Menu

Blog

Page 25

Nov 9, 2024

A physicist and his cat ‘reveal’ the equation of cat motion

Posted by in categories: information science, physics

In the social media age, there is little doubt about who is the star of the animal kingdom. Cats rule the screens just as their cousins, the lions, rule the savanna. Thanks to Erwin Schrödinger, this feline also has a place of honor in the history of physics. And it was Eme the cat that inspired Anxo Biasi, researcher at the Instituto Galego de Física de Altas Enerxías (IGFAE), to publish an article in the American Journal of Physics.

Nov 9, 2024

Validation testing of next-gen genome analysis platform reveals potentially disruptive tech

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

A collaborative study by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Illumina has showcased the exceptional capabilities of the DRAGEN (Dynamic Read Analysis for GENomics) platform in comprehensive genome analysis.

Nov 9, 2024

Facial recognition technology confirms Hollywood is getting more diverse

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

With recent box office hits like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Little Mermaid and Everything Everywhere All at Once, the average viewer might assume that the casts of Hollywood films are more diverse now than they were 10 or 20 years ago. But verifying these perceptions can be tricky.

Nov 9, 2024

Physicists propose Bell test for probing quantum entanglement

Posted by in categories: particle physics, quantum physics

Imperial researchers have proposed a new way to directly probe quantum entanglement, the effect that led to the puzzling concept of “spooky action at a distance,” where previously grouped particles’ quantum states cannot be described independently of each other. The research has been accepted for publication in Physical Review X.

Nov 9, 2024

Scientists decipher two-photon vision

Posted by in categories: energy, innovation

Imagine that instead of viewing an image through a lens, you look through a kaleidoscope that focuses invisible light to obtain a new range of colors. The photon, the ephemeral messenger of light, usually appears alone, but here it appears in a duet, which is the basis of two-photon . This is an extraordinary phenomenon in which the , instead of perceiving traditional light, receives pulses of infrared lasers, the gateway to the invisible world.

However, the key to this is measuring the brightness of two-photon stimuli, which until now was only possible for . ICTER scientists have made a breakthrough and determined the luminance value for infrared using photometric units (cd/m2). Thanks to this approach, it is possible to link the luminance of two-photon stimuli to a new physical quantity related to perceived brightness: the two-photon retinal illumination.

Research—conducted by scientists from the International Centre for Eye Research (ICTER) with the participation of Ph.D. student Oliwia Kaczkoś, Ph.D. Eng. Katarzyna Komar and Prof. Maciej Wojtkowski—has shown that the luminance of a two-photon stimulus can reach almost 670 cd/m2 in the safe range of laser power for the eye.

Nov 9, 2024

Successful demonstration of a commercial cryogenic radio frequency power sensor paves way for quantum computing

Posted by in categories: computing, quantum physics, space

Radio frequency (RF) and microwave power measurements are widely used to support applications across space, defense, and communication. These precise measurements enable engineers to accurately characterize waveforms, components, circuits, and systems.

Nov 9, 2024

Revealing the superconducting limit of twisted bilayer graphene

Posted by in categories: materials, particle physics

Graphene is a simple material containing only a single layer of carbon atoms, but when two sheets of it are stacked together and offset at a slight angle, this twisted bilayer material produces numerous intriguing effects, notably superconductivity.

Nov 9, 2024

Improving detector sensitivity to neutrinos and dark matter

Posted by in categories: cosmology, particle physics

Fine tuning an experimental setup improved a detector’s sensitivity to neutrinos and perhaps eventually dark matter—two difficult-to-measure forms of matter which hold great importance for understanding particle physics and experimental cosmology. The University-of-Michigan-led study is published in Physical Review D.

Nov 9, 2024

Measurement of Ascorbic Acid Samples’ Optical Rotation via an Improvised Polarimeter for Purity Assessment

Posted by in categories: chemistry, education, physics

The polarization of light finds practical application in physics and chemistry through the optical activity phenomenon, where polarimeters play a crucial role. This research builds on the improvised polarimeter designed by Kvittingen and Sjursnes, implemented with relevant modifications, to measure optical rotations of over-the-counter ascorbic acid samples. The study aims to assess the purity of two brands of ascorbic acid through polarimetry, comparing the calculated specific rotation with the literature values and supplementing the characterization with melting point determination. The constructed polarimeter, assembled using Lego bricks, provides an affordable alternative for educational purposes, addressing the challenges observed in the accessibility of commercial polarimeters for classroom demonstrations. The methodology encompasses pre-experiment steps involving polarimeter construction, the experiment utilizing polarimetry and complementary melting point determination, and post-experiment analysis to determine specific rotation from the measured optical rotations. Results indicate that Brand X exhibited specific rotations close to theoretical values, inferring high purity. Conversely, Brand Y shows significant deviations, suggesting potential impurities. These conclusions are supported by melting point data. The comprehensive approach combining polarimetry and melting point determination enhances the reliability of purity assessments, showcasing the effectiveness of the improvised polarimeter in practical applications.

R J M Felicidario and R M delos Santos 2024 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 2,871 012009.

Nov 9, 2024

Bach, Mozart or jazz: Scientists provide a quantitative measure of variability in music pieces

Posted by in categories: media & arts, physics

Physicists at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) have investigated to which extent a piece of music can evoke expectations about its progression. They were able to determine differences in how far compositions of different composers can be anticipated. In total, the scientists quantitatively analyzed more than 550 pieces from classical and jazz music.

Page 25 of 11,983First2223242526272829Last