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Political ideology and minority accomplishments

Researchers found that liberals are more likely to publicize the achievements of minorities, including women and black individuals. The study suggests a link between political ideology and the amplification of minority accomplishments, highlighting differences in liberal and conservative Twitter posts and panel preferences.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 14, 2019

Writing the future of rewritable memory

Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a new, atomic-scale rewritable memory that can store 45 million songs on the surface of a quarter. This breakthrough technology can withstand normal temperatures and is road-ready for commercial use, promising to revolutionize data storage and archival.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 23, 2018

Four-dimensional physics in two dimensions

Researchers at Penn State and ETH Zurich have demonstrated the behavior of particles of light in a two-dimensional array of waveguides, matching predictions for the four-dimensional quantum Hall effect. This achievement provides evidence for higher-dimensional quantum Hall physics, with potential applications in novel photonic devices.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature·DateJan 3, 2018

Why do people switch their language?

A study by Katharina Prochazka and Gero Vogl applied a physics-based approach to analyze language movement in Southern Carinthia, Austria. The research found that interaction with other speakers of the same language is the primary driver of language shift, with village-level demographics playing a crucial role.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 14, 2017

New math technique improves atomic property predictions to historic accuracy

Scientists at NIST and IU developed a tool that calculates fundamental properties of most atoms with historic accuracy, improving the prediction of atomic properties for fields like nuclear medicine and astrophysics. The technique enables precise determination of base energy levels, crucial for fundamental atomic research.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJun 25, 2014

Firing photons makes advance in space communication

Researchers have successfully fired photons back and forth between a space satellite and a ground-based station, demonstrating the possibility of a secure quantum communication channel. The achievement marks an important step towards global communication via satellites using quantum mechanics.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateMar 28, 2008

Sun's corona is both hot and kinky

Scientists at University of Warwick argue that Alfvén waves, thought to superheat the Corona, are actually kink waves, a bending of the magnetic field. This reinterpretation throws doubt on previous research and leaves the question of the Corona's extreme heat unresolved.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 6, 2008