Physicists at the Niels Bohr Institute and Peking University have made a groundbreaking discovery in particle physics, revealing that xenon nuclei change shape as they collide. Using simulations of experiments at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, the researchers found that the nuclei transform from soft, oval-shaped particles to rigid, spherical ones. This finding could lead to…
research on The Soothsayer / page 24
Researchers are flocking to the social-media platform Bluesky, hoping to recreate the good old days of Twitter. The platform has grown from close to 14 million users to nearly 21 million in just two weeks since the US presidential election. Bluesky offers users control over the content they see and the people they engage with,…
A pair of European Space Agency spacecraft, Proba-3, has been launched to create hundreds of artificial solar eclipses in orbit. This mission will allow scientists to study the elusive middle part of the sun’s atmosphere, which holds many of the sun’s most enduring mysteries. The satellites will fly together in lockstep, blocking the sun from…
Physicists at MIT, Johns Hopkins University, and Harvard University/University of California, Berkeley have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of graphene research. They have found an explanation for why electrons in pentalayer moiré graphene carry fractional charges even in the absence of a magnetic field. This phenomenon, known as the fractional quantum anomalous Hall…
Scientists have been exploring the potential of insects to eat and degrade plastic waste, with a recent study finding that mealworms can consume and break down microplastics from disposable face masks. While the pace of this solution may be slow, researchers suggest that it could lead to useful waste-breakdown hacks and inspire new approaches to…
Researchers at Colgate University have made a groundbreaking discovery that could change our understanding of the universe’s origins. By analyzing the parameters of a “Dark Big Bang” theory, they found that dark matter may have been created just after the Big Bang, rather than at the same time. This theory suggests that dark matter particles…
A recent survey of academics worldwide has revealed a significant gap in computing power between researchers in universities and those in large technology companies. This disparity hinders the development of large language models and other AI research, with many academics lacking access to powerful graphics processing units (GPUs). The study suggests that academics could make…
Physicists at the University of Bordeaux have developed a new algorithmic technique that could enhance the output of fusion reactors by smoothing out laser pulses used to compress hydrogen to fusion densities. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and cost-effective fusion energy production, a promising future energy source. The technique has already been applied…
Google Scholar, the largest and most comprehensive scholarly search engine, is facing competition from AI-powered search tools that offer improved search experiences and data download capabilities. Researchers are starting to use these new tools, which include ChatGPT, OpenAlex, and Undermind, to search, review, and summarize literature. Despite its size and deep entrenchment in the scientific…
A groundbreaking study has revealed a molecular bottleneck that contributes to the development of chronic health issues, including diabetes and fatty liver disease. Researchers have discovered that proteins in the body become ensnared in chemical traffic jams, causing widespread sluggishness and contributing to the collapse of crucial biological systems. This finding could pave the way…