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b3eef8a894b88a800127a660bf0291ce362e0673400f683a0aafd4398ea0d246
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2025-11-05T08:42:53+00:00
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Making quantum computers more reliable
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Quantum error correction codes protect quantum information from decoherence and quantum noise, and are therefore crucial to the development of quantum computing and the creation of more reliable and complex quantum algorithms. One example is the five-qubit error correction code, five being the minimum number of qubits required to fix single-qubit errors. These contain five physical qubits (a basic off/on unit of quantum information made using trapped ions, superconducting circuits, or quantum dots) to correct one logical qubit (a collection of physical qubits arranged in such a way as to correct errors). Yet imperfections in the hardware can still lead to quantum errors. A method of testing quantum error correction codes is self-testing. Self-testing is a powerful tool for verifying quantum properties using only input-output statistics, treating quantum devices as black boxes. It has evolved from bipartite systems consisting of two quantum subsystems, to multipartite entanglement, where entanglement is among three or more subsystems, and now to genuinely entangled subspaces, where every state is fully entangled across all subsystems. Genuinely entangled subspaces offer stronger, guaranteed entanglement than general multipartite states, making them more reliable for quantum computing and error correction. In this research, self-testing techniques are used to certify genuinely entangled logical subspaces within the five-qubit code on photonic and superconducting platforms. This is achieved by preparing informationally complete logical states that span the entire logical space, meaning the set is rich enough to fully characterize the behaviour of the system. They deliberately introduce basic quantum errors by simulating Pauli errors on the physical qubit, which mimics real-world noise. Finally, they use mathematical tests known as Bell inequalities, adapted to the framework used in quantum error correction, to check whether the system evolves in the initial logical subspaces after the errors are introduced. Extractability measures tell you how close the tested quantum system is to the ideal target state, with 1 being a perfect match. The certification is supported by extractability measures of at least 0.828 ± 0.006 and 0.621 ± 0.007 for the photonic and superconducting systems, respectively. The photonic platform achieved a high extractability score, meaning the logical subspace was very close to the ideal one. The superconducting platform had a lower score but still showed meaningful entanglement. These scores show that the self-testing method works in practice and confirm strong entanglement in the five-qubit code on both platforms. This research contributes to the advancement of quantum technologies by providing robust methods for verifying and characterizing complex quantum structures, which is essential for the development of reliable and scalable quantum systems. It also demonstrates that device-independent certification can extend beyond quantum states and measurements to more general quantum structures. Certification of genuinely entangled subspaces of the five qubit code via robust self-testing Yu Guo et al 2025 Rep. Prog. Phys. 88 050501 Do you want to learn more about this topic? Quantum error correction for beginners by Simon J Devitt, William J Munro and Kae Nemoto (2013) The post Making quantum computers more reliable appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/making-quantum-computers-more-reliable/
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Space & Physics
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a530d0fe1c0554c809abdbc244badb7e03e03cd842f41fb78ca54a6d19901b60
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2025-11-05T08:36:40+00:00
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Quantum ferromagnets without the usual tricks: a new look at magnetic excitations
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For almost a century, physicists have tried to understand why and how materials become magnetic. From refrigerator magnets to magnetic memories, the microscopic origins of magnetism remain a surprisingly subtle puzzle — especially in materials where electrons behave both like individual particles and like a collective sea. In most transition-metal compounds, magnetism comes from the dance between localized and mobile electrons. Some electrons stay near their home atoms and form tiny magnetic moments (spins), while others roam freely through the crystal. The interaction between these two types of electrons produces “double-exchange” ferromagnetism — the mechanism that gives rise to the rich magnetic behaviour of materials such as manganites, famous for their colossal magnetoresistance (a dramatic change in electrical resistance under a magnetic field). Traditionally, scientists modelled this behaviour by treating the localized spins as classical arrows — big and well-defined, like compass needles. This approximation works well enough for explaining basic ferromagnetism, but experiments over the last few decades have revealed strange features that defy the classical picture. In particular, neutron scattering studies of manganites showed that the collective spin excitations, called magnons, do not behave as expected. Their energy spectrum “softens” (the waves slow down) and their sharp signals blur into fuzzy continua — a sign that the magnons are losing their coherence. Until now, these effects were usually blamed on vibrations of the atomic lattice (phonons) or on complex interactions between charge, spin, and orbital motion. A new theoretical study challenges that assumption. By going fully quantum mechanical — treating every localized spin not as a classical arrow but as a true quantum object that can fluctuate, entangle, and superpose — the researchers have reproduced these puzzling experimental observations without invoking phonons at all. Using two powerful model systems (a quantum version of the Kondo lattice and a two-orbital Hubbard model), the team simulated how electrons and spins interact when no semiclassical approximations are allowed. The results reveal a subtle quantum landscape. Instead of a single type of electron excitation, the system hosts two. One behaves like a spinless fermion — a charge carrier stripped of its magnetic identity. The other forms a broad, “incoherent” band of excitations arising from local quantum triplets. These incoherent states sit close to the Fermi level and act as a noisy background — a Stoner-like continuum — that the magnons can scatter off. The result: magnons lose their coherence and energy in just the way experiments observe. Perhaps most surprisingly, this mechanism doesn’t rely on the crystal lattice at all. It’s an intrinsic consequence of the quantum nature of the spins themselves. Larger localized spins, such as those in classical manganites, tend to suppress the effect — explaining why decoherence is weaker in some materials than others. Consequently, the implications reach beyond manganites. Similar quantum interplay may occur in iron-based superconductors, ruthenates, and heavy-fermion systems where magnetism and superconductivity coexist. Even in materials without permanent local moments, strong electronic correlations can generate the same kind of quantum magnetism. In short, this work uncovers a purely electronic route to complex magnetic dynamics — showing that the quantum personality of the electron alone can mimic effects once thought to require lattice distortions. By uniting electronic structure and spin excitations under a single, fully quantum description, it moves us one step closer to understanding how magnetism truly works in the most intricate materials. Magnon damping and mode softening in quantum double-exchange ferromagnets A Moreo et al 2025 Rep. Prog. Phys. 88 068001 Do you want to learn more about this topic? Nanoscale electrodynamics of strongly correlated quantum materials by Mengkun Liu, Aaron J Sternbach and D N Basov (2017) The post Quantum ferromagnets without the usual tricks: a new look at magnetic excitations appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/quantum-ferromagnets-without-the-usual-tricks/
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Space & Physics
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0aeef4e4d8f58aa13f9e93b28445092628893dcb8370f98186615272574b4c8a
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2025-11-04T13:00:49+00:00
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Fluid-based laser scanning technique could improve brain imaging
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Using a new type of low-power, compact, fluid-based prism to steer the beam in a laser scanning microscope could transform brain imaging and help researchers learn more about neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. The “electrowetting prism” utilized was developed by a team led by Juliet Gopinath from the electrical, computer and energy engineering and physics departments at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU Boulder) and Victor Bright from CU Boulder’s mechanical engineering department, as part of their ongoing collaboration on electrically controllable optical elements for improving microscopy techniques. “We quickly became interested in biological imaging, and work with a neuroscience group at University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus that uses mouse models to study neuroscience,” Gopinath tells Physics World. “Neuroscience is not well understood, as illustrated by the neurodegenerative diseases that don’t have good cures. So a great benefit of this technology is the potential to study, detect and treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and schizophrenia,” she explains. The researchers fabricated their patented electrowetting prism using custom deposition and lithography methods. The device consists of two immiscible liquids housed in a 5 mm tall, 4 mm diameter glass tube, with a dielectric layer on the inner wall coating four independent electrodes. When an electric field is produced by applying a potential difference between a pair of electrodes on opposite sides of the tube, it changes the surface tension and therefore the curvature of the meniscus between the two liquids. Light passing through the device is refracted by a different amount depending on the angle of tilt of the meniscus (as well as on the optical properties of the liquids chosen), enabling beams to be steered by changing the voltage on the electrodes. Beam steering for scanning in imaging and microscopy can be achieved via several means, including mechanically controlled mirrors, glass prisms or acousto-optic deflectors (in which a sound wave is used to diffract the light beam). But, unlike the new electrowetting prisms, these methods consume too much power and are not small or lightweight enough to be used for miniature microscopy of neural activity in the brains of living animals. In tests detailed in Optics Express, the researchers integrated their electrowetting prism into an existing two-photon laser scanning microscope and successfully imaged individual 5 µm-diameter fluorescent polystyrene beads, as well as large clusters of those beads. They also used computer simulation to study how the liquid–liquid interface moved, and found that when a sinusoidal voltage is used for actuation, at 25 and 75 Hz, standing wave resonance modes occur at the meniscus – a result closely matched by a subsequent experiment that showed resonances at 24 and 72 Hz. These resonance modes are important for enhancing device performance since they increase the angle through which the meniscus can tilt and thus enable optical beams to be steered through a greater range of angles, which helps minimize distortions when raster scanning in two dimensions. Bright explains that this research built on previous work in which an electrowetting prism was used in a benchtop microscope to image a mouse brain. He cites seeing the individual neurons as a standout moment that, coupled with the current results, shows their prism is now “proven and ready to go”. Gopinath and Bright caution that “more work is needed to allow human brain scans, such as limiting voltage requirements, allowing the device to operate at safe voltage levels, and miniaturization of the device to allow faster scan speeds and acquiring images at a much faster rate”. But they add that miniaturization would also make the device useful for endoscopy, robotics, chip-scale atomic clocks and space-based communication between satellites. The team has already begun investigating two other potential applications: LiDAR (light detection and ranging) systems and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Next, the researchers “hope to integrate the device into a miniaturized microscope to allow imaging of the brain in freely moving animals in natural outside environments,” they say. “We also aim to improve the packaging of our devices so they can be integrated into many other imaging systems.” The post Fluid-based laser scanning technique could improve brain imaging appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/fluid-based-laser-scanning-technique-could-improve-brain-imaging/
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d23fb240808b67dbdf0b90b85631841bdd005e5a776d8ac06155b122162ad4d9
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2025-11-03T14:51:59+00:00
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Intrigued by quantum? Explore the 2025 Physics World Quantum Briefing 2.0
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To coincide with a week of quantum-related activities organized by the Institute of Physics (IOP) in the UK, Physics World has just published a free-to-read digital magazine to bring you up to date about all the latest developments in the quantum world. The 62-page Physics World Quantum Briefing 2.0 celebrates the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) and also looks ahead to a quantum-enhanced future. Marking 100 years since the advent of quantum mechanics, IYQ aims to raise awareness of the impact of quantum physics and its myriad future applications, with a global diary of quantum-themed public talks, scientific conferences, industry events and more. The 2025 Physics World Quantum Briefing 2.0, which follows on from the first edition published in May, contains yet more quantum topics for you to explore and is once again divided into “history”, “mystery” and “industry”. You can find out more about the contributions of Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose to quantum science; explore weird phenomena such as causal order and quantum superposition; and discover the latest applications of quantum computing. A century after quantum mechanics was first formulated, many physicists are still undecided on some of the most basic foundational questions. There’s no agreement on which interpretation of quantum mechanics holds strong; whether the wavefunction is merely a mathematical tool or a true representation of reality; or what impact an observer has on a quantum state. Some of the biggest unanswered questions in physics – such as finding the quantum/classical boundary or reconciling gravity and quantum mechanics – lie at the heart of these conundrums. So as we look to the future of quantum – from its fundamentals to its technological applications – let us hope that some answers to these puzzles will become apparent as we crack the quantum code to our universe. This article forms part of Physics World‘s contribution to the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), which aims to raise global awareness of quantum physics and its applications. Stayed tuned to Physics World and our international partners throughout the year for more coverage of the IYQ. Find out more on our quantum channel. The post Intrigued by quantum? Explore the 2025 <em>Physics World Quantum Briefing 2.0</em> appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/intrigued-by-quantum-explore-the-2025-physics-world-quantum-briefing-2-0/
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44f9202fcbe0683b97dae9a0bb6bad71cdb44e6b167fd862865eaac338fe5520
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2025-11-03T14:00:39+00:00
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Quantum computing: hype or hope?
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Unless you’ve been living under a stone, you can’t have failed to notice that 2025 marks the first 100 years of quantum mechanics. A massive milestone, to say the least, about which much has been written in Physics World and elsewhere in what is the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). However, I’d like to focus on a specific piece of quantum technology, namely quantum computing. I keep hearing about quantum computers, so people must be using them to do cool things, and surely they will soon be as commonplace as classical computers. But as a physicist-turned-engineer working in the aerospace sector, I struggle to get a clear picture of where things are really at. If I ask friends and colleagues when they expect to see quantum computers routinely used in everyday life, I get answers ranging from “in the next two years” to “maybe in my lifetime” or even “never”. Before we go any further, it’s worth reminding ourselves that quantum computing relies on several key quantum properties, including superposition, which gives rise to the quantum bit, or qubit. The basic building block of a quantum computer – the qubit – exists as a combination of 0 and 1 states at the same time and is represented by a probabilistic wave function. Classical computers, in contrast, use binary digital bits that are either 0 or 1. Also vital for quantum computers is the notion of entanglement, which is when two or more qubits are co-ordinated, allowing them to share their quantum information. In a highly correlated system, a quantum computer can explore many paths simultaneously. This “massive scale” parallel processing is how quantum may solve certain problems exponentially faster than a classical computer. The other key phenomenon for quantum computers is quantum interference. The wave-like nature of qubits means that when different probability amplitudes are in phase, they combine constructively to increase the likelihood of the right solution. Conversely, destructive interference occurs when amplitudes are out of phase, making it less likely to get the wrong answer. Quantum interference is important in quantum computing because it allows quantum algorithms to amplify the probability of correct answers and suppress incorrect ones, making calculations much faster. Along with superposition and entanglement, it means that quantum computers could process and store vast numbers of probabilities at once, outstripping even the best classical supercomputers. To me, it all sounds exciting, but what have quantum computers ever done for us so far? It’s clear that quantum computers are not ready to be deployed in the real world. Significant technological challenges need to be overcome before they become fully realisable. In any case, no-one is expecting quantum computers to displace classical computers “like for like”: they’ll both be used for different things. Yet it seems that the very essence of quantum computing is also its Achilles heel. Superposition, entanglement and interference – the quantum properties that will make it so powerful – are also incredibly difficult to create and maintain. Qubits are also extremely sensitive to their surroundings. They easily lose their quantum state due to interactions with the environment, whether via stray particles, electromagnetic fields, or thermal fluctuations. Known as decoherence, it makes quantum computers prone to error. That’s why quantum computers need specialized – and often cryogenically controlled – environments to maintain the quantum states necessary for accurate computation. Building a quantum system with lots of interconnected qubits is therefore a major, expensive engineering challenge, with complex hardware and extreme operating conditions. Developing “fault-tolerant” quantum hardware and robust error-correction techniques will be essential if we want reliable quantum computation. As for the development of software and algorithms for quantum systems, there’s a long way to go, with a lack of mature tools and frameworks. Quantum algorithms require fundamentally different programming paradigms to those used for classical computers. Put simply, that’s why building reliable, real-world deployable quantum computers remains a grand challenge. Despite the huge amount of work that still lies in store, quantum computers have already demonstrated some amazing potential. The US firm D-Wave, for example, claimed earlier this year to have carried out simulations of quantum magnetic phase transitions that wouldn’t be possible with the most powerful classical devices. If true, this was the first time a quantum computer had achieved “quantum advantage” for a practical physics problem (whether the problem was worth solving is another question). There is also a lot of research and development going on around the world into solving the qubit stability problem. At some stage, there will likely be a breakthrough design for robust and reliable quantum computer architecture. There is probably a lot of technical advancement happening right now behind closed doors. The first real-world applications of quantum computers will be akin to the giant classical supercomputers of the past. If you were around in the 1980s, you’ll remember Cray supercomputers: huge, inaccessible beasts owned by large corporations, government agencies and academic institutions to enable vast amounts of calculations to be performed (provided you had the money). And, if I believe what I read, quantum computers will not replace classical computers, at least not initially, but work alongside them, as each has its own relative strengths. Quantum computers will be suited for specific and highly demanding computational tasks, such as drug discovery, materials science, financial modelling, complex optimization problems and increasingly large artificial intelligence and machine-learning models. These are all things beyond the limits of classical computer resource. Classical computers will remain relevant for everyday tasks like web browsing, word processing and managing databases, and they will be essential for handling the data preparation, visualization and error correction required by quantum systems. And there is one final point to mention, which is cyber security. Quantum computing poses a major threat to existing encryption methods, with potential to undermine widely used public-key cryptography. There are concerns that hackers nowadays are storing their stolen data in anticipation of future quantum decryption. Having looked into the topic, I can now see why the timeline for quantum computing is so fuzzy and why I got so many different answers when I asked people when the technology would be mainstream. Quite simply, I still can’t predict how or when the tech stack will pan out. But as IYQ draws to a close, the future for quantum computers is bright. The post Quantum computing: hype or hope? appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/quantum-computing-hype-or-hope/
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Space & Physics
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97ae426354f01097e8b97111ed96269d3f199c20acd1cfda623278a0eef2dabe
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2025-11-03T09:45:57+00:00
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Modular cryogenics platform adapts to new era of practical quantum computing
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At the centre of most quantum labs is a large cylindrical cryostat that keeps the delicate quantum hardware at ultralow temperatures. These cryogenic chambers have expanded to accommodate larger and more complex quantum systems, but the scientists and engineers at UK-based cryogenics specialist ICEoxford have taken a radical new approach to the challenge of scalability. They have split the traditional cryostat into a series of cube-shaped modules that slot into a standard 19-inch rack mount, creating an adaptable platform that can easily be deployed alongside conventional computing infrastructure. “We wanted to create a robust, modular and scalable solution that enables different quantum technologies to be integrated into the cryostat,” says Greg Graf, the company’s engineering manager. “This approach offers much more flexibility, because it allows different modules to be used for different applications, while the system also delivers the efficiency and reliability that are needed for operational use.” The standard configuration of the ICE-Q platform has three separate modules: a cryogenics unit that provides the cooling power, a large payload for housing the quantum chip or experiment, and a patent-pending wiring module that attaches to the side of the payload to provide the connections to the outside world. Up to four of these side-loading wiring modules can be bolted onto the payload at the same time, providing thousands of external connections while still fitting into a standard rack. For applications where space is not such an issue, the payload can be further extended to accommodate larger quantum assemblies and potentially tens of thousands of radio-frequency or fibre-optic connections. The cube-shaped form factor provides much improved access to these external connections, whether for designing and configuring the system or for ongoing maintenance work. The outer shell of each module consists of panels that are easily removed, offering a simple mechanism for bolting modules together or stacking them on top of each other to provide a fully scalable solution that grows with the qubit count. The flexible design also offers a more practical solution for servicing or upgrading an installed system, since individual modules can be simply swapped over as and when needed. “For quantum computers running in an operational environment it is really important to minimize the downtime,” says Emma Yeatman, senior design engineer at ICEoxford. “With this design we can easily remove one of the modules for servicing, and replace it with another one to keep the system running for longer. For critical infrastructure devices, it is possible to have built-in redundancy that ensures uninterrupted operation in the event of a failure.” Other features have been integrated into the platform to make it simple to operate, including a new software system for controlling and monitoring the ultracold environment. “Most of our cryostats have been designed for researchers who really want to get involved and adapt the system to meet their needs,” adds Yeatman. “This platform offers more options for people who want an out-of-the-box solution and who don’t want to get hands on with the cryogenics.” Such a bold design choice was enabled in part by a collaborative research project with Canadian company Photonic Inc, funded jointly by the UK and Canada, that was focused on developing an efficient and reliable cryogenics platform for practical quantum computing. That R&D funding helped to reduce the risk of developing an entirely new technology platform that addresses many of the challenges that ICEoxford and its customers had experienced with traditional cryostats. “Quantum technologies typically need a lot of wiring, and access had become a real issue,” says Yeatman. “We knew there was an opportunity to do better.” However, converting a large cylindrical cryostat into a slimline and modular form factor demanded some clever engineering solutions. Perhaps the most obvious was creating a frame that allows the modules to be bolted together while still remaining leak tight. Traditional cryostats are welded together to ensure a leak-proof seal, but for greater flexibility the ICEoxford team developed an assembly technique based on mechanical bonding. The side-loading wiring module also presented a design challenge. To squeeze more wires into the available space, the team developed a high-density connector for the coaxial cables to plug into. An additional cold-head was also integrated into the module to pre-cool the cables, reducing the overall heat load generated by such large numbers of connections entering the ultracold environment. Meanwhile, the speed of the cooldown and the efficiency of operation have been optimized by designing a new type of heat exchanger that is fabricated using a 3D printing process. “When warm gas is returned into the system, a certain amount of cooling power is needed just to compress and liquefy that gas,” explains Kelly. “We designed the heat exchangers to exploit the returning cold gas much more efficiently, which enables us to pre-cool the warm gas and use less energy for the liquefaction.” The initial prototype has been designed to operate at 1 K, which is ideal for the photonics-based quantum systems being developed by ICEoxford’s research partner. But the modular nature of the platform allows it to be adapted to diverse applications, with a second project now underway with the Rutherford Appleton Lab to develop a module that that will be used at the forefront of the global hunt for dark matter. Already on the development roadmap are modules that can sustain temperatures as low as 10 mK – which is typically needed for superconducting quantum computing – and a 4 K option for trapped-ion systems. “We already have products for each of those applications, but our aim was to create a modular platform that can be extended and developed to address the changing needs of quantum developers,” says Kelly. As these different options come onstream, the ICEoxford team believes that it will become easier and quicker to deliver high-performance cryogenic systems that are tailored to the needs of each customer. “It normally takes between six and twelve months to build a complex cryogenics system,” says Graf. “With this modular design we will be able to keep some of the components on the shelf, which would allow us to reduce the lead time by several months.” More generally, the modular and scalable platform could be a game-changer for commercial organizations that want to exploit quantum computing in their day-to-day operations, as well as for researchers who are pushing the boundaries of cryogenics design with increasingly demanding specifications. “This system introduces new avenues for hardware development that were previously constrained by the existing cryogenics infrastructure,” says Kelly. “The ICE-Q platform directly addresses the need for colder base temperatures, larger sample spaces, higher cooling powers, and increased connectivity, and ensures our clients can continue their aggressive scaling efforts without being bottlenecked by their cooling environment.” The post Modular cryogenics platform adapts to new era of practical quantum computing appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/modular-cryogenics-platform-adapts-to-new-era-of-practical-quantum-computing/
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Space & Physics
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1e740e7ea5148c693efcce54713460e4590cb8ddc86b19336ef9f9616b26a721
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2025-11-03T09:00:41+00:00
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Portable source could produce high-energy muon beams
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Due to government shutdown restrictions currently in place in the US, the researchers who headed up this study have not been able to comment on their work Laser plasma acceleration (LPA) may be used to generate multi-gigaelectronvolt muon beams, according to physicists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in the US. Their work might help in the development of ultracompact muon sources for applications such as muon tomography – which images the interior of large objects that are inaccessible to X-ray radiography. Muons are charged subatomic particles that are produced in large quantities when cosmic rays collide with atoms 15–20 km high up in the atmosphere. Muons have the same properties as electrons but are around 200 times heavier. This means they can travel much further through solid structures than electrons. This property is exploited in muon tomography, which analyses how muons penetrate objects and then exploits this information to produce 3D images. The technique is similar to X-ray tomography used in medical imaging, with the cosmic-ray radiation taking the place of artificially generated X-rays and muon trackers the place of X-ray detectors. Indeed, depending on their energy, muons can traverse metres of rock or other materials, making them ideal for imaging thick and large structures. As a result, the technique has been used to peer inside nuclear reactors, pyramids and volcanoes. As many as 10,000 muons from cosmic rays reach each square metre of the Earth’s surface every minute. These naturally produced particles have unpredictable properties, however, and they also only come from the vertical direction. This fixed directionality means that can take months to accumulate enough data for tomography. Another option is to use the large numbers of low-energy muons that can be produced in proton accelerator facilities by smashing a proton beam onto a fixed carbon target. However, these accelerators are large and expensive facilities, limiting their use in muon tomography. Physicists led by Davide Terzani have now developed a new compact muon source based on LPA-generated electron beams. Such a source, if optimized, could be deployed in the field and could even produce muon beams in specific directions. In LPA, an ultra-intense, ultra-short, and tightly focused laser pulse propagates into an “under-dense” gas. The pulse’s extremely high electric field ionizes the gas atoms, freeing the electrons from the nuclei, so generating a plasma. The ponderomotive force, or radiation pressure, of the intense laser pulse displaces these electrons and creates an electrostatic wave that produces accelerating fields orders of magnitude higher than what is possible in the traditional radio-frequency cavities used in conventional accelerators. LPAs have all the advantages of an ultra-compact electron accelerator that allows for muon production in a small-size facility such as BeLLA, where Terzani and his colleagues work. Indeed, in their experiment, they succeeded in generating a 10 GeV electron beam in a 30 cm gas target for the first time. The researchers collided this beam with a dense target, such as tungsten. This slows the beam down so that it emits Bremsstrahlung, or braking radiation, which interacts with the material, producing secondary products that include lepton–antilepton pairs, such as electron–positron and muon–antimuon pairs. Behind the converter target, there is also a short-lived burst of muons that propagates roughly along the same axis as the incoming electron beam. A thick concrete shielding then filters most of the secondary products, letting the majority of muons pass through it. Crucially, Terzani and colleagues were able to separate the muon signal from the large background radiation – something that can be difficult to do because of the inherent inefficiency of the muon production process. This allowed them to identify two different muon populations coming from the accelerator. These were a collimated, forward directed population, generated by pair production; and a low-energy, isotropic, population generated by meson decay. Muons can ne used in a range of fields, from imaging to fundamental particle physics. As mentioned, muons from cosmic rays are currently used to inspect large and thick objects not accessible to regular X-ray radiography – a recent example of this is the discovery of a hidden chamber in Khufu’s Pyramid. They can also be used to image the core of a burning blast furnace or nuclear waste storage facilities. While the new LPA-based technique cannot yet produce muon fluxes suitable for particle physics experiments – to replace a muon injector, for example – it could offer the accelerator community a convenient way to test and develop essential elements towards making a future muon collider. The experiment in this study, which is detailed in Physical Review Accelerators and Beams, focused on detecting the passage of muons, unequivocally proving their signature. The researchers conclude that they now have a much better understanding of the source of these muons. Unfortunately, the original programme that funded this research has ended, so future studies are limited at the moment. Not to be disheartened, the researchers say they strongly believe in the potential of LPA-generated muons and are working on resuming some of their experiments. For example, they aim to measure the flux and the spectrum of the resulting muon beam using completely different detection techniques based on ultra-fast particle trackers, for example. The LBNL team also wants to explore different applications, such as imaging deep ore deposits – something that will be quite challenging because it poses strict limitations on the minimum muon energy required to penetrate soil. Therefore, they are looking into how to increase the muon energy of their source. The post Portable source could produce high-energy muon beams appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/portable-source-could-produce-high-energy-muon-beams/
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918ad04881d66d7ba0b4befb479e86be4369e1d1ecc6890e5a003437fd652eb4
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2025-10-31T14:20:20+00:00
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Quantum computing on the verge: correcting errors, developing algorithms and building up the user base
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There is no unique way of achieving that spreading, however. Different error-correcting codes can depend on the connectivity between qubits – whether, say, they are coupled only to their nearest neighbours or to all the others in the device – which tends to be determined by the physical platform being used. However error correction is done, it must be done fast. “The mechanisms for error correction need to be running at a speed that is commensurate with that of the gate operations,” says Michael Cuthbert, founding director of the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). “There’s no point in doing a gate operation in a nanosecond if it then takes 100 microseconds to do the error correction for the next gate operation.” At the moment, dealing with errors is largely about compensation rather than correction: patching up the problems of errors in retrospect, for example by using algorithms that can throw out some results that are likely to be unreliable (an approach called “post-selection”). It’s also a matter of making better qubits that are less error-prone in the first place. (Courtesy: Riverlane via www.riverlane.com) According to Maria Maragkou, commercial vice-president of quantum error-correction company Riverlane, the goal of full QEC has ramifications for the design of the machines all the way from hardware to workflow planning. “The shift to support error correction has a profound effect on the way quantum processors themselves are built, the way we control and operate them, through a robust software stack on top of which the applications can be run,” she explains. The “stack” includes everything from programming languages to user interfaces and servers. (Courtesy: Riverlane via www.riverlane.com) Fault-tolerant quantum computing is the ultimate goal, says Jay Gambetta, director of IBM research at the company’s centre in Yorktown Heights, New York. He believes that to perform truly transformative quantum calculations, the system must go beyond demonstrating a few logical qubits – instead, you need arrays of at least a 100 of them, that can perform more than 100 million quantum operations (108 QuOps). “The number of operations is the most important thing,” he says. “For a physicist like me,” says Preskill, “what is really exciting about quantum computing is that we have good reason to believe that a quantum computer would be able to efficiently simulate any process that occurs in nature.” (Courtesy: Phasecraft) Montanaro believes another likely near-term goal for useful quantum computing is solving optimization problems – both here and in quantum simulation, “we think genuine value can be delivered already in this NISQ era with hundreds of qubits.” (NISQ, a term coined by Preskill, refers to noisy intermediate-scale quantum computing, with relatively small numbers of rather noisy, error-prone qubits.) Montanaro sees a role for governments to boost the growth of the industry “where it’s not the right fit for the private sector”. One role of government is simply as a customer. For example, Phasecraft is working with the UK national grid to develop a quantum algorithm for optimizing the energy network. “Longer-term support for academic research is absolutely critical,” Montanaro adds. “It would be a mistake to think that everything is done in terms of the underpinning science, and governments should continue to support blue-skies research.” This article forms part of Physics World‘s contribution to the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), which aims to raise global awareness of quantum physics and its applications. Stayed tuned to Physics World and our international partners throughout the year for more coverage of the IYQ. Find out more on our quantum channel. The post Quantum computing on the verge: correcting errors, developing algorithms and building up the user base appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/quantum-computing-on-the-verge-correcting-errors-developing-algorithms-and-building-up-the-user-base/
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Space & Physics
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bd05d8c75341c8d452dfd884edcf4e5f9e0d3f7c957366acb4d9e13c037dc6b5
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2025-10-31T14:00:38+00:00
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Young rogue planet grows like a star
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When a star rapidly accumulates gas and dust during its early growth phase, it’s called an accretion burst. Now, for the first time, astronomers have observed a planet doing the same thing. The discovery, made using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), shows that the infancy of certain planetary-mass objects and that of newborn stars may share similar characteristics. In their study, which is detailed in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, astronomers led by Víctor Almendros-Abad at Italy’s Palermo Astronomical Observatory; Ray Jayawardhana of Johns Hopkins University in the US; and Belinda Damian and Aleks Scholz of the University of St Andrews, UK, focused on a planet known as Cha1107-7626. Located around 620 light-years from Earth, this planet has a mass approximately five to 10 times that of Jupiter. Unlike Jupiter, though, it does not orbit around a central star. Instead, it floats freely in space as a “rogue” planet, one of many identified in recent years. Like other rogue planets, Cha1107-7626 was known to be surrounded by a disk of dust and gas. When material from this disk spirals, or accretes, onto the planet, the planet grows. What Almendros-Abad and colleagues discovered is that this process is not uniform. Using the VLT’s XSHOOTER and the NIRSpec and MIRI instruments on JWST, they found that Cha1107-7626 experienced a burst of accretion beginning in June 2025. This is the first time anyone has seen an accretion burst in an object with such a low mass, and the peak accretion rate of six billion tonnes per second makes it the strongest accretion episode ever recorded in a planetary-mass object. It may not be over, either. At the end of August, when the observing campaign ended, the burst was still ongoing. The team identified several parallels between Cha1107-7626’s accretion burst and those that young stars experience. Among them were clear signs that gas is being funnelled onto the planet. “This indicates that magnetic fields structure the flow of gas, which is again something well known from stars,” explains Scholz. “Overall, our discovery is establishing interesting, perhaps surprising parallels between stars and planets, which I’m not sure we fully understand yet.” The astronomers also found that the chemistry of the disc around the planet changed during accretion, with water being present in this phase even though it hadn’t been before. This effect has previously been spotted in stars, but never in a planet until now. “We’re struck by quite how much the infancy of free-floating planetary-mass objects resembles that of stars like the Sun,” Jayawardhana says. “Our new findings underscore that similarity and imply that some objects comparable to giant planets form the way stars do, from contracting clouds of gas and dust accompanied by disks of their own, and they go through growth episodes just like newborn stars.” The researchers have been studying similar objects for many years and earlier this year published results based on JWST observations that featured a small sample of planetary-mass objects. “This particular study is part of that sample,” Scholz tells Physics World, “and we obtained the present results because Victor wanted to look in detail at the accretion flow onto Cha1107-7626, and in the process discovered the burst.” The researchers say they are “keeping an eye” on Cha1107-7626 and other such objects that are still growing because their environment is dynamic and unstable. “More to the point, we really don’t understand what drives these accretion events, and we need detailed follow-up to figure out the underlying reasons for these processes,” Scholz says. The post Young rogue planet grows like a star appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/young-rogue-planet-grows-like-a-star/
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Space & Physics
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115e716eb7d64dcee748453c34749ad3ac84a49c4865696376e11592d7541d87
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2025-10-31T11:30:26+00:00
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Spooky physics: from glowing green bats to vibrating spider webs
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It’s Halloween today and so what better time than to bring you a couple of spooky stories from the world of physics. First up is researchers at the University of Georgia in the US who have confirmed that six different species of bats found in North America emit a ghoulish green light when exposed to ultraviolet light. The researchers examined 60 specimens from the Georgia Museum of Natural History and exposed the bats to UV light. They found that the wings and hind limbs of six species – big brown bats, eastern red bats, Seminole bats, southeastern myotis, grey bats and the Brazilian free-tailed bat – gave off photoluminescence with the resulting glow being a shade of green. While previous research found that some mammals, like pocket gophers, also emit a glow under ultraviolet light, this was the first discovery of such a phenomenon for bats located in North America. The colour and location of the glow on the winged mammals suggest it is not down to genetics or camouflage and as it is the same between sexes it is probably not used to attract mates. “It may not seem like this has a whole lot of consequence, but we’re trying to understand why these animals glow,” notes wildlife biologist Steven Castleberry from the University of Georgia. Given that many bats can see the wavelengths emitted, one option is that the glow may be an inherited trait used for communication. “The data suggests that all these species of bats got it from a common ancestor. They didn’t come about this independently,” adds Castleberry. “It may be an artifact now, since maybe glowing served a function somewhere in the evolutionary past, and it doesn’t anymore.” In other frightful news, spider webs are a classic Halloween decoration and while the real things are marvels of bioengineering, there is still more to understand about these sticky structures. Many spider species build spiral wheel-shaped webs – orb webs – to capture prey, and some incorporate so-called “stabilimenta” into their web structure. These “extra touches” look like zig-zagging threads that span the gap between two adjacent “spokes,” or threads arranged in a circular “platform” around the web’s centre. The purpose of stabilimenta is unknown and proposed functions include as a deterrence for predatory wasps or birds. Yet Gabriele Greco of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and colleagues suggest such structures might instead influence the propagation of web vibrations triggered by the impact of captured prey. Greco and colleagues observed different stabilimentum geometries that were constructed by wasp spiders, Argiope bruennichi. The researchers then performed numerical simulations to explore how stabilimenta affect prey impact vibrations. For waves generated at angles perpendicular to the threads spiralling out from the web centre, stabilimenta caused negligible delays in wave propagation. However, for waves generated in the same direction as the spiral threads, vibrations in webs with stabilimenta propagated to a greater number of potential detection points across the web – where a spider might sense them – than in webs without stabilimenta. This suggests that stabilimenta may boost a spider’s ability to pinpoint the location of unsuspecting prey caught in its web. Spooky. The post Spooky physics: from glowing green bats to vibrating spider webs appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/spooky-physics-from-glowing-green-bats-to-vibrating-spider-webs/
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Space & Physics
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efeaaa88ab7fecc3d9a090730ac46112aa4e1f81fdb4b3756e6f35e20b6b97b9
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2025-10-30T12:56:58+00:00
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Lowering exam stakes could cut the gender grade gap in physics, finds study
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Female university students do much better in introductory physics exams if they have the option of retaking the tests. That’s according to a new analysis of almost two decades of US exam results for more than 26,000 students. The study’s authors say it shows that female students benefit from lower-stakes assessments – and that the persistent “gender grade gap” in physics exam results does not reflect a gender difference in physics knowledge or ability. The study has been carried out by David Webb from the University of California, Davis, and Cassandra Paul from San Jose State University. It builds on previous work they did in 2023, which showed that the gender gap disappears in introductory physics classes that offer the chance for all students to retake the exams. That study did not, however, explore why the offer of a retake has such an impact. In the new study, the duo analysed exam results from 1997 to 2015 for a series of introductory physics classes at a public university in the US. The dataset included 26,783 students, mostly in biosciences, of whom about 60% were female. Some of the classes let students retake exams while others did not, thereby letting the researchers explore why retakes close the gender gap. When Webb and Paul examined the data for classes that offered retakes, they found that in first-attempt exams female students slightly outperformed their male counterparts. But male students performed better than female students in retakes. This, the researchers argue, discounts the notion that retakes close the gender gap by allowing female students to improve their grades. Instead, they suggest that the benefit of retakes is that they lower the stakes of the first exam. The team then compared the classes that offered retakes with those that did not, which they called high-stakes courses. They found that the gender gap in exam results was much larger in the high-stakes classes than the lower-stakes classes that allowed retakes. “This suggests that high-stakes exams give a benefit to men, on average, [and] lowering the stakes of each exam can remove that bias,” Webb told Physics World. He thinks that as well as allowing students to retake exams, physics might benefit from not having comprehensive high-stakes final exams but instead “use final exam time to let students retake earlier exams”. The post Lowering exam stakes could cut the gender grade gap in physics, finds study appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/lowering-exam-stakes-could-cut-the-gender-grade-gap-in-physics-finds-study/
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Space & Physics
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0d99bab1527b81fe23b5364f349769ded850cd9ed55431f0fc61e8b4c7a6c52b
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2025-10-30T11:42:15+00:00
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Quantum steampunk: we explore the art and science
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Earlier this year I met the Massachusetts-based steampunk artist Bruce Rosenbaum at the Global Physics Summit of the American Physical Society. He was exhibiting a beautiful sculpture of a “quantum engine” that was created in collaboration with physicists including NIST’s Nicole Yunger Halpern – who pioneered the scientific field of quantum steampunk. I was so taken by the art and science of quantum steampunk that I promised Rosenbaum that I would chat with him and Yunger Halpern on the podcast – and here is that conversation. We begin by exploring the art of steampunk and how it is influenced by the technology of the 19th century. Then, we look at the physics of quantum steampunk, a field that weds modern concepts of quantum information with thermodynamics – which itself is a scientific triumph of the 19th century. This podcast is supported by Atlas Technologies, specialists in custom aluminium and titanium vacuum chambers as well as bonded bimetal flanges and fittings used everywhere from physics labs to semiconductor fabs. The post Quantum steampunk: we explore the art and science appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/quantum-steampunk-we-explore-the-art-and-science/
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Space & Physics
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b27edfabb84e7c30661101986b8a0683045437bddb33dc19e56c2dfcd0b3ea67
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2025-10-30T09:00:02+00:00
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Quantum fluids mix like oil and water
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Researchers in the US have replicated a well-known fluid-dynamics process called the Rayleigh–Taylor instability on a quantum scale for the first time. The work opens the hydrodynamics of quantum gases to further exploration and could even create a new platform for understanding gravitational dynamics in the early universe. If you’ve ever tried mixing oil with water, you’ll understand how the Rayleigh–Taylor instability (RTI) can develop. Due to their different molecular structures and the nature of the forces between their molecules, the two fluids do not mix well. After some time, they separate, forming a clear interface between oil and water. Scientists have studied the dynamics of this interface upon perturbations – disturbances of the system – for nearly 150 years, with major work being done by the British physicists Lord Rayleigh in 1883 and Geoffrey Taylor in 1950. Under specific conditions related to the buoyant force of the fluid and the perturbative force causing the disturbance, they showed that this interface becomes unstable. Rather than simply oscillating, the system deviates from its initial state, leading to the formation of interesting geometric patterns such as mushroom clouds and filaments of gas in the Crab Nebula. To show that such dynamics occur not only in macroscopic structures, but also at a quantum scale, scientists at the University of Maryland and the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) created a two-state quantum system using a Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) of sodium (23Na) atoms. In this state of matter, the temperature is so low, the sodium atoms behave as a single coherent system, giving researchers precise control of their parameters. The JQI team confine this BEC in a two-dimensional optical potential that essentially produces a 100 µm × 100 µm sheet of atoms in the horizontal plane. The scientists then apply a microwave pulse that excites half of the atoms from the spin-down to the spin-up state. By adding a small magnetic field gradient along one of the horizontal axes, they induce a force (the Stern–Gerlach force) that acts on the two spin components in opposite directions due to the differing signs of their magnetic moments. This creates a clear interface between the spin-up and the spin-down atoms. To initiate the RTI, the scientists need to perturb this two-component BEC by reversing the magnetic field gradient, which consequently reverses the direction of the induced force. According to Ian Spielman, who led the work alongside co-principal investigator Gretchen Campbell, this wasn’t as easy as it sounds. “The most difficult part was preparing the initial state (horizontal interface) with high quality, and then reliably inverting the gradient rapidly and accurately,” Spielman says. The researchers then investigated how the magnitude of this force difference, acting on the two sides of the interface, affected the dynamics of the two-component BEC. For a small differential force, they initially observed a sinusoidal modulation of the interface. After some time, the interface enters a nonlinear dynamics regime where the RTI manifests through the formation of mushroom clouds. Finally, it becomes a turbulent mixture. The larger the differential force, the more rapidly the system evolves. While RTI dynamics like these were expected to occur in quantum fluids, Spielman points out that proving it required a BEC with the right internal interactions. The BEC of sodium atoms in their experimental setup is one such system. In general, Spielman says that cold atoms are a great tool for studying RTI because the numerical techniques used to describe them do not suffer from the same flaws as the Navier–Stokes equation used to model classical fluid dynamics. However, he notes that the transition to turbulence is “a tough problem that resides at the boundary between two conceptually different ways of thinking”, pushing the capabilities of both analytical and numerical techniques. The scientists were also able to excite waves known as ripplon modes that travel along the interface of the two-component BEC. These are equivalent to the classical capillary waves –“ripples” when a droplet impacts a water surface. Yanda Geng, a JQI PhD student working on this project, explains that every unstable RTI mode has a stable ripplon as a sibling. The difference is that ripplon modes only appear when a small sinusoidal modulation is added to the differential force. “Studying ripplon modes builds understanding of the underlying [RTI] mechanism,” Geng says. The flow of the spins In a further experiment, the team studied a phenomenon that occurs as the RTI progresses and the spin components of the BEC flow in opposite directions along part of their shared interface. This is known as an interfacial counterflow. By transferring half the atoms into the other spin state after initializing the RTI process, the scientists were able to generate a chain of quantum mechanical whirlpools – a vortex chain – along the interface in regions where interfacial counterflow occurred. Spielman, Campbell and their team are now working to create a cleaner interface in their two-component BEC, which would allow a wider range of experiments. “We are considering the thermal properties of this interface as a 1D quantum ‘string’,” says Spielman, adding that the height of such an interface is, in effect, an ultra-sensitive thermometer. Spielman also notes that interfacial waves in higher dimensions (such as a 2D surface) could be used for simulations of gravitational physics. The research is described in Science Advances. The post Quantum fluids mix like oil and water appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/quantum-fluids-mix-like-oil-and-water/
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Space & Physics
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9ac90734e6f43b5666577b26addbaf8a2319ca748722d61bef0e33cc508a3826
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2025-10-29T16:00:28+00:00
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Large-area triple-junction perovskite solar cell achieves record efficiency
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Improving the efficiency of solar cells will likely be one of the key approaches to achieving net zero emissions in many parts of the world. Many types of solar cells will be required, with some of the better performances and efficiencies expected to come from multi-junction solar cells. Multi-junction solar cells comprise a vertical stack of semiconductor materials with distinct bandgaps, with each layer converting a different part of the solar spectrum to maximize conversion of the Sun’s energy to electricity. When there are no constraints on the choice of materials, triple-junction solar cells can outperform double-junction and single-junction solar cells, with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of up to 51% theoretically possible. But material constraints – due to fabrication complexity, cost or other technical challenges – mean that many such devices still perform far from the theoretical limits. Perovskites are one of the most promising materials in the solar cell world today, but fabricating practical triple-junction solar cells beyond 1 cm2 in area has remained a challenge. A research team from Australia, China, Germany and Slovenia set out to change this, recently publishing a paper in Nature Nanotechnology describing the largest and most efficient triple-junction perovskite–perovskite–silicon tandem solar cell to date. When asked why this device architecture was chosen, Anita Ho-Baillie, one of the lead authors from The University of Sydney, states: “I am interested in triple-junction cells because of the larger headroom for efficiency gains”. Solar cells formed from metal halide perovskites have potential to be commercially viable, due to their cost-effectiveness, efficiency, ease of fabrication and their ability to be paired with silicon in multi-junction devices. The ease of fabrication means that the junctions can be directly fabricated on top of each other through monolithic integration – which leads to only two terminal connections, instead of four or six. However, these junctions can still contain surface defects. To enhance the performance and resilience of their triple-junction cell (top and middle perovskite junctions on a bottom silicon cell), the researchers optimized the chemistry of the perovskite material and the cell design. They addressed surface defects in the top perovskite junction by replacing traditional lithium fluoride materials with piperazine-1,4-diium chloride (PDCl). They also replaced methylammonium – which is commonly used in perovskite cells – with rubidium. “The rubidium incorporation in the bulk and the PDCl surface treatment improved the light stability of the cell,” explains Ho-Baillie. To connect the two perovskite junctions, the team used gold nanoparticles on tin oxide. Because the gold was in a nanoparticle form, the junctions could be engineered to maximize the flow of electric charge and light absorption by the solar cell. “Another interesting aspect of the study is the visualization of the gold nanoparticles [using transmission electron microscopy] and the critical point when they become a semi-continuous film, which is detrimental to the multi-junction cell performance due to its parasitic absorption,” says Ho-Baillie. “The optimization for achieving minimal particle coverage while achieving sufficient ohmic contact for vertical carrier flow are useful insights”. Using these design strategies, Ho-Baillie and colleagues developed a 16 cm2 triple-junction cell that achieved an independently certified steady-state PCE of 23.3% – the highest reported for a large-area device. While triple-junction perovskite solar cells have exhibited higher PCEs – with all-perovskite triple-junction cells reaching 28.7% and perovskite–perovskite–silicon devices reaching 27.1% – these were all achieved on a 1 cm2 cell, not a large-area cell. In this study, the researchers also developed a 1 cm2 cell that was close to the best, with a PCE of 27.06%, but it is the large-area cell that’s the record breaker. The 1 cm2 cell also passed the International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) 61215 thermal cycling test, which exposes the cell to 200 cycles under extreme temperature swings, ranging from –40 to 85°C. During this test, the 1 cm2 cell retained 95% of its initial efficiency after 407 h of continuous operation. The combination of the successful thermal cycling test combined with the high efficiencies on a larger cell shows that there could be potential for this triple-junction architecture in real-world settings in the near future, even though they are still far away from their theoretical limits. The post Large-area triple-junction perovskite solar cell achieves record efficiency appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/large-area-triple-junction-perovskite-solar-cell-achieves-record-efficiency/
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Space & Physics
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6ec47ed61c82e793ea3e0b858ce902cd6484a1babcaef474298157b1083868de
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2025-10-29T10:00:05+00:00
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Tim Berners-Lee: why the inventor of the Web is ‘optimistic, idealistic and perhaps a little naïve’
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It’s rare to come across someone who’s been responsible for enabling a seismic shift in society that has affected almost everyone and everything. Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the World Wide Web, is one such person. His new memoir This is for Everyone unfolds the history and development of the Web and, in places, of the man himself. Berners-Lee was born in London in 1955 to parents, originally from Birmingham, who met while working on the Ferranti Mark 1 computer and knew Alan Turing. Theirs was a creative, intellectual and slightly chaotic household. His mother could maintain a motorbike with fence wire and pliers, and was a crusader for equal rights in the workplace. His father – brilliant and absent minded – taught Berners-Lee about computers and queuing theory. A childhood of camping and model trains, it was, in Berners-Lee’s view, idyllic. Berners-Lee had the good fortune to be supported by a series of teachers and managers who recognized his potential and unique way of working. He studied physics at the University of Oxford (his tutor “going with the flow” of Berners-Lee’s unconventional notation and ability to approach problems from oblique angles) and built his own computer. After graduating, he married and, following a couple of jobs, took a six-month placement at the CERN particle-physics lab in Geneva in 1985. This placement set “a seed that sprouted into a tool that shook up the world”. Berners-Lee saw how difficult it was to share information stored in different languages in incompatible computer systems and how, in contrast, information flowed easily when researchers met over coffee, connected semi-randomly and talked. While at CERN, he therefore wrote a rough prototype for a program to link information in a type of web rather than a structured hierarchy. Back at CERN, Tim Berners-Lee developed his vision of a “universal portal” to information The placement ended and the program was ignored, but four years later Berners-Lee was back at CERN. Now divorced and soon to remarry, he developed his vision of a “universal portal” to information. It proved to be the perfect time. All the tools necessary to achieve the Web – the Internet, address labelling of computers, network cables, data protocols, the hypertext language that allowed cross-referencing of text and links on the same computer – had already been developed by others. Berners-Lee saw the need for a user-friendly interface, using hypertext that could link to information on other computers across the world. His excitement was “uncontainable”, and according to his line manager “few of us if any could understand what he was talking about”. But Berners-Lee’s managers supported him and freed his time away from his actual job to become the world’s first web developer. Having a vision was one thing, but getting others to share it was another. People at CERN only really started to use the Web properly once the lab’s internal phone book was made available on it. As a student at the time, I can confirm that it was much, much easier to use the Web than log on to CERN’s clunky IBM mainframe, where phone numbers had previously been stored. Wider adoption relied on a set of volunteer developers, working with open-source software, to make browsers and platforms that were attractive and easy to use. CERN agreed to donate the intellectual property for web software to the public domain, which helped. But the path to today’s Web was not smooth: standards risked diverging and companies wanted to build applications that hindered information sharing. Feeling that “the Web was outgrowing my institution” and “would be a distraction” to a lab whose core mission was physics, Berners-Lee moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. There he founded the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to ensure consistent, accessible standards were followed by everyone as the Web developed into a global enterprise. The progression sounds straightforward although earlier accounts, such as James Gillies and Robert Caillau’s 2000 book How the Web Was Born, imply some rivalry between institutions that is glossed over here. Initially inclined to advise people to share good things and not search for bad things, Berners-Lee had reckoned without the insidious power of “manipulative and coercive” algorithms on social networks The rest is history, but not quite the history that Berners-Lee had in mind. By 1995 big business had discovered the possibilities of the Web to maximize influence and profit. Initially inclined to advise people to share good things and not search for bad things, Berners-Lee had reckoned without the insidious power of “manipulative and coercive” algorithms on social networks. Collaborative sites like Wikipedia are closer to his vision of an ideal Web; an emergent good arising from individual empowerment. The flip side of human nature seems to come as a surprise. The rest of the book brings us up to date with Berners-Lee’s concerns (data, privacy, misuse of AI, toxic online culture), his hopes (the good use of AI), a third marriage and his move into a data-handling business. There are some big awards and an impressive amount of name dropping; he is excited by Order of Merit lunches with the Queen and by sitting next to Paul McCartney’s family at the opening ceremony to the London Olympics in 2012. A flick through the index reveals names ranging from Al Gore and Bono to Lucien Freud. These are not your average computing technology circles. There are brief character studies to illustrate some of the main players, but don’t expect much insight into their lives. This goes for Berners-Lee too, who doesn’t step back to particularly reflect on those around him, or indeed his own motives beyond that vision of a Web for all enabling the best of humankind. He is firmly future focused. Still, there is no-one more qualified to describe what the Web was intended for, its core philosophy, and what caused it to develop to where it is today. You’ll enjoy the book whether you want an insight into the inner workings that make your web browsing possible, relive old and forgotten browser names, or see how big tech wants to monetize and monopolize your online time. It is an easy read from an important voice. The book ends with a passionate statement for what the future could be, with businesses and individuals working together to switch the Web from “the attention economy to the intention economy”. It’s a future where users are no longer distracted by social media and manipulated by attention-grabbing algorithms; instead, computers and services do what users want them to do, with the information that users want them to have. Berners-Lee is still optimistic, still an incurable idealist, still driven by vision. And perhaps still a little naïve too in believing that everyone’s values will align this time. The post Tim Berners-Lee: why the inventor of the Web is ‘optimistic, idealistic and perhaps a little naïve’ appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/tim-berners-lee-why-the-inventor-of-the-web-is-optimistic-idealistic-and-perhaps-a-little-naive/
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Space & Physics
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69965bb091e56b97ee8a4695ffd9234c196e050d5444134c1089168dc8bca5bb
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2025-10-29T09:30:47+00:00
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New protocol makes an elusive superconducting signature measurable
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Understanding the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity could unlock powerful technologies, from efficient energy transmission to medical imaging, supercomputing and more. Researchers at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have designed a new protocol to study a candidate model for high-temperature superconductivity (HTS), described in Physical Review Letters. The model, known as the Fermi-Hubbard model, is believed to capture the essential physics of cuprate high-temperature superconductors, materials composed of copper and oxygen. The model describes fermions, such as electrons, moving on a lattice. The fermions experience two competing effects: tunnelling and on-site interaction. Imagine students in a classroom: they may expend energy to switch seats (tunnelling), avoid a crowded desk (repulsive on-site interaction) or share desks with friends (attractive on-site interaction). Such behaviour mirrors that of electrons moving between lattice sites. Daniel Mark, first author of the study, notes that: “After nearly four decades of research, there are many detailed numerical studies and theoretical models on how superconductivity can emerge from the Fermi-Hubbard model, but there is no clear consensus [on exactly how it emerges].” A precursor to understanding the underlying mechanism is testing whether the Fermi-Hubbard model gives rise to an important signature of cuprate HTS: d-wave pairing. This is a special type of electron pairing where the strength and sign of the pairing depend on the direction of electron motion. It contrasts with conventional low-temperature superconductors that exhibit s-wave pairing, in which the pairing strength is uniform in all directions. Although physicists have developed robust methods for simulating the Fermi-Hubbard model with ultracold atoms, measuring d-wave pairing has been notoriously difficult. The new protocol aims to change that. A key ingredient in the protocol is the team’s use of “repulsive-to-attractive mapping”. The physics of HTS is often described by the repulsive Fermi-Hubbard model, in which electrons pay an energetic penalty for occupying the same lattice site, like disagreeing students sharing a desk. In this model, detecting d-wave pairing requires fermions to maintain a fragile quantum state as they move over large distances, which necessitates carefully fine-tuned experimental parameters. To make the measurement more robust to experimental imperfection, the authors use a clever mathematical trick: they map from the repulsive model to the attractive one. In the attractive model, electrons receive an energetic benefit from being close together, like two friends in a classroom. The mapping is achieved by a particle–hole transformation, wherein spin-down electrons are reinterpreted as holes and vice versa. After mapping, the d-wave pairing signal becomes an observable that conserves local fermion number, thereby circumventing the challenge of long-range motion. In its initial form, the d-wave pairing signal is difficult to measure. Drawing inspiration from digital quantum gates, the researchers divide their complex system into subsystems composed of pairs of lattice sites or dimers. Then, they apply a pulse sequence to make the observable measurable by simply counting fermions – a standard technique in the lab. The pulse sequence begins with a global microwave pulse to manipulate the spin of the fermions, followed by a series of “hopping” and “idling” steps. The hopping step involves lowering the barrier between lattice sites, thereby increasing tunnelling. The idling step involves raising the barrier, allowing the system to evolve without tunnelling. Every step is carefully timed to reveal the d-wave pairing information at the end of the sequence. The researchers report that their protocol is sample-efficient, experimentally viable, and generalizable to other observables that conserve local fermion number and act on dimers. This work adds to a growing field that combines components of analogue quantum systems with digital gates to deeply study complex quantum phenomena. “All the experimental ingredients in our protocol have been demonstrated in existing experiments, and we are in discussion with several groups on possible use cases,” Mark tells Physics World. The post New protocol makes an elusive superconducting signature measurable appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/new-protocol-makes-an-elusive-superconducting-signature-measurable/
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Space & Physics
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903d1c194917464cd5d402910cce95b41f2cc661ee62f9984923276ba02e3bae
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2025-10-29T08:40:15+00:00
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Interface engineered ferromagnetism
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Exchange-coupled interfaces offer a powerful route to stabilising and enhancing ferromagnetic properties in two-dimensional materials, such as transition metal chalcogenides. These materials exhibit strong correlations among charge, spin, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedom, making them an exciting area for emergent quantum phenomena. Cr₂Te₃’s crystal structure naturally forms layers that behave like two-dimensional sheets of magnetic material. Each layer has magnetic ordering (ferromagnetism), but the layers are not tightly bonded in the third dimension and are considered “quasi-2D.” These layers are useful for interface engineering. Using a vacuum-based technique for atomically precise thin-film growth, known as molecular beam epitaxy, the researchers demonstrate wafer-scale synthesis of Cr₂Te₃ down to monolayer thickness on insulating substrates. Remarkably, robust ferromagnetism persists even at the monolayer limit, a critical milestone for 2D magnetism. When Cr₂Te₃ is proximitized (an effect that occurs when one material is placed in close physical contact with another so that its properties are influenced by the neighbouring material) to a topological insulator, specifically (Bi,Sb)₂Te₃, the Curie temperature, the threshold between ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases, increases from ~100 K to ~120 K. This enhancement is experimentally confirmed via polarized neutron reflectometry, which reveals a substantial boost in magnetization at the interface. Theoretical modelling attributes this magnetic enhancement to the Bloembergen–Rowland interaction which is a long-range exchange mechanism mediated by virtual intraband transitions. Crucially, this interaction is facilitated by the topological insulator’s topologically protected surface states, which are spin-polarized and robust against disorder. These states enable long-distance magnetic coupling across the interface, suggesting a universal mechanism for Curie temperature enhancement in topological insulator-coupled magnetic heterostructures. This work not only demonstrates a method for stabilizing 2D ferromagnetism but also opens the door to topological electronics, where magnetism and topology are co-engineered at the interface. Such systems could enable novel quantum hybrid devices, including spintronic components, topological transistors, and platforms for realizing exotic quasiparticles like Majorana fermions. Enhanced ferromagnetism in monolayer Cr2Te3 via topological insulator coupling Yunbo Ou et al 2025 Rep. Prog. Phys. 88 060501 Do you want to learn more about this topic? Interacting topological insulators: a review by Stephan Rachel (2018) The post Interface engineered ferromagnetism appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/interface-engineered-ferromagnetism/
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887cf48b9f379a27b1f42e20ba6b56f232b1a0a7202293fc7f820ab2c7382a60
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2025-10-29T08:38:58+00:00
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Probing the fundamental nature of the Higgs Boson
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First proposed in 1964, the Higgs boson plays a key role in explaining why many elementary particles of the Standard Model have a rest mass. Many decades later the Higgs boson was observed in 2012 by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), confirming the decades old prediction. This discovery made headline news at the time and, since then, the two collaborations have been performing a series of measurements to establish the fundamental nature of the Higgs boson field and of the quantum vacuum. Researchers certainly haven’t stopped working on the Higgs though. In subsequent years, a series of measurements have been performed to establish the fundamental nature of the new particle. One key measurement comes from studying a process known as off-shell Higgs boson production. This is the creation of Higgs bosons with a mass significantly higher than their typical on-shell mass of 125 GeV. This phenomenon occurs due to quantum mechanics, which allows particles to temporarily fluctuate in mass. This kind of production is harder to detect but can reveal deeper insights into the Higgs boson’s properties, especially its total width, which relates to how long it exists before decaying. This in turn, allows us to test key predictions made by the Standard Model of particle physics. Previous observations of this process had been severely limited in their sensitivity. In order to improve on this, the ATLAS collaboration had to introduce a completely new way of interpreting their data (read here for more details). They were able to provide evidence for off-shell Higgs boson production with a significance of 2.5𝜎 (corresponding to a 99.38% likelihood), using events with four electrons or muons, compared to a significance of 0.8𝜎 using traditional methods in the same channel. The results mark an important step forward in understanding the Higgs boson as well as other high-energy particle physics phenomena. Measurement of off-shell Higgs boson production in the decay channel using a neural simulation-based inference technique in 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector – IOPscience The ATLAS Collaboration, 2025 Rep. Prog. Phys. 88 057803 The post Probing the fundamental nature of the Higgs Boson appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/probing-the-fundamental-nature-of-the-higgs-boson/
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e8c886562cf4f7bb04cc837fd23ff31cf87a3c342b164590ae2c677843e12c7b
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2025-10-28T17:49:53+00:00
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Fabrication and device performance of Ni0/Ga2O3 heterojunction power rectifiers
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This talk shows how integrating p-type NiO to form NiO/Ga₂O₃ heterojunction rectifiers overcomes that barrier, enabling record-class breakdown and Ampere-class operation. It will cover device structure/process optimization, thermal stability to high temperatures, and radiation response – with direct ties to today’s priorities: EV fast charging, AI data‑center power systems, and aerospace/space‑qualified power electronics. An interactive Q&A session follows the presentation. Jian-Sian Li received the PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Florida in 2024, where his research focused on NiO/β-Ga₂O₃ heterojunction power rectifiers, includes device design, process optimization, fast switching, high-temperature stability, and radiation tolerance (γ, neutron, proton). His work includes extensive electrical characterization and microscopy/TCAD analysis supporting device physics and reliability in harsh environments. Previously, he completed his BS and MS at National Taiwan University (2015, 2018), with research spanning phoretic/electrokinetic colloids, polymers for OFETs/PSCs, and solid-state polymer electrolytes for Li-ion batteries. He has since transitioned to industry at Micron Technology. The post Fabrication and device performance of Ni0/Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> heterojunction power rectifiers appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/fabrication-and-device-performance-of-ni0-ga2o3-heterojunction-power-rectifiers/
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81f55d35f02198c1aa69b6c24eae54473b97362d36e1d91f19afe6c8ae7aef90
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2025-10-28T16:00:53+00:00
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Randomly textured lithium niobate gives snapshot spectrometer a boost
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A new integrated “snapshot spectroscopy” system developed in China can determine the spectral and spatial composition of light from an object with much better precision than other existing systems. The instrument uses randomly textured lithium niobate and its developers have used it for astronomical imaging and materials analysis – and they say that other applications are possible. Spectroscopy is crucial to analysis of all kinds of objects in science and engineering, from studying the radiation emitted by stars to identifying potential food contaminants. Conventional spectrometers – such as those used on telescopes – rely on diffractive optics to separate incoming light into its constituent wavelengths. This makes them inherently large, expensive and inefficient at rapid image acquisition as the light from each point source has to be spatially separated to resolve the wavelength components. In recent years researchers have combined computational methods with advanced optical sensors to create computational spectrometers with the potential to rival conventional instruments. One such approach is hyperspectral snapshot imaging, which captures both spectral and spatial information in the same image. There are currently two main snapshot-imaging techniques available. Narrowband-filtered snapshot spectral imagers comprise a mosaic pattern of narrowband filters and acquire an image by taking repeated snapshots at different wavelengths. However, these trade spectral resolution with spatial resolution, as each extra band requires its own tile within the mosaic. A more complex alternative design – the broadband-modulated snapshot spectral imager – uses a single, broadband detector covered with a spatially varying element such as a metasurface that interacts with the light and imprints spectral encoding information onto each pixel. However, these are complex to manufacture and their spectral resolution is limited to the nanometre scale. In the new work, researchers led by Lu Fang at Tsinghua University in Beijing unveil a spectroscopy technique that utilizes the nonlinear optical properties of lithium niobate to achieve sub-Ångström spectral resolution in a simply fabricated, integrated snapshot detector they call RAFAEL. A lithium niobate layer with random, sub-wavelength thickness variations is surrounded by distributed Bragg reflectors, forming optical cavities. These are integrated into a stack with a set of electrodes. Each cavity corresponds to a single pixel. Incident light enters from one side of a cavity, interacting with the lithium niobate repeatedly before exiting and being detected. Because lithium niobate is nonlinear, its response varies with the wavelength of the light. The researchers then applied a bias voltage using the electrodes. The nonlinear optical response of lithium niobate means that this bias alters its response to light differently at different wavelengths. Moreover, the random variation of the lithium niobate’s thickness around the surface means that the wavelength variation is spatially specific. The researchers designed a machine learning algorithm and trained it to use this variation of applied bias voltage with resulting wavelength detected at each point to reconstruct the incident wavelengths on the detector at each point in space. “The randomness is useful for making the equations independent,” explains Fang; “We want to have uncorrelated equations so we can solve them.” The researchers showed that they could achieve 88 Hz snapshot spectroscopy on a grid of 2048×2048 pixels with a spectral resolution of 0.5 Å (0.05 nm) between wavelengths of 400–1000 nm. They demonstrated this by capturing the full atomic absorption spectra of up to 5600 stars in a single snapshot. This is a two to four orders of magnitude improvement in observational efficiency over world-class astronomical spectrometers. They also demonstrated other applications, including a materials analysis challenge involving the distinction of a real leaf from a fake one. The two looked identical at optical wavelengths, but, using its broader range of wavelengths, RAFAEL was able to distinguish between the two. The researchers are now attempting to improve the device further: “I still think that sub-Ångstrom is not the ending – it’s just the starting point,” says Fu. “We want to push the limit of our resolution to the picometre.” In addition, she says, they are working on further integration of the device – which requires no specialized lithography – for easier use in the field. “We’ve already put this technology on a drone platform,” she reveals. The team is also working with astronomical observatories such as Gran Telescopio Canarias in La Palma, Spain. The research is described in Nature. Computational imaging expert David Brady of Duke University in North Carolina is impressed by the instrument. “It’s a compact package with extremely high spectral resolution,” he says; “Typically an optical instrument, like a CMOS sensor that’s used here, is going to have between 10,000 and 100,000 photo-electrons per pixel. That’s way too many photons for getting one measurement…I think you’ll see that with spectral imaging as is done here, but also with temporal imaging. People are saying you don’t need to go at 30 frames second, you can go at a million frames per second and push closer to the single photon limit, and then that would require you to do computation to figure out what it all means.” The post Randomly textured lithium niobate gives snapshot spectrometer a boost appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/randomly-textured-lithium-niobate-gives-snapshot-spectrometer-a-boost/
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2c0cf07c5aa34e11903ee28771328211c3ee8a73d4a7a4613d9d428c4e3d5f10
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2025-10-28T13:00:09+00:00
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Tumour-specific radiofrequency fields suppress brain cancer growth
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A research team headed up at Wayne State University School of Medicine in the US has developed a novel treatment for glioblastoma, based on exposure to low levels of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF). The researchers demonstrated that the new therapy slows the growth of glioblastoma cells in vitro and, for the first time, showed its feasibility and clinical impact in patients with brain tumours. The study, led by Hugo Jimenez and reported in Oncotarget, uses a device developed by TheraBionic that delivers amplitude-modulated 27.12 MHz RF EMF throughout the entire body, via a spoon-shaped antenna placed on the tongue. Using tumour-specific modulation frequencies, the device has already received US FDA approval for treating patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, a liver cancer), while its safety and effectiveness are currently being assessed in clinical trials in patients with pancreatic, colorectal and breast cancer. In this latest work, the team investigated its use in glioblastoma, an aggressive and difficult to treat brain tumour. To identify the particular frequencies needed to treat glioblastoma, the team used a non-invasive biofeedback method developed previously to study patients with various types of cancer. The process involves measuring variations in skin electrical resistance, pulse amplitude and blood pressure while individuals are exposed to low levels of amplitude-modulated frequencies. The approach can identify the frequencies, usually between 1 Hz and 100 kHz, specific to a single tumour type. Jimenez and colleagues first examined the impact of glioblastoma-specific amplitude-modulated RF EMF (GBMF) on glioblastoma cells, exposing various cell lines to GBMF for 3 h per day at the exposure level used for patient treatments. After one week, GBMF decreased the proliferation of three glioblastoma cell lines (U251, BTCOE-4765 and BTCOE-4795) by 34.19%, 15.03% and 14.52%, respectively. The team note that the level of this inhibitive effect (15–34%) is similar to that observed in HCC cell lines (19–47%) and breast cancer cell lines (10–20%) treated with tumour-specific frequencies. A fourth glioblastoma cell line (BTCOE-4536) was not inhibited by GBMF, for reasons currently unknown. Next, the researchers examined the effect of GBMF on cancer stem cells, which are responsible for treatment resistance and cancer recurrence. The treatment decreased the tumour sphere-forming ability of U251 and BTCOE-4795 cells by 36.16% and 30.16%, respectively – also a comparable range to that seen in HCC and breast cancer cells. Notably, these effects were only induced by frequencies associated with glioblastoma. Exposing glioblastoma cells to HCC-specific modulation frequencies had no measurable impact and was indistinguishable from sham exposure. Looking into the underlying treatment mechanisms, the researchers hypothesized that – as seen in breast cancer and HCC – glioblastoma cell proliferation is mediated by T-type voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC). In the presence of a VGCC blocker, GBMF did not inhibit cell proliferation, confirming that GBMF inhibition of cell proliferation depends on T-type VGCCs, in particular, a calcium channel known as CACNA1H. The team also found that GBMF blocks the growth of glioblastoma cells by modulating the “Mitotic Roles of Polo-Like Kinase” signalling pathway, leading to disruption of the cells’ mitotic spindles, critical structures in cell replication. Finally, the researchers used the TheraBionic device to treat two patients: a 38-year-old patient with recurrent glioblastoma and a 47-year-old patient with the rare brain tumour oligodendroglioma. The first patient showed signs of clinical and radiological benefit following treatment; the second exhibited stable disease and tolerated the treatment well. “This is the first report showing feasibility and clinical activity in patients with brain tumour,” the authors write. “Similarly to what has been observed in patients with breast cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, this report shows feasibility of this treatment approach in patients with malignant glioma and provides evidence of anticancer activity in one of them.” The researchers add that a previous dosimetric analysis of this technique measured a whole-body specific absorption rate (SAR, the rate of energy absorbed by the body when exposed to RF EMF) of 1.35 mW/kg and a peak spatial SAR (over 1 g of tissue) of 146–352 mW/kg. These values are well within the safety limits set by the ICNIRP (whole-body SAR of 80 mW/kg; peak spatial SAR of 2000 mW/kg). Organ-specific values for grey matter, white matter and the midbrain also had mean SAR ranges well within the safety limits. The team concludes that the results justify future preclinical and clinical studies of the TheraBionic device in this patient population. “We are currently in the process of designing clinical studies in patients with brain tumors,” Jimenez tells Physics World. The post Tumour-specific radiofrequency fields suppress brain cancer growth appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/tumour-specific-radiofrequency-fields-suppress-brain-cancer-growth/
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639145f1f9d068ca6e065d12a0f994e3f89d2f108184984a9c64efe60b61c8a4
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2025-10-28T08:00:10+00:00
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Entangled light leads to quantum advantage
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Physicists at the Technical University of Denmark have demonstrated what they describe as a “strong and unconditional” quantum advantage in a photonic platform for the first time. Using entangled light, they were able to reduce the number of measurements required to characterize their system by a factor of 1011, with a correspondingly huge saving in time. “We reduced the time it would take from 20 million years with a conventional scheme to 15 minutes using entanglement,” says Romain Brunel, who co-led the research together with colleagues Zheng-Hao Liu and Ulrik Lund Andersen. Although the research, which is described in Science, is still at a preliminary stage, Brunel says it shows that major improvements are achievable with current photonic technologies. In his view, this makes it an important step towards practical quantum-based protocols for metrology and machine learning. Quantum devices are hard to isolate from their environment and extremely sensitive to external perturbations. That makes it a challenge to learn about their behaviour. To get around this problem, researchers have tried various “quantum learning” strategies that replace individual measurements with collective, algorithmic ones. These strategies have already been shown to reduce the number of measurements required to characterize certain quantum systems, such as superconducting electronic platforms containing tens of quantum bits (qubits), by as much as a factor of 105. In the new study, Brunel, Liu, Andersen and colleagues obtained a quantum advantage in an alternative “continuous-variable” photonic platform. The researchers note that such platforms are far easier to scale up than superconducting qubits, which they say makes them a more natural architecture for quantum information processing. Indeed, photonic platforms have already been crucial to advances in boson sampling, quantum communication, computation and sensing. The team’s experiment works with conventional, “imperfect” optical components and consists of a channel containing multiple light pulses that share the same pattern, or signature, of noise. The researchers began by performing a procedure known as quantum squeezing on two beams of light in their system. This caused the beams to become entangled – a quantum phenomenon that creates such a strong linkage that measuring the properties of one instantly affects the properties of the other. The team then measured the properties of one of the beams (the “probe” beam) in an experiment known as a 100-mode bosonic displacement process. According to Brunel, one can imagine this experiment as being like tweaking the properties of 100 independent light modes, which are packets or beams of light. “A ‘bosonic displacement process’ means you slightly shift the amplitude and phase of each mode, like nudging each one’s brightness and timing,” he explains. “So, you then have 100 separate light modes, and each one is shifted in phase space according to a specific rule or pattern.” By comparing the probe beam to the second (“reference”) beam in a single joint measurement, Brunel explains that he and his colleagues were able to cancel out much of the uncertainties in these measurements. This meant they could extract more information per trial than they could have by characterizing the probe beam alone. This information boost, in turn, allowed them to significantly reduce the number of measurements – in this case, by a factor of 1011. While the DTU researchers acknowledge that they have not yet studied a practical, real-world system, they emphasize that their platform is capable of “doing something that no classical system will ever be able to do”, which is the definition of a quantum advantage. “Our next step will therefore be to study a more practical system in which we can demonstrate a quantum advantage,” Brunel tells Physics World. The post Entangled light leads to quantum advantage appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/entangled-light-leads-to-quantum-advantage/
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31fe40c0864fb27248f3b150644a1e6b0703d60fe67aa951d9cf5dcc3ab4e4f9
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2025-10-27T16:00:31+00:00
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Queer Quest: a quantum-inspired journey of self-discovery
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This episode of Physics World Stories features an interview with Jessica Esquivel and Emily Esquivel – the creative duo behind Queer Quest. The event created a shared space for 2SLGBTQIA+ Black and Brown people working in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM). Mental health professionals also joined Queer Quest, which was officially recognized by UNESCO as part of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). Over two days in Chicago this October, the event brought science, identity and wellbeing into powerful conversation. Jessica Esquivel, a particle physicist and associate scientist at Fermilab, is part of the Muon g-2 experiment, pushing the limits of the Standard Model. Emily Esquivel is a licensed clinical professional counsellor. Together, they run Oyanova, an organization empowering Black and Brown communities through science and wellness. Queer Quest blended keynote talks, with collective conversations, alongside meditation and other wellbeing activities. Panellists drew on quantum metaphors – such as entanglement – to explore identity, community and mental health. In a wide-ranging conversation with podcast host Andrew Glester, Jessica and Emily speak about the inspiration for the event, and the personal challenges they have faced within academia. They speak about the importance of building resilience through community connections, especially given the social tensions in the US right now. Hear more from Jessica Esquivel in her 2021 Physics World Stories appearance on the latest developments in muon science. This article forms part of Physics World‘s contribution to the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), which aims to raise global awareness of quantum physics and its applications. Stayed tuned to Physics World and our international partners throughout the year for more coverage of the IYQ. Find out more on our quantum channel. The post Queer Quest: a quantum-inspired journey of self-discovery appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/queer-quest-a-quantum-inspired-journey-of-self-discovery/
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0bdbb0ae42feebfcdc3fdea49e203f751150d1dfc09b57afb294c22a0ed8428d
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2025-10-27T14:00:09+00:00
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Fingerprint method can detect objects hidden in complex scattering media
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Physicists have developed a novel imaging technique for detecting and characterizing objects hidden within opaque, highly scattering material. The researchers, from France and Austria, showed that their new mathematical approach, which utilizes the fact that hidden objects generate their own complex scattering pattern, or “fingerprint”, can work on biological tissue. Viewing the inside of the human body is challenging due to the scattering nature of tissue. With ultrasound, when waves propagate through tissue they are reflected, bounce around and scatter chaotically, creating noise that obscures the signal from the object that the medical practitioner is trying to see. The further you delve into the body the more incoherent the image becomes. There are techniques for overcoming these issues, but as scattering increases – in more complex media or as you push deeper through tissue – they struggle and unpicking the required signal becomes too complex. The scientists behind the latest research, from the Institut Langevin in Paris, France and TU Wien in Vienna, Austria, say that rather than compensating for scattering, their technique instead relies on detecting signals from the hidden object in the disorder. Objects buried in a material create their own complex scattering pattern, and the researchers found that if you know an object’s specific acoustic signal it’s possible to find it in the noise created by the surrounding environment. “We cannot see the object, but the backscattered ultrasonic wave that hits the microphones of the measuring device still carries information about the fact that it has come into contact with the object we are looking for,” explains Stefan Rotter, a theoretical physicist at TU Wien. Rotter and his colleagues examined how a series of objects scattered ultrasound waves in an interference-free environment. This created what they refer to as fingerprint matrices: measurements of the specific, characteristic way in which each object scattered the waves. The team then developed a mathematical method that allowed them to calculate the position of each object when hidden in a scattering medium, based on its fingerprint matrix. “From the correlations between the measured reflected wave and the unaltered fingerprint matrix, it is possible to deduce where the object is most likely to be located, even if the object is buried,” explains Rotter. The team tested the technique in three different scenarios. The first experiment trialled the ultrasound imaging of metal spheres in a dense suspension of glass beads in water. Conventional ultrasound failed in this setup and the spheres were completely invisible, but with their novel fingerprint method the researchers were able to accurately detect them. Next, to examine a medical application for the technique, the researchers embedded lesion markers often used to monitor breast tumours in a foam designed to mimic the ultrasound scattering of soft tissue. These markers can be challenging to detect due to scatterers randomly distributed in human tissue. With the fingerprint matrix, however, the researchers say that the markers were easy to locate. Finally, the team successfully mapped muscle fibres in a human calf using the technique. They claim this could be useful for diagnosing and monitoring neuromuscular diseases. According to Rotter and his colleagues, their fingerprint matrix method is a versatile and universal technique that could be applied beyond ultrasound to all fields of wave physics. They highlight radar and sonar as examples of sensing techniques where target identification and detection in noisy environments are long-standing challenges. “The concept of the fingerprint matrix is very generally applicable – not only for ultrasound, but also for detection with light,” Rotter says. “It opens up important new possibilities in all areas of science where a reflection matrix can be measured.” The researchers report their findings in Nature Physics. The post Fingerprint method can detect objects hidden in complex scattering media appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/fingerprint-method-can-detect-objects-hidden-in-complex-scattering-media/
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5a68a18a89f42f501bb66b62edc9f8484284511cb65c25f8b53bd1240b72fb98
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2025-10-27T10:00:03+00:00
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Ask me anything: Kirsty McGhee – ‘Follow what you love: you might end up doing something you never thought was an option’
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Obviously, I write: I wouldn’t be a very good science writer if I couldn’t. So communication skills are vital. Recently, for example, Qruise launched a new magnetic-resonance product for which I had to write a press release, create a new webpage and do social-media posts. That meant co-ordinating with lots of different people, finding out the key features to advertise, identifying the claims we wanted to make – and if we have the data to back those claims up. I’m not an expert in quantum computing or magnetic-resonance imagining or even marketing so I have to pick things up fast and then translate technically complex ideas from physics and software into simple messages for a broader audience. Thankfully, my colleagues are always happy to help. Science writing is a difficult task but I think I’m getting better at it. I love the variety and the fact that I’m doing so many different things all the time. If there’s a day I feel I want something a little bit lighter, I can do some social media or the website, which is more creative. On the other hand, if I feel I could really focus in detail on something then I can write some documentation that is a little bit more technical. I also love the flexibility of remote working, but I do miss going to the office and socialising with my colleagues on a regular basis. You can’t get to know someone as well online, it’s nicer to have time with them in person. That’s a hard one. It would be easy to say I wish I’d known earlier that I could combine science and writing and make a career out of that. On the other hand, if I’d known that, I might not have done my PhD – and if I’d gone into writing straight after my undergraduate degree, I perhaps wouldn’t be where I am now. My point is, it’s okay not to have a clear plan in life. As children, we’re always asked what we want to be – in my case, my dream from about the age of four was to be a vet. But then I did some work experience in a veterinary practice and I realized I’m really squeamish. It was only when I was 15 or 16 that I discovered I wanted to do physics because I liked it and was good at it. So just follow the things you love. You might end up doing something you never even thought was an option. The post Ask me anything: Kirsty McGhee – ‘Follow what you love: you might end up doing something you never thought was an option’ appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/ask-me-anything-kirsty-mcghee-follow-what-you-love-you-might-end-up-doing-something-you-never-thought-was-an-option/
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068ea6f9c9758faf47d97d34f5fa7a1148ac527dfac53e839b3c5e12e95de271
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2025-10-27T08:00:47+00:00
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New adaptive optics technology boosts the power of gravitational wave detectors
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Future versions of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) will be able to run at much higher laser powers thanks to a sophisticated new system that compensates for temperature changes in optical components. Known as FROSTI (for FROnt Surface Type Irradiator) and developed by physicists at the University of California Riverside, US, the system will enable next-generation machines to detect gravitational waves emitted when the universe was just 0.1% of its current age, before the first stars had even formed. Gravitational waves are distortions in spacetime that occur when massive astronomical objects accelerate and collide. When these distortions pass through the four-kilometre-long arms of the two LIGO detectors, they create a tiny difference in the (otherwise identical) distance that light travels between the centre of the observatory and the mirrors located at the end of each arm. The problem is that detecting and studying gravitational waves requires these differences in distance to be measured with an accuracy of 10-19 m, which is 1/10 000th the size of a proton. LIGO overcame this barrier 10 years ago when it detected the gravitational waves produced when two black holes located roughly 1.3 billion light–years from Earth merged. Since then, it and two smaller facilities, KAGRA and VIRGO, have observed many other gravitational waves at frequencies ranging from 30–2000 Hz. Observing waves at lower and higher frequencies in the gravitational wave spectrum remains challenging, however. At lower frequencies (around 10–30 Hz), the problem stems from vibrational noise in the mirrors. Although these mirrors are hefty objects – each one measures 34 cm across, is 20 cm thick and has a mass of around 40 kg – the incredible precision required to detect gravitational waves at these frequencies means that even the minute amount of energy they absorb from the laser beam is enough to knock them out of whack. At higher frequencies (150 – 2000 Hz), measurements are instead limited by quantum shot noise. This is caused by the random arrival time of photons at LIGO’s output photodetectors and is a fundamental consequence of the fact that the laser field is quantized. Jonathan Richardson, the physicist who led this latest study, explains that FROSTI is designed to reduce quantum shot noise by allowing the mirrors to cope with much higher levels of laser power. At its heart is a novel adaptive optics device that is designed to precisely reshape the surfaces of LIGO’s main mirrors under laser powers exceeding 1 megawatt (MW), which is nearly five times the power used at LIGO today. Though its name implies cooling, FROSTI actually uses heat to restore the mirror’s surface to its original shape. It does this by projecting infrared radiation onto test masses in the interferometer to create a custom heat pattern that “smooths out” distortions and so allows for fine-tuned, higher-order corrections. The single most challenging aspect of FROSTI’s design, and one that Richardson says shaped its entire concept, is the requirement that it cannot introduce even more noise into the LIGO interferometer. “To meet this stringent requirement, we had to use the most intensity-stable radiation source available – that is, an internal blackbody emitter with a long thermal time constant,” he tells Physics World. “Our task, from there, was to develop new non-imaging optics capable of reshaping the blackbody thermal radiation into a complex spatial profile, similar to one that could be created with a laser beam.” Richardson anticipates that FROSTI will be a critical component for future LIGO upgrades – upgrades that will themselves serve as blueprints for even more sensitive next-generation observatories like the proposed Cosmic Explorer in the US and the Einstein Telescope in Europe. “The current prototype has been tested on a 40-kg LIGO mirror, but the technology is scalable and will eventually be adapted to the 440-kg mirrors envisioned for Cosmic Explorer,” he says. Jan Harms, a physicist at Italy’s Gran Sasso Science Institute who was not involved in this work, describes FROSTI as “an ingenious concept to apply higher-order corrections to the mirror profile.” Though it still needs to pass the final test of being integrated into the actual LIGO detectors, Harms notes that “the results from the prototype are very promising”. Richardson and colleagues are continuing to develop extensions to their technology, building on the successful demonstration of their first prototype. “In the future, beyond the next upgrade of LIGO (A+), the FROSTI radiation will need to be shaped into an even more complex spatial profile to enable the highest levels of laser power (1.5 MW) ultimately targeted,” explains Richardson. “We believe this can be achieved by nesting two or more FROSTI actuators together in a single composite, with each targeting a different radial zone of the test mass surfaces. This will allow us to generate extremely finely-matched optical wavefront corrections.” The present study is detailed in Optica. The post New adaptive optics technology boosts the power of gravitational wave detectors appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/new-adaptive-optics-technology-boosts-the-power-of-gravitational-wave-detectors/
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Space & Physics
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2025-10-24T12:00:33+00:00
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A SMART approach to treating lung cancers in challenging locations
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Radiation treatment for patients with lung cancer represents a balancing act, particularly if malignant lesions are centrally located near to critical structures. The radiation may destroy the tumour, but vital organs may be seriously damaged as well. The standard treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR), which delivers intense radiation doses in just a few treatment sessions and achieves excellent local control. For ultracentral lung legions, however – defined as having a planning target volume (PTV) that abuts or overlaps the proximal bronchial tree, oesophagus or pulmonary vessels – the high risk of severe radiation toxicity makes SABR highly challenging. A research team at GenesisCare UK, an independent cancer care provider operating nine treatment centres in the UK, has now demonstrated that stereotactic MR-guided adaptive radiotherapy (SMART)-based SABR may be a safer and more effective option for treating ultracentral metastatic lesions in patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC. They report their findings in Advances in Radiation Oncology. SMART uses diagnostic-quality MR scans to provide real-time imaging, 3D multiplanar soft-tissue tracking and automated beam control of an advanced linear accelerator. The idea is to use daily online volume adaptation and plan re-optimization to account for any changes in tumour size and position relative to organs-at-risk (OAR). Real-time imaging enables treatment in breath-hold with gated beam delivery (automatically pausing delivery if the target moves outside a defined boundary), eliminating the need for an internal target volume and enabling smaller PTV margins. The approach offers potential to enhance treatment precision and target coverage while improving sparing of adjacent organs compared with conventional SABR, first author Elena Moreno-Olmedo and colleagues contend. The team conducted a study to assess the incidence of SABR-related toxicities in patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC undergoing SMART-based SABR. The study included 11 patients with 18 ultracentral lesions, the majority of whom had oligometastatic or olioprogressive disease. Patients received five to eight treatment fractions, to a median dose of 40 Gy (ranging from 30 to 60 Gy). The researchers generated fixed-field SABR plans with dosimetric aims including a PTV V100% (the volume receiving at least 100% of the prescription dose) of 95% or above, a PTV V95% of 98% or above and a maximum dose of between110% and 140%. PTV coverage was compromised where necessary to meet OAR constraints, with a minimum PTV V100% of at least 70%. SABR was performed using a 6 MV 0.35 T MRIdian linac with gated delivery during repeated breath-holds, under continuous MR guidance. Based on daily MRI scans, online plan adaptation was performed for all of the 78 delivered fractions. The researchers report that both the PTV volume and PTV overlap with ultracentral OARs were reduced in SMART treatments compared with conventional SABR. The median SMART PTV was 10.1 cc, compared with 30.4 cc for the simulated SABR PTV, while the median PTV overlap with OARs was 0.85 cc for SMART (8.4% of the PTV) and 4.7 cc for conventional SABR. In terms of treatment-related side effects for SMART, the rates of acute and late grade 1–2 toxicities were 54% and 18%, respectively, with no grade 3–5 toxicities observed. This demonstrates the technique’s increased safety compared with non-adaptive SABR treatments, which have exhibited severe rates of toxicity, including treatment-related deaths, in ultracentral tumours. Two-thirds of patients were alive at the median follow-up point of 28 months, and 93% were free from local progression at 12 months. The median progression-free survival was 5.8 months and median overall survival was 20 months. Acknowledging the short follow-up time frame, the researchers note that additional late toxicities may occur. However, they are hopeful that SMART will be considered as a favourable treatment option for patients with ultracentral NSCLC lesions. “Our analysis demonstrates that hypofractionated SMART with daily online adaptation for ultracentral NSCLC achieved comparable local control to conventional non-adaptive SABR, with a safer toxicity profile,” they write. “These findings support the consideration of SMART as a safer and effective treatment option for this challenging subgroup of thoracic tumours.” SMART-based SABR radiotherapy remains an emerging cancer treatment that’s not available yet in many cancer treatment centres. Despite the high risk for patients with ultracentral tumours, SABR is the standard treatment for inoperable NSCLC. The phase 1 clinical trial, Stereotactic radiation therapy for ultracentral NSCLC: a safety and efficacy trial (SUNSET), assessed the use of SBRT for ultracentral tumours in 30 patients with early-stage NSCLC treated at five Canadian cancer centres. In all cases, the PTVs touched or overlapped the proximal bronchial tree, the pulmonary artery, the pulmonary vein or the oesophagus. Led by Meredith Giuliani of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, the trial aimed to determine the maximum tolerated radiation dose associated with a less than 30% rate of grade 3–5 toxicity within two years of treatment. All patients received 60 Gy in eight fractions. Dose was prescribed to deliver a PTV V100% of 95%, a PTV V90% of 99% and a maximum dose of no more than 120% of the prescription dose, with OAR constraints prioritized over PTV coverage. All patients had daily cone-beam CT imaging to verify tumour position before treatment. At a median follow-up of 37 months, two patients (6.7%) experienced dose-limiting grade 3–5 toxicities – an adverse event rate within the prespecified acceptability criteria. The three-year overall survival was 72.5% and the three-year progression-free survival was 66.1%. In a subsequent dosimetric analysis, the researchers report that they did not identify any relationship between OAR dose and toxicity, within the dose constraints used in the SUNSET trial. They note that 73% of patients could be treated without compromise of the PTV, and where compromise was needed, the mean PTV D95 (the minimum dose delivered to 95% of the PTV) remained high at 52.3 Gy. As expected, plans that overlapped with central OARs were associated with worse local control, but PTV undercoverage was not. “[These findings suggest] that the approach of reducing PTV coverage to meet OAR constraints does not appear to compromise local control, and that acceptable toxicity rates are achievable using 60 Gy in eight fractions,” the team writes. “In the future, use of MRI or online adaptive SBRT may allow for safer treatment delivery by limiting dose variation with anatomic changes.” The post A SMART approach to treating lung cancers in challenging locations appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/a-smart-approach-to-treating-lung-cancers-in-challenging-locations/
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91dedf5b11f20ba00756c0c079547f0212262d82c622476a9ae560a0a07d48a7
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2025-10-24T08:00:28+00:00
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Spiral catheter optimizes drug delivery to the brain
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Researchers in the United Arab Emirates have designed a new catheter that can deliver drugs to entire regions of the brain. Developed by Batoul Khlaifat and colleagues at New York University Abu Dhabi, the catheter’s helical structure and multiple outflow ports could make it both safer and more effective for treating a wide range of neurological disorders. Modern treatments for brain-related conditions including Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and tumours often involve implanting microfluidic catheters that deliver controlled doses of drug-infused fluids to highly localized regions of the brain. Today, these implants are made from highly flexible materials that closely mimic the soft tissue of the brain. This makes them far less invasive than previous designs. However, there is still much room for improvement, as Khlaifat explains. “Catheter design and function have long been limited by the neuroinflammatory response after implantation, as well as the unequal drug distribution across the catheter’s outlets,” she says. A key challenge with this approach is that each of the brain’s distinct regions has highly irregular shapes, which makes it incredibly difficult to target via single drug doses. Instead, doses must be delivered either through repeated insertions from a single port at the end of a catheter, or through single insertions across multiple co-implanted catheters. Either way, the approach is highly invasive, and runs the risk of further trauma to the brain. In their study, Khlaifat’s team explored how many of these problems stem from existing catheter designs. They tend to be simple tubes with single input and output ports at either end. Using fluid dynamics simulations, they started by investigating how drug outflow would change when multiple output ports are positioned along the length of the catheter. To ensure this outflow is delivered evenly, they carefully adjusted the diameter of each port to account for the change in fluid pressure along the catheter’s length – so that four evenly spaced ports could each deliver roughly one quarter of the total flow. Building on this innovation, the researchers then explored how the shape of the catheter itself could be adjusted to optimize delivery even further. “We varied the catheter design from a straight catheter to a helix of the same small diameter, allowing for a larger area of drug distribution in the target implantation region with minimal invasiveness,” explains team member Khalil Ramadi. “This helical shape also allows us to resist buckling on insertion, which is a major problem for miniaturized straight catheters.” Based on their simulations, the team fabricated a helical catheter the call Strategic Precision Infusion for Regional Administration of Liquid, or SPIRAL. In their first set of experiments, they tested their simulations in controlled lab conditions. They verified their prediction of even outflow rates across the catheter’s outlets. “Our helical device was also tested in mouse models alongside its straight counterpart to study its neuroinflammatory response,” Khlaifat says. “There were no significant differences between the two designs.” Having validated the safety of their approach, the researchers are now hopeful that SPIRAL could pave the way for new and improved methods for targeted drug delivery within the brain. With the ability to target entire regions of the brain with smaller, more controlled doses, this future generation of implanted catheters could ultimately prove to be both safer and more effective than existing designs. “These catheters could be optimized for each patient through our computational framework to ensure only regions that require dosing are exposed to therapy, all through a single insertion point in the skull,” describes team member Mahmoud Elbeh. “This tailored approach could improve therapies for brain disorders such as epilepsy and glioblastomas.” The research is described in the Journal of Neural Engineering. The post Spiral catheter optimizes drug delivery to the brain appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/spiral-catheter-optimizes-drug-delivery-to-the-brain/
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2025-10-23T15:35:17+00:00
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Performance metrics and benchmarks point the way to practical quantum advantage
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From quantum utility today to quantum advantage tomorrow: incumbent technology companies – among them Google, Amazon, IBM and Microsoft – and a wave of ambitious start-ups are on a mission to transform quantum computing from applied research endeavour to mainstream commercial opportunity. The end-game: quantum computers that can be deployed at-scale to perform computations significantly faster than classical machines while addressing scientific, industrial and commercial problems beyond the reach of today’s high-performance computing systems. Meanwhile, as technology translation gathers pace across the quantum supply chain, government laboratories and academic scientists must maintain their focus on the “hard yards” of precompetitive research. That means prioritizing foundational quantum hardware and software technologies, underpinned by theoretical understanding, experimental systems, device design and fabrication – and pushing out along all these R&D pathways simultaneously. Equally important is the requirement to understand and quantify the relative performance of quantum computers from different manufacturers as well as across the myriad platform technologies – among them superconducting circuits, trapped ions, neutral atoms as well as photonic and semiconductor processors. A case study in this regard is a broad-scope UK research collaboration that, for the past four years, has been reviewing, collecting and organizing a holistic taxonomy of metrics and benchmarks to evaluate the performance of quantum computers against their classical counterparts as well as the relative performance of competing quantum platforms. Funded by the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), which is part of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP), and led by scientists at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the UK’s National Metrology Institute, the cross-disciplinary consortium has taken on an endeavour that is as sprawling as it is complex. The challenge lies in the diversity of quantum hardware platforms in the mix; also the emergence of two different approaches to quantum computing – one being a gate-based framework for universal quantum computation, the other an analogue approach tailored to outperforming classical computers on specific tasks. “Given the ambition of this undertaking, we tapped into a deep pool of specialist domain knowledge and expertise provided by university colleagues at Edinburgh, Durham, Warwick and several other centres-of-excellence in quantum,” explains Ivan Rungger, a principal scientist at NPL, professor in computer science at Royal Holloway, University of London, and lead scientist on the quantum benchmarking project. That core group consulted widely within the research community and with quantum technology companies across the nascent supply chain. “The resulting study,” adds Rungger, “positions transparent and objective benchmarking as a critical enabler for trust, comparability and commercial adoption of quantum technologies, aligning closely with NPL’s mission in quantum metrology and standards.” For context, a number of performance metrics used to benchmark classical computers can also be applied directly to quantum computers, such as the speed of operations, the number of processing units, as well as the probability of errors to occur in the computation. That only goes so far, though, with all manner of dedicated metrics emerging in the past decade to benchmark the performance of quantum computers – ranging from their individual hardware components to entire applications. Complexity reigns, it seems, and navigating the extensive literature can prove overwhelming, while the levels of maturity for different metrics varies significantly. Objective comparisons aren’t straightforward either – not least because variations of the same metric are commonly deployed; also the data disclosed together with a reported metric value is often not sufficient to reproduce the results. “Many of the approaches provide similar overall qualitative performance values,” Rungger notes, “but the divergence in the technical implementation makes quantitative comparisons difficult and, by extension, slows progress of the field towards quantum advantage.” The task then is to rationalize the metrics used to evaluate the performance for a given quantum hardware platform to a minimal yet representative set agreed across manufacturers, algorithm developers and end-users. These benchmarks also need to follow some agreed common approaches to fairly and objectively evaluate quantum computers from different equipment vendors. With these objectives in mind, Rungger and colleagues conducted a deep-dive review that has yielded a comprehensive collection of metrics and benchmarks to allow holistic comparisons of quantum computers, assessing the quality of hardware components all the way to system-level performance and application-level metrics. Drill down further and there’s a consistent format for each metric that includes its definition, a description of the methodology, the main assumptions and limitations, and a linked open-source software package implementing the methodology. The software transparently demonstrates the methodology and can also be used in practical, reproducible evaluations of all metrics. “As research on metrics and benchmarks progresses, our collection of metrics and the associated software for performance evaluation are expected to evolve,” says Rungger. “Ultimately, the repository we have put together will provide a ‘living’ online resource, updated at regular intervals to account for community-driven developments in the field.” Innovation being what it is, those developments are well under way. For starters, the importance of objective and relevant performance benchmarks for quantum computers has led several international standards bodies to initiate work on specific areas that are ready for standardization – work that, in turn, will give manufacturers, end-users and investors an informed evaluation of the performance of a range of quantum computing components, subsystems and full-stack platforms. What’s evident is that the UK’s voice on metrics and benchmarking is already informing the collective conversation around standards development. “The quantum computing community and international standardization bodies are adopting a number of concepts from our approach to benchmarking standards,” notes Deep Lall, a quantum scientist in Rungger’s team at NPL and lead author of the study. “I was invited to present our work to a number of international standardization meetings and scientific workshops, opening up widespread international engagement with our research and discussions with colleagues across the benchmarking community.” He continues: “We want the UK effort on benchmarking and metrics to shape the broader international effort. The hope is that the collection of metrics we have pulled together, along with the associated open-source software provided to evaluate them, will guide the development of standardized benchmarks for quantum computers and speed up the progress of the field towards practical quantum advantage.” That’s a view echoed – and amplified – by Cyrus Larijani, NPL’s head of quantum programme. “As we move into the next phase of NPL’s quantum strategy, the importance of evidence-based decision making becomes ever-more critical,” he concludes. “By grounding our strategic choices in robust measurement science and real-world data, we ensure that our innovations not only push the boundaries of quantum technology but also deliver meaningful impact across industry and society.” Deep Lall et al. 2025 A review and collection of metrics and benchmarks for quantum computers: definitions, methodologies and software https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.06717 Quantum computing technology has reached the stage where a number of methods for performance characterization are backed by a large body of real-world implementation and use, as well as by theoretical proofs. These mature benchmarking methods will benefit from commonly agreed-upon approaches that are the only way to fairly, unambiguously and objectively benchmark quantum computers from different manufacturers. “Performance benchmarks are a fundamental enabler of technology innovation in quantum computing,” explains Konstantinos Georgopoulos, who heads up the NQCC’s quantum applications team and is responsible for the centre’s liaison with the NPL benchmarking consortium. “How do we understand performance? How do we compare capabilities? And, of course, what are the metrics that help us to do that? These are the leading questions we addressed through the course of this study. ”If the importance of benchmarking is a given, so too is collaboration and the need to bring research and industry stakeholders together from across the quantum ecosystem. “I think that’s what we achieved here,” says Georgopoulos. “The long list of institutions and experts who contributed their perspectives on quantum computing was crucial to the success of this project. What we’ve ended up with are better metrics, better benchmarks, and a better collective understanding to push forward with technology translation that aligns with end-user requirements across diverse industry settings.” End note: NPL retains copyright on this article. The post Performance metrics and benchmarks point the way to practical quantum advantage appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/performance-metrics-and-benchmarks-point-the-way-to-practical-quantum-advantage/
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2025-10-23T13:57:59+00:00
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Quantum computing and AI join forces for particle physics
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This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast explores how quantum computing and artificial intelligence can be combined to help physicists search for rare interactions in data from an upgraded Large Hadron Collider. My guest is Javier Toledo-Marín, and we spoke at the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo, Canada. As well as having an appointment at Perimeter, Toledo-Marín is also associated with the TRIUMF accelerator centre in Vancouver. Toledo-Marín and colleagues have recently published a paper called “Conditioned quantum-assisted deep generative surrogate for particle–calorimeter interactions”. This podcast is supported by Delft Circuits. As gate-based quantum computing continues to scale, Delft Circuits provides the i/o solutions that make it possible. The post Quantum computing and AI join forces for particle physics appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/quantum-computing-and-ai-join-forces-for-particle-physics/
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Space & Physics
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dfc500801fd216b4c29745aba330f6851832aa266396536c100b53b6beb2c853
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2025-10-23T08:28:40+00:00
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Master’s programme takes microelectronics in new directions
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The microelectronics sector is known for its relentless drive for innovation, continually delivering performance and efficiency gains within ever more compact form factors. Anyone aspiring to build a career in this fast-moving field needs not just a thorough grounding in current tools and techniques, but also an understanding of the next-generation materials and structures that will propel future progress. That’s the premise behind a Master’s programme in microelectronics technology and materials at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Delivered by the Department for Applied Physics, globally recognized for its pioneering research in technologies such as two-dimensional materials, nanoelectronics and artificial intelligence, the aim is to provide students with both the fundamental knowledge and practical skills they need to kickstart their professional future – whether they choose to pursue further research or to find a job in industry. “The programme provides students with all the key skills they need to work in microelectronics, such as circuit design, materials processing and failure analysis,” says programme leader Professor Zhao Jiong, who research focuses on 2D ferroelectrics. “But they also have direct access to more than 20 faculty members who are actively investigating novel materials and structures that go beyond silicon-based technologies.” The course in also unusual in providing a combined focus on electronics engineering and materials science, providing students with a thorough understanding of the underlying semiconductors and device structures as well as their use in mass-produced integrated circuits. That fundamental knowledge is reinforced through regular experimental work, providing the students with hands-on experience of fabricating and testing electronic devices. “Our cleanroom laboratory is equipped with many different instruments for microfabrication, including thin-film deposition, etching and photolithography, as well as advanced characterization tools for understanding their operating mechanisms and evaluating their performance,” adds Zhao. In a module focusing on thin-film materials, for example, students gain valuable experience from practical sessions that enable them to operate the equipment for different growth techniques, such as sputtering, molecular beam epitaxy, and both physical and chemical vapour deposition. In another module on materials analysis and characterization, the students are tasked with analysing the layered structure of a standard computer chip by making cross-sections that can be studied with a scanning electron microscope. That practical experience extends to circuit design, with students learning how to use state-of-the-art software tools for configuring, simulating and analysing complex electronic layouts. “Through this experimental work students gain the technical skills they need to design and fabricate integrated circuits, and to optimize their performance and reliability through techniques like failure analysis,” says Professor Dai Jiyan, PolyU Associate Dean of Students, who also teaches the module on thin-film materials. “This hands-on experience helps to prepare them for working in a manufacturing facility or for continuing their studies at the PhD level.” Also integrated into the teaching programme is the use of artificial intelligence to assist key tasks, such as defect analysis, materials selection and image processing. Indeed, PolyU has established a joint laboratory with Huawei to investigate possible applications of AI tools in electronic design, providing the students with early exposure to emerging computational methods that are likely to shape the future of the microelectronics industry. “One of our key characteristics is that we embed AI into our teaching and laboratory work,” says Dai. “Two of the modules are directly related to AI, while the joint lab with Huawei helps students to experiment with using AI in circuit design.” Now in its third year, the Master’s programme was designed in collaboration with Hong Kong’s Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), established in 2000 to enhance the competitiveness of the region through the use of advanced technologies. Researchers at PolyU already pursue joint projects with ASTRI in areas like chip design, microfabrication and failure analysis. As part of the programme, these collaborators are often invited to give guest lectures or to guide the laboratory work. “Sometimes they even provide some specialized instruments for the students to use in their experiments,” says Zhao. “We really benefit from this collaboration.” Once primed with the knowledge and experience from the taught modules, the students have the opportunity to work alongside one of the faculty members on a short research project. They can choose whether to focus on a topic that is relevant to present-day manufacturing, such as materials processing or advanced packaging technologies, or to explore the potential of emerging materials and devices across applications ranging from solar cells and microfluidics to next-generation memories and neuromorphic computing. “It’s very interesting for the students to get involved in these projects,” says Zhao. “They learn more about the research process, which can make them more confident to take their studies to the next level. All of our faculty members are engaged in important work, and we can guide the students towards a future research field if that’s what they are interested in.” There are also plenty of progression opportunities for those who are more interested in pursuing a career in industry. As well as providing support and advice through its joint lab in AI, Huawei arranges visits to its manufacturing facilities and offers some internships to interested students. PolyU also organizes visits to Hong Kong’s Science Park, home to multinational companies such as Infineon as well as a large number of start-up companies in the microelectronics sector. Some of these might support a student’s research project, or offer an internship in areas such as circuit design or microfabrication. The international outlook offered by PolyU has made the Master’s programme particularly appealing to students from mainland China, but Zhao and Dai believe that the forward-looking ethos of the course should make it an appealing option for graduates across Asia and beyond. “Through the programme, the students gain knowledge about all aspects of the microelectronics industry, and how it is likely to evolve in the future,” says Dai. “The knowledge and technical skills gained by the students offer them a competitive edge for building their future career, whether they want to find a job in industry or to continue their research studies.” The post Master’s programme takes microelectronics in new directions appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/masters-programme-takes-microelectronics-in-new-directions/
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2025-10-23T08:00:47+00:00
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Resonant laser ablation selectively destroys pancreatic tumours
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Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common type of pancreatic cancer, is an aggressive tumour with a poor prognosis. Surgery remains the only potential cure, but is feasible in just 10–15% of cases. A team headed up at Sichuan University in China has now developed a selective laser ablation technique designed to target PDAC while leaving healthy pancreatic tissue intact. Thermal ablation techniques, such as radiofrequency, microwave or laser ablation, could provide a treatment option for patients with locally advanced PDAC, but existing methods risk damaging surrounding blood vessels and healthy pancreatic tissues. The new approach, described in Optica, uses the molecular fingerprint of pancreatic tumours to enable selective ablation. The technique exploits the fact that PDAC tissue contains a large amount of collagen compared with healthy pancreatic tissue. Amide-I collagen fibres exhibit a strong absorption peak at 6.1 µm, thus the researchers surmised that tuning the treatment laser to this resonant wavelength could enable efficient tumour ablation with minimal collateral thermal damage. As such, they designed a femtosecond pulsed laser that can deliver 6.1 µm pulses with a power of more than 1 W. “We developed a mid-infrared femtosecond laser system for the selective tissue ablation experiment,” says team leader Houkun Liang. “The system is tunable in the wavelength range of 5 to 11 µm, aligning with various molecular fingerprint absorption peaks such as amide proteins, cholesteryl ester, hydroxyapatite and so on.” Liang and colleagues first examined the ablation efficiency of three different laser wavelengths on two types of pancreatic cancer cells. Compared with non-resonant wavelengths of 1 and 3 µm, the collagen-resonant 6.1 µm laser was far more effective in killing pancreatic cancer cells, reducing cell viability to ranges of 0.27–0.32 and 0.37–0.38, at 0 and 24 h, respectively. The team observed similar results in experiments on ectopic PDAC tumours cultured on the backs of mice. Irradiation at 6.1 µm led to five to 10 times deeper tumour ablation than seen for the non-resonant wavelengths (despite using a laser power of 5 W for 1 µm ablation and just 500 mW for 6.1 and 3 µm), indicating that 6.1 µm is the optimal wavelength for PDAC ablation surgery. To validate the feasibility and safety of 6.1 µm laser irradiation, the team used the technique to treat PDAC tumours on live mice. Nine days after ablation, the tumour growth rate in treated mice was significantly suppressed, with an average tumour volume of 35.3 mm3. In contrast, tumour volume in a control group of untreated mice reached an average of 292.7 mm3, roughly eight times the size of the ablated tumours. No adverse symptoms were observed following the treatment. The researchers also used 6.1 µm laser irradiation to ablate pancreatic tissue samples (including normal tissue and PDAC) from 13 patients undergoing surgical resection. They used a laser power of 1 W and four scanning speeds (0.5, 1, 2 and 3 mm/s) with 10 ablation passes, examining 20 to 40 samples for each parameter. At the slower scanning speeds, excessive energy accumulation resulted in comparable ablation depths. At speeds of 2 or 3 mm/s, however, the average ablation depths in PDAC samples were 2.30 and 2.57 times greater than in normal pancreatic tissue, respectively, demonstrating the sought-after selective ablation. At 3 mm/s, for example, the ablation depth in tumour was 1659.09±405.97 µm, compared with 702.5±298.32 µm in normal pancreas. The findings show that by carefully controlling the laser power, scanning speed and number of passes, near-complete ablation of PDACs can be achieved, with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissues. To further investigate the clinical potential of this technique, the researchers developed an anti-resonant hollow-core fibre (AR-HCF) that can deliver high-power 6.1 µm laser pulses deep inside the human body. The fibre has a core diameter of approximately 113 µm and low bending losses at radii under 10 cm. The researchers used the AR-HCF to perform 6.1 µm laser ablation of PDAC and normal pancreas samples. The ablation depth in PDAC was greater than in normal pancreas, confirming the selective ablation properties. “We are working together with a company to make a medical-grade fibre system to deliver the mid-infrared femtosecond laser. It consists of AR-HCF to transmit mid-infrared femtosecond pulses, a puncture needle and a fibre lens to focus the light and prevent liquid tissue getting into the fibre,” explains Liang. “We are also making efforts to integrate an imaging unit into the fibre delivery system, which will enable real-time monitoring and precise surgical guidance.” Next, the researchers aim to further optimize the laser parameters and delivery systems to improve ablation efficiency and stability. They also plan to explore the applicability of selective laser ablation to other tumour types with distinct molecular signatures, and to conduct larger-scale animal studies to verify long-term safety and therapeutic outcomes. “Before this technology can be used for clinical applications, highly comprehensive biological safety assessments are necessary,” Liang emphasizes. “Designing well-structured clinical trials to assess efficacy and risks, as well as navigating regulatory and ethical approvals, will be critical steps toward translation. There is a long way to go.” The post Resonant laser ablation selectively destroys pancreatic tumours appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/resonant-laser-ablation-selectively-destroys-pancreatic-tumours/
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Space & Physics
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89cd588003d79db34a77c387451ec20de66b7fd4cd16a52cfe2a2be4d948181e
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2025-10-22T13:51:53+00:00
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Doorway states spotted in graphene-based materials
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Low-energy electrons escape from some materials via distinct “doorway” states, according to a study done by physicists at Austria’s Vienna Institute of Technology. The team studied graphene-based materials and found that the nature of the doorway states depended on the number of graphene layers in the sample. Low-energy electron (LEE) emission from solids is used across a range of materials analysis and processing applications including scanning electron microscopy and electron-beam induced deposition. However, the precise physics of the emission process is not well understood. Electrons are ejected from a material when a beam of electrons is fired at its surface. Some of these incident electrons will impart energy to electrons residing in the material, causing some resident electrons to be emitted from the surface. In the simplest model, the minimum energy needed for this LEE emission is the electron binding energy of the material. In this new study, however, researchers have shown that exceeding the binding energy is not enough for LEE emission from graphene-based materials. Not only does the electron need this minimum energy, it must also be in a specific doorway state or it is unlikely to escape. The team compare this phenomenon to the predicament of a frog in a cardboard box with a window. Not only must the frog hop a certain height to escape the box, it must also begin its hop from a position that will result in it travelling through the hole (see figure). For most materials, the energy spectrum of LEE electrons is featureless. However, it was known that graphite’s spectrum has an “X state” at about 3.3 eV, where emission is enhanced. This state could be related to doorway states. To search for doorway states, the Vienna team studied LEE emission from graphite as well as from single-layer and bi-layer graphene. Graphene is a sheet of carbon just one atom thick. Sheets can stick together via the relatively weak Van der Waals force to create multilayer graphene – and ultimately graphite, which comprises a large number of layers. Because electrons are mostly confined within the graphene layers, the electronic states of single-layer, bi-layer and multi-layer graphene are broadly similar. As a result, it was expected that these materials would have similar LEE emission spectra . However, the Vienna team found a surprising difference. The team made their discovery by firing a beam of relatively low energy electrons (173 eV) incident at 60° to the surface of single-layer and bi-layer graphene as well as graphite. The scattered electrons are then detected at the same angle of reflection. Meanwhile, a second detector is pointed normal to the surface to capture any emitted electrons. In quantum mechanics electrons are indistinguishable, so the modifiers scattered and emitted are illustrative, rather than precise. The team looked for coincident signals in both detectors and plotted their results as a function of energy in 2D “heat maps”. These plots revealed that bi-layer graphene and graphite each had doorway states – but at different energies. However, single-layer graphene did not appear to have any doorway states. By combining experiments with calculations, the team showed that doorway states emerge above a certain number of layers. As a result the researchers showed that graphite’s X state can be attributed in part to a doorway state that appears at about five layers of graphene. “For the first time, we’ve shown that the shape of the electron spectrum depends not only on the material itself, but crucially on whether and where such resonant doorway states exist,” explains Anna Niggas at the Vienna Institute of Technology. As well as providing important insights in how the electronic properties of graphene morph into the properties of graphite, the team says that their research could also shed light on the properties of other layered materials. The research is described in Physical Review Letters. The post Doorway states spotted in graphene-based materials appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/doorway-states-spotted-in-graphene-based-materials/
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Space & Physics
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656b26f4c030f124435ef4c8b930168b454dd28bbef0f61bd599eef84ef793a8
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2025-10-22T12:02:05+00:00
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NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab lays off a further 10% of staff
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NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is to lay off some 550 employees as part of a restructuring that began in July. The action affects about 11% of JPL’s employees and represents the lab’s third downsizing in the past 20 months. When the layoffs are complete by the end of the year, the lab will have roughly 4500 employees, down from about 6500 at the start of 2024. A further 4000 employees have already left NASA during the past six months via sacking, retirement or voluntary buyouts. Managed by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, JPL oversees scientific missions such as the Psyche asteroid probe, the Europa Clipper and the Perseverance rover on Mars. The lab also operates the Deep Space Network that keeps Earth in communication with unmanned space missions. JPL bosses already laid off about 530 staff – and 140 contractors – in February last year followed by another 325 people in November 2024. JPL director Dave Gallagher insists, however, that the new layoffs are not related to the current US government shutdown that began on 1 October. “[They are] essential to securing JPL’s future by creating a leaner infrastructure, focusing on our core technical capabilities, maintaining fiscal discipline, and positioning us to compete in the evolving space ecosystem,” he says in a message to employees. Judy Chu, Democratic Congresswoman for the constituency that includes JPL, is less optimistic. “Every layoff devastates the highly skilled and uniquely talented workforce that has made these accomplishments possible,” she says. “Together with last year’s layoffs, this will result in an untold loss of scientific knowledge and expertise that threatens the very future of American leadership in space exploration and scientific discovery.” John Logsdon, professor emeritus at George Washington University and founder of the university’s Space Policy Institute, says that the cuts are a direct result of the Trump administration’s approach to science and technology. “The administration gives low priority to robotic science and exploration, and has made draconic cuts to the science budget; that budget supports JPL’s work,” he told Physics World. “With these cuts, there is not enough money to support a JPL workforce sized for more ambitious activities. Ergo, staff cuts.” The post NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab lays off a further 10% of staff appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/nasas-jet-propulsion-lab-lays-off-a-further-10-of-staff/
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Space & Physics
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de4e0e3171d53b4bbc106e9eba4d46b520a0c6be0cc66e48428fc729b9f64abd
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2025-10-22T10:00:39+00:00
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How to solve the ‘future of physics’ problem
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I hugely enjoyed physics when I was a youngster. I had the opportunity both at home and school to create my own projects, which saw me make electronic circuits, crazy flying models like delta-wings and autogiros, and even a gas chromatograph with a home-made chart recorder. Eventually, this experience made me good enough to repair TV sets, and work in an R&D lab in the holidays devising new electronic flow controls. That enjoyment continued beyond school. I ended up doing a physics degree at the University of Oxford before working on the discovery of the gluon at the DESY lab in Hamburg for my PhD. Since then I have used physics in industry – first with British Oxygen/Linde and later with Air Products & Chemicals – to solve all sorts of different problems, build innovative devices and file patents. While some students have a similarly positive school experience and subsequent career path, not enough do. Quite simply, physics at school is the key to so many important, useful developments, both within and beyond physics. But we have a physics education problem, or to put it another way – a “future of physics” problem. There are just not enough school students enjoying and learning physics. On top of that there are not enough teachers enjoying physics and not enough students doing practical physics. The education problem is bad for physics and for many other subjects that draw on physics. Alas, it’s not a new problem but one that has been developing for years. Many good points about the future of physics learning were made by the Institute of Physics in its 2024 report Fundamentals of 11 to 19 Physics. The report called for more physics lessons to have a practical element and encouraged more 16-year-old students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to take AS-level physics at 17 so that they carry their GCSE learning at least one step further. Doing so would furnish students who are aiming to study another science or a technical subject with the necessary skills and give them the option to take physics A-level. Another recommendation is to link physics more closely to T-levels – two-year vocational courses in England for 16–19 year olds that are equivalent to A-levels – so that students following that path get a background in key aspects of physics, for example in engineering, construction, design and health. But do all these suggestions solve the problem? I don’t think they are enough and we need to go further. The key change to fix the problem, I believe, is to have student groups invent, build and test their own projects. Ideally this should happen before GCSE level so that students have the enthusiasm and background knowledge to carry them happily forward into A-level physics. They will benefit from “pull learning” – pulling in knowledge and active learning that they will remember for life. And they will acquire wider life skills too. During my time in industry, I did outreach work with schools every few weeks and gave talks with demonstrations at the Royal Institution and the Franklin Institute. For many years I also ran a Saturday Science club in Guildford, Surrey, for pupils aged 8–15. Based on this, I wrote four Saturday Science books about the many playful and original demonstrations and projects that came out of it. Then at the University of Surrey, as a visiting professor, I had small teams of final-year students who devised extraordinary engineering – designing superguns for space launches, 3D printers for full-size buildings and volcanic power plants inter alia. A bonus was that other staff working with the students got more adventurous too. But that was working with students already committed to a scientific path. So lately I’ve been working with teachers to get students to devise and build their own innovative projects. We’ve had 14–15-year-old state-school students in groups of three or four, brainstorming projects, sketching possible designs, and gathering background information. We help them and get A-level students to help too (who gain teaching experience in the process). Students not only learn physics better but also pick up important life skills like brainstorming, team-working, practical work, analysis and presentations. We’ve seen lots of ingenuity and some great projects such as an ultrasonic scanner to sense wetness of cloth; a system to teach guitar by lighting up LEDs along the guitar neck; and measuring breathing using light passing through a band of Lycra around the patient below the ribs. We’ve seen the value of failure, both mistakes and genuine technical problems. Best of all, we’ve also noticed what might be dubbed the “combination bonus” – students having to think about how they combine their knowledge of one area of physics with another. A project involving a sensor, for example, will often involve electronics as well the physics of the sensor and so student knowledge of both areas is enhanced. Some teachers may question how you mark such projects. The answer is don’t mark them! Project work and especially group work is difficult to mark fairly and accurately, and the enthusiasm and increased learning by students working on innovative projects will feed through into standard school exam results. Not trying to grade such projects will mean more students go on to study physics further, potentially to do a physics-related extended project qualification – equivalent to half an A-level where students research a topic to university level – and do it well. Long term, more students will take physics with them into the world of work, from physics to engineering or medicine, from research to design or teaching. Such projects are often fun for students and teachers. Teachers are often intrigued and amazed by students’ ideas and ingenuity. So, let’s choose to do student-invented project work at school and let’s finally solve the future of physics problem. The post How to solve the ‘future of physics’ problem appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/how-to-solve-the-future-of-physics-problem/
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Space & Physics
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e6c94b2fffd8262f495b9824642c5ae4f74a685e069de93ba32e7c454d51e814
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2025-10-22T09:44:47+00:00
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A recipe for quantum chaos
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The control of large, strongly coupled, multi-component quantum systems with complex dynamics is a challenging task. It is, however, an essential prerequisite for the design of quantum computing platforms and for the benchmarking of quantum simulators. A key concept here is that of quantum ergodicity. This is because quantum ergodic dynamics can be harnessed to generate highly entangled quantum states. In classical statistical mechanics, an ergodic system evolving over time will explore all possible microstates states uniformly. Mathematically, this means that a sufficiently large collection of random samples from an ergodic process can represent the average statistical properties of the entire process. Quantum ergodicity is simply the extension of this concept to the quantum realm. Closely related to this is the idea of chaos. A chaotic system is one in which is very sensitive to its initial conditions. Small changes can be amplified over time, causing large changes in the future. The ideas of chaos and ergodicity are intrinsically linked as chaotic dynamics often enable ergodicity. Until now, it has been very challenging to predict which experimentally preparable initial states will trigger quantum chaos and ergodic dynamics over a reasonable time scale. In a new paper published in Reports on Progress in Physics, a team of researchers have proposed an ingenious solution to this problem using the Bose–Hubbard Hamiltonian. They took as an example ultracold atoms in an optical lattice (a typical choice for experiments in this field) to benchmark their method. The results show that there are certain tangible threshold values which must be crossed in order to ensure the onset of quantum chaos. These results will be invaluable for experimentalists working across a wide range of quantum sciences. How to seed ergodic dynamics of interacting bosons under conditions of many-body quantum chaos – IOPscience Pausch et al. 2025 Rep. Prog. Phys. 88 057602 The post A recipe for quantum chaos appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/a-recipe-for-quantum-chaos/
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Space & Physics
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7f7f4f7f21e29fdc45713fe6fdc8e58d4c1aebbc35b31cd3ca94d90b6b8bf5c2
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2025-10-22T09:44:44+00:00
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Neural simulation-based inference techniques at the LHC
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Precision measurements of theoretical parameters are a core element of the scientific program of experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) as well as other particle colliders. These are often performed using statistical techniques such as the method of maximum likelihood. However, given the size of datasets generated, reduction techniques, such as grouping data into bins, are often necessary. These can lead to a loss of sensitivity, particularly in non-linear cases like off-shell Higgs boson production and effective field theory measurements. The non-linearity in these cases comes from quantum interference and traditional methods are unable to optimally distinguish the signal from background. In this paper, the ATLAS collaboration pioneered the use of a neural network based technique called neural simulation-based inference (NSBI) to combat these issues. A neural network is a machine learning model originally inspired by how the human brain works. It’s made up of layers of interconnected units called neurons, which process information and learn patterns from data. Each neuron receives input, performs a simple calculation, and passes the result to other neurons. NSBI uses these neural networks to analyse each particle collision event individually, preserving more information and improving accuracy. The framework developed here can handle many sources of uncertainty and includes tools to measure how confident scientists can be in their results. The researchers benchmarked their method by using it to calculate the Higgs boson signal strength and compared it to previous methods with impressive results (see here for more details about this). The greatly improved sensitivity gained from using this method will be invaluable in the search for physics beyond the Standard Model in future experiments at ATLAS and beyond. An implementation of neural simulation-based inference for parameter estimation in ATLAS – IOPscience The ATLAS Collaboration, 2025 Rep. Prog. Phys. 88 067801 The post Neural simulation-based inference techniques at the LHC appeared first on Physics World.
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https://physicsworld.com/a/neural-simulation-based-inference-techniques-at-the-lhc/
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Space & Physics
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56858c326c42dc23d8501a3a92dbfbc0d14169c8cfed8649e6ee314dd3cf1a17
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2021-01-26T03:32:40+00:00
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Geospace Model Version 2.0 Begins Operations in Support of Power Grids
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On February 3, 2021*, Geospace Model Version 2.0, which is part of the University of Michigan’s Space Weather Modeling Framework, will commence operations in support of customers affected by geomagnetic disturbances. This model replaces version 1.5 which has been in operations since November 2017. The Geospace Model (SWMF) is a coupled global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of Earth’s Geospace environment that extends from near Earth’s surface to 32 Earth radii toward the Sun on the dayside and 120 Earth radii into Earth’s magnetotail on the nightside. The Geospace Model utilizes three components of the University of Michigan's Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF). The model components are a global MHD magnetosphere, the Rice Convection Model for the inner magnetosphere, and the Ridley Ionosphere Model. Model predictions include ground magnetic disturbances resulting from Geospace interactions with the solar wind. Such magnetic disturbances induce a geoelectric field that can drive currents (Geomagnetically Induced Currents or GICs) in large-scale electrical conductors, such as the power grid, and have the potential, during disturbed times, to damage such systems. Short-term advanced warning from the model provides forecasters and power grid operators with situational awareness about harmful currents and allows time to mitigate the problem and maintain the integrity of the electric power grid. The most significant changes between version 1.5 and 2.0 are: Increased resolution for solving the MHD equations in targeted regions of the grid, moving from ~ 1 million to 1.9 million grid cells Improved auroral oval specification and more realistic representation of magnetospheric current systems New tail composition settings to better represent current systems responsible for the Disturbance Storm Time index (Dst) A new method for calculating a predicted-estimated Kp (global geomagnetic activity index) based on magnetic variations from the Geospace model processed by a Kp algorithm that is the same as the one SWPC uses for calculating Kp from ground-based magnetometer stations. The Geospace model products available on SWPC website include: Geospace Geomagnetic Activity Plot, which shows solar wind input to the model as well as predicted Kp and Dst compared to the observed values Geospace Ground Magnetic Perturbation Maps, which illustrate magnetic perturbations over North America, the polar regions, and the entire Earth *Delayed from January 28 because IT changes are not permitted during severe weather in order to assure continuity of service.
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https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/geospace-model-version-20-begins-operations-support-power-grids
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Space & Physics
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a07d85b7e4b9d9cc82fce7637987e4d26026f1306b220621c9da968a3bee8fb0
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2014-06-27T19:13:38+00:00
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Homepage
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The Sun (EUV) 094Å 131Å 171Å 195Å 284Å 304Å Thematic The Aurora Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere Coronal Mass Ejections GOES-19 CCOR-1 LASCO C2 LASCO C3 GOES X-Ray Flux GOES Proton Flux Updated Time: NOAA Scales Geomagnetic Storms Kp Kp = 5 (G1) Kp = 6 (G2) Kp = 7 (G3) Kp = 8, 9- (G4) Kp = 9o (G5)
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https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/homepage
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Space & Physics
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62978b81712929e609a1bbc2fcb83d8c14caa2708d9e527d9a68bb0d28bb3b66
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2025-12-30T22:00:00+00:00
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Space debris led to an orbital emergency in 2025. Will anything change?
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"Some will not change behavior until something bad happens."
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/space-debris-led-to-an-orbital-emergency-in-2025-will-anything-change
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Space & Physics
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9ec8e619c5d876950309bf50cb686db9c675c52459cbe767c70c356bec771c32
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2025-12-30T18:05:00+00:00
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Govee Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro review
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The new Govee Star Light Projector 2 Pro provides a dreamy bedroom celestial display that's brighter and clearer than ever before.
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https://www.space.com/technology/govee-galaxy-light-projector-2-pro-review
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Space & Physics
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83a1d286c423e0c005f4d494e0635f8159f67d02c3e8f195837e677389722cc6
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2025-12-30T17:04:39+00:00
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Artemis 2 moon astronauts rehearse for launch day (photos)
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The four astronauts who will fly around the moon on NASA's Artemis 2 mission suited up, walked out and climbed aboard their spacecraft during a key prelaunch test at Kennedy Space Center.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/artemis-2-moon-astronauts-rehearse-for-launch-day-photos
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Space & Physics
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dceed02c387d6289ce5f7970600afff8f7e81504fee9a2d7503b0f2e94a29339
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2025-12-30T17:00:00+00:00
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What constellation am I? A starry personality quiz
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Ever wondered which constellation mirrors your personality? Take this cosmic quiz to find out which starry pattern best reflects your inner self
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https://www.space.com/stargazing/constellations/what-constellation-am-i-a-starry-personality-quiz
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Space & Physics
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ddaad105de9b51c0cfaa71ee7ea9d554f4b9573ea497bbb3d8cfcf960df1b567
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2025-12-30T15:00:00+00:00
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Golden satellite insulation sparkles during test | Space photo of the day for Dec. 30, 2025
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The test is designed to prepare satellites for one of the most complex tasks in space: safely approaching another object.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/golden-satellite-insulation-sparkles-during-test-space-photo-of-the-day-for-dec-30-2025
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Space & Physics
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cbb228204c4e9d6cb53a801c086c54c7a2f8dcc514ada125c28e7475ab79ed9d
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2025-12-30T13:00:00+00:00
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How NASA changed in 2025 — possibly forever
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"The damage is real, but it doesn't have to be permanent."
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/how-nasa-changed-in-2025-possibly-forever
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Space & Physics
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7725b468d7dfea43e88eb33adff38b80f08c54616012eb7c42fdd62d697fc6c3
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2025-12-30T11:00:00+00:00
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Our 10 favorite Space.com reader astronomy photos of 2025
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From auroras at 36,000 feet to comet flybys and eclipses, these are the standout images our readers shared with Space.com in 2025.
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https://www.space.com/stargazing/astrophotography/our-10-favorite-space-com-reader-photos-of-2025
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Space & Physics
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3ce772a9ed80be83d1e765e62420babbfcb9851aef829e26eea851d11e91fd90
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2025-12-29T22:00:00+00:00
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Celestis books Stoke Space rocket for 2nd-ever deep space memorial flight for human remains
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This historic 2026 'Infinite Flight' service will blast off via a Stoke Space Nova rocket
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/celestis-books-stoke-space-rocket-for-2nd-ever-deep-space-memorial-flight-for-human-remains
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Space & Physics
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829af5ddc1193029fb0d1649b75640ac6ac555ca689c8bced0680b953b013b01
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2025-12-29T21:00:00+00:00
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10 most expensive Lego Marvel sets on the market right now
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From Spider-Man to the Guardians of the Galaxy, here are the most expensive Lego Marvel sets you can get your hands on.
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https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-toys-lego/10-most-expensive-lego-marvel-sets-available-right-now
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Space & Physics
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dd084821068cef754f2b7a2b86cdbf2b19d6bdd4981ce7967d4290d0df67548d
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2025-12-29T19:00:00+00:00
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Flat Earth, spirits and conspiracy theories — experience can shape even extraordinary beliefs
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Why do people often adopt and develop beliefs that lack strong supporting evidence?
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https://www.space.com/astronomy/earth/flat-earth-spirits-and-conspiracy-theories-experience-can-shape-even-extraordinary-beliefs
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Space & Physics
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7483d545028cad41dcb2e10d0496f6da66a67d900bb6142cbc307e3e68683774
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2025-12-29T17:30:08+00:00
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Iran says it launched 3 satellites to space on Russian rocket: report
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Iran has launched a trio of new satellites into space with the help of a Russian rocket, the country's state media reported Sunday (Dec. 28).
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/iran-says-it-launched-3-satellites-to-space-on-russian-rocket-report
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Space & Physics
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5bc2ec047b283d1fd1cd4b82a89ca980adedb4e5cfc21b0869b2ca66c3aebff1
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2025-12-29T15:40:04+00:00
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12 times rockets and spacecraft crashed and burned in 2025
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We saw quite a few milestones notched in the final frontier this year. But there were a number of failures as well, some of them quite dramatic.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/11-times-rockets-and-spacecraft-crashed-and-burned-in-2025
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Space & Physics
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642ab540c1043de2934a3be3a354197ffdcd3a5eae1f082720d94fcad6a30f67
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2025-12-29T15:00:00+00:00
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ISS astronaut snaps stunning nighttime photo of Florida and Cuba | Space photo of the day for Dec. 29, 2025
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The image offers a rare look at how Earth's surface and atmosphere interact after sunset.
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https://www.space.com/astronomy/earth/iss-astronaut-snaps-stunning-nighttime-photo-of-florida-and-cuba-space-photo-of-the-day-for-dec-29-2025
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Space & Physics
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07b9fc39013b16eb3c0b64adfe6b22f8c3a141e8f7ac5715c23ec68d57b2c58a
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2025-12-29T13:00:00+00:00
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Does physics say that free will doesn't exist?
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At first glance, it seems like our understanding of physics forbids free will.
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https://www.space.com/science/particle-physics/does-physics-say-that-free-will-doesnt-exist
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Space & Physics
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2c49c0ad8b5f77ecc38759d5f0375e78d8e88d7b56beb2077e4403f69dd5585d
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2025-12-29T11:00:00+00:00
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13 must-see moon events in 2026: Eclipses, supermoons, conjunctions and more
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Here are the best lunar events to see in 2026, including eclipses, supermoons and conjunctions.
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https://www.space.com/stargazing/13-must-see-moon-events-in-2026-eclipses-supermoons-conjunctions-and-more
|
Space & Physics
| |
b314f1c6e5dbb53c77561213a940992d1af9423784659d40e75f65ec23cffcbc
|
2025-12-29T10:00:00+00:00
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Fujifilm GFX 100S II review
|
This lightweight medium-format powerhouse is one of the most powerful cameras you can get, but how does it work for astrophotography?
|
https://www.space.com/stargazing/skywatching-kit/fujifilm-gfx-100s-ii-review
|
Space & Physics
| |
a8c4ec3467db386316046a2f5005028c7b445b96a71e4d06bf25714218a43f9a
|
2025-12-28T21:05:00+00:00
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The best sci-fi Blu-rays to own: Beat the streaming subscriptions
|
Looking to watch some of the best Sci-Fi movies and shows ever without having to rely on streaming? Don't skip these out-of-this-world Blu-ray editions.
|
https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/the-best-sci-fi-blu-rays-to-own-beat-the-streaming-subscriptions
|
Space & Physics
| |
675cfcc83c77cbecba602cbc77997aabf60a1ffb9cf9f3b68b2dc08e9265373c
|
2025-12-28T16:00:00+00:00
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Lower-cost space missions like NASA's ESCAPADE are starting to deliver exciting science – but at a price in risk and trade‑offs
|
This low-cost mission is still only getting started, and it's taking bigger risks than typical big-ticket NASA missions.
|
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/lower-cost-space-missions-like-nasas-escapade-are-starting-to-deliver-exciting-science-but-at-a-price-in-risk-and-trade-offs
|
Space & Physics
| |
42f1b40d51b32b222ccd9cf5bf77dd7ec26dcb3a9d2e1fc30ae61484d7ff3077
|
2025-12-28T15:00:00+00:00
|
Event horizon hunt: A black hole word search
|
Hunt for key terms that define one of the universe's most mind-bending phenomena—from event horizons to singularities.
|
https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/event-horizon-hunt-a-black-hole-word-search
|
Space & Physics
| |
2a2068971348729a3eb53f4fa6b507fb9a1caa72c07b43316802ef1a11d9fbaf
|
2025-12-28T13:00:00+00:00
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Our favorite Space.com stories of 2025
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We asked our staff to choose their favorite Space.com stories of 2025. Here's what we got.
|
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/our-favorite-space-com-stories-of-2025
|
Space & Physics
| |
9b3eb3f3c00acb4918c2873276e00d1852c0665c42375d3bb65d40bf55f910d3
|
2025-12-28T11:00:00+00:00
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8 astronomy discoveries that wowed us in 2025
|
Here are eight of the most spectacular astronomical discoveries of 2025.
|
https://www.space.com/astronomy/the-top-astronomical-discoveries-of-2025
|
Space & Physics
| |
d4dcfdaa950d00c6e8feab027a148801f2eb878d5c131297fd807506dafd7c8c
|
2025-12-27T21:05:00+00:00
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Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D review
|
Boldly going where no Lego set has gone before, the first-ever Star Trek Lego set you can buy and it is awesome!
|
https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-toys-lego/lego-u-s-s-enterprise-ncc-1701-d-review
|
Space & Physics
| |
2f31c4094e8de439913e2944c7f4e1b89e99885540d56febaf53b2de9a17711e
|
2025-12-27T17:00:00+00:00
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Space.com headlines crossword quiz for week of Dec. 22, 2025: Which NASA observatory just completed its first sky map?
|
Test your space smarts with our weekly crossword challenge, crafted from Space.com's biggest headlines.
|
https://www.space.com/astronomy/space-com-headlines-crossword-quiz-for-week-of-dec-22-2025-which-nasa-observatory-just-completed-its-first-sky-map
|
Space & Physics
| |
3b23d3a046548ba5afe5ac50fdd0a3c23c87b244c7f9b269ffa9d95923fa7529
|
2025-12-27T15:00:00+00:00
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Space debris: will it take a catastrophe for nations to take the issue seriously?
|
When a piece of debris hits another object in space, it can also create more space debris, adding to the problem.
|
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/space-debris-will-it-take-a-catastrophe-for-nations-to-take-the-issue-seriously
|
Space & Physics
| |
c651cbd1f990e525e7eecf8ce9078874645ce5f2c75b381b47a2b44b42b269d3
|
2025-12-27T13:00:00+00:00
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The best sci-fi movies of 2025. ranked
|
Spike your eggnog and relax with our list of the finest flicks of the year about invasive AI, soaring superheroes, and Lovecraftian horrors.
|
https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/the-best-sci-fi-movies-of-2025-ranked
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Space & Physics
| |
b415e8449f77e070b82109317842c79aaa127528cf3294a0718bec9bdce1bb7d
|
2025-12-27T11:00:00+00:00
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The 12 biggest space stories of 2025 — according to you
|
It's the 12 days of Spacemas, fa la la la la la la la la (sorry).
|
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/the-12-biggest-space-stories-of-2025-according-to-you
|
Space & Physics
| |
36fc09d7f48e269d75b8c3f4f21de5ae692dbc900ef4a9e78d44bf307a9e6e40
|
2025-12-26T22:00:00+00:00
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Dark matter may be made of pieces of giant, exotic objects — and astronomers think they know how to look for them
|
Searches for dark matter particles have come up empty so far, driving theorists to get more creative with their ideas.
|
https://www.space.com/astronomy/dark-universe/dark-matter-may-be-made-of-pieces-of-giant-exotic-objects-and-astronomers-think-they-know-how-to-look-for-them
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Space & Physics
| |
ec643c9a43084a15ad85837d176562bcffda12850f99ee3339b73864fedb5385
|
2025-12-26T19:00:00+00:00
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Most normal matter in the universe isn't found in planets, stars or galaxies – an astronomer explains where it's distributed
|
While space is often referred to as a vacuum, it isn't completely empty.
|
https://www.space.com/astronomy/most-normal-matter-in-the-universe-isnt-found-in-planets-stars-or-galaxies-an-astronomer-explains-where-its-distributed
|
Space & Physics
| |
5e2ed97718e703fe4235402f005f8007b665659d95cc247e7dbcafb043ee2531
|
2025-12-26T18:05:00+00:00
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The best streaming device out there: Which one comes out on top — Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku Ultra, Apple TV and Google TV Streamer?
|
Which is the best streaming device out there? We've pitted four of the best models on the market against each other to determine the top option.
|
https://www.space.com/technology/amazon-fire-tv-stick-versus-roku-ultra-versus-apple-tv-versus-google-tv-streamer-the-best-streaming-device-out-there
|
Space & Physics
| |
c574a30740e87844ab457656ea0787575c37bd0ad29463eb0b6be511933eeda1
|
2025-12-26T17:00:00+00:00
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The best sci-fi and space games of 2025, ranked
|
As another year comes to an end, we sit down and collect our thoughts on the best sci-fi and space video games of 2025.
|
https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-games/the-best-sci-fi-and-space-games-of-2025-ranked
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Space & Physics
| |
0cae5480cd11a7023bef9fb11c5ee287f2139c8fa47ad17c9a750fd86b8887f5
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2025-12-26T16:44:19+00:00
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Longtime United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno resigns from space company. 'Finished the mission I came to do.'
|
After nearly 12 years leading the United Launch Alliance (ULA), its chief Tory Bruno is stepping down from the U.S. rocket launch provider to pursue "another opportunity," the company announced this week.
|
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/longtime-united-launch-alliance-ceo-tory-bruno-resigns-from-space-company-finished-the-mission-i-came-to-do
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Space & Physics
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e8a89c2b2a2fb5695c4d724b3f15df07af986b7e3296cb032013d7dd2ef9d53d
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2025-12-26T15:00:00+00:00
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Space Force Guardians show off shiny new duds | Space photo of the day for Dec. 26, 2025
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It marks the first time newly commissioned Space Force Guardians have graduated Officer Training School (OTS) wearing this uniform.
|
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/space-force-guardians-show-off-shiny-new-duds-space-photo-of-the-day-for-dec-26-2025
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Space & Physics
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01cd8e0d13899a96f277d5b99ca8e8101185bd897e845a87cdef01cf102f1f90
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2025-12-26T14:00:00+00:00
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See the moon shine with Saturn in the southern sky after sunset Dec. 26
|
Don't miss the moon cozy up to Saturn on Dec. 26.
|
https://www.space.com/stargazing/see-the-moon-shine-with-saturn-in-the-southern-sky-after-sunset-dec-26
|
Space & Physics
| |
8de049460a06db7a78a1a4f057f54bb65f6b345ce9b36c23d8c93e0dfccae4b9
|
2025-12-26T11:00:00+00:00
|
The most exciting exoplanet discoveries of 2025
|
New discoveries and fresh looks at familiar worlds show how far exoplanet science has come — and how much remains unknown.
|
https://www.space.com/astronomy/exoplanets/the-most-exciting-exoplanet-discoveries-of-2025
|
Space & Physics
| |
d2a778729ecc26b3453143bec6eb66ae706b33776ca394b2e1e4a4af52c8d9d4
|
2025-12-26T10:00:00+00:00
|
What should I look at with my new telescope?
|
From the moon and Jupiter to famous nebulae and galaxies, here’s your beginner-friendly guide to what to point your brand-new telescope at.
|
https://www.space.com/stargazing/skywatching-kit/what-should-i-look-at-with-my-new-telescope
|
Space & Physics
| |
632327a14f0459a663417dd51b52383ec13c5d095f2683ce0e84bf2275bd29de
|
2025-12-25T16:00:00+00:00
|
From record warming to rusting rivers, 2025 Arctic Report Card shows a region transforming faster than expected
|
Overall, the Arctic is warming more than twice as fast as the Earth as a whole.
|
https://www.space.com/science/climate-change/from-record-warming-to-rusting-rivers-2025-arctic-report-card-shows-a-region-transforming-faster-than-expected
|
Space & Physics
| |
64ac272947533c979bcc1758fd4a20bfc98e006e5f6615413009091fefcd07ae
|
2025-12-25T15:00:00+00:00
|
Ancient eyes on the skies: Early astronomers quiz
|
Long before modern telescopes, early astronomers mapped the heavens with math, myth, and sheer curiosity. This crossword quiz celebrates the minds who first charted the cosmos.
|
https://www.space.com/astronomy/ancient-eyes-on-the-skies-early-astronomers-quiz
|
Space & Physics
| |
6dd3e65bce9b764a29abb953938357704efea2ea4c6d085c3a619c2e9790040c
|
2025-12-25T14:00:00+00:00
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Google's proposed data center in orbit will face issues with space debris in an already crowded orbit
|
As a space scientist, I predict that the company will soon have to reckon with a growing problem: space debris.
|
https://www.space.com/technology/googles-proposed-data-center-in-orbit-will-face-issues-with-space-debris-in-an-already-crowded-orbit
|
Space & Physics
| |
0096dfde72bc423e389c599b9f5adbfd759076ee72561c7dc35a805b66b72a3a
|
2025-12-25T13:00:00+00:00
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Roman around the Christmas tree | Space photo of the day for Dec. 25, 2025
|
All the NASA engineers and scientists need is a star on top of the telescope in the cleanroom.
|
https://www.space.com/astronomy/roman-around-the-christmas-tree-space-photo-of-the-day-for-dec-25-2025
|
Space & Physics
| |
721a1d896befb6b441922f821d549245e9eaf9eb16ba0b3e2a63c52dda82dc3f
|
2025-12-25T12:00:00+00:00
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Astronauts beam home Christmas wishes from International Space Station: 'I think we may be orbiting a little higher than Santa' (video)
|
They won't be home for Christmas, but astronauts in space are finding their own way to make the season bright.
|
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/astronauts-beam-home-christmas-wishes-from-international-space-station-i-think-we-may-be-orbiting-a-little-higher-than-santa-video
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Space & Physics
| |
9a6bfa258cc4e85ef6f9b16cdbc14243c24dfcd321c229c4344eff322f7e1b61
|
2025-12-25T11:00:00+00:00
|
Christmas 2025 skywatching guide: What you can see in the night sky on Dec. 25
|
The night sky is the Christmas gift that just keeps giving.
|
https://www.space.com/stargazing/christmas-2025-skywatching-guide-what-you-can-see-in-the-night-sky-on-dec-25
|
Space & Physics
| |
a67f514fb1da86d2db64089af812a38711c1955c396a07b38cf1b4a7f40872ce
|
2025-12-24T22:00:00+00:00
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What old, dying stars teach us about axions as a candidate for dark matter
|
The axion could be a contender to explain the mystery of dark matter.
|
https://www.space.com/astronomy/stars/what-old-dying-stars-teach-us-about-axions-as-a-candidate-for-dark-matter
|
Space & Physics
| |
4e4cee73e752da3fcc5ac80df2f41197dc4b888661c378a349ced2c7132f41f0
|
2025-12-24T21:05:00+00:00
|
UCS Millennium Falcon versus UCS Death Star: Which is the best Lego Star Wars set?
|
The two largest and most expensive Lego Star Wars sets available go head-to-head: The UCS Millennium Falcon and the UCS Death Star. But which is best?
|
https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-toys-lego/ucs-millennium-falcon-versus-ucs-death-star-which-is-the-best-lego-star-wars-set
|
Space & Physics
| |
53a50d104baf3311d22d66aa00634d600221e1d8f879825515e58628e9a33a0f
|
2025-12-24T19:00:00+00:00
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60,000 feet above Earth, NASA is hunting for the minerals that power phones, EVs and clean energy
|
The microwave-sized sensor detects 'spectral fingerprints' of important minerals.
|
https://www.space.com/astronomy/earth/60-000-feet-above-earth-nasa-is-hunting-for-the-minerals-that-power-phones-evs-and-clean-energy
|
Space & Physics
| |
6302dfe6b9c6eef8d5ae1496c9eb2add7ad8851afb7e34de8296c2fc289a3640
|
2025-12-24T17:00:00+00:00
|
Record launches, reusable rockets and a rescue: China made big strides in space in 2025
|
China overcomes human spaceflight emergency and makes leaps with lunar hardware tests
|
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/record-launches-reusable-rockets-and-a-rescue-china-made-big-strides-in-space-in-2025
|
Space & Physics
| |
57602e252b4ff287b23cd9930db27e65678fd1d59d1ce9ab9a2617e682c00700
|
2025-12-24T16:00:00+00:00
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'Dracula's Chivito' looks stunning in this tasty Christmas photo from the Hubble Telescope
|
Using the Hubble space telescope, astronomers have imaged "'Dracula’s Chivito" the largest site of planetary birth ever seen.
|
https://www.space.com/astronomy/stars/draculas-chivito-looks-stunning-in-this-tasty-christmas-photo-from-the-hubble-telescope
|
Space & Physics
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c2be92ab5e1b85b8ae174dcc83f4d6c8c3414df44fb1f7dcd7ad87f1d4c53902
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2025-12-24T15:00:00+00:00
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NASA's Apollo 8 moonshot saved 1968. Could Artemis 2 do the same in 2026?
|
On Christmas Eve 1968, the Earth received a message from astronauts on a mission like no other - the first around the moon. NASA will return in 2026.
|
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/nasas-apollo-8-moonshot-saved-1968-could-artemis-2-do-the-same-in-2026
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Space & Physics
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59ba675133227a5e7242cafce41a4d1262a8777b34403891dab70f41e80ce809
|
2025-12-24T14:00:00+00:00
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Remember the time Predator faced off against Santa's reindeer – and lost?
|
The reindeer ain't got time to bleed.
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https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/remember-the-time-predator-faced-off-against-santas-reindeer-and-lost
|
Space & Physics
| |
a2ad85b0ee001128e74cb967ed2a9dacbbe8f157afcfad45b98892371bd6b9cd
|
2025-12-24T13:00:00+00:00
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NASA satellite gazes into Medusa Pool | Space photo of the day for Dec. 24, 2025
|
The South Sandwich Islands were born from a tectonic collision, forged by volcanism and relentlessly reshaped by ice, wind and waves.
|
https://www.space.com/astronomy/earth/nasa-satellite-gazes-into-medusa-pool-space-photo-of-the-day-for-dec-24-2025
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Space & Physics
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3eb37a94bfa7334bd7f83da11a1a594d2a30df98f6fb35e9dc1bc7a40b82f5de
|
2025-12-24T11:00:00+00:00
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The biggest black hole breakthroughs of 2025
|
2025 was another big year for black holes, and here's our pick of the top black hole stories from the last twelve months.
|
https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/the-biggest-black-hole-breakthroughs-of-2025
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Space & Physics
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2f14f96e4ff8334dda78ff08089274346d93bb8e409ae1863848de55c1373d34
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2025-12-31T04:40:20+00:00
|
Hot Jupiters with a Memory of Their Past
|
How did hot Jupiters end up orbiting so close to their stars, thus earning their moniker? This is what a recent study published in The Astronomical Journal hopes to address as a team of researchers from The University of Tokyo investigated the orbital evolution of hot Jupiters ended, specifically regarding where their orbits started before orbiting so close to their stars. This study has the potential to help scientists better understand the formation and evolution of exoplanets and what this could mean for finding life beyond Earth.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/hot-jupiters-with-a-memory-of-their-past
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Space & Physics
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svg
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a0b1cfae4bcdde8dee5e43c8a2cad60ace262a3c4dedfd8cd694f753fde06833
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2025-12-30T23:53:06+00:00
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Could TRAPPIST-1’s Seven Worlds Host Moons?
|
Scientists have discovered that moons could theoretically orbit all seven planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system despite the complex gravitational environment. Using computer simulations, a team of researchers have mapped stable zones where satellites could survive around each planet. They found that moons can remain stable up to about 40-45% of each planet’s sphere of gravitational influence. The neighbouring planets squeeze these stable zones slightly inward compared to isolated planets, but the effect is modest. Long term calculations suggest only tiny moons, roughly one ten millionth the mass of Earth, could survive the immense tidal forces.
|
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/could-trappist-1s-seven-worlds-host-moons
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Space & Physics
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svg
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a40b3111f82f9a31642c232bc35b28efd798e82977269eb0185a653deb8a4f58
|
2025-12-30T13:43:56+00:00
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Europa Clipper Reveals a New Perspective on Comet 3I/ATLAS
|
Researchers have been trying to look at interstellar object 3I/ATLAS from every conceivable angle. That includes very unconventional ones. Recently, while 3I/ATLAS passed out of view of the Earth, it moved into a great vantage point for one of our interplanetary probes. Europa Clipper, whose main mission is to explore Jupiter’s active moon, turned its gaze during its six year journey back towards the center of the solar system and observed 3I/ATLAS as it was reaching its perihelion, and out of sight from the Earth.
|
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/europa-clipper-reveals-a-new-perspective-on-comet-3iatlas
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Space & Physics
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svg
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fc0afcfcacf7577518ee88d651eadabe2d9b866d6df6c99e5fd97c963a094c16
|
2025-12-29T23:14:53+00:00
|
A Pioneering Study Assesses the Likelihood of Asteroid Mining
|
A team led by the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC) analyzed samples of C-type asteroids in a recent study. Their findings support the idea that these asteroids can serve as a crucial source of materials if and when asteroid mining is realized.
|
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-pioneering-study-assesses-the-likelihood-of-asteroid-mining
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Space & Physics
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svg
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7a1ec131b699be9589924d5e64f663d54a3e0c1dc4b325dbf7df4c29de449652
|
2025-12-29T22:46:28+00:00
|
Why Supermassive Black Holes Turn Down Feasts
|
Supermassive black holes have a reputation for devouring everything in sight, but new observations from the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array reveal they can be surprisingly picky eaters. Even when galaxy mergers deliver enormous amounts of cold molecular gas directly to a black hole’s doorstep, many choose to nibble rather than gorge raising questions about what triggers feeding episodes. The discovery suggests black hole growth during galaxy collisions may be far more inefficient and episodic than we previously thought.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/why-supermassive-black-holes-turn-down-feasts
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Space & Physics
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svg
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6189e3ee0bc0ac6d82816d5c5971710badf4395bc097f251dd88a9168d40d00e
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2025-12-29T06:58:36+00:00
|
The Origami Wheel That Could Explore Lunar Caves
|
A joint research team from South Korea has developed a fascinating wheel inspired by origami and Da Vinci bridge principles that could unlock access to the Moon’s most dangerous and scientifically useful terrain. The wheel expands from 230 mm to 500 mm in diameter on demand, allowing small rovers to navigate steep lunar pits and lava tube entrances that would trap conventional vehicles.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-origami-wheel-that-could-explore-lunar-caves
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Space & Physics
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svg
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72459bc9eea56c5998aa0142ad931b4b8c2b048439b37790bc1b929ec342f9e2
|
2025-12-29T06:02:08+00:00
|
Hubble Reveals Chaos in the Largest Planet Nursery Ever Seen
|
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered the largest planet forming disk ever observed around a young star, stretching nearly 40 times the diameter of our Solar System. Nicknamed “Dracula’s Chivito” for its hamburger like appearance when viewed edge on, this massive disk reveals an unexpectedly chaotic and asymmetric structure with wisps of material extending far above and below its central plane. The discovery offers an unprecedented window into how planets might form in extreme environments, challenging previous assumptions about the orderly nature of planetary nurseries.
|
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/hubble-reveals-chaos-in-the-largest-planet-nursery-ever-seen
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Space & Physics
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svg
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e8dce5c38e86b4d28a40db808e3d73e8404b74449a41db30fafb928507580699
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2025-12-28T15:38:02+00:00
|
Rethinking How We End A Satellite's Mission
|
At the end of their lives, most satellites fall to their death. Many of the smaller ones, including most of those going up as part of the “mega-constellations” currently under construction, are intended to burn up in the atmosphere. This Design for Demise (D4D) principle has unintended consequences, according to a paper by Antoinette Ott and Christophe Bonnal, both of whom work for MaiaSpace, a company designing reusable launch vehicles for the small satellite market.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/rethinking-how-we-end-a-satellites-mission
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Space & Physics
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svg
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33bf55d210186d92b28049385270872d4441c9b90ff329b731037b6f91e8315a
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2025-12-27T21:37:00+00:00
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NASA’s SPHEREx Observatory Completes Its First Map of the Cosmos in 102 Infrared Wavelengths
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Launched in March, NASA’s SPHEREx space telescope has completed its first infrared map of the entire sky in 102 colors. This map will enable 3D distance measurements to other galaxies and allow astronomers to measure the influence of Cosmic Inflation on the large-scale structure of the Universe.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/nasas-spherex-observatory-completes-its-first-map-of-the-cosmos-in-102-infrared-wavelengths
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Space & Physics
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svg
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da6ba803a85caf6c721f740a7323aabf363d453836225baec8683a4f4cd275dc
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2025-12-27T11:43:42+00:00
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Turning Structural Failure into Propulsion
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Solar sails have some major advantages over traditional propulsion methods - most notably they don’t use any propellant. But, how exactly do they turn? In traditional sailing, a ship’s captain can simply adjust the angle of the sail itself to catch the wind at a different angle. But they also have the added advantage of a rudder, which doesn’t work when sailing on light. This has been a long-standing challenge, but a new paper available in pre-print from arXiv, by Gulzhan Aldan and Igor Bargatin at the University of Pennsylvania describes a new technique to turn solar sails - kirigami.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/turning-structural-failure-into-propulsion
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Space & Physics
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svg
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248a7539b94d0b5060df0b63156b5ce278b19b3bcd5f730c018aa7f40260f94e
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2025-12-26T14:52:16+00:00
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Before We Build on the Moon, We Have to Master the Commute
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Even most rocket scientists would rather avoid hard math when they don’t have to do it. So when it comes to figuring out orbits in complex three-body systems, like those in Cis-lunar space, which is between the Earth and the Moon, they’d rather someone else do the work for them. Luckily, some scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory seems to have a masochistic streak - or enough of an altruistic one that it overwhelmed the unpleasantness of doing the hard math - to come up with an open-source dataset and software package that maps out 1,000,000 cis-lunar orbits.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/before-we-build-on-the-moon-we-have-to-master-the-commute
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Space & Physics
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svg
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