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Quantum Entanglement Confirmed in High-Energy Particle Collisions at CERN

Quantum Entanglement Confirmed in High-Energy Particle Collisions at CERN

Physicists at the University of Oxford, in collaboration with an international team using CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC), have demonstrated that quantum entanglement persists even among heavy and short-lived particles produced in extreme high-energy collisions. This finding, published in Physical Review Letters, involved studying pairs of Z bosons, which are massive particles that exist for only a tiny fraction of a second before decaying. These Z bosons originated from the decay of Higgs bosons, themselves produced by protons colliding at nearly the speed of light. The ATLAS detector at CERN measured the electrons and muons resulting from the Z boson decay, and by reconstructing the spins of the original Z bosons, researchers found strong evidence of quantum entanglement. This represents one of the highest energy confirmations of quantum entanglement ever achieved, extending observations beyond traditional systems like photons and electrons.

Cornell University Physicists Discover 'Disorder' is Key to Tuning High-Temperature Superconductors

Cornell University Physicists Discover 'Disorder' is Key to Tuning High-Temperature Superconductors

Physicists at Cornell University have made a significant discovery regarding high-temperature superconductors, specifically iron selenide (FeSe). Their research indicates that minimizing 'disorder' within the material's crystal lattice, rather than varying the electron count, is the primary factor controlling its superconductivity. This finding challenges previous assumptions that electron doping was the main driver for the superconducting 'dome'—the curve illustrating how superconductivity strengthens and weakens as properties are tuned. Postdoctoral researcher Paul Malinowski, the lead author, explained that the obstacles electrons encounter due to imperfections in the crystal lattice are more influential than the number of electrons. The team, led by Professor Kyle Shen, utilized a novel technique combining molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and alkali surface deposition to precisely control and probe the material's properties in an ultra-high vacuum, allowing them to observe this unexpected relationship.

Fastest Milky Way Star S301 Offers Direct Measurement of Sagittarius A*'s Spin

Fastest Milky Way Star S301 Offers Direct Measurement of Sagittarius A*'s Spin

Astronomers have identified S301 as the fastest known star in the Milky Way, orbiting Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's center. S301 reaches speeds of approximately 25,000 kilometers per second, or over 8% of the speed of light, and passes closer to Sagittarius A* than any previously observed star, at a mere 12 times the Earth-to-Sun distance. This extreme proximity makes S301 the first star that could potentially be used to directly measure the spin of Sagittarius A*. According to Einstein's general theory of relativity, a rotating black hole drags and twists the surrounding spacetime, subtly altering the orbits of nearby objects. The closer an object is to a rapidly rotating black hole, the stronger this effect becomes. The discovery was made using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope Interferometer (ESO’s VLTI) and its GRAVITY instrument.

D-Wave Expands Leap Quantum Application Environment with New Capabilities

D-Wave Expands Leap Quantum Application Environment with New Capabilities

D-Wave Expands Leap Quantum Application Environment with New Capabilities

National Science Foundation Funds Research Opportunities at MagLab in Florida

National Science Foundation Funds Research Opportunities at MagLab in Florida

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is providing funding for research opportunities at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab) in Tallahassee, Florida. The MagLab, which is also sponsored by the State of Florida, is actively seeking a Research Faculty member for its Electron Magnetic Resonance (EMR) facility. This position aims to strengthen the facility and advance cutting-edge EMR research in high magnetic field environments. The MagLab's mission is to advance discovery, innovation, and education by developing and operating powerful and versatile high magnetic field facilities. It provides researchers globally with access to experiments in high magnetic fields without cost, empowering them to explore scientific frontiers and drive transformative technologies. The EMR program specifically offers state-of-the-art high-frequency continuous-wave and pulsed EPR spectrometers and assists with electron magnetic resonance measurements at frequencies and fields not typically available at other inst...

Materials Science AI Models Show Rapid Advancement but Lack Integrated Physical Grounding

Materials Science AI Models Show Rapid Advancement but Lack Integrated Physical Grounding

Materials Science AI Models Show Rapid Advancement but Lack Integrated Physical Grounding

ROBOKOP v1.0 System Enhances Biomedical Knowledge Graph Exploration and Reasoning

ROBOKOP v1.0 System Enhances Biomedical Knowledge Graph Exploration and Reasoning

The ROBOKOP (Reasoning Over Biomedical Objects linked in Knowledge Oriented Pathways) v1.0 system has been released, offering an open-source, modular, biomedical knowledge graph (KG)-based platform. This system integrates and harmonizes over 30 knowledge sources, containing approximately 10 million nodes and 130 million edges, to facilitate the exploration of relationships between biomedical entities. Key components include the ROBOKOP KG, a user interface (UI), and supporting tools. The Operational Routine for the Ingest and Output of Networks (ORION) pipeline standardizes and integrates these diverse knowledge sources using the Biolink Model's universal KG schema. Users can query the system through a Question-Builder tool, which translates natural-language questions into machine-readable queries, or via Cypher and TRAPI endpoints for more complex inquiries. The system provides ranked answers, with detailed provenance and supporting evidence for each assertion, including publications and source informatio...

U.S. Department of Energy Selects Oklahoma as Potential Site for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus

U.S. Department of Energy Selects Oklahoma as Potential Site for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus

Oklahoma has been chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as one of five states to explore hosting a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus. Marc Brown, an executive vice president of public policy and state affairs for Consumer Energy Alliance, highlighted this selection as a significant opportunity for the state. Brown, writing in The Oklahoman, suggested that advanced nuclear technology could be a vital solution to meet the increasing electricity demand driven by business growth in Oklahoma. He emphasized that nuclear energy operates under stringent federal oversight and that modern advanced technologies incorporate safety systems designed to function safely even without operator intervention. The proposed campus aims to integrate energy production, fuel recycling, manufacturing, research, and workforce development.

Lightbridge Secures Idaho Test Reactor Slot for Advanced Nuclear Fuel Irradiation

Lightbridge Secures Idaho Test Reactor Slot for Advanced Nuclear Fuel Irradiation

Lightbridge Corporation has secured a slot within the Idaho National Laboratory's (INL) Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) to irradiate its advanced nuclear fuel, Lightbridge Fuel TM. This development is a crucial step in the company's efforts to develop next-generation nuclear fuel technology for existing light-water and pressurized heavy-water reactors, as well as for new small modular reactors. The agreement, Project Task Statement (PTS) No. 2 under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), the U.S. Department of Energy’s operating contractor for INL, allows for loop testing of clad Lightbridge Fuel TM rodlets. Loop testing involves irradiating fuel within a self-contained and independently controlled environment that simulates the coolant chemistry, temperature, pressure, and flow conditions of a commercial light-water reactor. This process is considered the next phase from materials research towards fuel qualification. The work builds upon previous tec...

Scientists Develop Method to Test Einstein's Gravity with Exotic Muonium Atoms

Scientists Develop Method to Test Einstein's Gravity with Exotic Muonium Atoms

Researchers at ETH Zurich and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have developed a new method to create a controlled beam of muonium, an exotic atom composed of a positively charged antimuon and a negatively charged electron. This breakthrough allows scientists to test, for the first time, whether gravity acts on second-generation particles in the same way it does on ordinary matter, as predicted by Albert Einstein's theory of gravity. The familiar matter that constitutes people and planets belongs to the first generation of particles, while muons are heavier relatives of electrons, classified as second-generation particles. The experiment aims to measure how muonium behaves under gravity, which would be the first such test involving a second-generation particle. A key challenge has been the short lifespan of muons (approximately 2.2 microseconds) and the difficulty in producing muonium atoms that travel at consistent speeds and directions suitable for precise measurements. The new method involves directing ...

U.S. Department of Energy Launches $215 Million Quantum Computing Competition

U.S. Department of Energy Launches $215 Million Quantum Computing Competition

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has initiated the Quantum Genesis Q Competition, a $215 million program aimed at accelerating the development of fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant quantum computers. This competition is structured to award private-sector teams for achieving specific technical milestones, rather than through traditional grants. Early milestones could earn teams up to $1.5 million, with larger pools of $100 million and two $50 million bonuses available for teams that can demonstrate machines with 100, 150, and 200 logical qubits, respectively. Applications for this competition are due by October 19. Under Secretary for Science Dr. Darío Gil emphasized the effort's significance, likening quantum computing to foundational scientific instruments like particle accelerators, highlighting its role in advancing fundamental science. The initiative seeks to harness quantum mechanics for breakthroughs across various fields.

Department of Energy Launches $215 Million Quantum Genesis Q Competition to Accelerate Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing

Department of Energy Launches $215 Million Quantum Genesis Q Competition to Accelerate Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has initiated the Quantum Genesis Q Competition, allocating up to $215 million in planned funding to foster the development of fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant quantum computers (SRQCs). This competition invites private sector companies to submit proposals for deploying quantum computers with at least 100 logical qubits, capable of performing hundreds of millions of fault-tolerant operations and scientific demonstration programs. The initiative is structured in two phases: Phase I offers fixed awards of up to $1.5 million per awardee for early milestones, while Phase II provides a $100 million general incentive pool for awardees demonstrating a first-generation SRQC with 100 logical qubits. Additionally, two bonus incentive pools, each worth $50 million, are available for systems achieving 150 and 200 logical qubits, respectively. This effort aligns with the President’s Executive Order on Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation and builds upon recommen...