A new book, “How to Kill an Asteroid,” highlights the growing concern of asteroid defense and the need for a more robust planetary security system. The book’s author, Robin George Andrews, emphasizes that while scientists have made progress in deflecting asteroids, the real challenge lies in developing a reliable asteroid detector and navigating the bureaucratic…
Science on The Soothsayer / page 16
Physicists in China and Austria have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of quantum mechanics, calculating the effect of entanglement on the emission time of photoelectrons. Their research reveals counter-intuitive predictions that could be tested using improved free-electron lasers. The study focuses on the photoelectric effect, where photons interact with electrons in atoms, and…
A recent study in Ecuador has revealed that the spread of dengue fever is not limited to urban areas, as previously thought. In fact, the disease is spreading rapidly in rural areas with high population density, where access to government services and amenities is limited. This misunderstanding of what constitutes an urban or rural area…
A team of researchers from Seoul National University, Stanford University, and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology has made a groundbreaking discovery in camera technology. They have developed a metasurface-based folded lens system that enables unprecedented manipulation of light, paving the way for the creation of slimline cameras for use in smartphones and augmented/virtual…
Malors Espinosa, a graduate student in mathematics at the University of Toronto, has devised a special type of math problem that challenges high school students to prove a nontrivial solution. The problem involves the Menger sponge, a fractal with a simple yet elegant construction. This problem is expected to inspire a new generation of mathematicians…
The incoming Trump administration’s stance on climate change is a cause for concern. With President-elect Donald Trump calling climate change a “hoax” and his administration’s plans to roll back environmental regulations, the world may be in for a stormy future. The administration’s plans to reduce the country’s carbon emissions and transition to greener energy sources…
Researchers at Tsinghua University and other institutions have developed a new framework for approximate quantum error correction (AQEC) codes, which could revolutionize the field of quantum computing. The framework, which establishes a crucial parameter called subsystem variance, links the effectiveness of AQEC codes to quantum circuit complexity. This breakthrough has implications not only for quantum…
A newly identified breakdown product of chlorine-based water treatments, chloronitramide, has been found in tap water systems across the United States. The substance, which is electrically charged and potentially toxic, has been detected in 40 samples from 10 water treatment systems, with concentrations exceeding the threshold allowed for other harmful breakdown products. While the health…
Researchers in Switzerland have made a significant breakthrough in quantum acoustodynamics by creating a mechanical qubit using an acoustic wave resonator. This achievement marks a crucial step forward in the development of quantum computing and sensing technologies. The mechanical qubit, which is not yet suitable for quantum logic operations, has the potential to be used…
Scientists at MIT have made a significant breakthrough in brain stimulation by developing magnetic nanoparticles called magnetoelectric nanodiscs (MENDs) that can be used to stimulate neurons without the need for invasive surgery. These nanoparticles, which are approximately 250 nm across, can be injected into a specific location in the brain and stimulated with an electromagnet…
