Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
Toggle light / dark theme

Blog – Page 6

A research team has discovered that achiral hard banana-shaped particles can spontaneously form exotic structures like skyrmions and blue phase III phases. Skyrmions are tiny vortex-like structures found in various condensed-matter systems, such as helical ferromagnets and liquid crystals. Blue phase III is an amorphous phase of liquid crystals that possesses strong optical activity. Achiral particles are particles that can be superimposed on their mirror image. The team’s findings have potential applications in photonics and memory devices.

Their work was published in Nature Communications on August 8, 2024.

Skyrmions typically arise from chiral interactions, that is, a molecular interaction that occurs between molecules that both possess chirality. Molecules with chirality cannot be superimposed on their mirror images. British physicist Tony Skyrme introduced skyrmions in 1961.

Read more | >

The gemstone spinel, known for its vibrant colors resembling gems such as rubies and sapphires, has now been shown to be capable of storing quantum information, making it a viable material in the field of quantum technology.

The discovery, which was made by collaborators from Tohoku University, the University of Chicago, and Argonne National Laboratory, was published in the journal Applied Physics Express.

This is the first paper resulting from the Chicago–Tohoku Quantum Alliance. The alliance between UChicago and Tohoku researchers was forged in June 2023 to help build bridges with Japanese companies and establish stronger industry ties with academia and government.

Read more | >

Researchers from Oakland University have made a significant breakthrough in the field of optical materials, unveiling the exceptional capabilities of Ba₃(ZnB₅O₁₀)PO₄ (BZBP). Although this transparent crystal closely resembles ordinary window glass, it exhibits extraordinary properties that set it apart from others.

Already renowned for its exceptional qualities, such as excellent heat dissipation, minimal uneven expansion when exposed to temperature changes, and the ability to transmit (a type of light that comes from the sun and other sources like special lamps, but it’s invisible to the human eye), BZBP has emerged as an ideal choice for laser systems operating in deep ultraviolet ranges. These systems are crucial in fields such as medical diagnostics, semiconductor production, and cutting-edge scientific research.

In a study recently published in Advanced Functional Materials, researchers explored how BZBP performs under .

Read more | >

The axon initial segment (AIS) is where nerve signals begin, and its adaptability is key to brain function. Scientists have found that the AIS changes in response to activity levels, helping neurons maintain balance. By using advanced imaging techniques, they have observed these changes live for the first time, deepening our understanding of brain plasticity.

Read more | >

We often speculate that the reason we can’t hear aliens civilizations is because our SETI efforts (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) relies on radio and telescopes to weak to hear them. But how plausible is that? and what would it tell us about our own future?

Visit our sponsor, Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/IsaacArthur/
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @isaacarthursfia.
Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net.
Join Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthur.
Support us on Patreon: / isaacarthur.
Support us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-a… Group: / 1,583,992,725,237,264 Reddit: / isaacarthur Twitter: / isaac_a_arthur on Twitter and RT our future content. SFIA Discord Server: / discord Credits: The Fermi Paradox: Whispers in the Night Episode 230; Mar 19, 2020 Writers: Isaac Arthur Editors: Jerry Guern Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur Cover Art: Jakub Grygier https://www.artstation.com/jakub_grygier Graphics: Jeremy Jozwik https://www.artstation.com/zeuxis_of_… Ken York / ydvisual Sergio Botero https://www.artstation.com/sboterod?f… Music: Lombus, “Cosmic Soup” https://lombus.bandcamp.com Aerium, “Waters of Atlantis” & “Fifth Star of Aldebaran” / @officialaerium Markus Junnikkala, “A Memory of Earth” https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/
Facebook Group: / 1583992725237264
Reddit: / isaacarthur.
Twitter: / isaac_a_arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.
SFIA Discord Server: / discord.

Credits:
The Fermi Paradox: Whispers in the Night.
Episode 230; Mar 19, 2020

Writers:

Continue reading “The Fermi Paradox: Whispers in the Night” | >

MSTC_S1E6: Dr. Kristofer Pister, Professor of EECS at UC Berkeley and Founder of Dust Networks presents all you need to know about Smart Dust, thousands of tiny sensors detecting movement and vibration. It is amazing how useful that could be.

Now that you know the scoop, register for this year’s MSEC or MSTC:
1. MSEC — https://semiamericas.org/msec24-youtube.
2. MSTC — https://semiamericas.org/mstc24-youtube

Read more | >

The Zoo Hypothesis is a Fermi Paradox solution that assumes extraterrestrial civilizations can’t be detected by our SETI efforts because they keep our whole world in an Alien Zoo.

Get a free month of Curiosity Stream: http://curiositystream.com/isaacarthur.
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZFipeZtQM5CKUjx6grh54g/join.
Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net.
Join Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthur.
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur.
Support us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthur.
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.
SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShE

Credits:
The Fermi Paradox: Zoo Hypothesis.
Episode 228; Mar 5, 2020

Writers:

Continue reading “The Fermi Paradox” | >