A research team in China has developed a quantum search algorithm that extends Grover’s quadratic speedup to continuous problems.
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Nuclear mass measurement reveals new proton magic number
In nuclear physics, “magic numbers” identify specific numbers of protons or neutrons that lead to especially stable nuclei. Recognizing these numbers helps scientists better understand the structure of nuclei.
The magic numbers for stable, long-lived isotopes have long been known, but the magic numbers for exotic, short-lived isotopes are less well understood. By studying these rare cases, researchers can gain deeper insight into the nuclear “building code” under extreme conditions. This, in turn, improves our understanding of how elements formed in the universe and sheds light on the behavior of the nuclear force.
As part of this effort, researchers from the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have precisely measured for the first time the mass of an extremely short-lived and neutron-deficient nucleus, silicon-22, revealing that the proton number 14 in silicon-22 is a new magic number.
Molecular simulations uncover how graphite emerges where diamond should form, challenging old assumptions
The graphite found in your favorite pencil could have instead been the diamond your mother always wears. What made the difference? Researchers are finding out.
How molten carbon crystallizes into either graphite or diamond is relevant to planetary science, materials manufacturing and nuclear fusion research. However, this moment of crystallization is difficult to study experimentally because it happens very rapidly and under extreme conditions.
In a new study published July 9 in Nature Communications, researchers from the University of California, Davis and George Washington University use computer simulations to study how molten carbon crystallizes into either graphite or diamond at temperatures and pressures similar to Earth’s interior. The team’s findings challenge conventional understanding of diamond formation and reveal why experimental results studying carbon’s phase behavior have been so inconsistent.
Cervical function in pregnancy and disease: new insights from single-cell analysis
The uterine cervix plays an essential role in regulating fertility, maintaining pregnancy, remodeling in preparation for parturition, and protecting the reproductive tract from infection. A compromise in cervical function contributes to adverse clinical outcomes. Understanding molecular events that drive the multifunctional and temporally defined roles of the cervix is necessary to effectively treat infertility, reproductive tract infections, preterm birth, labor dystocia, and cervical cancer. The application of single-cell technologies to study cervical pathophysiology, while in its infancy, underscores the potential of these approaches in developing clinically relevant biomarkers of disease and preventative therapies.
Ancient river systems reveal Mars was wetter than we thought
The discovery of more than 15,000 kilometers of ancient riverbeds on Mars suggests that the Red Planet may once have been much wetter than previously thought.
Researchers looked at fluvial sinuous ridges, also known as inverted channels, across Noachis Terra—a region in Mars’ southern highlands. These are believed to have formed when sediment deposited by rivers hardened and was later exposed as the surrounding material eroded.
Similar ridges have been found across a range of terrains on Mars. Their presence suggests that flowing water was once widespread in this region of Mars, with precipitation being the most likely source of this water.
New particle acceleration strategy uses cold atoms to unlock cosmic mysteries
Scientists have used ultracold atoms to successfully demonstrate a novel method of particle acceleration that could unlock a new understanding of how cosmic rays behave, a new study reveals.
More than 70 years after its formulation, researchers have observed the Fermi acceleration mechanism in a laboratory by colliding ultracold atoms against engineered movable potential barriers—delivering a significant milestone in high-energy astrophysics and beyond.
Fermi acceleration is the mechanism responsible for the generation of cosmic rays, as postulated by physicist Enrico Fermi in 1949. The process itself also features some universal properties that have spawned a wide range of mathematical models, such as the Fermi-Ulam model. Until now, however, it has been difficult to create a reliable Fermi accelerator on Earth.
NASA’s SPHEREx Is Mapping the Infrared Universe in 102 Colors — And It’s All Public
SPHEREx is scanning the entire sky in 102 infrared colors, beaming weekly data to a public archive so scientists and citizen stargazers alike can trace water, organics, and the universe’s first moments while NASA’s open-science philosophy turbo-charges discovery. NASA’s newest space telescope, SPHE
Cheap Daily Supplement Appears to Boost Brain Function in Older People
What’s good for your aging gut may also be good for your aging brain. The first study of its kind in twins found that taking daily protein and prebiotic supplements can improve scores on memory tests in people over the age of 60.
Published early last year, the findings are food for thought, especially as the same visual memory and learning test is used to detect early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
The double-blinded trial involved two cheap plant fiber prebiotics that are available over the counter in numerous nations around the world.