fundamental

A photo of the atomic clock setup complete with the bisecting cavity. CreditJILA/Ye GroupJILA’s breakthrough in optical atomic clocks uses quantum entanglement to surpass fundamental precision limits, setting a new standard in timekeeping and opening avenues for scientific discovery.Historically, JILA (a joint institute established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder) has been a world leader in precision timekeeping using optical atomic clocks. These clocks…

New research utilizing advanced imaging to track one million neurons in mice uncovers that over 90% of brain activity, previously considered noise, contains significant signals, revealing the mammalian brain’s underestimated complexity. Credit: SciTechDaily.comThe mammalian brain is a web of densely interconnected neurons, yet one of the mysteries in neuroscience is how tools that capture relatively few components of brain activity have allowed scientists to predict behavior in mice. It is hard to believe that much of the…

Paper remains under-recognised as an art form in India. Please tell us about your engagement with the medium and the thought behind curating ‘On Paper Of Paper’? Ankon Mitra with his work ‘Mycelium Mycelium’ at India Design ID. (Courtesy the artist) Looking at the paucity of opportunities to showcase and celebrate paper art in the country when I started my practice in 2008-2009, I actively sought participation in biennales and exhibitions abroad, like the CODA Museum paper exhibition, Apeldoorn, the…

A new study has overturned a fundamental principle of physics by demonstrating that similarly charged particles can attract each other in a solution, with the effect varying between positive and negative charges depending on the solvent. This discovery has significant implications for various scientific processes, including self-assembly and crystallization. The research reveals the importance of solvent structure at the interface in determining interparticle interactions, challenging long-held beliefs and indicating a…

Recent research highlights significant changes at Earth’s poles, including shifts in ocean-sea ice dynamics and temperature extremes, with 2023’s record-low Southern Ocean ice potentially tied more to long-term warming than previously thought. Studies suggest the Antarctic is undergoing a “regime shift” in sea ice behavior, and differences in energy absorption between the poles could have far-reaching impacts on the climate.New research published in journals of the American Meteorological Society indicate changes in…

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have introduced an AI technique that significantly improves Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) by enabling it to visualize material features smaller than the probe’s tip. This breakthrough, offering the first true three-dimensional profiles beyond conventional resolution limits, promises to revolutionize nanoelectronics development and material studies.Atomic force microscopy, or AFM, is a widely used technique that can quantitatively map material surfaces in three…

It’s a fundamental principle of physics that particles with opposite charges attract each other, while those with the same charge repel. But now, scientists at the University of Oxford have found that under certain circumstances, particles can attract those of the same charge.Particles can gain either a positive or negative charge, and this dictates how they behave around other particles. Put two with opposite charges close together and they’ll be attracted to each other, while two of the same charge will repel each…

Cryogenic microwave setup used for quantum device measurements. Credit: Qinu GmbH, qinu.deQuantum bits can be described more precisely with the help of newly discovered harmonics as a team of 30 researchers reports in Nature Physics.Physicists have uncovered that Josephson tunnel junctions – the fundamental building blocks of superconducting quantum computers – are more complex than previously thought. Just like overtones in a musical instrument, harmonics are superimposed on the fundamental mode. As a consequence,…

Altermagnetism introduces a third magnetic phase, combining the non-magnetization of antiferromagnets with the strong spin-dependent phenomena of ferromagnets. Discovered through international collaboration, this new phase offers significant potential for spintronics, bridging previous gaps in magnetic material applications. Credit: SciTechDaily.comExperiments at the Swiss Light Source SLS prove the existence of a new type of magnetism, with broad implications for technology and research.There is now a new addition to the…

University of Copenhagen researchers have proven that fully stable Machine Learning algorithms are unattainable for complex problems, highlighting the critical need for thorough testing and awareness of AI limitations. Credit: SciTechDaily.comResearchers from the University of Copenhagen have become the first in the world to mathematically prove that, beyond simple problems, it is impossible to develop algorithms for AI that will always be stable.ChatGPT and similar machine learning-based technologies are on the rise.…