Category: Science

phys.org

Scientists built a quantum version of the Archimedes screw which can stabilize gas atoms completely.
The screw also lets them observe scar states, an extremely rare repeating particle pattern in a quantum system - it’s only the second known observation ever.
They were trying to tweak a super Tonks-Girardeau gas, a highly excited one-dimensional quantum gas, which usually doesn’t hold up in experiments.
But here, researchers were able to make the gas remain stable no matter what, a result that was pretty much shocking to them.
The discovery doesn’t have an immediate application, but it’s a new addition to the science that will drive the creation and adoption of quantum technology.

Bulleted by Michał Słupski
on January 15, 2021

We can’t predict the weather, among many other complex issues, because computers still can’t solve nonlinear equations.
But this might change soon, as two different research teams created algorithms that can be used for nonlinear modelling on quantum computers.
Their techniques still need refining, and won’t be real-world ready for years, but these studies are another stepping stone towards truly useful quantum algorithms.

Bulleted by Michał Słupski
on January 8, 2021

Through cellular reprogramming - common approach to reverse cell aging - they identified genes involved in rejuvenating mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs).
Thus, they know the pathway that controls the aging of MSCs.
Study authors believe this to be a significant contribution to progress in regenerative medicine.

Bulleted by Michał Słupski
on December 4, 2020

Physicists are coming closer to nail the exact value of the fine-structure constant, alpha, which was known to be close to 1/137.
Many famous physicists were enamored with it, saying it’s the golden ratio.
It’s everywhere, and controls how electromagnetic forces affect charged particles like electrons and protons.
“In our everyday world, everything is either gravity or electromagnetism. And that’s why alpha is so important”.
The new super precise measurement puts the value of alpha at 1/137.03599920611.

Bulleted by Michał Słupski
on December 4, 2020

They simulated the Big Bang in a lab, and measured the reaction rate of deuterium hit by a proton beam, revealing key details about the first minutes after the Big Bang.
Deuterium’s creation was the first step in Big Bang nucleosynthesis, a sequence of nuclear reactions that happened when cosmos was a soup of protons and neutrons.
The measurement allowed physicists to compare cosmos in the first few minutes to 380,000 years later, when it cooled down enough for electrons to orbit atomic nuclei.
It basically tells us that the standard model of cosmology is so far pretty correct.

Bulleted by Michał Słupski
on November 13, 2020

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