Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
Toggle light / dark theme

Blog

Category: physics

Astrophysicists have unearthed a surprising diversity in the ways in which white dwarf stars explode in deep space after assessing almost 4,000 such events captured in detail by a next-gen astronomical sky survey. Their findings may help us more accurately measure distances in the universe and further our knowledge of “dark energy.”

The dramatic explosions of at the ends of their lives have for decades played a pivotal role in the study of dark energy—the mysterious force responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe. They also provide the origin of many elements in our periodic table, such as titanium, iron and nickel, which are formed in the extremely dense and hot conditions present during their explosions.

A major milestone has been achieved in our understanding of these explosive transients with the release of a major dataset, and associated 21 publications in an Astronomy & Astrophysics special issue.

Read more | >

In April 1982, Prof. Dan Shechtman of the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology made the discovery that would later earn him the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: the quasiperiodic crystal. According to diffraction measurements made with an electron microscope, the new material appeared “disorganized” at smaller scales, yet with a distinct order and symmetry apparent at a larger scale.

This form of matter was considered impossible, and it took many years to convince the scientific community of the discovery’s validity. The first physicists to theoretically explain this discovery were Prof. Dov Levine, then a doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania and now a faculty member in the Technion Physics department, and his advisor, Prof. Paul Steinhardt.

The key insight that enabled their explanation was that quasicrystals were, in fact, periodic—but in a higher dimension than the one in which they exist physically. Using this realization, the physicists were able to describe and predict mechanical and thermodynamic properties of quasicrystals.

Read more | >

Before arriving at Janelia three years ago, Postdoctoral Scientist Antonio Fiore was designing and building optical instruments like microscopes and spectrometers. Fiore, a physicist by training, came to the Pedram Lab to try something new.

“I focused on the physics rather than investing in the biological applications of the optics I was developing,” Fiore says. “I came to the Pedram Lab in search of a different kind of impact, joining a team that explores areas of biology that need new tools, while keeping a connection to light microscopy.”

So far, Fiore’s new direction is paying off.

Read more | >

Researchers have developed a novel experimental platform to measure the electric fields of light trapped between two mirrors with a sub-cycle precision.

These electro-optic Fabry-Pérot resonators will allow for and observation of light-matter interactions, particularly in the terahertz (THz) spectral range. The study is published in the journal Light: Science & Applications.

The researchers are from the Department of Physical Chemistry at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society and the Institute of Radiation Physics at Helmholtz Center Dresden-Rossendorf.

Read more | >

Combining concepts from statistical physics with machine learning, researchers at the University of Bayreuth have shown that highly accurate and efficient predictions can now be made as to whether a substance will be liquid or gaseous under given conditions. They have published their findings in Physical Review X.

Observation of a glass of water reveals that the water exists in two : liquid and gas. Even at room temperature, water molecules are constantly evaporating from the surface of the liquid water and passing into the gas phase. At the same time, some of the water molecules from the gas condense back into the liquid.

The transition from one phase to the other depends on temperature and pressure. Above a , the simultaneous coexistence of gas and liquid disappears. The resulting supercritical fluid no longer forms an interface. This is important for industrial processes such as separation, cleaning and production.

Read more | >

Scientists have found a way to achieve negative refraction, using carefully arranged atomic arrays instead of engineered metamaterials. VERY GOOD!

Ask the researchers: Do you understand the spacetime background of atomic arrays interactions?

Scientific research guided by correct theories can enable researchers to think more.

Read more | >

https://chatgpt.com/share/67aa58eb-452c-8011-a942-a4a084a17f23

The recent development of AI presents challenges, but also great opportunities.

Want to attend the Demysticon Conference? Go to https://demystifysci.com/demysticon-2025

Mind also my backup channel:

Continue reading “Insane Theoretical Physics Discussion with ChatGPT and DeepSeek” | >

Get a Wonderful Person Tee: https://teespring.com/stores/whatdamath.
More cool designs are on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QFIrFX
Alternatively, PayPal donations can be sent here: http://paypal.me/whatdamath.

Hello and welcome! My name is Anton and in this video, we will talk about the discovery of the most massive superstructure in the nearby universe — Quipu.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.19236
Bohringer et al., Astronomy and Astrophysics, 2025
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sachs%E2%80%93Wolfe_effect.
Similar videos:




https://youtu.be/wp8zHG1g7bc.
#quipu #superstructure #cosmos.

0:00 Largest superstructure in the universe — Quipu.
0:45 Laniakea discovery of 2014
1:25 Shapley concentration.
2:35 Cosmological issues: Hubble Tension and S8 tension.
3:45 New study mapping galaxies and the discovery.
5:15 Additional findings and implications.
6:25 What is this though?
7:20 Confirming predictions and how this was found.
8:40 What’s next?

Support this channel on Patreon to help me make this a full time job:

Continue reading “Discovery of the Most Massive Superstructure in the Universe” | >

How fast is the speed of light? This video explores the true scale of the universe by simulating travel at light speed and beyond. Starting from outside the Milky Way, we move through cosmic objects like Andromeda, the Pleiades, and even our Solar System. Watch as the limits of light speed reveal just how unimaginably vast the universe is. From 1x the speed of light to trillions of times faster, this journey will change how you see the cosmos and our place within it. Perfect for space enthusiasts and anyone curious about the true scale of the universe.

#astronomy #astrophysics #spaceengine #space

Read more | >