Chemistry: Thermodynamics Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Underground car parks heat up groundwater      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The heat given off by car engines warms up underground car parks in such a way that the heat passes through the ground into the groundwater. In Berlin alone, enough energy is transferred to the groundwater to supply 14,660 households with heat. According to the researchers, this warming could have long-term effects on groundwater quality. In their study, they also propose a solution. Using geothermal energy and heat pumps, the heat could be extracted from the ground and utilized.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

What a '2D' quantum superfluid feels like to the touch      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered how superfluid helium 3He would feel if you could put your hand into it. The interface between the exotic world of quantum physics and classical physics of the human experience is one of the major open problems in modern physics. Nobody has been able to answer this question during the 100-year history of quantum physics.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Mathematics: Statistics Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Optical-fiber based single-photon light source at room temperature for next-generation quantum processing      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Single-photon emitters quantum mechanically connect quantum bits (or qubits) between nodes in quantum networks. They are typically made by embedding rare-earth elements in optical fibers at extremely low temperatures. Now, researchers have developed an ytterbium-doped optical fiber at room temperature. By avoiding the need for expensive cooling solutions, the proposed method offers a cost-effective platform for photonic quantum applications.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Alternative Fuels Offbeat: General Physics: Optics
Published

In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate without heat      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

At the interface of water and air, light can, in certain conditions, bring about evaporation without the need for heat, according to a new study.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Thermodynamics Computer Science: General Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: Optics
Published

New twist on optical tweezers      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Optical tweezers use laser light to manipulate small particles. A new method has been advanced using Stampede2 supercomputer simulations that makes optical tweezers safer to use for potential biological applications, such as cancer therapy. 

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Late not great -- imperfect timekeeping places significant limit on quantum computers      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Quantum physicists show that imperfect timekeeping places a fundamental limit to quantum computers and their applications. The team claims that even tiny timing errors add up to place a significant impact on any large-scale algorithm, posing another problem that must eventually be solved if quantum computers are to fulfill the lofty aspirations that society has for them.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

A sustainable alternative to air conditioning      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

As the planet gets hotter, the need for cool living environments is becoming more urgent. But air conditioning is a major contributor to global warming since units use potent greenhouse gases and lots of energy. Now, researchers have found in a new study an inexpensive, sustainable alternative to mechanical cooling with refrigerants in hot and arid climates, and a way to mitigate dangerous heat waves during electricity blackouts.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

3D printed reactor core makes solar fuel production more efficient      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Using a new 3D printing technique, researchers have developed special ceramic structures for a solar reactor. Initial experimental testing show that these structures can boost the production yield of solar fuels.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Controlling waves in magnets with superconductors for the first time      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Quantum physicists have shown that it's possible to control and manipulate spin waves on a chip using superconductors for the first time. These tiny waves in magnets may offer an alternative to electronics in the future, interesting for energy-efficient information technology or connecting pieces in a quantum computer, for example. The breakthrough primarily gives physicists new insight into the interaction between magnets and superconductors.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Major milestone achieved in new quantum computing architecture      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers report a significant advance in quantum computing. They have prolonged the coherence time of their single-electron qubit to an impressive 0.1 milliseconds, nearly a thousand-fold improvement.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

New quantum effect demonstrated for the first time: Spinaron, a rugby in a ball pit      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Experimental physicists have demonstrated a new quantum effect aptly named the 'spinaron.' In a meticulously controlled environment and using an advanced set of instruments, they managed to prove the unusual state a cobalt atom assumes on a copper surface. This revelation challenges the long-held Kondo effect -- a theoretical concept developed in the 1960s, and which has been considered the standard model for the interaction of magnetic materials with metals since the 1980s.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Using sound to test devices, control qubits      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a system that uses atomic vacancies in silicon carbide to measure the stability and quality of acoustic resonators. What's more, these vacancies could also be used for acoustically-controlled quantum information processing, providing a new way to manipulate quantum states embedded in this commonly-used material. 

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Alternative Fuels Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Pivotal breakthrough in adapting perovskite solar cells for renewable energy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A huge step forward in the evolution of perovskite solar cells will have significant implications for renewable energy development.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Electrical control of quantum phenomenon could improve future electronic devices      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new electrical method to conveniently change the direction of electron flow in some quantum materials could have implications for the development of next-generation electronic devices and quantum computers. A team of researchers has developed and demonstrated the method in materials that exhibit the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect -- a phenomenon in which the flow of electrons along the edge of a material does not lose energy.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Environmental: Water
Published

Solar design would harness 40% of the sun's heat to produce clean hydrogen fuel      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Engineers have designed a system that can efficiently produce 'solar thermochemical hydrogen.' It harnesses the sun's heat to split water and generate hydrogen -- a clean fuel that emits no greenhouse gas emissions. 

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

Self-correcting quantum computers within reach?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Quantum computers promise to reach speeds and efficiencies impossible for even the fastest supercomputers of today. Yet the technology hasn't seen much scale-up and commercialization largely due to its inability to self-correct. Quantum computers, unlike classical ones, cannot correct errors by copying encoded data over and over. Scientists had to find another way. Now, a new paper illustrates a quantum computing platform's potential to solve the longstanding problem known as quantum error correction.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

Exploring parameter shift for quantum fisher information      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have developed a technique called 'Time-dependent Stochastic Parameter Shift' in the realm of quantum computing and quantum machine learning. This breakthrough method revolutionizes the estimation of gradients or derivatives of functions, a crucial step in many computational tasks.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

A new way to erase quantum computer errors      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have demonstrated a type of quantum eraser. The physicists show that they can pinpoint and correct for mistakes in quantum computing systems known as 'erasure' errors. 

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Experiencing record-breaking heat days affects perception of weather trends      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Research finds that experiencing days in which the temperature exceeds previous highs for that time of year affects people’s perception of weather trends.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Engineering: Graphene Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Twisted science: New quantum ruler to explore exotic matter      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a 'quantum ruler' to measure and explore the strange properties of multilayered sheets of graphene, a form of carbon. The work may also lead to a new, miniaturized standard for electrical resistance that could calibrate electronic devices directly on the factory floor, eliminating the need to send them to an off-site standards laboratory.