Lifeboat Foundation

Researchers have discovered magnetic fields deep within the merging galaxy Arp 220, suggesting these fields might be crucial for efficient star formation, acting like a cosmic lid that prevents the “boiling over” of star-forming materials.

This breakthrough, observed using the Submillimeter Array in Hawaii, could explain why some galaxies produce stars more effectively than others.

Star Formation Secrets Unveiled

Scientists have found a way to directly convert sunlight into laser beams in space.

In the future, spacecraft could get rid of the limited fuel problem by tapping into the limitless energy of the sun.

Continue reading “Solar-powered lasers could usher a new era of space exploration” »

The research team, led by physics professor Nuh Gedik, concentrated on a material called FePS₃, a type of antiferromagnet that transitions to a non-magnetic state at around −247°F. They hypothesized that precisely exciting the vibrations of FePS₃’s atoms with lasers could disrupt its typical antiferromagnetic alignment and induce a new magnetic state.

In conventional magnets (ferromagnets), all atomic spins align in the same direction, making their magnetic field easy to control. In contrast, antiferromagnets have a more complex up-down-up-down spin pattern that cancels out, resulting in zero net magnetization. While this property makes antiferromagnets highly resistant to stray magnetic influences – an advantage for secure data storage – it also creates challenges in intentionally switching them between “0” and “1” states for computing.

Gedik’s innovative laser-driven approach seeks to overcome this obstacle, potentially unlocking antiferromagnets for future high-performance memory and computational technologies.

Discovery draws surprising parallels between low-level organisms and sophisticated neurons; lays the groundwork for memory-capable biological systems.

Biologists studying collectives of bacteria, or “biofilms,” have discovered that these so-called simple organisms feature a robust capacity for memory.

Continue reading “Microbes Have Memory: Surprising Parallels Between Simple Microrganisms and Sophisticated Neurons” »

Researchers at the Tokyo-based startup Sakana AI have developed a new technique that enables language models to use memory more efficiently, helping enterprises cut the costs of building applications on top of large language models (LLMs) and other Transformer-based models.

The technique, called ‘universal transformer memory,’ uses special neural networks to optimize LLMs to keep bits of information that matter and discard redundant details from their context.

From VentureBeat.

Scientists have discovered a remarkable way to destroy cancer cells. A study published last year found stimulating aminocyanine molecules with near-infrared light caused them to vibrate in sync, enough to break apart the membranes of cancer cells.

Aminocyanine molecules are already used in bioimaging as synthetic dyes. Commonly used in low doses to detect cancer, they stay stable in water and are very good at attaching themselves to the outside of cells.

The research team from Rice University, Texas A&M University, and the University of Texas, said their approach is a marked improvement over another kind of cancer-killing molecular machine previously developed, called Feringa-type motors, which could also break the structures of problematic cells.

A massive solar flare this week may prompt a Northern Lights display on Dec. 25.

Recent studies indicate that the cosmos is rich in complex organic molecules, essential components for understanding the origins of life. The European Space Agency’s Rosetta probe, which examined the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko over a two-year mission, provided significant insights into the presence of these molecules in space.

Organic molecules, defined as compounds containing carbon, are abundant not only on Earth but also throughout the universe. Their structure allows carbon atoms to create stable chains, forming the backbone of various biological compounds. The findings from Rosetta have transformed our understanding of where these building blocks of life might originate.

During its mission, Rosetta detected over 44 distinct organic molecules, including glycine, a fundamental amino acid. Moreover, recent analyses of the data identified dimethyl sulfide, a gas associated exclusively with biological processes on Earth, suggesting that the conditions for life may be more widespread than previously assumed.

ArianeGroup has successfully completed the initial mechanical integration of Themis, the European reusable launcher first stage demonstrator, at its Les Mureaux facility in France.

Standing 28 meters tall, the prototype comprises the Multi-Engine Bay (MEB), tanks, the Flight Control Bay (FCB), and the upper segment that completes the stage structure.

The Themis demonstrator will be powered by Prometheus, a new-generation, throttleable cryogenic engine also developed by ArianeGroup.