good way to get to know Rafayel.

Rafayel mimicked my posture, leaning forward as if he was going to tell me a secret, "Well I guess I could put on my lecture hat," He winked at me, before he started his lecture.

Over the course of the next hour and a half, I learned much about Lemuria, and it's people, I also learned that Rafayel tends to be a guest lecturer at different universities, he also tend to complain about someone named Thomas, he seems to be related to Rafayel's work, and keeps him on task, which is not something that Rafayel appears to care for. Rafayel has a well-placed ask, going between aloofness and a carefree man pouting and clinging; he's careful not to reveal his hand. Guarded, sharp; I truly question who Miss Hunter recommended me as a patient because one this is for sure, Rafayel is a dangerou s man.

But that wouldn't stop me; it never did before. And that's what had me coming back another day.

~~~~~

Whitesand Bay is one of my favorite places to be. If Rafayel isn't working on a project he seems to prefer to be outside on the sand or in the ocean, it's a nice change of pace instead of sitting inside for an hour and half when its absolutely gorgeous out. So here we are several months later relaxing in the hot sand, I buried my feet deep under, and I leaned back, letting the sun bathe me in warmth, as I listened to Rafayel.

"I hate selling to those egotistical pricks. Yet Thomas says that it's good for business and that I can do whatever I want with the money I make. But that doesn't change the fact that the bastard bought one of my paintings about the tragedy of Lemuria, when he has a fucking skeleton displayed in his house!" He ranted, filled with justified anger,

I turned my head to the side to see that Rafayel had now sat up, glaring at the water, his teeth gnashed in rage. I slowly lean up, giving him the attention he deserves, "It is because he does not see them worthy of human respect, that because they are inherently different, they are inhuman... But as the artist, you should have the right to refuse a client; that is something you should speak to Thomas about," I tilted my head to the side, "And any other time, I would tell you not to be childish and to work diligently; however, if Thomas isn't going to respect your boundaries, then I wouldn't give him anything to work with. Your art is yours to display and sell, and if Thomas cannot respect your wishes, then he shouldn't have access to them," I explained firmly.

Rafayel look over at me, the righteous fury still burning in his gaze, but slightly softened, "You, Miss "Needs to be responsible and get your adult responsibilities done," is telling me that I need not to do my adult duties?" He raised his eyebrows.

"I mean you are self-employed; you could threaten to fire him" I shrugged, "Of course, talk to him first, ensuring he understands the situation and your wants and feelings, but if he won't respect them, then you can fire him."

I sat up more, brushing the sand off my sleeves, turning to face him more, "Now, if you don't mind me asking, something I've noticed is you get extremely angry when mentioning humans and the genocide," I hold my hand up as he goes to speak, "Let me finish please," Rafayel snapped his mouth shut with a pout before I continued, "Obviously this is is a horrifying thing of the past, that does deserve righteous anger, but this happened centuries ago, yet the level of anger you show the way you speak of yourself, makes it seem as if you were there... Where does this level of rage come from?" I asked softly, pointing out how odd his behavior was.

Rafayel scoffed, looking away, "You wouldn't get it..." His body language was almost closed off, but despite his scoff, his tone gave off vulnerability.

I slowly scooted over and rested my hand on his shoulder, "I can't understand if you don't tell me... But that's up to you; I won't push you if you're not ready," I stated softly; I truly wanted him to feel safe and comfortable.

Rafayel tensed under my touch, despite his hatred for working out I could feel his muscles on his shoulders and back were prominent under my touch. Languidly, he rolls his head to look at me; his dual colored eyes gazed into my own, showing anger, but deeper than that, there was mourning, "I doubt you'd believe me even if I told you," Longing, resentment, pain, and hope, all showed in his eyes, conflicting each other.

"You're wrong Rafayel, I will believe you. Whether you teleported back in time, managed to meet a Lemurian, or you're one yourself, I'll believe you," I squeezed his shoulder reassuringly, after working so many years in a messy world of protocores and protofields, anything could be the truth.

I had seen the way he would talk about Lemuria, how Rafayel would gaze off into the distance, his mind far away from Whitesand Bay, how his eyes would darken when speaking of the genocide, the betrayals they faced. There has always been more about this man.

My proclamation took him by surprise, his eyes widened, showing me more of the pretty blue on the top, Rafayel looked down breaking eye contact. I don't push any further, letting Rafayel come to his own decision.

We sat there in silence for several minutes, waiting, letting the ocean breeze cool our sun-warmed bodies. I didn't mind; these types of decisions aren't to be made frivolously. I would rather Rafayel take his time and refuse to speak, then for him to answer me and regret it later.

Finally with a huff Rafayel flops himself into the sand, his hair now covered in sand, I stifled my huff, attempting to keep the grin off my face as his childish antics. I would rather see the childish antics than the cold playboy act; this way, I know that while I'm not seeing all of him, he's letting his guard down in his own way.

From underneath his fringe, Rafayel pouts up at me, it's quiet adorable, "Play with my hair."

My heart picked up speed; thankfully, I was already warm from the sun, so I didn't need to worry about that. "Pardon?" I believe I managed to keep my tone even and my face neutral.

Based on the smirk now covering Rafayel's face, I apparently failed. Gently, he grabbed my wrist, bringing my hand to his hair, "See, it's not that hard," He closed his eyes and leaned back in to the sand.

I huffed, amused as I started to play with the dusty purple strands, gently brushing the sand out of his hair. He's such an odd man; I can't help but smile softly.

It was in this moment that I realized that I may have found that my feelings were a little more than just that of a patient and psychiatrist.

~~~~~~

It was another many months since that day on the beach that I received a call late in the night. I was finishing up my files for the night when Rafayel called me, he was moody, the fluctuations in the short call were extreme, yet I could hear his breathlessness, when I pushed asking if he was alright he grumbled a bit, trying to give an excuse. When I pushed further, he snapped that I was that worried I could check on him myself. So here I am, knocking on Rafayel's door with my medical bag strapped to my back before I opened it. Knowing that after all these months, Rafayel will never open the front door.

As I walked inside and it was more of a mess than usual, what I learned was an artful mess, is now straight up chaos, it looks as if he has a tantrum.

"Rafayel! Where are you!?" I called out, my voice echoing through the high walls.

None of the lights were on, none of the candles lit; the only light comes from the wall length windows, pouring in the moonlight; what would have been plunging darkness, seemed calm and simple.

"Rafayel!" I shouted even louder as I spread up, trying to spot Rafayel, my concern blooming into rapid anxiety.

I heard a low grown come from the couch, "Keep it down, would you?"

I rushed over to the ugly orange couch, thankfully finding Rafayel there. His face was flushed, and his breathing was ragged; I also noticed that half the buttons on his shirt were undone; he's over heating.

Kneeling on the side of the couch, I gently reached up and felt his forehead. Rafayel was sweaty and concernedly warm to the touch.

"Rafayel, are you okay? What's going on?" I asked urgently, "Do you need me to bring you to the hospital? I remember the one you prefer to go to," I rushed out the rest.

If Rafayel has a form of protocore syndrome that could explain some of the symptoms he's exhibiting. I internally cursed myself out; I should have been firmer when I warned him off of using protocores as materials in his paint.

"I'm fine, just a little tired," Rafayel huffed, batting away my hand.

I glanced into his mixed irises; exhaustion oozed out of them. Sighing regretfully, I stood up and said, "Alright, then let's get you to bed."

I gently wrapped my arm behind his shoulders, "Ugggg, it's too hot in there," Rafayel whined, leaning heavily into my arm, showing no sighs of being helpful.

"You're already too cold; I don't dare put you near anything else that's cold," I bit my lip, getting even more concerned.

Using my other arm, I placed it under Rafayel's knees, "Come here, I got you," I commented, as I lifted him into my arms.

Instantly, Rafayel's arms wrapped around my neck, "Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing?!" He sputtered out, looking at me, completely bewildered.

Thankfully, my work in the hospital and my regular workouts made Rafayel's weight easy to carry as I made my way to where he said his room was.

"Right now, I am bringing you to bed, where I will watch you until you're either better, or I decide to bring you to the hospital," I glance down at him firmly, "And no, you cannot whine, pout, or otherwise manipulate your way out of this."

"I'm fiinnneeee, I just need a cold bath, and I'll be good by morning," Rafayel whined attempting to squirm out of my arms, unsuccessfully.

I shift my hold on him, so I could grasp Rafayel more firmly, essentially pinning him to my chest, as I planted my feet, "Choose now, I bring you to bed and watch you, or I drive you to the hospital, your choice," I offered firmly, leaving no room for argument.

Rafayel's flushed skin spread to his ears as he gaped at me bewildered, and something else I can't quite pin. He then hid his face in the crock of my neck before mumbling, "Bed."

"Alright, one bedroom observation for the night," I stated, continuing my trek to his room.

Rafayel's hair tickled my chin as he mumbled into my neck, little things like, "This is so unnecessary," "I'm fine," and the occasional, "This is so embarrassing."

"There is nothing embarrassing about needing help, especially during a medical episode," I soothed, as I toed open the door to his room.

Yet again, there is more artwork and supplies scattered around the room, but the giant king-size bed in the middle of the back looked grand yet well loved and used, which eased some of the anxiety about Rafayel's sleeping habits. My eyes briefly drifted to the gorgeous panels of art, which may be a mural of the sky? I cannot remember all the of the different art things Rafayel taught me, no matter how many times he gasps and calls me a heathen.

Shifting Rafayel's weight, I pulled back the covers with one arm and gently set him down on the bed, "Where are your pajamas? I'll grab them for you," I asked gently, as I looked at Rafayel, his eyes refused to meet mine, his posture was curled inward, he was either nervous or ashamed.

Slowly, I cupped his face, gently bringing Rafyel to face me, "There is nothing to be ashamed of. If you don't want to go to the hospital, then I will be here to care for your every need," My thumb gently caressed his cheek.

Rafayel looked at me from under his eyelashes, a slight pout still hanging there... adorable...

“There in the bureau, in the top shelf,” Rafayel petulantly replied.

I smiled softly at him, “Thank you Rafayel, that was very good of you,” I all but cooed at him.

The flush covering his face and ears quickly spread down to his neck; I back away to grab his pajamas; the bureau drawers are heavy but polished smooth under my hands, letting the wood slide open with ease. Not wanting to rummage through his belongings, I grabbed the first pair at the top, a pair of white silk pajama pants. Peering inside the drawer, there weren't any shirts in there. I shrugged my shoulders as I closed the door, some people have a thing against sleeping in shirts, and if Rafayel is already complaining he's hot, then I wont push it.

I hand over the pajamas to Rafayel, "Do you need any help putting them on?" My concern rose as his hands shakily took the soft cloth from me.

Rafayel shook his head vehemently, "No, I got it."

I nodded my head and turned around, sitting on the floor as I slid my medical bag off my back to rummage through it.

"Hey... Aren't you gonna leave the room or something?" I could hear his blush darken without even looking back.

I start to pull out my stethoscope and placed it around my neck for later, so I can check Rafayel's vital signs, "You're far too unsteady right now. I don't dare leave your side until you're safely tucked in bed," I explained factually, waiting for him to change.

I could hear a disgruntled humph behind me before the soft rustling of clothing, I fought back chuckled as Rafayel muttered and whined behind me, a slightly irritated patient is nothing new to me.

"There, I'm done now," Rafayel called out from his bed.

I stand back up and face Rafayel, my eyes flickered to his bare chest, unable to ignore the soothe toned skin, leading into the lean muscles of his stomach. Clearing my throat, I met his gaze, somewhere between flustered, annoyance, and that same damn emotion I couldn't spot earlier, "Alright, let's get you settled into bed."

He waved me off, as he scooted further onto his bed, "I'm fine! I don't need you to tuck me in," Rafayel whined, as he pulled the covers over his lap, relaxing against the head board.

I shake my head amused, "That's fine," I pulled out an old school thermometer; I find them more accurate than the forehead scanners, "Here, take this," I ordered softly, as I handed him the thermometer.

Flopping his arms on the bed, Rafayel continued to whine, "I'm too sick to do this; my arms are broken. Do it for me."

"Fine then," I sat on the side of his bed and pressed the tip to his mouth, "Open up."

Rafayel flicked back pursing his lips, before opening his mouth, and placing the thermometer properly, "Thank you Rafayel," I smiled softly, as I grabbed my stethoscope from my neck, "Just breathe normally for me," I placed the ear-tips in place, and the drum on his chest, listening deeply.

Looking at my watch, I kept count: 98 beats per- minute, no 100 beats per-, 103... 105? Rafayel's chest was rising and falling faster than before. Risking a glance, I flicked my eyes up to Rafayel's face. His eyes wide and avoiding mine, the flush from his heated skin traveled down his face and to his rapidly rising and falling chest. Poor thing isn't used to being taken care of.

With the gentle beeping of the thermometer, I took off the stethoscope and removed the thermometer from his mouth.

"The hell?" I whispered, perplexed at the blinking numbers 34.5 Celsius, 94.1 Fahrenheit.

Rafayel spotted the number yet seemed unsurprised, "I'm like a frozen fish put in the microwave for 10 seconds."

I looked up at him completely befuddled, "Rafayel do you not know how serious this is? You are physically burning up but are reading at a hypothermic temperature!" I reach down into my bag, grabbing my phone, "I should have just taken you to the hospital; I don't know why I thought-"

My phone was plucked out of my hand, "Hey!" I shouted indignantly, "You are hypothermic; I'm taking you to the hospital!"

"I'm going to sleep now. Stay here if you want," he grouched, rolling over and taking my phone with him.

"Rafayel!" I seethed through my teeth as I watched him getting comfortable on his bed.

Without another word, he ignored me, and his breathing evened out. While he peacefully entered dreamland, Rafayel had successfully provoked me into a frenzied state. I paced back and forth next to the side of the bed. Logic tells me that I should simply carry Rafayel out of the bed and to the hospital, no matter his protests, the other logical part of me remembers that I cannot treat a patient without permission.

I rake my fingers through my hair, pulling at the strands as I contemplate what I should do, my heart pounding in chest thrumming in my ears, as I continue to pace the floor, only guided by the moonlight shining in the room. Groaning loudly, I grab the digital scanner thermometer and drag a chair in front of Rafayel's bed; I slump into it before gazing at Rafayel's face, and I pause, taking a closer look... Despite his even breathing and relaxed posture, his eyes are firm, there were no subtle movements, and his expression is ridged... He's faking it! I rolled my eyes while fighting back a groan of irritation. I double-checked the time and calculated to check his temperature and heart rate every 20 or so minutes. Grabbing my notebook, I started to write down Rafayel's symptoms, the time I took his vitals, and the results. Thus beginning what will be a tedious night, honestly, it brought me back to my residency days, when I would be forced to do the overnight patient sit-ins. Honestly, I didn't mind those. Sometimes, I was the only person who was willing to talk with them, and it taught me empathy and what's really going through their minds. It made me a better doctor.

Eventually, my watch beeped, reminding me to take Rafayel's vitals; glancing at his face, it seems he may have actually drifted off to sleep.

Standing from my chair, I leaned over Rafayel, "I'm just gonna take your vitals," I whispered, just incase he was still awake.

I used the digital scanner and found that his temperature is the same, his heart rate is much calmer this time, a steady 98 beats per minute. Satisfied with my findings, I moved to sit back down and note my findings, but something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. Something small glistening in the moonlight; slowly, I turned, following the tiny sparkles.

Nothing could have stopped the gasp that left my lips. Tiny little blue scales dotted along Rafayel's cheek bones and down his neck. I caught myself as I reached out to touch them, stopping before I could, not wanting to break Rafayel's trust.

Instead I sit myself down, and put away my note book, as I recalled the story that Rafayel once told me, about when the seep sea would wash ashore... Ebb Day... One day a year, when the tide is at its lowest and the flows in the opposite direction, is the day when mermaids are at their weakest. It seems that the mermaids in the story may just be the Lemurians. With a quick search on my phone, I found that today was, in fact, Ebb Day.

Despite being willed with concern and also curiosity, I simply sit there and watch Rafayel sleep. I had already theorized that Rafayel was a Lemurian, seeing the proof in front of me was still a shock. Hoping that Rafayel was telling the truth, I relax in my place, waiting to see if my little fishy is feeling better in the morning.

~~~~~

"So you do have a tail?" I asked excitedly, sitting next to Rafayel on the sand.

The night had passed, and finally Rafayel was back to himself, but after what transpired last night finally broke down the remaining walls he had up. Rafayel is much more relaxed, and finally telling me some more about his past, he's still keeping something from me, but I think he's waiting for our next therapy session before talking about them.

The sun beamed down on us, as Rafayel smirked at me, "Now that would be telling," He ran his fingers through his hair, before relaxing into the sand.

Giddily, I leaned closer to him. "So that's a yes! Tell me! Does it match the colors of the scales on your face? What does it look like?" I pestered him gleefully, wanting to learn as much as I could about him and Lemurian biology.

"Humph, I don't feel like telling you," Rafayel teased, rolling to his side.

I crawled over so I was facing his front, my hands sinking into the warm sand, "Come on Rafayel please! You're killing me here!" Honestly, I had never heard myself speak like this and act so... freely... but I couldn't find it in myself to care enough to stop.

I wanted to reach out and shake his shoulder, try and get his attention, but something stopped me, as my hand stayed in the air, feeling like maybe that was pushing too far.

Rafayel cracked open an eye, glancing at my hand, he reaches up and lances our fingers together, "You ask too many questions. I just wanna relax," He whined.

The warmth from his hand seeps into my own as I stare at our interlaced hands. There was an ember of warmth, and a bottomless pit of Longing gnawed at my stomach. I don't think I've ever been touched like before. I've never held someone's hand like this. Besides taking vitals or examining a patient, I never touch anyone. Handshakes aren't a thing in China; I don't really have any friends; truth be told, I can't even remember the last time my parents hugged me. Yet here Rafayel was touching me of his own free will, not as my patient receiving care, but as my friend... maybe I could wish for something more.

"What? Crab got your tongue?" Rafayel's words were teasing, but his voice was softer, "Come here, it's time for a nap,"

"Wha-" I was cut off by a gentle tugging on our clasped hands.

My other hand rested on top of the sand wasn't stable enough to keep me up, sending me sprawling forward. Blinking owlishly, I went to speak but was distracted by the warmth under my cheek, the steady thrum of his heart under my ear; any thoughts that I had before were wiped from my brain.

Gently tugging methodically pulled at my hair as Rafayel's fingers combed through my hair.

"Rafayel?" I gasped softly as the small ember of hope grew into a spark.

"Shhh, nap time," Rafayel muttered, softly playing with my hair.

"What if I don't nap? It ruins your REM sleep," I countered, yet I did nothing to move away from my spot on Rafayel's chest.

Then just stay here... Stay here with me," Rafayel whispered serenely.

My eyelashes fluttered against his chest as I gazed up at him; I figured that Rafayel's eyes would be closed, yet instead, all I could see was the pretty pink of his iris looking down at me full of lo- no... I can't use that word, not yet.

I cuddled closer to Rafayel, resting easy so my side was along his body, "Alright, I'll stay," I whispered tenderly, as I rested my other hand next to my face.

Rafayel squeezed my fingers in return, there wasn't a smile on his face, but his expression is tender, peaceful, I realized very quickly, that I could stay like this forever. Just Rafayel and me, here on this beach, the sand underneath us, the breeze flowing over us and through our hair, while the sun beats down on us. Our own paradise, just me and my little mermaid.

What could have been minutes or hours later, Rafayel softly whispered into my hair, "Tell me my muse, would you let me paint you?"

"Paint me?" I asked, conflicted.

"Yes, paint you. Or maybe you would prefer to be sculpted? I can do that as well. You are my muse, whenever I look around I see you, the sand and how it soaks up the warmth of the sun, the water how its remaining and stead fast no matter how low the tide is it will always return to me; I see you everywhere in my home, among my work, on my furniture... I just want to show you more. Keep a part of you there permanently... Maybe," Rafayel trails off his laminate.

"Maybe what?" I asked breathlessly, unable to believe the poetry being spoken to me.

Slowly, Rafayel sat us up and rested me in his lap, "Maybe you could paint something? You're own design that can stay here with me," His hand, that was still tangled in hair, angled my head towards his face.

I haltingly shake my head, "I- I've never done something like that before..." I trailed off as a blush blossomed across my cheeks, admitting weakness.

And just like that, that cocky smirk I love to hate came back, "Ohhh, so Miss Perfect isn't perfect at everything."

Scoffing, I looked away; "I was focused on my academics," I muttered bashfully.

"Is that right?" Rafayel teased, "Seems that the student finally needs to teach the master."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his dramatics, "Oh please, I'm sure that even then it would still be me teaching you something," I sassed, knowing I knew absolutely nothing about art.

That damned smirk grew even more, "Oh really? Then tell me, what will you teach me, my dutiful master?"

~~~~~

"I must say, I think I'm a fan of this brush," I praised professionally, as I dipped the brush back into the cobalt blue.

"Th-that one? It's so old and frayed... I think you should- oh-" Rafayel trailed off as I placed the brush against my canvas, gently dragging it across the width.

I hummed, pleased as the bristles caught and dragged across the surface. The best part was watching Rafayel squirm, "No, definitely this one, I like the way it leaves s t r e ak s," I mused as I continued on with spreading the paint.

Rafayel shifted his wrists the best he could, "I could teach you how to do that on purpose! Just free my wrists, and I'll show you how!" He had a pleasant smile on his face while delicately pleading with me.

I reached up and tested the ropes holding his wrists in place, "But if I do that, I lose my canvas... You wouldn't want me to lose all my hard work, would you?" I asked stoically while admiring the work I had done on Rafayel's chest.

"Come on, I can show you some really good ones, you just gotta let me down," He bargained.

I sat back and enjoyed my view: Rafayel kneeling on a pedestal, his arms bound high above his head, a delicate blush covering his cheeks and down to his chest before it hides beneath the bright yellows, oranges, and blues I've painted there.

Dutifully ignoring Rafayel's lower half, I grip his hips and pull him as close as I dare to, my breath mingling with his, "But if I did that, I'd be paying less attention to you. And that would be quite unacceptable, wouldn't you agree?"

Rafayel's lidded eyes only reviled the pink, while he gazed down at me, "You-" He licked his lips, "You always pay attention to me."

I smiled softly as I leaned closer, our lips brushing together, "Always, and that's why you're going to be my good fishy and be my canvas," I purred, before backing away.

Grabbing a wide and long brush and dipping it into the French blue, I gently lined up one edge of my brush along the cobalt blue and spread it across, mixing the two together as I covered his ribs in the new shade.

"Ohhh," A small little moan leaves his lips as the cool paint touches his ribs.

"Ohhh?" I teased lightly, "Does my fishy like that?"

Rafayel shook his head, trying to say no, yet the way his ears reddened even further, how his nipples are stiff peaks, and the way he leans close to me, craving more, all tells me a very different story.

Gently cupping his face, I rubbed my thumb along his cheek, accidentally smearing paint there, "You don't have to lie to me. I'll never judge you for what you like," Dipping my brush back into the paint, I held it right above his sternum, "Tell me right now and I'll stop," I offered gently, looking deep into his eyes.

Just barely there, a small whimper escaped his mouth, "Please..." Rafayel tried to look away in shame, but I held firm, ensuring that all he could see was my love and conviction for him, "Please... Don't stop..."

I smiled softly, "Good boy."

I bring the brush down, smoothing out the blob of paint, back and forth over his ribs, doing my best to work on my squirming canvas. After thoroughly covering his midsection in blue, I placed my brush down, my work piece finally coming together.

Looking at my palette, I didn't have the color I wanted, and I wasn't quite sure where to go from there.

"Rafayel... Which color should I use?" I questioned, wondering where his brain was at.

"Hmmm?" Looking down as the slew of colors on his chest and the dabs of paint on my palette, "Oh," he sucked in a breath, "Umm... Mix the... the um... turquoise with the... cornflo- no, the azure blue," He stumbled through.

Remembering the names from earlier, I scooped up two dollops of the paint, mixing them into something lighter and vibrant, "Perfect, good job Rafayel," I cooed, lavishing the paint across his just a tad lower then the last bit.

Rafayel leaned further into my touch, widening his knees even more, "Good?" The whine breathlessly left his lips.

"Yes, Rafayel, you're being very good for me," I cooed, gently rubbing his bare side.

Grabbing a thinner but longer brush, "Now tell me what does this one do?"

Huffing out a breath, he reluctantly responds, "It's for- for fine details," Rafayel eyed the brush wearily.

"Hmmm," I pondered as I looked over what I had done before putting the thin brush down. I could visibly see Rafayel relax, well... until I grabbed the sponge brush, "This will do nicely," Pleased with my selection I dipped the course-looking brush into an off-white yet tannish color; I believe the bottle of paint was labeled cashmere.

"Now that brush will make an uneven surface, why- why don't you use one of the large flat ones? Like you used earlier?" Rafayel rushed out, his abdomen already tensing.

A slight smirk escaped me, "Well, it seems like I chose the perfect one then," Thus, I began to drag and dab the sponge across his navel, coloring it a nice sandy tone.

Although it was quiet challenging to paint him, as he keeps wiggling about, unsure if he wants to get further or closer to the stimulation, Rafayel head leaned back, his mouth hung open, and eyes screwed shut. I couldn't help but chuckle at the pretty sight he made while I dipped my brush back into the paint, needing to cover more of his stomach.

Slowly, I moved lower, and lower, and lower, more entranced by the way Rafayel's body heaved in each breath, not daring to release his moans, as I moved closer and closer to where I've been ignoring.

The pretty silk pants did absolutely nothing to hide his enjoyment. A rather large and unusual bulge tented his pants, throbbing and twitching, eager to be free.

I placed the brush down and carefully wiped my hands clean of any residue paint before I grabbed the clean parts of Rafayel's hips, my thumbs slipping under, toying with the waistband. “Tell me what you want,” I ordered softly, not leaving room to be ignored.

Rafayel rolled his hips towards me, whining, “P-please.”

I let my thumbs slip lower, massaging his hips, “Good boy for using your manners, but you don't quite tell me what you want...” My grip becomes just a bit tighter, and I relish in the moan that leaves Rafayel’s lips: “One last try... What. Do. You. Want?” I enunciated each word by tugging him closer to me.

Rafayel's pretty dual-colored eyes met mine, now damp from unshed tears, “Please... please touch me...”

I squeezed his hips while remaining silent, letting him have a moment to figure out that he didn't tell me enough, and the way Rafayel’s eyes widened and shone even further is just as delectable as the whimper that left his lips.

Rafayel bit his lip, before releasing the swollen abused flesh, “Please...” he briefly looked away before meeting my gaze again, “Please take off my pants... and...” his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, “touch my cocks,” he whispered the end, while looking nervously at me, most likely expecting an adverse reaction.

“Yes Rafayel, I would love to play with your cocks,” I crooned softly.

I released his hips as I toyed with the string holding the silk pants in place. While I was terribly interested in Rafayel’s unique biology, I needed to make sure his comfort comes first, and that starts with me curbing my scientific instincts and simply begin worshiping Rafayel’s body.

Agonizingly slow, I pulled the drawstrings, undoing the neat tie that was holding the expensive fabric in place, "Is this what you've wanted, Rafayel? For me to play with your pretty cocks?" I cooed my questions as the knot unraveled.

Rafayel eagerly nodded his head, "Yes, I can't stop thinking about it!" While the nervousness was still present, anticipation dominated his emotions.

I loosened the tie, all the while holding up his pants, refusing to let them fall, "How do I play with your cocks? What do you fantasize me doing?"

And just like that, those pretty tears flooded his eyes once again, yet they were stubborn enough by refusing to spill over and flow down his cheeks, "No... I-" Rafayel attempted to protest, shaking his head.

Using my free hand, I threaded my fingers into his soft, dusty purple hair and gently pulled, unwilling to cause him pain, yet refusing to allow him to break our gaze, "Yes, you can, just open those pretty lips of your and tell me," My words where firm, but my voice was soft; gentle and unyielding.

The longer I stare into Rafayel's eyes, the more I notice that the dual colors of pink and blue constantly shift, back and forth like the tide, but right now, barely any color could be seen due to his lust-blown pupils.

Rafayel blinked back tears, wetting his eyelashes, "You... You um... You use both hands, one on each cock," I left go of his pants letting the fabric pool around his knees, but I ignored his cocks for now, prioritizing our eye contact.

"What do I do next?" I asked, watching how his mouth moved up and down, yet nothing but little whines and moans escaped his lips.

Despite his nervousness, Rafayel's voice becomes bolder, "You stroke them slowly... All the way down to the base, and then back up... but..." His voice trails off as he heaves in another breath, "You ignore the tips... no matter how much I beg..."

Confidant he wont look away, I languidly lower my hands to were his cocks are, following the trail of heat I graze the tips my fingers along the first shaft, feeling the warmth, and how they pulsed with want. Reaching the bottom, the base thickened as the two combined at his pelvis. I can't quite bring myself to wrap my hands around them. Instead, I continue to lazily brush my fingers against his shafts, needing to arouse him even more.

"So you like it when I'm mean to you? When I make you work for what you want?" I asked smoothly, avoiding the way Rafayel rolls his hips into my hands, refusing to give him more stimulation.

Rafayel fingers flex as he tried to grasp the ropes holing him up, "Yes- no, I don't know, please just touch my cocks, please," With a broken whimper, the first tear spilled, it was beautiful and pearlescent, as it slowly rolled down his cheek.

"Good boy," I cooed, finally wrapping my hands around his thick cocks; they were already slick from pre-cum, allowing my hands to slowly glide up and down his shafts.

Just like that, Rafayel's eyes rolled back while a deep, rumbling moan left his lips, his head falling back, pushing his hips into my hands. His whole body was tense; even under the layers of paint, I could see his abdomen flex and his thighs strain—anything he could do to get closer.

With Rafayel distracted by my hands, I finally get to take a look at what I'm working with. The bottom, where they join at the pelvis, expands into two deliciously thick cocks; angry pulsating veins throbbed a deep pink color, yet the more I stroke them, the closer that color turns to red. They were almost indistinguishable from human anatomy, but down the underside of both cocks lay a ladder of small ridges, leading to a dusky pink pointed tip, and not a single hair in sight.

Absolutely gorgeous.

I licked my lips as I fought the need to taste them... For now I ignore the urge, instead focusing back on Rafayel, his flush was dark enough that it resembled a sunburn, and I couldn't help but coo in sympathy, "Looks like I have a fried fishy in front of me. So pretty for me," I softly smiled at Rafayel.

Semingly difficult, Rafayel struggled to focus his eyes on me, the pink darkened to a deep red as he battled with his lust, "Pretty?" he moaned dazed through hooded eyes.

I squeezed his shafts just a tad tighter as I stroked him, "Yes, you're my pretty fishy," I confirmed teasingly, as I avoided the tips of his cocks, playing into his fantasy.

The small drips of pre-cum have turned into a steady flow, soaking my hands and puddling on the stand between Rafayel's legs. I could barely hear anything over Rafayel's moans, yet the moment I picked up speed, wet squelching noises competed for competition.

"You've been so quiet... tell me what you're thinking," I order softly, wondering what little amounts of Rafayel's brain are working.

"Itsss goood," Rafayel slurred, "Your hands, oh fuck, they feel so good," He groaned, as I sped up a little, "So pretty, please please make me cum," He cut himself off with a moan.

All of Rafayel's lustful noises sent waves of heat to my core; the primal part of myself wanted to reach down and finger cunt my fingers slickened by Rafayel's pre-cum, but that would mean letting go of one of Rafayel's cocks... I bit back a sigh as I wiggled my hips, unimpressed with the way my wetness clung to my panties. But watching Rafayel how he gazes at me longingly, worshiping, putting all his hope and trust in me... I know I can't disappoint him.

"As you wish," I whispered, holding his gaze as I lowered my head. Lazily, I lolled out my tongue, revering in hearing the gasp that escaped his lungs, fighting back a smirk I liked the tip of his bottom cock; the salty taste bloomed across my tongue, but there was something else something heady and smokey, just like his evol... just like Rafayel.

Humming, I couldn't help but go back for another taste using the flat of my tongue; I start at the base and lick upward, over the ridges, collecting all the spilt pre-cum letting it build in my mouth, before finally flicking my tongue over the tip of his dick.

"Oh fuck, please my pearl, so good," Rafayel's voice took on a higher tone, not a whine, almost as if he was singing, slowly his scales start to revile themselves, dotting over his face and neck, over his broad shoulders to Rafayel's hands; I bet that if I were to walk around him there would be a plethora of scales along his back, yet from here I can see the ones that cover his thighs and calves, and even under the paint I could see the shapes of the scales attempting to break free, surrounding his groin.

In this moment, I think I finally believe that gods exist... and one is kneeling before me right now.

Unable to hold back anymore, I lick the tip of Rafayel's cock one again before taking the head into my mouth, suckling gently, letting the hot flesh press against my tongue. I moaned as more of his taste coats my tongue; I hollowed my cheeks and sucked harder, urging more of the salty fluid into my mouth.

“My p-per-peral, please, n-no more teasing," Rafayel gasped around his words, attempting to thrust further into my mouth.

I stayed right where I was, gripping Rafayel's hips tightly, refusing to let him slide in deeper; instead, I continue to suck on the tip of his dick, flicking my tongue over the slit repeatedly. Under my hands Rafayel couldn't stop his hips from twitching, wanting to encase more if itself into my warmth.

Looking up into his eyes, Rafayel focuses on me, his pretty eyes still brimming with tears, I hold still, doing nothing but sucking the tip of his cock, and waited. Until his moans increased and became whiny.

I was completely entranced; if this is how sirens lured their victims, then I would be long dead... He's just so fucking beautiful.

Finally, I gave into Rafayel's desires and slowly made my way down his cock, my tongue rubbing over each of the ribs on the bottom of his cock, as I continue to take more of his cock, my nose brushes against his top cock; the ridges bumping each time, until the tip of his top cock rests on top of my head, a steady stream of pre-cum dripped onto my hair. I mentally cringed at the prospect of cleaning it out of my hair, but it wasn't enough to deter me. I doubled my efforts as I moved back up, making sure my tongue fitted into every little ridge. His top cock smearing more of his pre-cum onto my face.

Rafayel's eyes watered further under my efforts as he mewled, "Please, please, oh fuck, yes, please don't stop," His hips further attempting to thrust into my mouth, seemingly mindless on their own accord.

I moved off his bottom dick with a wet pop before lavishing the top one with my tongue, cleaning up the mess of pre-cum that had drooled everywhere, licking every drop that had spilled in between, Rafayel's other cock was warm and slick as it slid against my throat, drooling all over my shirt causing the white material to become sheer in some spots. Gazing down at my semi-exposed breasts, a new idea forms, one that I've read men quite like. Pulling off Rafayel's cock, I methodically start to unbutton my shirt.

"No! Why did you-?" Rafayel cut off his own whine as he stared at my  hands, "What are you doing?" He asked, licking his lips, unable to tear his gaze away.

After undoing the last button, I pushed my bra up slightly, "Something new," I commented lazily, as I grabbed Rafayel's bottom cock and lined it up between my tits, I spat in between my cleavage to slicken the way, as I slowly moved down to cover Rafayel's cock. In the meantime, I took his top cock into my mouth. Allowing me to thoroughly pleasure both simultaneously.

"You're so pretty," he whispered reverently, "making me feel so good; please, please, don't stop."

I hummed around his cock, as I grabbed my tits and slowly started to slide them up and down his cock, this thick heat throbbing and drooling everywhere, making a mess all over my tits and under my chin. His top cock throbbed in unison with its twin, letting me slurp every drop of his pre-cum. I set a steady place as I duel pleasured Rafayel, the very taste of him sent waves of heat pooling in my core, and my pussy throbbed with each of his moans. I wanted more.. no.. I needed more!

I squeezed my tits tighter, uncaring if I left odd marks for later; I hallowed my checks and speed up my pace, rigorously working Rafayel's cocks. I growled lowly in my throat as Rafayel's moans increased in pitch, no longer sounding human like; instead, it seemed as if he was singing, high and needy, wordlessly begging for more, as his cocks leaked everywhere. With each melodic note, the flame inside me grows, my brain becoming fuzzy as I crave even more. I didn't care how my jaw ached, or noticed how I gagged when I took his cock into my throat, just as long as I got more . More of his moans and whines, more of his cum, just more, more, more!

"AHh! Per- pleas! Fu-!" Rafayel brokenly screamed, as he flooded my mouth, and spilled over my chest, bathing me in his cum.

I swallowed everything he gave me, craving every drop. Popping off his cock to lap up every drop I missed, cleaning them both before taking it back into my mouth. Cum and drool everywhere, but I couldn't care less, just as long as I get more.

"No! Please! It- it's too much!" Rafayel squealed, his abdomen flexing attempting to get away from the overwhelming pleasure, his cocks over sensitized from recently cumming.

Letting go of my tits, I grab his hips, my fingers sinking into his plush ass cheeks, as I pulled him closer, devouring everything that spills from his cocks.

"Please, please, I can't, not so soon!" Rafayel whimpered, struggling against his restraints.

Popping of his cock, using the flat of my tongue, I lick a broad stripe over the tips of his cocks, "More," I demanded simply, my voice both dark and empty, before I continued my ministrations, Rafayel's squeals and moans echoing through his home.

It won't be until long after the sun sets that we'll finally learn that Lemurian cum is addictive to humans; not that I care; I just want to plan another painting lesson soon.

Tag list: @anemonelovesfiction, @loakstahni, @xylianasblog, @etherialblackrose, @eywaite, @tallulah477, @neteyamsoare, @nakedinthetrees

[joytherabbit]

[mr-entj]

Hello Mr. ENTJ. I'm an ENTJ sp/so 3 woman in her early twenties with a similar story to yours (Asian immigrant with a chip on her shoulder, used going to university as a way to break generational cycles). I graduated last month and have managed to break into strategy consulting with a firm that specialises in AI. Given your insider view into AI and your experience also starting out as a consultant, I would love to hear about any insights you might have or advice you may have for someone in my position. I would also be happy to take this discussion to somewhere like Discord if you'd prefer not to share in public/would like more context on my situation. Thank you!

Insights for your career or insights on AI in general?

On management consulting as a career, check the #management consulting tag.

On being a consultant working in AI:

Develop a solid understanding of the technical foundation behind LLMs. You don’t need a computer science degree, but you should know how they’re built and what they can do. Without this knowledge, you won’t be able to apply them effectively to solve any real-world problems. A great starting point is deeplearning.ai by Andrew Ng: Fundamentals, Prompt Engineering, Fine Tuning

Know all the terminology and definitions. What's fine tuning? What's prompt engineering? What's a hallucination? Why do they happen? Here's a good starter guide.

Understand the difference between various models, not just in capabilities but also training, pricing, and usage trends. Great sources include Artificial Analysis and Hugging Face.

Keep up to date on the newest and hottest AI startups. Some are hype trash milking the AI gravy train but others have actual use cases. This will reveal unique and interesting use cases in addition to emerging capabilities. Example: Forbes List.

On the industry of AI:

It's here to stay. You can't put the genie back in the bottle (for anyone reading this who's still a skeptic).

AI will eliminate certain jobs that are easily automated (ex: quality assurance engineers) but also create new ones or make existing ones more important and in-demand (ex: prompt engineers, machine learning engineers, etc.)

The most valuable career paths will be the ones that deal with human interaction, connection, and communication. Soft skills are more important than ever because technical tasks can be offloaded to AI. As Sam Altman once told me in a meeting: "English is the new coding language."

Open source models will win (Llama, Mistral, Deep Seek) because closed source models don't have a moat. Pick the cheapest model because they're all similarly capable.

The money is in the compute, not the models -- AI chips, AI infrastructure, etc. are a scarce resource and the new oil. This is why OpenAI ($150 billion valuation) is only 5% the value of NVIDIA (a $3 trillion dollar behemoth). Follow the compute because this is where the growth will happen.

America and China will lead in the rapid development and deployment of AI technology; the EU will lead in regulation. Keep your eye on these 3 regions depending on what you're looking to better understand.

[bpod-bpod]

Fixed Energy

Like filming the bustle of a city at night, life inside a cell can look like chaos. A static snapshot allows us to make sense of the surroundings, to spot subtle details, and perhaps some order in the noise. In these mammalian cells, we see clusters of mitochondria, the tiny organelles that churn out cellular energy, a molecule called ATP. Among other jobs, mitochondria also heat our cells from the inside – each is around a billion times smaller than a nuclear power facility. While watching organelles in motion has its advantages, here a new fluorescent stain reveals fine details in fixed cells – those frozen in time with chemicals – potentially yielding different perspectives on these tiny power stations in health and disease.

Written by John Ankers

Image from work by Jingting Chen and colleagues

College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China

Image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), April 2024

You can also follow BPoD on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Bluesky

[cognitivejustice]

The remarkable transformation of Erhai Lake in China’s Yunnan province turned decades of pollution into a model of ecological restoration.

Erhai Lake became a key testing ground for Kong’s team, which discovered the most significant source of pollution to be the cultivation of a local type of single-bulb garlic on the shores of the lake. When the local government began to restrict these activities to areas beyond 200 meters from the shoreline, farmers were encouraged to plant other income-generating crop varieties and decrease or replace the use of chemical fertilizers.

Building a consensus among local growers was not an easy task and required the combined efforts of the whole community, with scientists, Communist Party of China (CPC) members, teachers, doctors, and other public officials to lead by example and ask their relatives to do the same. Kong Hainan, for example, personally communicated with the media, went door-to-door to talk with residents, heard their concerns, and convinced them that threats to the health of the lake ultimately impacted the long-term livelihood of all the residents.

For the last fifteen years, China Agricultural University has been exploring a “Science and Technology Courtyard” model, where graduate students are sent to the frontlines of agricultural production, living, working, and producing alongside local peasant farmers. Together, they were able to identify core problems, such as pollution sources, address practical issues at the grassroots level, and innovate to find new solutions, such as biofertilizers and pesticides. This day-to-day trust-building has been a hallmark of China’s rural campaigns, from poverty alleviation to rural revitalization efforts.