Lifeboat Foundation

Full coherent control of wave transport and localization is a long-sought goal in wave physics research, which encompasses many different areas from solid-state to matter-wave physics and photonics. One among the most important and fascinating coherent transport effects is Bloch oscillation (BO), which refers to the periodic oscillatory motion of electrons in solids under a direct current (DC)-driving electric field.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a rapid, noninvasive tool to track the neurons and biomolecules activated in the brain by psychedelic drugs. The protein-based tool, which is called Ca2+-activated Split-TurboID, or CaST, is described in research published in Nature Methods.

There has been mounting interest in the value of psychedelic-inspired compounds as treatments for brain disorders including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder. Psychedelic compounds like LSD, DMT and psilocybin promote the growth and strengthening of neurons and their connections in the brain’s prefrontal cortex. The new tool could help scientists unlock the benefits of psychedelic treatments for patients with brain disorders.

“It’s important to think about the cellular mechanisms that these psychedelics act upon,” said Christina Kim, an assistant professor of neurology at the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience and School of Medicine, and an affiliate of the UC Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics. “What are they? Once we know that, we can design different variants that target the same mechanism but with fewer side effects.”

“To make the quantum internet a reality, we need to transmit entangled photons via fiber optic networks,” says Prof. Dr. Michael Kues, Head of the Institute of Photonics and Board Member of the PhoenixD Cluster of Excellence at Leibniz University Hannover.

“We also want to continue using optical fibers for conventional data transmission. Our research is an important step to combine the conventional internet with the quantum internet.”

In their experiment, the researchers demonstrated that the entanglement of photons is maintained even when they are sent together with a laser pulse. The research results were published in Science Advances.

Imagine the possibility of sending messages that are completely impervious to even the most powerful computers. This is the incredible promise of quantum communication, which harnesses the unique properties of light particles known as photons.

Today’s supercomputers consume vast amounts of energy, equivalent to the power usage of thousands of homes. In response, researchers are developing a more energy-efficient form of next-generation supercomputing that leverages artificial neural networks.

Checking whether an avocado is hard or soft by looking at it? This would require recognizing how the plant cells behave behind the skin. The same applies to all other cells on our planet: Despite more than 100 years of intensive research, many of their properties remain hidden inside the cell.

For the first time, astronomers have captured an image of a neutron star emitting a ‘garden sprinkler-like’ S-shaped jet in the binary system Circinus X-1, located over 30,000 light-years away.

This phenomenon, similar to precession observed in black holes, illustrates the jet’s direction change due to the gravitational pull from a disc of hot gas. The discovery was made using the MeerKAT radio telescope, and the findings provide insights into the dynamics of neutron stars and the mechanics of jet launching.

Continue reading “First-Ever Sighting: Neutron Star’s Bizarre ‘Garden Sprinkler’ Jet Captured” »

Laser pulses have been shown to adjust the magnetic properties of rare earths by affecting 4f electrons, opening avenues for quicker and more energy-efficient data storage devices.

The special properties of rare earth magnetic materials are due to the electrons in the 4f shell. Until now, the magnetic properties of 4f electrons were considered almost impossible to control. Now, scientists have shown for the first time that laser pulses can influence 4f electrons — and thus change their magnetic properties. The discovery, which was made through experiments at EuXFEL and FLASH, opens up a new way to data storage with rare earth elements.

Breakthrough in Magnetic Properties Control.

Mental effort is generally unpleasant, as confirmed by a meta-analysis involving over 4,600 participants across various tasks and demographics. People often pursue challenging activities for the rewards, not the pleasure of the task. Credit: SciTechDaily.com.

A meta-analysis of 170 studies revealed that regardless of the task or population, increased mental effort correlates with feelings of frustration and stress. This phenomenon is less pronounced in Asian populations, possibly due to different educational experiences. Despite this, people still engage in mentally challenging tasks like chess, driven by the rewards rather than enjoyment of the effort itself.