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A recent study conducted at Tel Aviv University has devised a large mechanical system that operates under dynamical rules akin to those found in quantum systems. The dynamics of quantum systems, composed of microscopic particles like atoms or electrons, are notoriously difficult, if not impossible, to observe directly.

However, this new system allows researchers to visualize phenomena occurring in specialized “topological” materials through the movement of a system of coupled pendula.

The research is a collaboration between Dr. Izhar Neder of the Soreq Nuclear Research Center, Chaviva Sirote-Katz of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dr. Meital Geva and Prof. Yair Shokef of the School of Mechanical Engineering, and Prof. Yoav Lahini and Prof. Roni Ilan of the School of Physics and Astronomy at Tel Aviv University and was recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

A recent study conducted at Tel Aviv University has devised a large mechanical system that operates under dynamical rules akin to those found in quantum systems. The dynamics of quantum systems, composed of microscopic particles like atoms or electrons, are notoriously difficult, if not impossible, to observe directly.

However, this new system allows researchers to visualize phenomena occurring in specialized “topological” materials through the movement of a system of coupled pendula.

The research is a collaboration between Dr. Izhar Neder of the Soreq Nuclear Research Center, Chaviva Sirote-Katz of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dr. Meital Geva and Prof. Yair Shokef of the School of Mechanical Engineering, and Prof. Yoav Lahini and Prof. Roni Ilan of the School of Physics and Astronomy at Tel Aviv University and was recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

A recent study conducted at Tel Aviv University has devised a large mechanical system that operates under dynamical rules akin to those found in quantum systems. The dynamics of quantum systems, composed of microscopic particles like atoms or electrons, are notoriously difficult, if not impossible, to observe directly.

However, this new system allows researchers to visualize phenomena occurring in specialized “topological” materials through the movement of a system of coupled pendula.

Continue reading “Classifying quantum secrets: Pendulum experiment reveals insights into topological materials” »

If two points were ripped apart faster than light, they would no longer interact through any force of physics. Whereas a constant dark energy would leave behind already-intact objects, like clusters of galaxies, phantom energy could tear them apart. In a finite amount of time, billions of years from now, clusters would tear apart, followed by ever-smaller objects. Even atomic and nuclear bonds would not withstand the onslaught.

Eventually, space itself would dissolve in an event known as the Big Rip. Any two points, no matter how close, would be ripped infinitely far away from each other. The very structure of space-time, the causal foundations that make our universe work, would no longer behave. The universe would just break down.

However, luckily, most physicists do not believe this scenario can actually happen. For one, it’s unclear how this process of ripping interacts with the other laws of physics. For example, quarks cannot be torn apart — when you attempt to do so, you need so much energy that new quarks materialize out of the vacuum. So ripping apart quarks just might lead to other, interesting interactions.

Spintronics is a field that deals with electronics that exploit the intrinsic spin of electrons and their associated magnetic moment for applications such as quantum computing and memory storage devices. Owing to its spin and magnetism exhibited in its insulator-metal phase transition, the strongly correlated electron systems of nickel oxide (NiO) have been thoroughly explored for more than eight decades. Interest in its unique antiferromagnetic (AF) and spin properties has seen a revival lately since NiO is a potential material for ultrafast spintronics devices.

Despite this rise in popularity, exploration of its surface magnetic properties using the low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) technique has not received much attention since the 1970s. To review the understanding of the surface properties, Professor Masamitsu Hoshino and Emeritus Professor Hiroshi Tanaka, both from the Department of Physics at Sophia University, Japan, revisited the surface LEED crystallography of NiO.

The results of their quantitative experimental study investigating the coherent exchange scattering in Ni²⁺ ions in AF single crystal NiO were reported in The European Physical Journal D.

A brief comment on this week’s news about Claude 3 supposedly showing self-awareness. Let me know what you think, I’m basically doing this video to give you a forum to discuss!

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Continue reading “New Rumours that AI Has Become Sentient” »

Quantum computing firm D-Wave says its machines are the first to achieve “computational supremacy” by solving a practically useful problem that would otherwise take millions of years on an ordinary supercomputer.

By Matthew Sparkes

The electrocatalytic nitric oxide reduction reaction (NORR) has attracted significant attention as an ecofriendly alternative to the conventional Haber–Bosch process for producing ammonia (NH3). However, the poor selectivity to NH3 and low catalyst stability under harsh conditions are great challenges in NORR. Herein, the core–shell structure of nickel nanoparticles enclosed with a nitrogen-doped carbon layer (Ni@NC) electrocatalyst derived from covalent organic frameworks is employed for high performance in NORR. The Ni@NC-700 achieved the highest FENH3 of 82.94% with an NH3 yield rate of 19.00 μmol cm–2 h–1 at 0.16 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode) in a 0.1 M HClO4 electrolyte. Control experiments revealed that nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) acted as active centers in Ni@NC for efficient production of NH3. The ideal carbon shell protection of Ni NPs and the high inherent catalytic TOF of Ni@NC-700 revealed a promising candidate for an efficient NORR electrocatalyst. The stability test demonstrated the remarkable stability of Ni@NC. The Ni NPs were protected by carbon nanostructures resembling core–shell catalysts, preventing metal dissolution during rough electrolysis.

In a collaboration with Kyushu University, a team of Harvard University scientists says their new research into the ability to regrow lost limbs sets the stage’ for proper limb regeneration.

Of course, some animals, including amphibians, can regrow a lost arm or leg, but the team behind this latest research hopes to bring that ability to humans who hope to regrow lost limbs.

The researchers also say this process could facilitate the growing of limbs in animals that lost them to evolution, such as snakes.