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The Only Quantum Mechanics Book You Need as a Beginner

Leonard Susskind’s The Theoretical Minimum book is a great resource for beginners exploring quantum physics.
The book focuses on the fundamental concepts and techniques needed to learn about physics.
Starting with simple topics like spin and qubits, it gradually introduces abstract notions and topics such as superposition, entanglement, and particle dynamics.
The book covers the 'weird' aspects of quantum mechanics while maintaining a connection to the underlying mathematics.

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Physicsworld

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Ants’ hairy jaws help robots to get a grip

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the UK have built a prototype “hairy robotic gripper” that is inspired by the hairs found on ant jaws.
The gripper features two aluminum plates with rows of synthetic hairs that mimic the structure of ant jaws.
Tests showed that the gripper with hairs increased the grasp success rate from 64% to 90% when picking up various objects.
The researchers believe that this technology has potential applications in environmental clean-up, construction, and agriculture.

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Physicsworld

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Brillouin microscopy speeds up by a factor of 1000

Researchers at the EMBL in Germany have developed a new technique in Brillouin microscopy that speeds up image creation by a factor of 1000.
Their technique enables the study of viscoelastic properties of biological samples more quickly and with less damage.
The field of view of image acquisition has increased to roughly 10,000 pixels at a speed of 0.1 Hz, a significant improvement compared to standard confocal techniques.
The researchers hope this advancement will lead to more widespread use of Brillouin microscopy in the life sciences field.

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COSMOS

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New superconducting state could aid search for room temperature superconductor

Physicists have produced a new superconducting state which has modulation in energy gap at the atomic scale.
The new state, named Cooper-pair density modulation (PDM), has stronger energy gaps up to 40% in some areas in flakes of an iron-based superconductor.
This modulation is significant as it provides clearer evidence that energy gap modulation can exist at the atomic scale.
The discovery was made possible through successful scanning tunnelling microscopy of the iron-based superconductor.

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Github

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How engineers can use one-on-ones with their manager to accelerate career growth

One-on-one meetings with managers are crucial for career growth and discovering new opportunities beyond status updates.
They can lead to mentorship, leadership opportunities, and pushing you out of your comfort zone in a positive way.
View one-on-ones as a chance to debug challenges, optimize workflow, and align on long-term career goals.
Use these meetings to discuss not just work updates but also decisions, trade-offs, and career aspirations.
Start early career growth conversations to build clarity and momentum, even if promotion isn't imminent.
Focus on demonstrating readiness for the next career level and seeking opportunities to expand visibility and skills.
Utilize the Three Circles of Impact framework to show value through individual contributions, collaboration, and enabling others.
Highlight persistent blockers and unclear expectations during one-on-ones to seek guidance and rethink problem-solving approaches.
Make these meetings strategic by preparing well, sharing successes, challenges, and growth aspirations with your manager.
Embrace one-on-ones as tools for impact and growth, understanding that your manager needs your direction and input for effective support.

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Quantumfrontiers

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How writing a popular-science book led to a Nature Physics paper

Writing a popular-science book led to a Nature Physics paper on autonomous quantum machines and practical quantum thermodynamics.
The book Quantum Steampunk inspired the author to explore opportunities for the future of quantum thermodynamics.
While conventional thermodynamics accompanied the Industrial Revolution, quantum thermodynamics offered new insights but lacked practical applications.
Autonomous quantum machines access heat from the environment to power themselves without external control.
The author envisioned the need for a quantum SoCal—a setting where autonomous quantum machines can operate effectively.
Collaborating with experimentalist Simone Gasparinetti, they integrated an autonomous quantum refrigerator with a quantum computer.
The experiment demonstrated the quantum refrigerator's ability to cool qubits more efficiently than expected, reaching a temperature of 22 milliKelvin.
The success of the experiment led to a forward-looking review on useful autonomous quantum machines and the potential growth of a subfield.
The collaboration showed that publishing a popular-science book can indeed have a positive impact on one's research.

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Medium

273

Life as a Framework for Unifying Physics

Life is proposed as a physical system defined by energy, mass, information, and feedback loops, aiming to bridge quantum mechanics and general relativity.
A formal model called EMIF is introduced to represent life's interaction of these variables, offering a new perspective on physics.
Life is viewed as a structured system, not just a biological outcome, highlighting the importance of energy, mass, information, and feedback convergence.
The paper explores how life acts as a mechanism to understand the interplay of energy, mass, information, and feedback in shaping physical reality.
A theoretical framework is presented, defining life as a functional system driven by the variables of energy, mass, information, and feedback.
The paper delves into examples like photosynthesis to illustrate how energy, information, and feedback contribute to life's structure and function.
Feedback loops in systems play a crucial role in moving from quantum uncertainty to classical behavior in life-like systems.
An EMIF field is proposed where energy, mass, information, and feedback interact spatially and temporally to characterize physical systems.
The model suggests that life may emerge from the convergence of energy, mass, information, and feedback, offering a path for further empirical and mathematical exploration.
Predictions based on the EMIF framework are explored in areas such as quantum mechanics, cosmology, and artificial intelligence, providing insights into various phenomena.
The framework raises questions about the creation of artificial life and artificial general intelligence, emphasizing ethical considerations and moral boundaries.

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Guardian

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When the physicists need burner phones, that’s when you know America’s changed | John Naughton

American academics are now traveling with 'burner' phones and minimalist laptops due to concerns about their safety and privacy in the US under the Trump administration.
Incidents like the deportation of Dr. Rasha Alawieh and attempts to deport Mahmoud Khalil have raised fears among researchers about the future of academic freedom in the US.
The Trump administration's targeting of universities and research funding further intensifies concerns about the autonomy of academic institutions.
The hostile stance towards universities in the US is likened to the actions of autocrats, with certain areas of research being particularly vulnerable.
There is a growing fear among teachers and researchers in the US about the restrictions on various fields of study, reminiscent of the intolerant atmosphere of the 1930s.
European universities are beginning to offer safe havens for American researchers facing challenges in the US, with initiatives like postdoctoral positions in France and Brussels.
These efforts to provide refuge for at-risk researchers highlight the changing dynamics of academic collaboration and support across different continents.
In contrast, UK institutions appear less proactive in addressing the challenges faced by American academics, indicating a potential shift in international academic relationships.
The article discusses the parallels between the current situation and the need to rescue Jewish scientists during the 1930s, emphasizing the importance of providing support and sanctuary for scholars in peril.
There are stirrings in Europe to establish secure environments for American researchers, showcasing a solidarity movement to protect academic freedom and knowledge exchange.
Overall, the evolving landscape of academic safety and research autonomy calls for global cooperation and support mechanisms to safeguard scholarly pursuits in an increasingly challenging environment.

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Guardian

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‘The physics community has never split like this’: row erupts over plans for new Large Hadron Collider

Plans are underway to build the Future Circular Collider (FCC) beneath the Swiss-French border, costing over $30bn.
The ambitious project could potentially drain funding for other research areas, sparking controversy.
Critics argue that the mega-collider is being imposed on physicists without proper consultation.
The proposal has divided the physics community, leading to concerns about the future of particle physics.
Cern defends the FCC as offering a unique opportunity to explore fundamental aspects of the universe.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at Cern discovered the Higgs particle in 2012 but faces closure by 2040.
Cern's new collider aims to address unresolved mysteries in physics, such as dark matter and antimatter.
Concerns exist about the cost, feasibility, and potential monopolization of funds by the FCC project.
Some scientists suggest exploring alternative technologies like linear accelerators for particle acceleration.
Decisions about the FCC could shape the future direction of particle physics research for generations to come.

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Netflixtechblog

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Foundation Model for Personalized Recommendation

Netflix's personalized recommender system faced challenges in maintaining multiple specialized models, leading to the development of a new foundation model focusing on centralized member preference learning.
The foundation model assimilates information from users' comprehensive interaction histories and content at a large scale, enabling distribution of learnings to other models for fine-tuning or through embeddings.
Inspired by large language models (LLMs), the model emphasizes a data-centric approach and leverages semi-supervised learning for enhanced recommendation accuracy.
Tokenization of user interactions helps in structuring sequences for meaningful insights while balancing between detailed data and processing efficiency.
Sparse attention mechanisms and sliding window sampling are utilized during training to handle extensive user interaction histories while maintaining computational efficiency.
The model's architecture includes request-time and post-action features to predict next interactions, with a multi-token prediction objective to capture longer-term dependencies.
The foundation model addresses unique challenges like entity cold-starting by employing incremental training, inference with unseen entities, and combining learnable item ID embeddings with metadata information.
Downstream applications of the model include predictive tasks, utilizing embeddings for various purposes, and fine-tuning with specific data for diverse applications.
Scaling the foundation model for Netflix recommendations involves robust evaluation, efficient training algorithms, and substantial computing resources to enhance generative recommendation tasks.
The transition to a comprehensive system from multiple specialized models signifies a significant advancement in personalized recommendation systems, offering promising results for downstream integrations.

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Medium

276

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The End of Science, Prediction, Power and the Opportunities for a Sensible Reassessment

AI systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated, surpassing human methods in predicting and modeling the universe.
The rise of AI in science challenges the significance of understanding physical reality ourselves.
AI-driven science can help in solving pressing problems and bring about human flourishing.
Embracing our limitations and focusing on conscious pursuits can lead to a more fulfilling role in the universe.

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Medium

259

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Paul Dirac: The Silent Architect of Reality

The Dirac equation, a masterpiece bridging quantum mechanics and special relativity, introduced antimatter predictions and reshaped physics.
Dirac's equation led to the discovery of the positron, confirming the existence of antimatter and its significance in the universe.
Dirac's work on magnetic monopoles hinted at their existence and their potential to explain charge quantization mysteries.
His influence extended to Richard Feynman, inspiring the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics.
Dirac, a renowned physicist with an eccentric persona, was highly literal-minded and sparing with words.
Despite his social awkwardness, Dirac's brilliance was esteemed by fellow physicists, including Feynman.
Dirac's preference for equations over attention led to his lower public recognition compared to Einstein and Feynman.
His legacy lies in the profound impact of his equations on modern physics, shaping fields like quantum field theory.
Dirac's silent dedication to precision and truth elevated his equations to unveil hidden structures of reality.
His profound contributions, from antimatter to the fabric of space-time, place him among the greatest scientific minds in history.
Paul Dirac's work exemplifies that science transcends fame, focusing on ideas and the continuous exploration of reality's depths.

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Hobbieroth

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The Rest of the Story 5

William Oldendorf, the inventor of Computed Tomography (CT), was a brilliant and modest individual with a passion for science.
He developed the concept of noninvasive brain imaging using multiple x-ray beams in different directions.
Although he faced initial rejection, other scientists built upon his idea, leading to the development of CT scanning, revolutionizing medicine.
In 1979, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to the contributors to CT, excluding Oldendorf.

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Medium

135

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Archimedes: The Ancient Genius Whose Ideas Still Shape Our World

Archimedes, born in 287 BCE in Syracuse, Sicily, was a polymath with contributions in mathematics, engineering, and astronomy.
He approached mathematics methodically, pioneering new concepts like the area of a circle and integral calculus.
Archimedes' principle of buoyancy revolutionized fluid mechanics and led to practical applications in science and engineering.
His Archimedean Screw, still used for irrigation, showcases his inventive spirit and timeless engineering solutions.
Not just a theorist, Archimedes also excelled in practical applications, designing war machines during a siege by the Romans.
Despite his tragic death during the Roman conquest, Archimedes' enduring legacy lies in his foundational contributions to mathematics and physics.
His work on calculus, fluid mechanics, and simple machines continues to influence modern science and engineering practices.
Archimedes' curiosity, problem-solving skills, and innovative mindset set the stage for future advancements, making him a timeless symbol of genius.
His story serves as a reminder that asking the right questions and taking action are essential for true intellectual progress.
Archimedes' impact on fields like mathematics, physics, and engineering transcends time, inspiring generations to pursue knowledge and innovation.

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Physicsworld

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Sterile neutrinos are a no-show (again)

New data from the NOvA experiment at Fermilab in the US show no evidence for "sterile" neutrinos, aligning with standard neutrino oscillation models.
Sterile neutrinos, a potential explanation for discrepancies in neutrino detections, have not been observed in NOvA's study.
Neutrinos exist in three flavours (electron, muon, tau) and oscillate as they travel, hinting at their nonzero mass.
Sterile neutrinos, which interact only via gravity, could impact our understanding of particle physics and dark matter.
The NOvA experiment's two detectors measured neutrino oscillation over a distance of 810 km, finding no oscillation into sterile neutrinos.
Comparing data to neutrino oscillation models, the researchers found no excess neutrinos suggesting the presence of sterile neutrinos.
Results are consistent with previous experiments like T2K, Daya Bay, RENO, and MINOS+, providing stricter limits on active-sterile neutrino mixing.
The NOvA team aims to reduce uncertainties and improve detection methods to further explore the potential existence of sterile neutrinos.
Co-spokesperson Patricia Vahle emphasizes the importance of checking for anomalies in neutrino studies and hints at further investigations.
The absence of sterile neutrinos in NOvA's findings contributes to the ongoing discourse on the elusive nature of these particles in particle physics.

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