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Categories: Offbeat: Computers and Math, Physics: Quantum Physics
Published That's funny -- but AI models don't get the joke


Using hundreds of entries from the New Yorker magazine's Cartoon Caption Contest as a testbed, researchers challenged AI models and humans with three tasks: matching a joke to a cartoon; identifying a winning caption; and explaining why a winning caption is funny.
Published GPT-3 can reason about as well as a college student, psychologists report


The artificial intelligence language model GPT-3 performed as well as college students in solving certain logic problems like those that appear on standardized tests. The researchers who conducted the experiment write that the results prompt the question of whether the technology is mimicking human reasoning or using a new type of cognitive process. Solving that question would require access to the software that underpins GPT-3 and other AI software.
Published When electrons slowly vanish during cooling


Many substances change their properties when they are cooled below a certain critical temperature. Such a phase transition occurs, for example, when water freezes. However, in certain metals there are phase transitions that do not exist in the macrocosm. They arise because of the special laws of quantum mechanics that apply in the realm of nature's smallest building blocks. It is thought that the concept of electrons as carriers of quantized electric charge no longer applies near these exotic phase transitions. Researchers have now found a way to prove this directly. Their findings allow new insights into the exotic world of quantum physics.
Published 3D display could soon bring touch to the digital world


Engineers have designed a new, shape-shifting display that can fit on a card table and allows users to draw 3D designs and more.
Published New method improves proton acceleration with high power laser


Bringing protons up to speed with strong laser pulses -- this still young concept promises many advantages over conventional accelerators. For instance, it seems possible to build much more compact facilities. Prototypes to date, however, in which laser pulses are fired at ultra-thin metal foils, show weaknesses -- especially in the frequency with which they can accelerate protons. An international working group has tested a new technique: In this approach, frozen hydrogen acts as a 'target' for the laser pulses.
Published Way cool: 'freeze ray' technology


An unusual discovery is now being developed as an on-demand cooling solution for high-flying military electronics.
Published Researchers successfully train a machine learning model in outer space for the first time



Scientists have trained a machine learning model in outer space, on board a satellite. This achievement could revolutionize the capabilities of remote-sensing satellites by enabling real-time monitoring and decision making for a range of applications.
Published How atomic nuclei vibrate


Using ultra-high-precision laser spectroscopy on a simple molecule, a group of physicists has measured the wave-like vibration of atomic nuclei with an unprecedented level of precision. The physicists report that they can thus confirm the wave-like movement of nuclear material more precisely that ever before and that they have found no evidence of any deviation from the established force between atomic nuclei.
Published Scientists caught Hofstadter's butterfly in one of the most ancient materials on Earth


Researchers have revisited one of the most ancient materials on Earth -- graphite, and discovered new physics that has eluded the field for decades.
Published Researchers develop low-cost sensor to enhance robots' sense of touch


Researchers have developed an L3 F-TOUCH sensor to enhance tactile capabilities in robots, allowing it to 'feel' objects and adjust its grip accordingly.
Published A simpler method for learning to control a robot


A new machine-learning technique can efficiently learn to control a robot, leading to better performance with fewer data.
Published Robotic hand rotates objects using touch, not vision


Inspired by the effortless way humans handle objects without seeing them, engineers have developed a new approach that enables a robotic hand to rotate objects solely through touch, without relying on vision.
Published A new type of quantum bit in semiconductor nanostructures


Researchers have created a quantum superposition state in a semiconductor nanostructure that might serve as a basis for quantum computing. The trick: two optical laser pulses that act as a single terahertz laser pulse.
Published 'Quantum avalanche' explains how nonconductors turn into conductors



The study takes a new approach to answer a long-standing mystery about insulator-to-metal transitions.
Published Detection of bacteria and viruses with fluorescent nanotubes


The new carbon nanotube sensor design resembles a molecular toolbox that can be used to quickly assemble sensors for a variety of purposes -- for instance for detecting bacteria and viruses.
Published Future AI algorithms have potential to learn like humans


Memories can be as tricky to hold onto for machines as they can be for humans. To help understand why artificial agents develop holes in their own cognitive processes, electrical engineers have analyzed how much a process called 'continual learning' impacts their overall performance.
Published Unveiling the quantum dance: Experiments reveal nexus of vibrational and electronic dynamics


Scientists have demonstrated experimentally a long-theorized relationship between electron and nuclear motion in molecules, which could lead to the design of materials for solar cells, electronic displays and other applications that can make use of this powerful quantum phenomenon.
Published A faster way to teach a robot


A new technique enables a human to efficiently fine-tune a robot that failed to complete a desired task with very little effort on the part of the human. Their system uses algorithms, counterfactual explanations, and feedback from the user to generate synthetic data it uses to quickly fine-tune the robot.
Published Theory for superfluid helium confirmed


Researchers have achieved a groundbreaking milestone in studying how vortices move in these quantum fluids. A new study of vortex ring motion in superfluid helium provides crucial evidence supporting a recently developed theoretical model of quantized vortices.
Published ROSE: Revolutionary, nature-inspired soft embracing robotic gripper


Soft robotic grippers could greatly increase productivity in many fields. However, currently existing designs are overly complex and expensive. A research team has developed ROSE, a novel embracing soft gripper inspired by the blooming and closing of rose flowers. Bearing a surprisingly simple, inexpensive, and scalable design, ROSE can pick up many kinds of objects without damaging them, even in challenging environments and conditions.