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Sep 8, 2019

AI Is Coming for Your Favorite Menial Tasks

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

As AI gets better at performing routine tasks traditionally done by humans, only stressful ones will be left. The work experience could suffer.

Sep 8, 2019

[quant-ph/9706059] Introduction of a Quantum of Time (“chronon”), and its Consequences for Quantum Mechanics

Posted by in categories: particle physics, quantum physics

Abstract: In this review-article, we discuss the consequences of the introduction of a quantum of time tau_0 in the formalism of non-relativistic quantum mechanics (QM) by referring ourselves in particular to the theory of the “chronon” as proposed by P.Caldirola. Such an interesting “finite difference” theory, forwards —at the classical level— a solution for the motion of a particle endowed with a non-negligible charge in an external electromagnetic field, overcoming all the known difficulties met by Abraham-Lorentz’s and Dirac’s approaches (and even allowing a clear answer to the question whether a free falling charged particle does or does not emit radiation), and —at the quantum level— yields a remarkable mass spectrum for leptons. After having briefly reviewed Caldirola’s approach, we compare one another the new Schroedinger, Heisenberg and density-operator (Liouville-von Neumann) pictures resulting from it. Moreover, for each representation, three (retarded, symmetric and advanced) formulations are possible, which refer either to times t and t-tau_0, or to times t-tau_0/2 and t+tau_0/2, or to times t and t+tau_0, respectively. It is interesting to notice that, e.g., the “retarded” QM does naturally appear to describe QM with friction, i.e., to describe dissipative quantum systems (like a particle moving in an absorbing medium). In this sense, discretized QM is much richer than the ordinary one. When the density matrix formalism is applied to the solution of the measurement problem in QM, very interesting results are met, so as a natural explication of “decoherence”.

From: [view email].

Sep 8, 2019

(PDF) Introduction of a Quantum of Time (“CHRONON”), and its Consequences for the Electron in Quantum and Classical

Posted by in category: quantum physics

PDF | The introduction of quantum of time, called Chronon, and its consequences for the electron in quantum and classical physics is presented. The most impressive achievement related to the introduction of the chronon hypothesis in the realm of QM comes from the description of a…

Sep 8, 2019

Are Protons Smaller Than We Thought? New Measurement Helps Resolve Mystery

Posted by in category: physics

Scientists measure precise proton radius to help resolve decade-old puzzle, resulting in York University research that confirms protons are smaller than expected.

York University researchers have made a precise measurement of the size of the proton – a crucial step towards solving a mystery that has preoccupied scientists around the world for the past decade.

Scientists thought they knew the size of the proton, but that changed in 2010 when a team of physicists measured the proton-radius value to be four percent smaller than expected, which confused the scientific community. Since then, the world’s physicists have been scrambling to resolve the proton-radius puzzle – the inconsistency between these two proton-radius values. This puzzle is an important unsolved problem in fundamental physics today.

Sep 8, 2019

New Clues to the Way We Metabolize Sugar

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, food

A gene that appeared sometime after humans began processing their food seems to protect some people from type 2 diabetes.

Sep 8, 2019

Making sense of Saturn’s impossible rotation

Posted by in categories: physics, space

Saturn may be doing a little electromagnetic shimmy and twist which has been throwing off attempts by scientists to determine how long it takes for the planet to rotate on its axis, according to a new study.

Discovering the length of a day on any planet seems like a straightforward task: Find some feature on the planet and clock it as it rotates around once. Or, if it’s a gas giant like Jupiter, which has no solid surface features, scientists can listen for periodic modulations in the intensity of radio signals created within the planet’s rotating magnetic field.

And then there is Saturn, which for decades has defied attempts to pin down out its exact rotation period. Now a new study in AGU’s Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics may have finally unveiled the gas giant’s trick for hiding its rotation, and provide the key to giving up its secret.

Sep 8, 2019

What If a Magnetar Entered Our Solar System?

Posted by in category: space

The strongest magnet in the Universe enters our Solar System. What would happen?

Sep 8, 2019

What If We Created a Second Artificial Moon?

Posted by in category: space

China plans to launch an artificial moon to light up the night skies and save electricity. What would be the consequences?

Sep 8, 2019

What Spending a Night at a Space Hotel Looks Like

Posted by in category: futurism

Picture sleek rooms, restaurants and bars, and low-gravity trampolining.

Sep 8, 2019

The physicists’ library

Posted by in category: physics

To compile the ultimate science reading list, Tushna Commissariat talks to some of today’s top physicists, writers and broadcasters.

“What an astonishing thing a book is. It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you.”

Astronomer, science communicator and author Carl Sagan always had a way with words, and it’s no surprise that he sums up so well the magic of books and writing. From the very first issue of Physics World, this magazine has featured a vibrant reviews section, in which we look at some of the most interesting physics literature being published.