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Feb 3, 2016

Quantum gas, liquid and crystal all-in-one

Posted by in categories: electronics, materials, neuroscience, particle physics, quantum physics

I don’t claim to be the expert on all things Quantum by no stretch; however, this is an amazing discovery and huge step forward for Quantum.

Quantum gas and liquid/ ferrofluid (quantum fluid made of tiny magnets). Now there’s a concept. Q-Dots as ferrofluid flowing through out your system (which is already comprised of about 72% H2O; think about how liquid Q-Dots can be easily absorb as a liquid and given your brain, heart, etc. run on electro charges and sensors; it could definitely open the discussion why even bother with nuero implants when Q-ferrofluid could actually be absorbed and manipulated to target the right areas for fighting diseases or improving brain functions.


The world of quantum mechanics happens only in small scales around a few nanometers. In this nanoworld, particles can behave like waves, and vice versa and have only some probability to be in a particular region. These effects can be directly observed in ultracold dilute gases. For this purpose thousands or a million atoms are cooled down to a few billionth of a degree above absolute zero. At such low temperatures particles become indistinguishable und unite collecitvely to a single giant matter wave called Bose-Einstein condensate which has astonishing properties. The matter wave flows as quantum fluid practically without inner friction, thus it is namedsuperfluid.

Researchers around Tilman Pfau at the Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology IQST in Stuttgart (Germany) created such a quantum fluid made of tiny magnets – that are atoms of the most magnetic element dysprosium. They call it “quantum ferrofluid” since it is superfluid and has magnetic properties similar to classical ferrofluids. Ferrofluids consist of ferromagnetic nanoparticles dissolved in oil or water. When a strong magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the surface of the ferrofluid it undergoes a so-called Rosensweig instability. The surface is no longer smooth like normal fluids, but it generates a regular thorny surface resembling a hedgehog. From the point view of the tiny magnets in a ferrofluid, every south- and northpole attract each other. Therefore, it is energetically favourable to be on top of each other along the field direction, so the fluid grows peaks out of the smooth surface.

Continue reading “Quantum gas, liquid and crystal all-in-one” »

Feb 3, 2016

Princeton research benefits sustainability, cybersecurity and other societal goals

Posted by in categories: engineering, materials, quantum physics, sustainability

I shared this same point of view yesterday; and glad to see Princeton shares the same perspective on Quantum and it’s abundant capabilities. Again; Quantum is going to truly change (if not everything) almost everything that we consume, use, and interact with even in raw material enrichment will benefit from Quantum.


Claire White, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, studies ways to make building materials more sustainable. It turns out that cement production creates a lot of carbon dioxide, so much that it accounts for roughly 5 to 8 percent of man-made carbon dioxide emissions globally. White and her team are developing new types of cement using industrial byproducts such as coal fly ash and blast-furnace slag. They make these materials more durable by adding nanoparticles.

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Feb 3, 2016

Head of Google Search retires, artificial intelligence chief to take over

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

Very sad to see Amit leave; wonderful man and leader. John taking over Search Engine makes perfect sense since AI is predominantly about information, scanning the net and absorbing info like a sponge to make predictive analysis and decisions from the information available to it. Plus, you add the capabilities to assess people’s search and net activities to the mix; AI is about predicting a person’s mind and habits/ interests. So, merging AI and Search totally make sense and probably was already happening anyway given other press releases.


With Amit Singhal leaving, Google is reportedly merging the AI and search divisions.

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Feb 3, 2016

Will Robots Make Humans Unnecessary?

Posted by in categories: economics, employment, robotics/AI

Good article. Robots taking over the world? No. All human workers replaced by a robot? No Will humans need enhancements to keep up with technology or do certain positions/ careers? Yes.


As robotics and artificial intelligence continue to accelerate in their development, there will be a dwindling number of jobs that machines won’t handle better than humans. How should we prepare for an economy that no longer needs us?

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Feb 3, 2016

WE’RE STUCK! Teaches Maths to Children Using Cutting Edge Neuroscience

Posted by in categories: education, neuroscience, robotics/AI

To all parents and techers out there: here is a great program for the kids.


A brand new interactive theatre show for 8–11 year olds, We’re Stuck! takes children on a fun adventure with scientists and robots which could change their whole attitude to maths. Inspired by the extraordinary abilities and limitations of our brains, award-winning theatre-maker Sarah Punshon uses the latest educational neuroscience to tackle how utterly rubbish our brains can be. Ever got terribly stuck on a problem? Ever made a stupid mistake and felt like a fool? Then this show is for you.

Young adventurers will go on a special tour deep into the heart of Volcano Industries where they meet cutting edge scientists struggling with some unusual and extremely tricky problems in their top-secret research laboratory. In a promenade performance, the ridiculous heroes and the brave young audience go on a voyage of discovery, pitching themselves against ludicrously difficult tasks, getting horribly stuck, and risking total failure. It’ll be fun.

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Feb 3, 2016

Can Your DNA Determine If You’re a Morning Person or Night Owl?

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics, neuroscience

New study identifies genetic variants associated with preference to mornings or nights.

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Feb 3, 2016

Scientists in Germany Take a Major Step Towards Nuclear Fusion

Posted by in categories: nuclear energy, particle physics

Excellent news!


Physicists in Germany have used an experimental nuclear fusion device to produce hydrogen plasma in a process similar to what happens on the Sun. The test marks an important milestone on the road towards this super-futuristic source of cheap and clean nuclear energy.

Earlier today in an event attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel (herself a PhD physicist), researchers from the Max Planck Institute in Greifswald turned on the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, an experimental nuclear fusion reactor. (Actually, the researchers let Merkel do the honors.) This €400 million ($435 million) stellarator is being used by physicists to test the technical viability of a future fusion reactor.

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Feb 3, 2016

Homo Sapiens May Evolve into Homo Optimus

Posted by in category: wearables

A futurologist predicts that developments in wearable and implantable technology will cause Homo sapiens to evolve into Homo Optimus by 2050.

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Feb 3, 2016

“Some scientists refer to this as the Singularity. I call it Transcendence.”

Posted by in categories: biological, energy, neuroscience, robotics/AI, singularity, space

http://www.transcendencemovie.com/

Dr. Will Caster: “For 130,000 years, our capacity for reason has remained unchanged. The combined intellect of the neuroscientists, engineers, mathematicians and hackers in this auditorium pales in comparison to even the most basic AI. Once online, a sentient machine will quickly overcome the limits of biology. And in a short time, its analytical power will be greater than the collective intelligence of every person born in the history of the world. So now imagine such an entity with the full range of human emotion. Even self-awareness. Some scientists refer to this as ‘the Singularity’. I call it ’Transcendence’. The path to building such a super-intelligence requires us to unlock the most fundamental secrets of the universe. What is the nature of consciousness? Is there a soul? And if so, where does it reside?”

Luddite: “Dr. Caster.”

Continue reading “‘Some scientists refer to this as the Singularity. I call it Transcendence.’” »

Feb 3, 2016

To be human is to be Transhuman

Posted by in category: transhumanism

“We know what we are… we know not what we may be”

-Shakespeare.

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