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Dec 3, 2020

Astronomers Discover Hidden Black Hole “Near” Earth – Closest Ever Found to Our Solar System

Posted by in categories: cosmology, futurism

An antimatter laser can turn matter in the black hole into energy.


Invisible object has two companion stars visible to the naked eye.

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Dec 3, 2020

Research leads to better modeling of hypersonic flow

Posted by in categories: engineering, military, particle physics

Hypersonic flight is conventionally referred to as the ability to fly at speeds significantly faster than the speed of sound and presents an extraordinary set of technical challenges. As an example, when a space capsule re-enters Earth’s atmosphere, it reaches hypersonic speeds—more than five times the speed of sound—and generates temperatures over 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit on its exterior surface. Designing a thermal protection system to keep astronauts and cargo safe requires an understanding at the molecular level of the complicated physics going on in the gas that flows around the vehicle.

Recent research at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign added new knowledge about the physical phenomena that occur as atoms vibrate, rotate, and collide in this extreme environment.

“Due to the relative velocity of the flow surrounding the vehicle, a shock is formed in front of the capsule. When the gas molecules cross the shock, some of their properties change almost instantaneously. Instead, others don’t have enough time to adjust to the abrupt changes, and they don’t reach their equilibrium values before arriving at the surface of the vehicle. The layer between the shock and heat shield is then found in nonequilibrium. There is a lot that we don’t understand yet about the reactions that happen in this type of flow,” said Simone Venturi. He is a graduate student studying with Marco Panesi in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at UIUC.

Dec 3, 2020

Logging in to get kicked out: Inside America’s virtual eviction crisis

Posted by in categories: finance, habitats

When Gabrielle Diamond and her boyfriend, Brian Cox, showed up for eviction court on October 15, they were more than a little nervous.

The two had been renting a bedroom in transitional housing for veterans in Kansas City, Missouri, since January, paying $600 per month for their month-to-month lease. Almost as soon as they moved in, Diamond says, the issues started. The building was unclean and attracted mice, and the landlord would make unannounced weekly visits; at one point, the couple were asked to move out temporarily for house repairs without any assistance, financial or otherwise.

Dec 3, 2020

A machine learning solution for designing materials with desired optical properties

Posted by in categories: quantum physics, robotics/AI

Understanding how matter interacts with light—its optical properties—is critical in a myriad of energy and biomedical technologies, such as targeted drug delivery, quantum dots, fuel combustion, and cracking of biomass. But calculating these properties is computationally intensive, and the inverse problem—designing a structure with desired optical properties—is even harder.

Now Berkeley Lab scientists have developed a machine learning model that can be used for both problems—calculating of a known structure and, inversely, designing a structure with desired optical properties. Their study was published in Cell Reports Physical Science.

“Our model performs bi-directionally with high accuracy and its interpretation qualitatively recovers physics of how metal and dielectric materials interact with light,” said corresponding author Sean Lubner.

Dec 3, 2020

To study aging, scientists are looking to outer space

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, life extension

Scientists stress that the symptoms of space travel aren’t exactly the same as aging, and many changes reverse themselves once people return to Earth, but the comparisons are still useful. Spaceflight is an immersive experience that spares no traveler, while aging happens to every Earthling whether we like it or not. As such, life in space is a good model for understanding aging as a chronic process, Bailey says. The barren otherworld of outer space could even reveal new ways to protect ourselves against the process of growing old.


Space travel induces bodily changes that are remarkably similar to growing old, providing a unique way to boost medical research.

Dec 3, 2020

China Claims Quantum Supremacy

Posted by in categories: computing, quantum physics

Google claimed quantum supremacy in October 2019 — but using a strikingly different system.

Dec 3, 2020

Scientists Discover the First Animal That Doesn’t Breathe Oxygen to Live

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

The parasite—which lacks mitochondria, and the genes and proteins needed for breathing—yet again expands our horizons for the possibilities of life on Earth.

Dec 3, 2020

A quantum computer that measures light has achieved quantum supremacy

Posted by in categories: quantum physics, supercomputing

A specialised quantum computer has achieved quantum supremacy, accomplishing in under 4 minutes what would take the biggest supercomputer 600 million years.

Dec 3, 2020

Why you need this chairless chair

Posted by in category: engineering

Don’t worry about getting tired from standing up, this chairless chair has your back. 🧐

🎥 noonee # engineering.

Dec 3, 2020

Tech makes it possible to digitally communicate through human touch

Posted by in categories: computing, mobile phones

Instead of inserting a card or scanning a smartphone to make a payment, what if you could simply touch the machine with your finger?

A prototype developed by Purdue University engineers would essentially let your body act as the link between your card or smartphone and the reader or scanner, making it possible for you to transmit information just by touching a .

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