Lifeboat Foundation

Physicists can explore tailored physical systems to rapidly solve challenging computational tasks by developing spin simulators, combinatorial optimization and focusing light through scattering media. In a new report on Science Advances, C. Tradonsky and a group of researchers in the Departments of Physics in Israel and India addressed the phase retrieval problem by reconstructing an object from its scattered intensity distribution. The experimental process addressed an existing problem in disciplines ranging from X-ray imaging to astrophysics that lack techniques to reconstruct an object of interest, where scientists typically use indirect iterative algorithms that are inherently slow.

In the new optical approach, Tradonsky et al conversely used a digital degenerate cavity laser (DDCL) mode to rapidly and efficiently reconstruct the object of interest. The experimental results suggested that the gain competition between the many lasing modes acted as a highly parallel computer to rapidly dissolve the phase retrieval problem. The approach applies to two-dimensional (2-D) objects with known compact support and complex-valued objects, to generalize imaging through scattering media, while accomplishing other challenging computational tasks.

To calculate the intensity distribution of light scattered far from an unknown object relatively easily, researchers can compute the source of the absolute value of an object’s Fourier transform. The reconstruction of an object from its scattered intensity distribution is, however, ill-posed, since phase information can be lost and diverse phase distributions in the work can result in different reconstructions. Scientists must therefore obtain prior information about an object’s shape, positivity, spatial symmetry or sparsity for more precise object reconstructions. Such examples are found in astronomy, short-pulse characterization studies, X-ray diffraction, radar detection, speech recognition and when imaging across turbid media. During the reconstruction of objects with a finite extent (compact support), researchers offer a unique solution to the phase retrieval problem, as long as they model the same scattered intensity at a sufficiently higher resolution.

The Earth Archive is an ambitious new project that hopes to scan planet Earth in full 3D using the technology which helps self-driving cars make sense of the world around them. Here’s why its creators believe that this is such an important mission — and why time is running out.

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SpaceX and Elon Musk are hoping to avoid another explosive testing disaster.

The vast majority of scientific studies are high-level examinations of the mechanics that drive our reality. They often involve massive collections of data that the average person couldn’t even begin to parse, and a lot of times that makes them excruciatingly boring to read about.

A new paper published by the University of Richmond in Virginia is most definitely not one of those kinds of studies. In fact, it sounds like something you might want to just do for fun, since it involves building tiny cars for rats and teaching them how to drive.

UPS has launched an airline for life-saving medical deliveries. It’s the FAA’s first-ever approved drone airline, and it’s already being used at a North Carolina hospital campus. Oct. 25, 2019.

A newly developed algorithm opens a window into understanding the transition from quantum to classical objects.

Health workers say the reuse of syringes drove the outbreak in the city of Ratodero.

Your children are the people in this world who you most want to be happy, healthy and successful. And like it or not, your behavior as a parent has a lot to do with it. Here’s what researchers say the parents of high-achieving kids do differently.

According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, lying to kids — even bluffs of punishment — results in children growing up to be liars themselves and having other problems, as well. Researchers queried 379 young adults about how much their parents lied to them when they were children and what behaviors they practice now that they’re grown up. Individuals who recall being lied to more as children were also more likely to admit lying to their parents as adults. They also reported having a harder time dealing with psychological and social challenges, indicating having experienced behavioral problems, guilt and shame, as well as engaging in selfish and manipulative conduct.

Most parents would agree that life would be easier for everyone if children would always listen to their parents, do what they request and follow their advice. But according to research conducted at Cardiff University in the U.K., an adult’s tone of voice has a lot to do with compliance. In the study, more than 1,000 teenagers were put into groups in which they all heard the same 30 messages voiced by mothers regarding schoolwork, but delivered with different intonations: controlling, autonomy-supportive or neutral. Afterward, the students answered surveys regarding how they would feel if their own mother communicated as the one in their group had. Almost across the board, teens who listened to the mother speaking in a controlling manner responded negatively. The kids who heard the mother speaking in a supportive way responded positively, and more so than the ones who heard a neutral tone of voice. So, if you want your kids to do what you say, don’t say it like you’re their boss.