Lifeboat Foundation

Molecular dynamics (MD) is a popular method for studying molecular systems and microscopic processes at the atomic level. However, MD simulations can be quite computationally expensive due to the intricate temporal and spatial resolutions needed. Due to the computing load, much research has been done on alternate techniques that can speed up simulation without sacrificing accuracy. Creating surrogate models based on deep learning is one such strategy that can effectively replace conventional MD simulations.

In recent research, a team of MIT researchers introduced the use of generative modeling to simulate molecular motions. This framework eliminates the need to compute the molecular forces at each step by using machine learning models that are trained on data obtained by MD simulations to provide believable molecular paths. These generative models can function as adaptable multi-task surrogate models, able to carry out multiple crucial tasks for which MD simulations are generally employed.

These generative models can be trained for a variety of tasks by carefully choosing and conditioning on specific frames of a molecule trajectory. These tasks include the following.

A study of 14 million research papers reveals a sudden and dramatic change that occurred soon after ChatGPT appeared.

The hunt for dark matter has long been one of the most compelling challenges in physics, with new candidates emerging from cutting-edge research in cosmic-ray propagation and particle detection.

Two new studies highlight the enigmatic nature of antimatter, revealing its potential role in both understanding the universe’s origins and unlocking the secrets of particle physics.

Investment in large neuroscience initiatives is starting to show results, but questions remain over whether they can solve the most fundamental questions about cognition.

El Cosmico Campground Hotel in the Texas desert is billed as the world’s first 3D-printed hotel. Following the project’s announcement earlier this year, 3D-printed architecture firm Icon is busy constructing the ambitious hotel.

El Cosmico is an expansion and reimagining of an already-existing campground hotel on the outskirts of Marfa, Texas. According to Icon, it will include camping areas, vacation homes, shared amenities, and permanent residences for sale. Connected to the hotel is the collection of the BIG-designed three and four-bedroom “Sunday Homes.” Pricing on the Sunday Homes starts at a cool $2.29M.

The company says the new hotel and homes feature organic curves and domes, a design that is only possible with 3D printing. The project was created in collaboration with architecture firm BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.

Scientists are using advanced simulations to explore the aftermath of neutron star collisions, where remnants might form and avoid collapsing into black holes.

This research not only sheds light on the dynamics and cooling of these remnants through neutrino emissions but also provides crucial insights into the behavior of nuclear matter under extreme conditions. The findings contribute to our understanding of astronomical events and the conditions that may or may not lead to black hole formation.

Mysterious aftermath of neutron star collisions.

Exclusive: Global trial finds treatment with amivantamab and lazertinib halts progression for average of 23.7 months.

The foundation of this simulation, as described by the team, is a well-known cosmological model that describes the universe as expanding uniformly over time. The researchers modeled how a quantum field, initially in a vacuum state (meaning no particles are present), responds to this expansion. As spacetime stretches, the field’s oscillations mix in a process that can create particles where none previously existed. This phenomenon is captured by a transformation that relates the field’s behavior before and after the universe expands, showing how vibrations at different momenta become entangled, leading to particle creation.

To understand how many particles are generated, the researchers used a mathematical tool called the Bogoliubov transformation. This approach describes how the field’s vacuum state evolves into a state where particles can be detected. As the expansion rate increases, more particles are produced, aligning with predictions from quantum field theory. By running this simulation on IBM quantum computers, the team was able to estimate the number of particles created and observe how the quantum field behaves during the universe’s expansion, offering a new way to explore complex cosmological phenomena.

According to the team, the most notable result of the study was the ability to estimate the number of particles created as a function of the expansion rate of the universe. By running their quantum circuit on both simulators and IBM’s 127-qubit Eagle quantum processor, the researchers demonstrated that they could successfully simulate particle creation in a cosmological context. While the results were noisy—particularly for low expansion rates—the error mitigation techniques used helped bring the outcomes closer to theoretical predictions.

Disabling a gene involved in metabolism rejuvenates cells’ ability to spin off new neurons.