Researchers highlight successes and challenges of quantum computing in the NISQ era, a period where quantum computers approach evidence of quantum supremacy. Key findings include the development of new strategies to reduce measurement errors and the demonstration of programmability on quantum computers.
Researchers use physics and technology to track animal movement, revealing key findings on flock behavior, neural network tracking, and burrowing forces. By analyzing animal motion, scientists gain a deeper understanding of collective behavior and individual animal actions.
Researchers unveiled new methods to decode climate system behavior, develop recyclable composites, and explore alternative energy sources. These advancements aim to improve climate predictions, provide cost-effective adaptation strategies, and promote sustainable practices.
Researchers at the 2020 APS March Meeting in Denver are exploring the physics of the brain, including brain connectivity networks, the organization of the brain's wiring probability, and the shaping of the cerebellum. Music therapy is also being investigated for its potential benefits for patients with mild cognitive impairment.
The American Physical Society's March Meeting explores the challenges women face in physics, including data on bachelor's and doctoral degrees, faculty positions, and career advancement. Programs like Women Supporting Women in the Sciences provide resources and support to empower women in STEM careers.
Researchers analyzed the acoustics of a bursting soap bubble to decipher the origin of the popping sound, finding that forces exerted by the liquid film create the pop. This study demonstrates how sound signatures can be harnessed to measure forces during violent events.
Researchers at KOTO reported four rare kaon decays, violating a theoretical connection between charged and neutral kaon decays. The findings could force physicists to modify the standard model if confirmed by further experiments.
A game theory model captures and assesses election interference by analyzing social media activity and polls, echoing the 2016 election. The model's results reflect real-world scenarios, including Russian Twitter fake accounts' influence.
Researchers created a new detection method using radar echoes to identify ultra-high energy particle cascades. This breakthrough could lead to the development of a neutrino telescope capable of detecting high-energy neutrinos with energies beyond current observable range.
Scientists have developed a new model to predict the speed of epidemics in networks, providing insights into the trajectory and rate of global spread. The analysis assesses each node's likelihood of infection by a certain time, enabling more accurate forecasting of epidemic dynamics.
Researchers simulate condensate behavior during inflationary period, revealing gravitational disintegration mechanism. The simulation provides new insights into the formation of dark matter and potential predictions for cosmological observables.
Researchers developed a model to study online polarization and echo chambers, finding that discourse becomes less stable when like-minded groups form. The model accurately replicated Twitter data on polarization and debates, providing insight into social network dynamics.
Scientists with the HAWC Collaboration have detected gamma-ray emissions at unprecedented energy levels above 56 TeV. The findings suggest the presence of Galactic accelerators, known as PeVatrons, which could be a new area of research for pulsars and supernova remnants.
Researchers identified three states in a spaghetti strand's evolution: sagging, settling, and curling. The model accurately replicates the behavior of a noodle, potentially valuable for the food production industry and food science community.
Researchers from Norway, Latvia, and Israel found that allowing slower airplane passengers to board first decreases total boarding time. By simulating passenger movement using physics, the team predicted boarding times for various passenger groups, confirming that slow passengers being boarded first is up to 28% faster.
A new protocol enables better measurement and comparison of multiple quantum states across devices and time, improving quantum information processing.
Researchers analyzed customer movement patterns in Tesco supermarkets to develop a method to reduce congestion. Placing popular goods near store perimeters was found to be effective in decreasing aisle crowding.
The Gallery of Fluid Motion, a premier visual record of contemporary fluid mechanics, displayed over 3,000 striking videos and posters. The highest-scoring entries in each category were designated as Milton van Dyke Awardees or Gallery Winners.
Researchers develop biomimetic fog-gathering technologies inspired by Namib desert beetles, which can increase collector efficiency and provide additional freshwater harvesting opportunities. The technology aims to collect fog in coastal areas with little precipitation, making it a reliable water source.
Research from Johns Hopkins University found that chemical herders can amplify strong breaking waves, dispersing oil slicks into the water column. This makes effective burning difficult in open oceans, but less effective when combined with weaker waves.
Scientists explore how fire ants build rafts to respond to changes in their environment during floods. The ants' ability to sense and adjust to fluid forces enables the formation of durable and safer rafts.
Researchers used computational fluid dynamics to analyze the swimming patterns of extinct ammonoid cephalopods, which lived over 300 million years ago. The study reveals insights into the stability of marine ecosystems and how they recover diversity after drastic extinctions.
Researchers used dance to convey the principles of fluid mechanics by creating a 'physics-constrained improvisation.' The goal is to produce an educational video that demonstrates flow past a cylinder at varying Reynolds numbers.
Scientists are testing a magnetically-actuated fluidic valve to reduce bleeding in trauma patients. The system uses an injectable magnetorheological suspension and externally placed magnets to create an obstruction, halting blood loss and stabilizing blood pressure. This could potentially extend survival time by at least 30 minutes.
Researchers say Jupiter's Great Red Spot has not changed in size or intensity despite shrinking clouds. The flaking of familiar vortex is considered a very natural state and not an indication of the spot's demise.
Researchers from Oklahoma State University and University of Nebraska-Lincoln have discovered that low-frequency sounds are emitted before tornado formation. These infrasound signals can be detected hours or even days in advance, providing potential warnings for severe weather events.
Researchers studied the effects of a baseball's wake on its movement towards home plate. A stable seam position can create a pressure gradient that forces the ball downward or upward, left or right. The study highlights the potential for pitchers to manipulate the ball's trajectory and speed using this technique.
Researchers suggest a thermally induced fluid mixing approach could improve the delivery of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents to target tissue. This technique may reduce the amount of drug injected into the vitreous and increase effective treatment outcomes for patients with macular degeneration.
Scientists studied how environmental conditions affect archery accuracy and discovered that the best feather size depends on wind conditions. The research aims to provide a more accurate understanding of the physics behind optimal arrow design.
Researchers at Cornell University and Virginia Tech found that shaking the head to free trapped water in the ear canal can cause brain damage in small children, due to acceleration of up to 10 times gravity. A solution using liquids with lower surface tension, such as alcohol or vinegar, may help remove water without causing harm
Researchers have developed a simulation model that shows the potential for fast magnetic reconnection to occur in partially ionized plasma, a key region in interstellar space. This finding could help understand how reconnection may affect star formation and provide insights into the physics of magnetically reconnecting plasmas.
Researchers use gravity crystals to study the physics of white dwarf stars, shedding light on Wigner crystallization and its application to these celestial bodies. The discovery reveals similar behavior between gravity crystals and white dwarf stars, highlighting the robust nature of this phenomenon.
Researchers used plasma physics to study how volcanic ash modifies standing shock wave height, width, and lifetime. This discovery enables the tracking of standing shock waves in laboratory experiments, potentially leading to improved ash estimates and early predictions of hazardous plumes.
A team at DIII-D National Fusion Facility used a rugged magnetic sensor and high-performance computing to capture fast ion fluctuations. This data will help improve computer models that interpret the behavior of fast ions, enabling real-time control and efficient heating of plasma in future reactors.
Researchers used supercomputer simulations to study magnetic reconnection, a process that releases kinetic energy in the universe. The simulations revealed a previously unknown role for the Biermann battery effect, which impacts magnetic reconnection in unexpected ways.
Researchers at DIII-D National Fusion Facility demonstrated a new approach to injecting microwaves into fusion plasma, doubling the efficiency of critical technique. This method uses novel geometry to deliver substantial improvements in plasma current drive, paving the way for more efficient compact fusion power plants.
The Plasma Liner Experiment is testing a novel plasma fusion concept while providing insights into the physics of colliding plasma jets. Experiments are also helping to validate simulations crucial for understanding and developing other controlled fusion schemes.
Researchers at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory developed new mathematical tools to forecast when waves will cool plasma and quench fusion reactions. A second beam injected at a different angle can suppress the effect of waves, providing new methods for maintaining plasma confinement.
Scientists have doubled the highest electron energy ever produced by a laser plasma accelerator, reaching 7.8 billion electron volts (GeV) in an 8-inch-long plasma. This breakthrough is crucial for building next-generation particle colliders that accelerate electrons to extreme energies.
Researchers have discovered that injecting frozen hydrogen fuel pellets into a fusion reactor's plasma can help repair tears in the surrounding magnetic field, reducing magnetic island instabilities. This approach may improve the efficiency of future fusion power plants by freeing up resources needed for magnetic stability.
Shock wave physics studies material behavior under tremendous forces, with applications to nuclear and conventional weapons, astrophysics, and material synthesis. Sandia's achievements in shock wave science include the construction of the world's largest high frequency electromagnetic wave generator.
Scientists at NIF recreate stellar-like conditions to study nucleosynthesis reactions, including the 3He-3He reaction responsible for nearly half of our sun's energy generation. Preliminary results show that protons from this reaction have been observed in these experiments at lower temperatures.
A survey of 471 undergraduate women physicists found that nearly three-quarters had experienced gender harassment, leading to diminished sense of belonging and imposter phenomenon. The study emphasizes the need for a cultural shift in physics departments to address sexual harassment and promote diversity and inclusion.
Astronomers use thermal wavelengths to spot near-Earth objects, providing critical details for defensive strategies. This technique enables the calculation of energy required to nudge an object away from Earth's trajectory, shedding light on the solar system's formation.
Science-oriented CubeSats like MinXSS can collect valuable data on solar flares and the Sun's atmosphere, consistent with large satellites. The success of these small satellites has led to new funding opportunities for CubeSat science missions.
A team of researchers has discovered a new property of supercooled water that can be triggered by subatomic particles like dark matter. They created a detector, called the "snowball chamber", which uses supercooled water to detect fundamental particles and potentially identify dark matter.
West Virginia University researchers aim to unlock secrets of gravitational waves from binary black hole collisions with public computing power. They are building a website with downloadable software to generate self-consistent simulations, covering gaps in knowledge about gravitational wave parameters.
A Harvard physicist has shown that wormholes can exist and are theoretically useful for quantum gravity research. However, travel through them would be slower than direct travel, making it impractical for space exploration.
The 2019 APS April Meeting features talks on Event Horizon Telescope project's first results, nucleosynthesis in neutron star mergers, and the proposed AMEGO mission. These discoveries shed light on black holes, dark matter, and the universe's evolution.
The new report by the American Physical Society reveals that industrial physics plays a crucial role in driving the US economy. It contributed an estimated $2.3 trillion to the country's GDP in 2016, accounting for 12.6% of the total gross domestic product.