Lifeboat Foundation

Shooting a laser pulse at a porous silver target generates more intense x rays than previous targets, which will help studies of matter in extreme conditions.

Physicists rely on intense bursts of high-energy x rays to observe the progress of fusion experiments and to probe the dynamics of matter under conditions of extreme temperature and pressure. Current techniques for generating such bursts involve firing a laser pulse at a material target but typically turn only a small fraction of the laser energy into usable x rays, thereby limiting the burst energy and intensity. Now researchers have demonstrated a doubling of the efficiency by using a target made of a low-density metallic foam [1]. They expect that the new targets will lead to much brighter x-ray bursts capable of illuminating extreme physical processes under conditions that were previously inaccessible to x-ray observations.

When a powerful laser pulse strikes a foil of material such as silver, the laser strips away the electrons, leaving exposed the highly charged nuclei. Surrounding electrons then fall back into the lowest energy levels, creating high-energy x rays. However, most of the laser energy can be lost in the process, and the overall efficiency is very sensitive to the nature of the material target. Researchers have found, for example, that solid targets generally yield low efficiencies, as x rays emerge from only a small volume near the surface, while laser energy is otherwise consumed by stirring up plasma waves in the material. This low efficiency limits the x-ray intensity.

Researchers at Cornell University have created a sustainable method to extract gold from electronic waste and use it as a catalyst to transform CO₂ into valuable organic materials.

This process provides an eco-friendly alternative to traditional extraction methods, utilizes vast amounts of e-waste, and helps mitigate CO₂ emissions, showcasing a promising avenue for environmental conservation and resource recovery.

Innovative Gold Recovery from E-Waste.

Scientists to examine if humans’ and dogs’ brains synchronise when they interact in a way similar to parents and babies.

Not a dramatic increase, but a good one.

Loyal, a US biotech startup, has been conducting research and development on LOY-002, a potential drug for extending the lifespan of dogs.

Continue reading “Dog drug may help humans slow aging, extend life, scientists explore” »

Machine learning algorithms significantly impact decision-making in high-stakes domains, necessitating a balance between fairness and accuracy. This study introduces an in-processing, multi-objective framework that leverages the Reject Option Classification (ROC) algorithm to simultaneously optimize fairness and accuracy while safeguarding protected attributes such as age and gender.

The World Health Organization, WHO, has declared the outbreak of a new coronavirus in China, a global health emergency.

The WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus made the announcement at a press conference in Geneva.

WHO’s emergency committee on the epidemic had reportedly met Thursday afternoon and recommended designating the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, PHEIC.

NVIDIA has filed a patent for augmented reality (AR) glasses. These glasses may look like regular glasses but with some special features on the inside. It also appears that the company is looking to make these glasses lightweight and energy-efficient while offering high-quality visuals.

The patent titled “Backlight-Free Augmented Reality Digital Holography” can be found under the number 20250004275A1 on the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website. Thanks to SETI Park, an independent patent researcher, for sharing its details on X.

A new breakthrough may help scientists solve some of the mysteries of the quantum realm.

For the first time, physicists have been able to measure the geometrical ‘shape’ a lone electron adopts as it moves through a solid. It’s an achievement that will unlock a whole new way of studying how crystalline solids behave on a quantum level.

“We’ve essentially developed a blueprint for obtaining some completely new information that couldn’t be obtained before,” says physicist Riccardo Comin of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The Roborock Saros Z70 robovac features a mechanical arm called OmniGrip that can be deployed to clear obstructions weighing up to 300 grams.