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Mar 12, 2023

How Einstein tried to model the shape of the Universe

Posted by in categories: cosmology, information science, mathematics, quantum physics

To keep his Universe static, Einstein added a term into the equations of general relativity, one he initially dubbed a negative pressure. It soon became known as the cosmological constant. Mathematics allowed the concept, but it had absolutely no justification from physics, no matter how hard Einstein and others tried to find one. The cosmological constant clearly detracted from the formal beauty and simplicity of Einstein’s original equations of 1915, which achieved so much without any need for arbitrary constants or additional assumptions. It amounted to a cosmic repulsion chosen to precisely balance the tendency of matter to collapse on itself. In modern parlance we call this fine tuning, and in physics it is usually frowned upon.

Einstein knew that the only reason for his cosmological constant to exist was to secure a static and stable finite Universe. He wanted this kind of Universe, and he did not want to look much further. Quietly hiding in his equations, though, was another model for the Universe, one with an expanding geometry. In 1922, the Russian physicist Alexander Friedmann would find this solution. As for Einstein, it was only in 1931, after visiting Hubble in California, that he accepted cosmic expansion and discarded at long last his vision of a static Cosmos.

Einstein’s equations provided a much richer Universe than the one Einstein himself had originally imagined. But like the mythic phoenix, the cosmological constant refuses to go away. Nowadays it is back in full force, as we will see in a future article.

Mar 12, 2023

Retro Bio’s $180m backer finally revealed

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, finance, life extension, nuclear energy, robotics/AI

Retro Biosciences’ mysterious backer has finally been revealed!


In 2021 the longevity industry received one of its largest investments to date, with a $180m investment being made into the pharmaceutical start known as Retro Biosciences, or Retro Bio for short. Not only was this investment cause for celebration within the field of regenerative medicine, but it also came with a tantalising mystery, as the backer, or indeed backer, did not make themselves publicly known. It was assumed that due to the secrecy involved, it was likely that this investment had come from a small number of individuals, potentially just a single backer. This mystery backer, combined with the notable capital investment, led to much media attention at the time, and has since garnered a significant amount of interest in Retro Bio from both the general public and future potential financial backers. That was until last week, when the mystery backer finally decided that now was the right time to reveal their identity to the general public.

In an interview with MIT Technology review, American entrepreneur Sam Altman revealed that he was the sole backer for the pharmaceutical start-up, who single handily provided the entire $180m investment. Sam Altman, who primarily made his fortune in the tech industry (specifically through social media companies such as Loopt) has become somewhat of an angel investor for a slew of world changing, innovative companies which are involved in everything from artificial intelligence to nuclear energy. It is hoped that this significant single investment marks the beginning of a longevity tech boom, similar to what was seen during the dot-com boom (but hopefully without the disastrous ending).

Mar 12, 2023

Fossil Fuel Industry Leadership Intends To Stay As “Oily” As Possible Until Forced To Change

Posted by in categories: energy, futurism

Oil company CEOs greenwash at Houston conference while UN calls for action to halve emissions from the industry this decade.


The fossil fuel industry sees a ‘chaotic’ and ‘painful’ future in curbing their production before proven energy alternatives are in place.

Mar 12, 2023

Quantum effects could help make twisted bilayer graphene a superconductor

Posted by in categories: materials, quantum physics

“Measuring tBLG devices: the cryostat insert used in the experiments. (Courtesy: J Lau)” Measuring tB.

Mar 12, 2023

New Room-Temperature Superconductor Offers Tantalizing Possibilities

Posted by in categories: energy, materials

The breakthrough could one day transform technologies that use electric energy, but it comes from a team facing doubts after a retracted paper on superconductors.

Mar 12, 2023

Four astronauts fly SpaceX back home, end 5-month mission

Posted by in categories: habitats, space travel

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Four space station astronauts returned to Earth late Saturday after a quick SpaceX flight home.

Their capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida coast.

The U.S.-Russian-Japanese crew spent five months at the International Space Station, arriving last October. Besides dodging space junk, the astronauts had to deal with a pair of leaking Russian capsules docked to the orbiting outpost and the urgent delivery of a replacement craft for the station’s other crew members.

Mar 12, 2023

Scientists discovered a totally new way to measure time

Posted by in category: quantum physics

Measuring time might not seem like that complex of a thing. After all, we rely on simply counting seconds between the “then” and the “now.” But when you really start to break time down to the quantum level, things begin to get a bit foggier.

Mar 12, 2023

Harvard Professor Reveals 4 EASY Ways to Slow and Reverse Aging | Dr. David Sinclair

Posted by in category: life extension

Opening comment which is repeated later: He is 50, but was biologically 60, until he changed his lifestyle and diet, and now he is 31. OMG does that mean we can already rejuvenate to a youthful state? Well no. These clocks measure how healthy you are, and yes if you copied David’s lifestyle you’ll get more years…or more accurately, healthy years. Perhaps David would have made it to 80, but now he’ll make it to 100 and be active for most of it. But that is not true rejuvenation. For that he mentions reprogramming near the end of the vid and the fact they are working on whole body rejuvenation with the success they had in the eyes of mice.


Are you tired of feeling old and worn out? Do you want to look and feel younger without resorting to expensive treatments or surgeries? In this video, Dr. David Sinclair shares his expert tips on how to slow and reverse aging using simple, everyday practices like intermittent fasting, supplements, a healthy lifestyle, and proper diet. With over 20 years of experience studying longevity, Dr. Sinclair is a leading authority on the science of aging.#intermittentfasting #supplements #longevity.

Continue reading “Harvard Professor Reveals 4 EASY Ways to Slow and Reverse Aging | Dr. David Sinclair” »

Mar 12, 2023

Earth’s water came from super deep space, and it’s older than you can imagine

Posted by in category: space

Astronomers found compelling evidence that the water in our solar system came from interstellar space. This water around a distant protostar is quite similar to the water found in our solar system, and on Earth.

Mar 12, 2023

Physicists explore mysteries of strange metals

Posted by in category: physics

Physicists are learning more about the bizarre behavior of “strange metals,” which operate outside the normal rules of electricity.

Theoretical physicist Yashar Komijani, an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati, contributed to an international experiment using a strange metal made from an alloy of ytterbium, a . Physicists in a lab in Hyogo, Japan, fired radioactive gamma rays at the strange metal to observe its unusual electrical behavior.

Led by Hisao Kobayashi with the University of Hyogo and RIKEN, the study was published in the journal Science. The experiment revealed unusual fluctuations in the strange metal’s .