Experimental

Scientists from Newcastle University, as part of an international team, have made a groundbreaking discovery by providing the first experimental evidence of vacuum decay. This achievement, pivotal for understanding the early universe and fundamental physics, was observed in a supercooled gas near absolute zero and has set the stage for further research in quantum field phenomena.An experiment carried out in Italy, backed by theoretical support from Newcastle University, has produced the first experimental evidence of…

The term space plane conjures up all sorts of images and NASA, with their new X-59 (even the name sounds mysterious) they have definitely not disappointed.Their new quiet supersonic aircraft has been designed to minimize the sonic boom it creates when it crosses the speed of sound. It will fly at 1.4 times the speed of sound and is set for its maiden flight later this year.The plane is the result of a joint project between NASA and Lockheed Martin and it has a simple yet ambitious aim. The dream is to revolutionize air…

Gas-entrapping foam infused with carbon monoxide enhances the anti-cancer activity of autophagy inhibitors, which may help improve therapies for many different cancers. Credit: University of Iowa Health CareDid smokers do better than non-smokers in a clinical trial for an experimental cancer treatment? That was the intriguing question that led University of Iowa researchers and their colleagues to develop a drinkable, carbon monoxide-infused foam that boosted the effectiveness of the therapy, known as autophagy…

Credit: NASARollout of NASA’s experimental supersonic X-plane…Schedule updates for future Artemis missions…And another year of global record heat…A few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCxWNoCBWGcRollout of NASA’s X-59 Quiet Supersonic AircraftOn January 12, NASA officially unveiled the fully completed and freshly painted X-59 aircraft during a rollout ceremony hosted by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale California. The X-59 is a one-of-a-kind experimental aircraft…

Just like any other organisms, crop-destroying soil microbes die if they get too hot. With that fact in mind, scientists have developed a new system in which soil-heating microwaves are used to kill such pests. The technology could one day replace the use of environmentally harmful pesticides.Developed by Dr. Sunshin Jung and colleagues at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), the setup incorporates a proprietary antenna that emits microwaves down into the soil.By selectively increasing or decreasing the…

Smell loss, or anosmia, is a well-known symptom of COVID. Some people don’t experience full-blown loss but rather changes in or distortion of smell, a condition known as parosmia. Studies estimate that between 25 and 75 percent of those with a COVID infection experience long-term parosmia. Now an injection that blocks nerve pain could potentially provide relief for some people.The technique, known as a stellate ganglion block, has been used for decades to treat all sorts of pain conditions. During the procedure,…

The biggest experimental nuclear fusion reactor in operation was inaugurated north of Tokyo today, as scientists continue to plug away at making nuclear fusion a viable source of the world’s energy.“Even AI Rappers are Harassed by Police” | AI UnlockedThe reactor—JT-60SA—is a tokamak, a doughnut-shaped reactor that can heat plasma to 360 million degrees Fahrenheit (200 million degrees Celsius). The reactor fired up for the first time in October; at the time, researchers affiliated with the project estimated that it will…

L.A.-based musician Matthew “Matthewdavid” McQueen is credited on Andre 3000’s debut solo album New Blue Sun as providing “mycelial electronics.” The 39-year-old founder of the record label and music collective Leaving released Mycelium Music in April, a record inspired by the interconnected networks of fungi and produced in large part using an open-source, script-based instrument called Norns, which allows users to create and manipulate sounds by breaking apart and stretching samples into grains or bits. When he got…

Discord is pulling the plug on its AI chatbot, Clyde, less than a year after it was first introduced. Clyde’s has been updated with a note alerting users that the bot will be deactivated at the end of this month. The platform , describing it as an experimental feature. It’s powered by OpenAI technology.“By December 1, 2023, users will no longer be able to invoke Clyde in DMs, Group DMs or server chats,” according to the note. Clyde was intended to act as an AI helper that could be accessed right within the server. Users…

The artwork for Songs of Silence. Photograph: Publicity imageWhat was the lockdown album? Vince Clarke’s debut solo release could well be the last of this short-lived typology to see the light of day: a collection of cooped-up, minimalist instrumentals produced at home – in this case on a modular synthesiser, with sparing touches of cello, soprano and folk balladry. Modular synths are a notorious time-sink for electronic tinkerers, so the empty days of lockdown were the perfect opportunity for Clarke – one of our great…