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Apr 15, 2020

‘Mind-control’ cat parasite has now reached Hawaii

Posted by in category: futurism

The parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been found near Oahu, Hawaii public lands for the first time.

Apr 15, 2020

Possible Chinese Nuclear Testing Stirs U.S. Concern

Posted by in categories: energy, nuclear weapons

China might be secretly conducting nuclear tests with very low explosive power despite Beijing’s assertions that it is strictly adhering to an international accord banning all nuclear tests, according to a new arms-control report to be made public by the State Department.

The coming report doesn’t present proof that China is violating its promise to uphold the agreement, but it cites an array of activities that “raise concerns” that Beijing might not be complying with the “zero-yield” nuclear-weapons testing ban.

Apr 15, 2020

Hot qubits break one of the biggest constraints to practical quantum computers

Posted by in categories: business, computing, government, quantum physics

Most quantum computers being developed around the world will only work at fractions of a degree above absolute zero. That requires multi-million-dollar refrigeration and as soon as you plug them into conventional electronic circuits they’ll instantly overheat.

But now researchers led by Professor Andrew Dzurak at UNSW Sydney have addressed this problem.

“Our new results open a path from experimental devices to affordable quantum computers for real world business and government applications,” says Professor Dzurak.

Apr 15, 2020

Why simply waiting for herd immunity to covid-19 isn’t an option

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, government, policy

The widespread perception that it was once official British policy to let the novel coronavirus spread until the population reached herd immunity is false; the government was just overly optimistic about how easy flattening the curve would be. But the idea has gained so much traction in some circles, fueled by speculation that we might already be much closer to it than we think, that it’s worth understanding why it’s not a viable policy according to the evidence to date.

Apr 15, 2020

The Coronavirus Can’t Stop America’s Nukes

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, business, military, nuclear weapons

As the world fights against the COVID-19 pandemic, nuclear weapons have taken a backseat in most people’s minds. But for Global Strike Command (AFGSC)—the Air Force unit in control of two of the three legs of America’s nuclear triad—their mission remains top priority.

And it’s an unforgiving business. Nuclear deterrence requires extreme levels of readiness among pilots, maintenance crews, and security teams. Adversaries that don’t think the U.S. can respond with conventional bombing strikes or nukes could be emboldened to act aggressively.

Continue reading “The Coronavirus Can’t Stop America’s Nukes” »

Apr 15, 2020

First ‘significant’ coronavirus mutation discovered in preliminary study

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

Experts explained to Newsweek why this doesn’t jeopardize efforts to create a vaccine to prevent COVID-19.

Apr 15, 2020

Mining profits shored up amid COVID-19 pandemic

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

The mining industry is focused on continuing production through the COVID-19 pandemic, writes Margaret Gleeson, despite workers’ and local communities’ concerns.

Apr 15, 2020

An MIT Lab Is Building Devices to Hack Your Dreams

Posted by in category: futurism

For the third of our lives that we spend in slumber, our minds take up residence in the unknown regions of the subconscious. We dream, though we don’t fully know why. And while these…

Apr 15, 2020

New Way to Kill Viruses: Shake Them to Death

Posted by in category: futurism

Certain sound frequencies may shatter viruses.

Apr 15, 2020

The Pentagon Wants Quantum Sensors to Track Faraway Spacecraft

Posted by in categories: military, quantum physics, space travel

Spacecraft outside the reach of GPS are relying on imprecise navigational tools.