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Topological insulators, capable of transmitting electricity without loss, may function in fractional dimensions such as 1.58. This breakthrough, combined with room-temperature operability, paves the way for advancements in quantum computing and energy efficiency through fractal structures.

What if we could find a way to make electric currents flow, without energy loss? A promising approach for this involves using materials known as topological insulators. They are known to exist in one (wire), two (sheet) and three (cube) dimensions; all with different possible applications in electronic devices. Theoretical physicists at Utrecht University, together with experimentalists at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, have discovered that topological insulators may also exist at 1.58 dimensions, and that these could be used for energy-efficient information processing. Their study was published recently in Nature Physics.

Classical bits, the units of computer operation, are based on electric currents: electrons running means 1, no electrons running means 0. With a combination of 0s and 1s, one can build all the devices that you use in your daily life, from cellphones to computers. However, while running, these electrons meet defects and impurities in the material, and lose energy. This is what happens when your device gets warm: the energy is converted into heat, and so your battery is drained faster.

A novel quantum sensor with exceptional resolution transforms atomic-level material analysis, paving the way for advancements in quantum technologies and sciences.

In a scientific breakthrough, an international research team from Germany’s Forschungszentrum Jülich and Korea’s IBS Center for Quantum Nanoscience (QNS) developed a quantum sensor capable of detecting minute magnetic fields at the atomic length scale. This pioneering work realizes a long-held dream of scientists: an MRI-like tool for quantum materials.

Quantum Sensor Development

The six-wheeled geologist found a fascinating rock that has some indications it may have hosted microbial life billions of years ago, but further research is needed.

A vein-filled rock is catching the eye of the science team of NASA’s Perseverance rover. Nicknamed “Cheyava Falls” by the team, the arrowhead-shaped rock contains fascinating traits that may bear on the question of whether Mars was home to microscopic life in the distant past.

Analysis by instruments aboard the rover indicates the rock possesses qualities that fit the definition of a possible indicator of ancient life. The rock exhibits chemical signatures and structures that could possibly have been formed by life billions of years ago when the area being explored by the rover contained running water. Other explanations for the observed features are being considered by the science team, and future research steps will be required to determine whether ancient life is a valid explanation.

Cybersecurity researchers have disclosed a privilege escalation vulnerability impacting Google Cloud Platform’s Cloud Functions service that an attacker could exploit to access other services and sensitive data in an unauthorized manner.

Tenable has given the vulnerability the name ConfusedFunction.

“An attacker could escalate their privileges to the Default Cloud Build Service Account and access numerous services such as Cloud Build, storage (including the source code of other functions), artifact registry and container registry,” the exposure management company said in a statement.

Google Chrome now warns when downloading risky password-protected files and provides improved alerts with more information about potentially malicious downloaded files.

These new, more detailed warning messages help users quickly learn the nature of the danger presented by each file downloaded from the Internet.

For this, Google introduced a two-tier download warning system that uses AI-powered malware verdicts sourced from its Safe Browsing service to help evaluate the actual risk quickly.

Meta has removed 63,000 Instagram accounts from Nigeria that were involved in sextortion scams, including a coordinated network of 2,500 accounts linked to 20 individuals targeting primarily adult men in the United States.

The social media giant said these accounts are linked to an organized cybercrime group called ‘Yahoo Boys,’ that has recently increased its operational volume.

Apart from the offending Instagram accounts, Meta has also deleted 1,300 Facebook accounts, 200 Facebook Pages, and 5,700 Facebook Groups, also based in Nigeria, that were handing out tips and training material for carrying out various scams.

In the last 60 years technology has evolved at such an exponentially fast rate that we are now regularly conversing with AI based chatbots, and that same OpenAI technology has been put into a humanoid robot. It’s truly amazing to see this rapid development. Above: OpenAI technology in a humanoid robot Continued advancement […].