Alle afleveringen
373 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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One Lab’s Quest to Build Space-Time Out of Quantum Particles
24 november 2021 · 22 min
For over two decades, physicists have pondered how the fabric of space-time may emerge from some kind of quantum entanglement. In Monika Schleier-Smith’s lab at Stanford University, the thought experiment is becoming real. Lees meer
The post One Lab’s Quest to Build Space-Time Out of Quantum Particles first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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The New Thermodynamic Understanding of Clocks
11 november 2021 · 18 min
Investigations of the simplest possible clocks have revealed their fundamental limitations — as well as insights into the nature of time itself. Lees meer
The post The New Thermodynamic Understanding of Clocks first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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The Brain Doesn’t Think the Way You Think It Does
28 oktober 2021 · 27 min
Familiar categories of mental functions such as perception, memory and attention reflect our experience of ourselves, but they are misleading about how the brain works. More revealing approaches are emerging. Lees meer
The post The Brain Doesn’t Think the Way You Think It Does first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Eternal Change for No Energy: A Time Crystal Finally Made Real
14 oktober 2021 · 22 min
Like a perpetual motion machine, a time crystal forever cycles between states without consuming energy. Physicists claim to have built this new phase of matter inside a quantum computer.
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How Many Numbers Exist? Infinity Proof Moves Math Closer to an Answer.
30 september 2021 · 28 min
For 50 years, mathematicians have believed that the total number of real numbers is unknowable. A new proof suggests otherwise. Lees meer
The post How Many Numbers Exist? Infinity Proof Moves Math Closer to an Answer. first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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DNA Has Four Bases. Some Viruses Swap in a Fifth.
16 september 2021 · 15 min
The DNA of some viruses doesn’t use the same four nucleotide bases found in all other life. New work shows how this exception is possible and hints that it could be more common than we think. Lees meer
The post DNA Has Four Bases. Some Viruses Swap in a Fifth. first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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The Mystery at the Heart of Physics That Only Math Can Solve
2 september 2021 · 37 min
The accelerating effort to understand the mathematics of quantum field theory will have profound consequences for both math and physics. Lees meer
The post The Mystery at the Heart of Physics That Only Math Can Solve first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Radioactivity May Fuel Life Deep Underground and Inside Other Worlds
19 augustus 2021 · 24 min
New work suggests that the radiolytic splitting of water supports giant subsurface ecosystems of life on Earth — and could do it elsewhere, too. Lees meer
The post Radioactivity May Fuel Life Deep Underground and Inside Other Worlds first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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DNA of Giant ‘Corpse Flower’ Parasite Surprises Biologists
5 augustus 2021 · 24 min
The bizarre genome of the world’s most mysterious flowering plants shows how far parasites will go in stealing, deleting and duplicating DNA. Lees meer
The post DNA of Giant ‘Corpse Flower’ Parasite Surprises Biologists first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Scientists Pin Down When Earth’s Crust Cracked, Then Came to Life
22 juli 2021 · 21 min
New data indicating that Earth’s surface broke up about 3.2 billion years ago helps clarify how plate tectonics drove the evolution of complex life. Lees meer
The post Scientists Pin Down When Earth’s Crust Cracked, Then Came to Life first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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A New Twist Reveals Superconductivity’s Secrets
8 juli 2021 · 21 min
An unexpected superconductor was beginning to look like a fluke, but a new theory and a second discovery have revealed that emergent quasiparticles may be behind the effect. Lees meer
The post A New Twist Reveals Superconductivity’s Secrets first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Statistics Postdoc Tames Decades-Old Geometry Problem
24 juni 2021 · 22 min
To the surprise of experts in the field, a postdoctoral statistician has solved one of the most important problems in high-dimensional convex geometry. Lees meer
The post Statistics Postdoc Tames Decades-Old Geometry Problem first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Mathematicians Set Numbers in Motion to Unlock Their Secrets
10 juni 2021 · 26 min
A new proof demonstrates the power of arithmetic dynamics, an emerging discipline that combines insights from number theory and dynamical systems. Lees meer
The post Mathematicians Set Numbers in Motion to Unlock Their Secrets first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Artificial Neural Nets Finally Yield Clues to How Brains Learn
27 mei 2021 · 20 min
The learning algorithm that enables the runaway success of deep neural networks doesn’t work in biological brains, but researchers are finding alternatives that could. Lees meer
The post Artificial Neural Nets Finally Yield Clues to How Brains Learn first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Brain’s ‘Background Noise’ May Hold Clues to Persistent Mysteries
13 mei 2021 · 29 min
By digging out signals hidden within the brain’s electrical chatter, scientists are getting new insights into sleep, aging and more. Lees meer
The post Brain’s ‘Background Noise’ May Hold Clues to Persistent Mysteries first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Rumbles on Mars Raise Hopes of Underground Magma Flows
29 april 2021 · 22 min
Small and cold, Mars has long been considered a dead planet. But a series of recent discoveries has forced scientists to rethink how recently its insides stopped churning — if they ever stopped at all. Lees meer
The post Rumbles on Mars Raise Hopes of Underground Magma Flows first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Mathematicians Resurrect Hilbert’s 13th Problem
15 april 2021 · 20 min
Long considered solved, David Hilbert’s question about seventh-degree polynomials is leading researchers to a new web of mathematical connections. Lees meer
The post Mathematicians Resurrect Hilbert’s 13th Problem first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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A Newfound Source of Cellular Order in the Chemistry of Life
1 april 2021 · 28 min
Inside cells, droplets of biomolecules called condensates merge, divide and dissolve. Their dance may regulate vital processes. Lees meer
The post A Newfound Source of Cellular Order in the Chemistry of Life first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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The Mystery of Mistletoe’s Missing Genes
18 maart 2021 · 13 min
Mistletoes have all but shut down the powerhouses of their cells. Scientists are still trying to understand the plants’ unorthodox survival strategy. Lees meer
The post The Mystery of Mistletoe’s Missing Genes first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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The New History of the Milky Way
4 maart 2021 · 16 min
Over the past two years, astronomers have rewritten the story of our galaxy. Lees meer
The post The New History of the Milky Way first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Scientists Uncover the Universal Geometry of Geology
18 februari 2021 · 23 min
An exercise in pure mathematics has led to a wide-ranging theory of how the world comes together. Lees meer
The post Scientists Uncover the Universal Geometry of Geology first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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The Most Famous Paradox in Physics Nears Its End
4 februari 2021 · 38 min
In a landmark series of calculations, physicists have proved that black holes can shed information. Lees meer
The post The Most Famous Paradox in Physics Nears Its End first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Quantum Tunnels Show How Particles Can Break the Speed of Light
21 januari 2021 · 23 min
Recent experiments show that particles should be able to go faster than light when they quantum mechanically “tunnel” through walls. Lees meer
The post Quantum Tunnels Show How Particles Can Break the Speed of Light first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Computer Scientists Break Traveling Salesperson Record
7 januari 2021 · 19 min
After 44 years, there’s finally a better way to find approximate solutions to the notoriously difficult traveling salesperson problem. Lees meer
The post Computer Scientists Break Traveling Salesperson Record first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Mitochondria May Hold Keys to Anxiety and Mental Health
16 december 2020 · 18 min
Research hints that the energy-generating organelles of cells may play a surprisingly pivotal role in mediating anxiety and depression. Lees meer
The post Mitochondria May Hold Keys to Anxiety and Mental Health first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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The Hidden Magnetic Universe Begins to Come Into View
3 december 2020 · 22 min
Astronomers are discovering that magnetic fields permeate much of the cosmos. If these fields date back to the Big Bang, they could solve a major cosmological mystery. Lees meer
The post The Hidden Magnetic Universe Begins to Come Into View first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Graduate Student Solves Decades-Old Conway Knot Problem
19 november 2020 · 17 min
It took Lisa Piccirillo less than a week to answer a long-standing question about a strange knot discovered over half a century ago by the legendary John Conway. Lees meer
The post Graduate Student Solves Decades-Old Conway Knot Problem first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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The Grand Unified Theory of Rogue Waves
5 november 2020 · 19 min
Rogue waves — enigmatic giants of the sea — were thought to be caused by two different mechanisms. But a new idea that borrows from the hinterlands of probability theory has the potential to predict them all. Lees meer
The post The Grand Unified Theory of Rogue Waves first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Hidden Computational Power Found in the Arms of Neurons
22 oktober 2020 · 17 min
The dendritic arms of some human neurons can perform logic operations that once seemed to require whole neural networks. Lees meer
The post Hidden Computational Power Found in the Arms of Neurons first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Neutrinos Lead to Unexpected Discovery in Basic Math
8 oktober 2020 · 18 min
Three physicists stumbled across an unexpected relationship between some of the most ubiquitous objects in math. Lees meer
The post Neutrinos Lead to Unexpected Discovery in Basic Math first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Machines Beat Humans on a Reading Test. But Do They Understand?
24 september 2020 · 31 min
A tool known as BERT can now beat humans on advanced reading-comprehension tests. But it's also revealed how far AI has to go. Lees meer
The post Machines Beat Humans on a Reading Test. But Do They Understand? first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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How Jurassic Plankton Stole Control of the Ocean’s Chemistry
10 september 2020 · 16 min
Only 170 million years ago, new plankton evolved. Their demand for carbon and calcium permanently transformed the seas as homes for life. Lees meer
The post How Jurassic Plankton Stole Control of the Ocean’s Chemistry first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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To Pay Attention, the Brain Uses Filters, Not a Spotlight
27 augustus 2020 · 19 min
A brain circuit that suppresses distracting sensory information holds important clues about attention and other cognitive processes. Lees meer
The post To Pay Attention, the Brain Uses Filters, Not a Spotlight first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Fossil DNA Reveals New Twists in Modern Human Origins
13 augustus 2020 · 20 min
Modern humans and more ancient hominins interbred many times throughout Eurasia and Africa, and the genetic flow went both ways. Lees meer
The post Fossil DNA Reveals New Twists in Modern Human Origins first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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For Embryo's Cells, Size Can Determine Fate
30 juli 2020 · 16 min
Modeling suggests that many embryonic cells commit to a developmental fate when they become too small to divide unevenly anymore. Lees meer
The post For Embryo’s Cells, Size Can Determine Fate first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Scientists Debate the Origin of Cell Types in the First Animals
16 juli 2020 · 19 min
Theories about how animals became multicellular are shifting as researchers find greater complexity in our single-celled ancestors. Lees meer
The post Scientists Debate the Origin of Cell Types in the First Animals first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Wandering Space Rocks Help Solve Mysteries of Planet Formation
2 juli 2020 · 15 min
After an interstellar asteroid shot past the sun, scientists realized that there’s probably a lot of itinerant rocks out there. Lees meer
The post Wandering Space Rocks Help Solve Mysteries of Planet Formation first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Random Surfaces Hide an Intricate Order
18 juni 2020 · 12 min
Mathematicians have proved that a random process applied to a random surface will yield consistent patterns. Lees meer
The post Random Surfaces Hide an Intricate Order first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Where We See Shapes, AI Sees Textures
4 juni 2020 · 16 min
To researchers’ surprise, deep learning vision algorithms often fail at classifying images because they mostly take cues from textures, not shapes. Lees meer
The post Where We See Shapes, AI Sees Textures first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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What’s in a Name? Taxonomy Problems Vex Biologists
21 mei 2020 · 25 min
Researchers struggle to incorporate ongoing evolutionary discoveries into an animal classification scheme older than Darwin. Lees meer
The post What’s in a Name? Taxonomy Problems Vex Biologists first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Bacterial Complexity Revises Ideas About ‘Which Came First?’
7 mei 2020 · 21 min
Contrary to popular belief, bacteria have organelles too. Scientists are now studying them for insights into how complex cells evolved. Lees meer
The post Bacterial Complexity Revises Ideas About ‘Which Came First?’ first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Ancient DNA Yields Snapshots of Vanished Ecosystems
23 april 2020 · 24 min
Surviving fragments of genetic material preserved in sediments allow scientists to see the full diversity of past life — even microbes. Lees meer
The post Ancient DNA Yields Snapshots of Vanished Ecosystems first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Computer Scientists Expand the Frontier of Verifiable Knowledge
9 april 2020 · 17 min
The universe of problems that a computer can check has grown. The researchers’ secret ingredient? Quantum entanglement. Lees meer
The post Computer Scientists Expand the Frontier of Verifiable Knowledge first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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The Hidden Heroines of Chaos
26 maart 2020 · 20 min
Two women programmers played a pivotal role in the birth of chaos theory. Their previously untold story illustrates the changing status of computation in science. Read more at quantamagazine.org. Music is “Clover 3” by Vibe Mountain.
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Heat-Loving Microbes, Once Dormant, Thrive Over Decades-Old Fire
12 maart 2020 · 28 min
In harsh ecosystems around the world, microbiologists are finding evidence that “microbial seed banks” protect biodiversity from changing conditions. Lees meer
The post Heat-Loving Microbes, Once Dormant, Thrive Over Decades-Old Fire first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Scientists Discover Exotic New Patterns of Synchronization
27 februari 2020 · 24 min
In a world seemingly filled with chaos, physicists have discovered new forms of synchronization and are learning how to predict and control them. Lees meer
The post Scientists Discover Exotic New Patterns of Synchronization first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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Cryptography That Is Provably Secure
6 februari 2020 · 12 min
Researchers have just released hacker-proof cryptographic code — programs with the same level of invincibility as a mathematical proof. Lees meer
The post Cryptography That Is Provably Secure first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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The Math That Tells Cells What They Are
30 januari 2020 · 17 min
During development, cells seem to decode their fate through optimal information processing, which could hint at a more general principle of life. Lees meer
The post The Math That Tells Cells What They Are first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Science
16 januari 2020 · 22 min
The latest AI algorithms are probing the evolution of galaxies, calculating quantum wave functions, discovering new chemical compounds and more. Is there anything that scientists do that can’t be automated? Lees meer
The post How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Science first appeared on Quanta Magazine
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A World Without Clouds
2 januari 2020 · 26 min
A state-of-the-art supercomputer simulation indicates that a feedback loop between global warming and cloud loss can push Earth’s climate past a disastrous tipping point in as little as a century. Lees meer
The post A World Without Clouds first appeared on Quanta Magazine