Category: science

Recent
advancements
in
quantum
computing
have
revealed
that
Google’s
67-qubit
Sycamore
processor
can
outperform
the
fastest
classical

supercomputers.
This
breakthrough,
detailed
in
a
study
published
in
Nature
on
October
9,
2024,
indicates
a
new
phase
in
quantum
computation
known
as
the
“weak
noise
phase.”

Understanding
the
Weak
Noise
Phase

The
research,
spearheaded
by
Alexis
Morvan
at
Google
Quantum
AI,
demonstrates
how
quantum
processors
can
enter
this
stable
computationally
complex
phase.
During
this
phase,
the
Sycamore
chip
is
capable
of
executing
calculations
that
exceed
the
performance
capabilities
of
traditional
supercomputers.
According
to
Google
representatives,
this
discovery
represents
a
significant
step
towards
real-world
applications
for
quantum
technology
that
cannot
be
replicated
by
classical
computers.

The
Role
of
Qubits
in
Quantum
Computing

Quantum
computers
leverage
qubits,
which
harness
the
principles
of
quantum
mechanics
to
perform
calculations
in
parallel.
This
contrasts
sharply
with
classical
computing,
where
bits
process
information
sequentially.
The
exponential
power
of
qubits
allows
quantum
machines
to
solve
problems
in
seconds
that
would
take
classical
computers
thousands
of
years.
However,
qubits
are
highly
sensitive
to
interference,
leading
to
a
higher
failure
rate;
for
instance,
around
1
in
100
qubits
may
fail,
compared
to
an
incredibly
low
failure
rate
of
1
in
a
billion
billion
bits
in
classical
systems.

Overcoming
Challenges:
Noise
and
Error
Correction

Despite
the
potential,
quantum
computing
faces
significant
challenges,
primarily
the
noise
that
affects
qubit
performance.
To
achieve
“quantum
supremacy,”
effective
error
correction
methods
are
necessary,
especially
as
the
number
of
qubits
increases,
as
per
a
LiveScience

report.
Currently,
the
largest
quantum
machines
have
around
1,000
qubits,
and
scaling
up
presents
complex
technical
hurdles.

The
Experiment:
Random
Circuit
Sampling

In
the
recent
experiment,
Google

researchers
employed
a
technique
called
random
circuit
sampling
(RCS)
to
evaluate
the
performance
of
a
two-dimensional
grid
of
superconducting
qubits.
RCS
serves
as
a
benchmark
to
compare
the
capabilities
of
quantum
computers
against
classical
supercomputers
and
is
regarded
as
one
of
the
most
challenging
benchmarks
in
quantum
computing.

The
findings
indicated
that
by
manipulating
noise
levels
and
controlling
quantum
correlations,
the
researchers
could
transition
qubits
into
the
“weak
noise
phase.”
In
this
state,
the
computations
became
sufficiently
complex,
demonstrating
that
the
Sycamore
chip
could
outperform
classical
systems.

In
the
next
few
weeks,

NASA
will
embark
on
a
significant
mission
to
Europa,
the
fourth-largest
moon
of
Jupiter.
Named

Europa
Clipper,
this
spacecraft
is
designed
to
search
for
potential
signs
of
life.
While
Mars
is
often
the
focal
point
in
the
quest
for
life
beyond
Earth,
Europa
presents
a
promising
alternative
due
to
its
potential
liquid
water,
which
is
considered
essential
for
life
as
we
understand
it.
Although
delays
have
occurred
due
to
Hurricane
Milton,
NASA’s
plan
to
launch
the
mission
remains
intact.

Why
Europa
Holds
Potential
for
Life

Mars
may
be
the
easiest
target
to
explore
for
life,
but
Europa,
along
with
some
of
Saturn’s
moons,
could
be
better
candidates.
Liquid
water
is
crucial
for
life,
and
on
Earth,
it
supports
the
chemical
reactions
that
allow
living
organisms
to
exist.
Scientists
believe
that
Europa,
like
Saturn’s
moons
Titan
and
Enceladus,
has
vast
subsurface
oceans
beneath
its
icy
exterior.
This
possibility
makes
Europa
a
compelling
target
for
the
search
for
extraterrestrial
life.

What
the
Europa
Clipper
Will
Do

Equipped
with
nine
sophisticated
instruments,
the
Europa
Clipper
will
closely

examine
the
moon’s
surface,
searching
for
signs
of
life
beneath
the
thick
ice
sheet.
The
spacecraft
will
use
thermal
imaging,
spectrometers,
and
cameras
to
detect
any
unusual
heat
or
chemical
activity.
One
of
its
key
objectives
is
to
locate
and
study
potential
water
plumes
erupting
from
the
surface,
giving
insight
into
the
moon’s
subsurface
oceans.

Although
it
will
take
the
spacecraft
over
five
years
to
reach
Jupiter’s
orbit,
this
mission
marks
a
crucial
step
in
exploring
Europa.
While
the
Clipper
won’t
be
able
to
confirm
life
itself,
its
findings
could
lead
to
more
in-depth
future
missions,
bringing
us
closer
to
discovering
life
beyond
Earth.

An
unexpected
discovery
concerning
gene
regulation
has
earned
Victor
Ambros
from
the
University
of
Massachusetts
Chan
Medical
School
and
Gary
Ruvkun
from
Harvard
Medical
School
the
2024
Nobel
Prize
in
physiology
or
medicine.
The
duo’s
research
identified
small

RNA
segments,
known
as
microRNAs,
which
play
a
significant
role
in
regulating
protein
production
in
the
body.
This
discovery,
originating
from
their
work
with
a
tiny
worm,
has
provided
crucial
insights
into
biological
processes
linked
to
health
and
disease.

MicroRNA’s
Role
in
Gene
Regulation

MicroRNAs
are
tiny
RNA
molecules
that
help
regulate
gene
expression
by
affecting
the
production
of
proteins.
In
this
process,
microRNAs
latch
onto
messenger
RNA
(mRNA),
which
carries
instructions
from
DNA
to
make
proteins.
By
clinging
to
mRNA,
microRNAs
prevent
the
translation
of
those
instructions,
reducing
the
amount
of
protein
produced.
Instead
of
acting
as
an
on/off
switch,
these
molecules
function
more
like
dimmers,
subtly
reducing
protein
production.

Early
Discoveries
in
Worms

Ambros
and
Ruvkun’s

research
began
in
Caenorhabditis
elegans,
a
small,
transparent
worm.
Their
focus
was
on
two
genes,
lin-4
and
lin-14,
which
played
a
key
role
in
the
worm’s
development.
Ambros
initially
discovered
a
small
RNA
segment
associated
with
the
lin-4
gene.
It
turned
out
to
be
the
first
identified
microRNA.
Ruvkun
later
demonstrated
that
the
lin-4
microRNA
binds
to
the
mRNA
of
the
lin-14
gene,
reducing
the
production
of
its
corresponding
protein.

Impact
on
Human
Health

MicroRNAs
were
initially
thought
to
be
specific
to
worms,
but
subsequent
research
revealed
they
are
present
across
the
animal
kingdom,
including
humans.
This
discovery
has
opened
up
new
avenues
of
research
into
how
these
small
RNAs
impact
human
health,
with
potential
applications
in
treating
diseases
like
cancer,
heart
disease,
and
neurodegenerative
conditions.

SpaceX‘s
Crew-9
mission
successfully
reached
the
International
Space
Station
(ISS)
on
September
29,
2024.
The
NASA
astronaut
Colonel
Nick
Hague
and
Russian
cosmonaut
Aleksandr
Gorbunov
boarded
the
Crew
Dragon
capsule,
named
Freedom.
After
launching
from
Florida’s
Cape
Canaveral
Space
Force
Station
on
September
28th,
the
crew
completed
a
one-day
orbital
journey
before
docking
at
5:30
PM
EDT
(3:00
AM
IST).
Hague
is
the
first
active
U.S.
Space
Force
member
to
reach
space,
further
highlighting
the
significance
of
this
mission.

First
Human
Spaceflight
from
Space
Launch
Complex-40

Crew-9’s
launch
marked
a
historic
moment
as
it
was
the
first
human
spaceflight
to
lift
off
from
Space
Launch
Complex-40
(SLC-40).
Nick
Hague
and
Aleksandr
Gorbunov’s
arrival
brings
the
total
number
of
astronauts
aboard
the
ISS
to
eleven.
However,
this
mission
is
also
distinctive
due
to
NASA’s
decision
to
reduce
Crew-9’s
original
four-person
roster.
Instead,
the
mission
was
modified
to
carry
only
two
astronauts
to
make
room
for
two
astronauts
already
aboard
the
ISS
who
require
a
return
trip
to
Earth.

Butch
Wilmore
and
Sunita
Williams,
who
arrived
at
the
ISS
in
June
on
the
first
crewed

Boeing
Starliner
flight,
were
originally
scheduled
to
stay
for
just
ten
days.
However,
technical
issues
with
Starliner’s
thrusters
extended
their
stay
on
the
station.

Preparing
for
Crew-8’s
Departure

Crew-9’s
arrival
also
marks
the
upcoming
departure
of
the
Crew-8
astronauts,
including
NASA’s
Michael
Barratt,
Matthew
Dominick,
Jeanette
Epps,
and
cosmonaut
Alexander
Grebenkin.
The
four,
who
arrived
at
the
station
in
March,
are
scheduled
to
return
to
Earth
soon
after
Crew-9’s
docking
process
is
completed.
If
everything
proceeds
as
planned,
Crew-9
will
remain
at
the
ISS
until
February
2025,
further
supporting
ongoing
space

research
and
operations
aboard
the
station.

The
northern
sea
robin
(Prionotus
carolinus)
is
an
intriguing
marine

species
known
for
its
remarkable
adaptations.
Unlike
most
fish,
this
species
employs
its
six
leg-like
appendages
to
navigate
the
ocean
floor.
This
ability
allows
it
not
only
to
move
but
also
to
explore
the
sea
bed
in
search
of
food.
While
this
capability
was
long
known
in
the
scientific
community,
another
strange
use
case
of
its
leg
was
recently
discovered.

Sensory
Capabilities
of
Sea
Robins

Recent
studies
have
illuminated
how
these
legs
function
as
sensory
organs.
Researchers
observed
that
the
northern
sea
robin
is
capable
of
detecting
buried
prey
through
chemical
cues
released
into
the
water.
Using
its
shovel-like
feet,
the
fish
can
unearth
hidden
food
sources,
demonstrating
a
unique
blend
of
mobility
and
sensory
detection.

Research
Collaboration
and
Findings

A
collaborative
research
effort
involving
developmental
biologist
David
Kingsley
from
Stanford
University
and
molecular
biologist
Nicholas
Bellono
from
Harvard
University
examined
the
sea
robin’s
sensory
adaptations.
The

study
was
published
in
the
journal
Current
Biology.
Their
experiments
placed
the
fish
in
environments
with
buried
mussels
and
amino-acid
capsules.
The
results
confirmed
the
fish’s
efficiency
in
locating
and
retrieving
these
hidden
items,
thanks
to
the
specialized
bumps
on
its
legs,
known
as
papillae,
which
house
taste
receptors.

Evolutionary
Insights
into
Adaptation

The
evolutionary
background
of
the
northern
sea
robin
reveals
an
intriguing
narrative.
An
evolutionary
analysis
of
various
sea
robin
species
indicated
that
while
the
legs
initially
developed
for
locomotion,
their
sensory
capabilities
evolved
later.
The
researchers
identified
the
tbx3a
gene
as
a
key
factor
in
the
development
of
these
legs,
and
using
CRISPR
technology,
they
demonstrated
that
altering
this
gene
can
impact
both
leg
formation
and
sensory
function.

Conclusion:
Implications
of
the
Research

The
findings
from
this
research
not
only
enhance
our
understanding
of
the
northern
sea
robin
but
also
provide
broader
insights
into
how
species
adapt
over
time.
By
exploring
the
genetic
and
evolutionary
pathways
that
led
to
such
unique
adaptations,
scientists
can
better
understand
the
complexities
of
marine
life
and
the
evolutionary
processes
that
shape
it.

A
planetary
system
anchored
by
a
white
dwarf
star,
located
approximately
4,000
light-years
away,
provides

astronomers
with
insights
into
what
could
happen
to
our
Sun
and
Earth
in
about
8
billion
years.
This
scenario
unfolds
if
the
Earth
survives
the
Sun’s
transformation
into
a
red
giant,
expected
to
occur
in
5
to
6
billion
years.
During
this
phase,
the
Sun
will
expand,
potentially
engulfing
Mercury,
Venus,
and
possibly
Earth
before
shrinking
into
a
white
dwarf.

The
Potential
for
Earth’s
Survival

One
scenario
for
Earth’s
survival
involves
its
migration
to
an
orbit
similar
to

Mars
or
beyond,
resulting
in
a
radiation-battered
yet
frozen
world
orbiting
a
burnt-out
star,
as
per
a

study
published
in
the
journal
Nature
Astronomy.
The
newly
discovered
system
reveals
a
white
dwarf
with
half
the
mass
of
the
Sun
and
an
Earth-sized
planet
in
a
wider
orbit,
showcasing
what
a
surviving
Earth
might
resemble.

Keming
Zhang,
a
researcher
from
the
University
of
California,
San
Diego,
highlighted
that
there
is
no
consensus
on
whether
Earth
could
escape
being
swallowed
by
the
red
giant
Sun.
This
system
stands
out
because
it
also
contains
a
massive
companion,
likely
a
brown
dwarf,
which
is
a
stellar
body
that
fails
to
ignite
nuclear
fusion.

The
Discovery
Process

The
planetary
system
was
identified
through
a
microlensing
event,
where
the
gravitational
influence
of
a
body
distorts
the
light
from
a
more
distant
source.
Observations
of
this
event,
dubbed
KMT-2020-BLG-0414,
were
conducted
using
the
Korea
Microlensing
Telescope
Network.
The
investigation
continued
with
the
Keck
telescopes
in
Hawaii,
ultimately
confirming
the
nature
of
the
central
star
as
a
white
dwarf
based
on
the
absence
of
light
expected
from
a
main
sequence
star.

Future
Habitable
Possibilities

While
this
discovery
suggests
that
Earth
could
escape
destruction,
it
raises
questions
about
the
potential
for
life
to
persist
on
our
planet.
Jessica
Lu,
an
astronomer
at
UC
Berkeley,

noted
that
while
Earth
may
avoid
being
engulfed,
it
might
not
remain
habitable
during
the
Sun’s
red
giant
phase.
The
habitable
zone
will
shift
beyond
Earth’s
orbit,
with
Zhang
suggesting
that
humanity
might
need
to
consider
migrating
to
the
moons
of
Jupiter
or
Saturn,
which
could
become
viable
ocean
worlds
as
the
Sun
expands.

Conclusion

This
research
illustrates
the
significance
of
microlensing
in
exploring
planetary
systems.
The
upcoming
Nancy
Grace
Roman
Telescope,
set
for
launch
in
2027,
is
expected
to
enhance
our
ability
to
discover
and
study
exoplanets,
potentially
unveiling
more
unique
configurations
in
the
cosmos.

Semi-aquatic
lizards,
such
as
the
water
anole
(Anolis
aquaticus),
have
a
unique
ability
to
stay
submerged
for
extended
periods
by
creating
an
air
bubble
around
their
snout.
This
behaviour,
first
observed
in
2018,
has
now
been
confirmed
in
18
other
anole

species.
The
air
bubble
helps
the
lizards
breathe
while
underwater,
enabling
them
to
remain
hidden
from
predators
for
longer
durations.
Researchers
have
recently
discovered
that
this
bubble
is
not
just
a
side
effect
of
their
water-repellent
skin
but
plays
an
essential
role
in
their
survival.

Air
Bubbles
Extend
Dive
Times

In
a
study
led
by
Lindsey
Swierk,
assistant
research
professor
in
biological
sciences
at
Binghamton
University,
28
water
anoles
were
observed
to
determine
how
long
they
could
stay
underwater
with
and
without
their
air
bubble.
The
results
revealed
that
anoles
with
the
air
bubble
could
remain
submerged
32%
longer
than
those
without.
This
extra
time
underwater
helps
them
avoid
predators
in
their
natural
habitats
near
riverbanks
in
Costa
Rica
and
Panama.

How
the
Air
Bubble
Works

Water
anoles
produce
the
bubble
by
exhaling,
which
is
then
held
in
place
by
their
hydrophobic
skin.
As
they
dive,
the
bubble
expands
and
contracts,
allowing
the
lizard
to
redistribute
oxygen,
enabling
longer
dives.
The
longest
recorded
dive
for
an
unaltered
anole
during
the

study
lasted
over
five
minutes.
However,
anoles
whose
skin
was
treated
to
prevent
the
formation
of
the
bubble
had
shorter
dive
times.

Future
Research
on
Bubble
Breathing

Swierk
suggests
that
if
the
study
had
been
conducted
in
the
wild,
the
difference
in
dive
times
might
have
been
more
pronounced,
as
the
pressure
from
real
predators
could
push
the
lizards
to
stay
submerged
even
longer.
The
research
team
now
aims
to
explore
whether
the
bubbles
serve
as
a
“physical
gill,”
similar
to
how
diving
beetles
use
trapped
air
to
replenish
their
oxygen
supply.