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May 31, 2019

The defect-free assembly of 2-D clusters with over 100 single-atom quantum systems

Posted by in categories: particle physics, quantum physics

Researchers at Technische Universität Darmstadt have recently demonstrated the defect-free assembly of versatile target patterns of up to 111 single-atom quantum systems. Their findings, outlined in a paper published in Physical Review Letters, could drive assembled-atom architectures beyond the threshold of quantum advantage, paving the way for new breakthroughs in quantum science and technology.

“Our research is driven by the observation that physical sciences are right in the middle of a paradigm shift in which the application of physics, i.e. quantum technologies, are becoming the leading technologies in the near future,” Gerhard Birkl, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Phys.org. “A vast list of applications are already foreseeable but I am convinced that of most applications we are not even aware of.”

The next step for the field of and technology is the development of experimental platforms that offer extensive scalability, multisite quantum correlations and efficient quantum error correction. Over the past century or so, researchers have carried out a substantial amount of work on single quantum systems, laying the foundations for current developments. Atomic quantum systems have played a key role in these studies, particularly neutral atoms trapped by light, as they provide well-isolated quantum systems with favorable scaling.

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May 31, 2019

How a quantum computer could break 2048-bit RSA encryption in 8 hours

Posted by in categories: computing, encryption, quantum physics

A new study shows that quantum technology will catch up with today’s encryption standards much sooner than expected. That should worry anybody who needs to store data securely for 25 years or so.

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May 31, 2019

Rejuvenation Roundup May 2019

Posted by in category: life extension

May has been a great month for LEAF; there’s been a lot of exciting news, such as our president’s participation in the XPRIZE Foundation’s most recent meeting, Steve Hill making it among the top 100 journalists covering aging research, and last but not least, the launch of Lifespan.io’s brand-new, life extension-focused show, LifeXtenShow!

LEAF News

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May 31, 2019

Hawaii warns tourists about parasite that can infest human brains

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, food, neuroscience

If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii, be mindful of what you eat, the state’s Department of Health states in an advisory published last week. Officials are ramping up efforts to warn tourists about rat lungworm disease, an illness caused by a parasite that can infest human brains. The advisory follows an alert from the CDC that confirmed three new rat lungworm cases all linked to Hawaii.

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May 31, 2019

Two new studies strengthen the gut-brain connection in autism

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics, neuroscience

Two studies are shedding light on the links between the gut, the brain, and autism. The research reveals how gut problems can be triggered by the same gene mutations associated with autism, and a study shows how a fecal transplant from humans with autism can promote autism-like behaviors in mice.

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May 31, 2019

Scientists tackle a burning question: When will our quiet sun turn violent?

Posted by in category: futurism

Researchers study 11-year solar cycle to predict timing of peak magnetic outbursts.

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May 31, 2019

Why ‘Cosmic Nothingness’ May Hold Secrets of the Universe

Posted by in category: space

Why avoid the cosmic void?

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May 31, 2019

MacKenzie Bezos and the Pitfalls of Tech Philanthropy

Posted by in category: futurism

Since it was founded by notable rich people Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffet in 2010, the Giving Pledge has attracted over 200 wealthy individuals from around the world who publicly commit to donate at least half of their money either during their lifetimes or in their wills. While signaling you’re about to disperse at least $18 billion is notable under any circumstances, MacKenzie’s announcement attracted particular attention in part because the Bezos fortune has been tightly held so far. Jeff, literally the richest person in the world, has committed far less to philanthropic efforts. Last year, he announced he would spend just $2 billion of his $150 billion fortune on charity.


Nearly two months after her divorce from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was finalized, MacKenzie Bezos has made a plan to be far more generous than she and her former husband were as a couple. When the pair split, she became one of the richest women in the world, with a fortune estimated to be worth more than $36 billion. Now she wants to start giving it away.

“I have a disproportionate amount of money to share,” MacKenzie, a novelist, wrote bluntly in an otherwise literary letter announcing her decision to join the Giving Pledge Tuesday. “My approach to philanthropy will continue to be thoughtful. It will take time and effort and care. But I won’t wait. And I will keep at it until the safe is empty.”

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May 30, 2019

In new space race, companies jostle for $1 trillion market

Posted by in categories: Elon Musk, humor, internet, space travel

“We joke that ‘The Martian’ would have been a much more boring movie,” said Justin Kugler, a vice president at Made In Space.

Fifty years after the first men walked on the moon, a new space race is underway, this one for a piece of what Wall Street analysts say could become a $1 trillion global space market. Around the world, companies such as Made In Space are launching — often literally — new products and services, building satellites to provide broadband internet, spaceships to take tourists on zero-gravity rendezvous, and mining equipment to extract minerals from asteroids.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Elon Musk injects ‘X’ factor into space quest with bold vision, mixed track record.

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May 30, 2019

New Studies Reveal Intimate Links Between Human Microbiome And Preterm Pregnancies, IBD, And More

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, health

The newest results from the Human Microbiome Project have revealed just how connected the microbes in our gut are to our overall health.

You have about as many bacteria and other microbes living in your body as your own cells—and yet, we still don’t understand much about how this microbiome relates to bodily function. Back in 2007, the National Institutes of Health kicked off the Human Microbiome Project, a $200 million effort to understand these microbes. Scientists have now published the results from the second phase of this project, designed to study how the microbiome interacts with the human body. These three studies, which examine preterm birth, inflammatory bowel disease, and pre-diabetes, demonstrate that microbiomes are unique to individuals and intimately tied to our health.

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