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Dec 24, 2021

Freaky Physics Proves Parallel Universes Exist

Posted by in categories: cosmology, quantum physics, time travel

Look past the details of a wonky discovery by a group of California scientists — that a quantum state is now observable with the human eye — and consider its implications: Time travel may be feasible. Doc Brown would be proud.

The strange discovery by quantum physicists at the University of California Santa Barbara means that an object you can see in front of you may exist simultaneously in a parallel universe — a multi-state condition that has scientists theorizing that traveling through time may be much more than just the plaything of science fiction writers.

And it’s all because of a tiny bit of metal — a “paddle” about the width of a human hair, an item that is incredibly small but still something you can see with the naked eye.

Dec 24, 2021

The hunt for wormholes: How scientists look time tunnels

Posted by in category: cosmology

Usually confined to the pages of science fiction, astronomers are starting to think wormholes through space-time might be real after all.

Dec 24, 2021

What happens after the James Webb telescope is launched? A six-month roadmap

Posted by in category: space

The long awaited space telescope is just days from launch, but it’s dozens of steps, and millions of miles, away from doing science.

Dec 24, 2021

Does the Universe Exist if We’re Not Looking?

Posted by in category: space

Eminent physicist John Wheeler says he has only enough time left to work on one idea: that human consciousness shapes not only the present but the past as well.

Dec 24, 2021

Participatory Universe

Posted by in categories: particle physics, quantum physics

John Wheeler, who is mentor to many of today’s leading physicists, and the man who coined the term “black hole”, suggested that the nature of reality was revealed by the bizarre laws of quantum mechanics. According to the quantum theory, before the observation is made, a subatomic particle exists in several states, called a superposition (or, as Wheeler called it, a ‘smoky dragon’). Once the particle is observed, it instantaneously collapses into a single position (a process called ‘decoherence’).

Dec 24, 2021

Japan university finds Alzheimer’s drug effective in treating ALS

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

Japan’s Yamagata University said Friday it has found that a drug being developed for the treatment of Alzheimer’s is also effective in treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The drug has been found capable of curbing the abnormal agglomeration of protein that causes the progressive neurodegenerative disease, the state-run university in northeastern Japan said.

People with ALS lose their ability to walk, talk, eat and eventually breathe as the disease kills motor neurons, causing muscles to weaken and eventually paralyze.

Dec 24, 2021

Bayesian parameter estimation using conditional variational autoencoders for gravitational-wave astronomy

Posted by in category: space

A method for estimating the source properties of gravitational-wave events shows a speed-up of six orders of magnitude over established approaches. This is a promising tool for follow-up observations of electromagnetic counterparts.

Dec 24, 2021

A new method for testing the performance of quantum computers, designed by Sandia, is faster and more accurate than conventional tests

Posted by in categories: computing, quantum physics

The so-called “mirror-circuit” testing method will help scientists advance the technology behind these super powerful processors. https://bit.ly/3snkgR8

Dec 24, 2021

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope rolls out for Christmas launch

Posted by in category: space

The James Webb Space Telescope is finally on the launchpad. The space observatory, safely tucked inside an Ariane 5 rocket, is expected to launch on December 25.

The rocket and its precious cargo rolled out to the Arianespace ELA-3 launch complex at Europe’s Spaceport located near Kourou, French Guiana on Wednesday.

The rollout took about two hours to complete, according to NASA.

Dec 24, 2021

Entanglement between superconducting qubits and a tardigrade

Posted by in categories: biological, chemistry, quantum physics

Quantum and biological systems are seldom discussed together as they seemingly demand opposing conditions. Life is complex, “hot and wet” whereas quantum objects are small, cold and well controlled. Here, we overcome this barrier with a tardigrade — a microscopic multicellular organism known to tolerate extreme physiochemical conditions via a latent state of life known as cryptobiosis. We observe coupling between the animal in cryptobiosis and a superconducting quantum bit and prepare a highly entangled state between this combined system and another qubit. The tardigrade itself is shown to be entangled with the remaining subsystems. The animal is then observed to return to its active form after 420 hours at sub 10 mK temperatures and pressure of $6\times 10^{-6}$ mbar, setting a new record for the conditions that a complex form of life can survive.