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Category: computing – Page 63

Dual scalable annealing processors overcome capacity and precision limits

Combinatorial optimization problems (COPs) arise in various fields such as shift scheduling, traffic routing, and drug development. However, they are challenging to solve using traditional computers in a practical timeframe.

Alternatively, annealing processors (APs), which are specialized hardware for solving COPs, have gained significant attention. They are based on the Ising model, in which COP variables are presented as magnetic spins and constraints as interactions between spins. Solutions are obtained by finding the spin state that minimizes the energy of the system.

There are two types of Ising models, the sparsely-coupled model and the fully-coupled model. Sparsely-coupled models offer high scalability by allowing more spins, but require COPs to be transformed to fit the model. Fully-coupled models, on the other hand, allow any COP to be mapped directly without transformation, making them highly desirable.

Compact optical clock uses quantum interference for improved frequency stability

An atomic clock research team from the National Time Service Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has proposed and implemented a compact optical clock based on quantum interference enhanced absorption spectroscopy, which is expected to play an important role in micro-positioning, navigation, timing (μPNT) and other systems.

Inspired by the successful history of the coherent population trapping (CPT)-based chip-scale microwave atomic clock and the booming of optical microcombs, a chip-scale optical clock was also proposed and demonstrated with better frequency stability and accuracy, which is mainly based on two-photon transition of Rubidium atom ensemble.

However, the typically required high cell temperatures (~100 ℃) and laser powers (~10 mW) in such a configuration are not compliant with the advent of a fully miniaturized and optical clock.

Pressure-responsive, layered semiconductor shows potential for next-gen data storage

A squishy, layered material that dramatically transforms under pressure could someday help computers store more data with less energy.

That’s according to a new study by researchers at Washington State University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte that shows a hybrid zinc telluride-based material can undergo surprising structural changes when squeezed together like a molecular sandwich. Those changes could make it a strong candidate for , a type of ultra-fast, long-lasting data storage that works differently than the memory found in today’s devices and doesn’t need a constant power source.

The research was made possible by a X-ray diffraction system that was acquired in 2022. This specialized equipment lets researchers observe tiny structural changes in the material as they happened—all from WSU’s Pullman campus. Usually, these kinds of experiments require time at massive national facilities like the Advanced Light Source at Berkeley National Laboratory in California.

Printing the Future of Life: How 3D Collagen Scaffolds Grow Real Tissues

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have created a groundbreaking tissue engineering platform using 3D-printed collagen scaffolds called CHIPS.

By mimicking natural cellular environments, they enable cells to grow, interact, and form functional tissues — a major step beyond traditional silicone-based microfluidic models. The platform not only models diseases like diabetes but could also replace animal testing in the future. Plus, their designs are freely available to fuel broader scientific innovation.

3D bioprinting: turning science fiction into science reality.

Kali Linux warns of update failures after losing repo signing key

Offensive Security warned Kali Linux users to manually install a new Kali repository signing key to avoid experiencing update failures.

The announcement comes after OffSec lost the old repo signing key (ED444FF07D8D0BF6) and was forced to create a new one (ED65462EC8D5E4C5) signed by Kali Linux developers using signatures available on the Ubuntu OpenPGP key server. However, since the key was not compromised, the old one was not removed from the keyring.

When trying to get the list of latest software packages on systems still using the old key, users will see “Missing key 827C8569F2518CC677FECA1AED65462EC8D5E4C5, which is needed to verify signature” errors.

The Science of Keeping Your Chips Cool

All of the cooling methods we’ve discussed so far work by the simple transfer of heat from a hot chip to the surrounding air. This means a chip can never get colder than the ambient temperature of the room it’s in. If we want to cool below ambient temperatures, or if we need to cool something massive like an entire data center, we need to apply some additional science. This is where chillers and thermoelectric coolers come in.

Thermoelectric cooling, also known as a Peltier device, is not very popular at the moment but has the potential to become very useful. These devices transfer heat from one side of a cooling plate to the other by consuming electricity. They use special thermoelectric materials that can create a temperature difference via an electric potential.

When a DC current flows through the device, heat is absorbed from one side and transferred to the other, allowing the “cool” side to drop below ambient temperature. Currently, these devices remain niche because they require a lot of energy to achieve significant cooling. However, researchers are working to develop more efficient versions for broader use.

Blaise Agüera y Arcas and Michael Levin: The Computational Foundations of Life and Intelligence

In this remarkable conversation, Michael Levin (Tufts University) and Blaise Agüera y Arcas (Google) examine what happens when biology and computation collide at their foundations. Their recent papers—arriving simultaneously yet from distinct intellectual traditions—illuminate how simple rules generate complex behaviors that challenge our understanding of life, intelligence, and agency.

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