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How physics raised the roof: the people and places that drove the science of acoustics

Pistols in St Paul’s chronicles the development of acoustics in architecture during the first half of the 20th century, starting with a revolver experiment in St Paul's Cathedral in 1951.
Architectural acoustics evolved through innovative experiments over decades, driven by dedicated researchers like Hope Bagenal and physicist Wallace Clement Sabine.
Sabine's formula for predicting sound fading, known as reverberation time, became foundational in architectural acoustics.
Materials and interventions in venues like Royal Albert Hall and Abbey Road Studios were studied for their acoustic impact.
Acoustic design in spaces like the Glasgow Empire Exhibition concert hall showcased advancements, while wars influenced and punctuated acoustic work.
Funding wrangles, emergence of acoustic material companies, and technological advancements like tape recorders shaped architectural acoustics research.
The book delves into how research in acoustics influenced the design of Royal Festival Hall in London, the first building designed with acoustic science in mind.
While well-researched with historical photos and quotes, some repetition and lack of detailed physics explanations were noted in the book.
Overall, the book paints a vivid picture of legendary auditoria, offering a greater understanding of the physics behind music and acoustics.
Readers can gain insight into the pivotal role physics and physicists played in shaping the music heard in iconic venues like the Royal Albert Hall.

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Physicsworld

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The complex and spatially heterogeneous nature of degradation in heavily cycled Li-ion cells

Understanding the performance of heavily cycled Li-ion batteries is important for electric vehicles and grid storage.
Spatially resolved synchrotron x-ray diffraction and computed tomography are used to map and characterize the behavior of cycled cells.
Analysis and modeling of complex and spatially heterogeneous degradation require a different approach.
Single-crystal cathodes demonstrate remarkable durability after 20,000 cycles, equivalent to driving an EV for 8 million km.

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Physicsworld

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Fermilab’s Anna Grassellino: eyeing the prize of quantum advantage

The Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems (SQMS) Center, led by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Chicago, Illinois), aims to develop advanced quantum computers and sensors using technologies from particle accelerators.
Established under the US National Quantum Initiative, SQMS is funded with $115m to address scientific challenges in quantum computing and sensors with 35 partner institutions.
The focus is on extending the coherence time of superconducting quantum states for efficient information storage and processing in qubits.
SQMS has made progress in reducing decoherence in qubits, achieving improved lifetimes and performance stability in quantum processors.
The collaboration works on technology transfer, quantum processor advancements, and quantum sensors for various applications, including in particle physics and MRI research.
Research efforts include scaling cryogenic systems for more qubits per refrigerator, optimizing microwave interconnects, and building strong partnerships with industry and academic institutions.
Collaborations with companies like Rigetti and IBM focus on enhancing quantum processors, developing quantum interconnects, and simulating physics problems using quantum computing.
Partnerships with suppliers and capacity-building initiatives, like the Quantum Garage laboratory, support SQMS's quantum R&D and technology innovation goals.
SQMS plans to continue coherence research, advance 3D SRF cavity-based quantum computing, and work on scaling quantum systems for large data centers with millions of qubits.
The center emphasizes quantum workforce development through recruitment, annual educational events like the US Quantum Information Science School, and discussions on launching a master's degree in quantum engineering.

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Netflixtechblog

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Title Launch Observability at Netflix Scale

In the blog post 'Launch Observability at Netflix Scale,' Varun Khaitan discusses the strategies and architecture implemented to achieve comprehensive title observability at scale.
The introduction of observability endpoints was a key step, with each microservice in the Personalization stack required to introduce a 'Title Health' endpoint.
The endpoints were designed to accurately reflect production behavior, standardize communication, and follow the Insight Triad principle of 'Healthy,' 'why not healthy,' and 'how to fix it.'
Standardization was achieved through a stable proto request/response format, enhancing adoption, system simplicity, and debuggability for engineers.
The importance of providing detailed information in endpoint responses to aid Launch Managers and partner engineers in understanding and addressing issues was emphasized.
A high-level architecture was outlined, detailing the establishment of observability endpoints, proactive monitoring, real-time data tracking, optimized data storage, and APIs for stakeholders.
Proactive monitoring was conducted through scheduled collector jobs, ensuring title health evaluations for various Netflix rows.
Real-time Title Impressions were monitored via Kafka Queue, aggregating impressions data to assess title performance in near-real-time.
Data storage and distribution were facilitated through Hollow Feeds, allowing for efficient dissemination of health data across service boxes.
An Observability Dashboard, powered by the Health Check Engine, provided stakeholders with current title status across supported rows.

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Medium

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JWST data analysis confirms 1.138 & it’s a “Universal Constant”

1.138 is a recurring number that appears to act as a hidden universal balancing force across different structures in the cosmos.
Using empirical data, simulated models, and JWST observations, scientists explore the significance of 1.138 in bridging gaps in fundamental physics.
1.138 appears in galactic spiral formations, gravitational lensing effects, and quantum field stability, suggesting it may be a universal correction factor in the framework of space-time.
Further research is needed to test the presence of 1.138 in more galactic clusters, quantum applications, and its potential link to dark matter theory.

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Github

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Finding leaked passwords with AI: How we built Copilot secret scanning

In October 2024, Copilot secret scanning was introduced by GitHub to detect generic passwords in users’ codebases using AI.
Copilot secret scanning is a part of GitHub Secret Protection and aims to enhance security alerts' precision by utilizing AI for analyzing context.
The development of Copilot secret scanning underwent challenges related to unconventional file types and structures, requiring iterative improvements.
Initial iterations involved using large language models like GPT-3.5-Turbo and developing an offline evaluation framework to validate the approach.
Enhancements to the prompt and evaluation process were made based on feedback, and various experimentations were conducted to improve detection quality.
The implementation involved using a combination of models, prompting strategies, and request management systems for optimal performance and efficiency.
The mirror testing framework helped in assessing detection quality before moving Copilot secret scanning to general availability, leading to increased precision.
Lessons learned include focusing on precision, incorporating diverse test cases, effective resource management, and collaborative innovation for continuous improvement.
Copilot secret scanning now covers 35% of GitHub Secret Protection repositories and continues to evolve to meet user needs for robust application security.
GitHub Secret Protection, including Copilot secret scanning, offers enterprise solutions for preventing accidental secret exposure and is available for purchase starting April 1, 2025.

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Fyfluiddynamics

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Disappearing Sea Ice Ridges

A new study reveals that sea ice ridges in the Arctic are gradually disappearing.
The reduction in size and number of sea ice ridges is attributed to the loss of older sea ice.
The smoother sea ice allows for faster movement, possibly due to faster ocean currents.
This change leads to wider, shallower melt ponds, accelerating the overall melting of the ice.

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Physicsworld

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‘Phononic shield’ protects mantis shrimp from its own shock waves

Researchers at Northwestern University have identified a structure within the mantis shrimp that filters out harmful frequencies, allowing it to use shock waves to strike and kill prey without damaging its own tissues.
The finding could lead to the development of novel advanced protective materials for military and civilian applications.
The shrimp's unique structure consists of a hard hydroxyapatite coating, mineralized chitin fibers, and a Bouligand structure that features phononic bandgaps.
The phononic shield could inspire the design of protective materials for helmets, personnel armor, and packaging for sensitive devices.

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Knowridge

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Scientists set new limits on dark matter’s mysterious lifetime

Scientists have used advanced technology to set new limits on the lifetime of dark matter.
Dark matter is an invisible substance that makes up most of the mass in the universe.
Using a special spectrograph, the researchers observed two distant galaxies to look for decay signals.
The study suggests that if axion-like particles exist, they could last at least 10 to the power of 25 to 26 seconds.

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Physicsworld

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Thirty years of the Square Kilometre Array: here’s what the world’s largest radio telescope project has achieved so far

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) achieved 'first light' last year, producing its first-ever images, with planned 197 dishes and 131,072 antennas to make it the largest and most sensitive radio telescope.
SKA sites in Australia and South Africa will work together under a single observatory, focusing on low-frequencies and middle-range frequencies respectively, to study topics like galaxies formation and dark matter.
Over three decades, SKA has benefitted from smaller experiments like pathfinders and precursors, such as MeerKAT and HERA, which have trialed new technologies and contributed to the project's advancement.
MeerKAT in South Africa, a precursor to SKA-Mid, has provided detailed images of the Milky Way's centre, capturing long radio-emitting filaments and contributing to understanding cosmic structures.
HERA, focusing on the Epoch of Reionization, is observing fluctuations in primordial hydrogen, providing crucial insights into the early universe's evolution and guiding SKA observations.
Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) in Australia has discovered new objects like radio transients, challenging existing models of stellar evolution and enhancing our understanding of cosmic phenomena.
Australian SKA-Low and ASKAP are conducting giant sky surveys and spotting fast radio bursts, unveiling new classes of radio sources and assisting in solving mysteries of the universe.
However, the proliferation of communication satellites is posing challenges for SKA and its precursors by causing interference with observations, leading to efforts to regulate and reduce the impact.
Despite challenges, the SKA project and its precursors are pushing the boundaries of astronomy, making unexpected discoveries, and charting a path for groundbreaking advancements in radio astronomy.

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Knowridge

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New technology helps gravitational-wave detectors see further into the universe

Physicists from the University of California, Riverside have introduced a new optical technology to enhance the capabilities of gravitational-wave observatories like LIGO.
The advanced adaptive optics system developed by the team corrects distortions caused by high-powered lasers, allowing LIGO to increase laser power levels and improve mirror performance.
This technology will also contribute to the future observatory, Cosmic Explorer, enabling scientists to observe the universe as it was 14 billion years ago and settle mysteries regarding the universe's expansion.
Gravitational-wave detection and exploration of black holes will provide insights into fundamental physics and test Einstein's theories.

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Arstechnica

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These hot oil droplets can bounce off any surface

Physicists from the City University of Hong Kong have figured out how to achieve the bouncing behavior of hot oil droplets off almost any surface.
Understanding the mechanisms behind these phenomena is crucial for practical applications such as self-cleaning, anti-icing, anti-fogging, surface charge printing, or droplet-based logic systems.
Normally, droplets only bounce if the surface is superheated or engineered to reduce stickiness, but the research shows that hot oil droplets can bounce off almost any surface.
The phenomenon is similar to the Leidenfrost effect, first described in 1756, in which water droplets sizzle and evaporate quickly on a hot surface, but bounce and skitter across the surface when it is well above water's boiling point.

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Brighter Side of News

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NASA Scientist Creates a Space Rocket That Runs Without Fuel

Dr. Charles Buhler, a veteran NASA engineer, has developed a propellantless propulsion drive that defies gravity.
The innovation harnesses electric fields to generate sustainable thrust without expelling mass, revolutionizing propulsion technology.
Through years of experimentation and collaboration, Buhler's team achieved significant milestones and secured patents for their discovery.
The breakthrough opens new possibilities for space exploration and invites further scientific inquiry.

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Physicsworld

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Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost mission achieves perfect lunar landing

The US firm Firefly Aerospace has claimed to be the first commercial company to achieve “a fully successful soft landing on the Moon.”
Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar lander landed in an upright, stable configuration on the Moon's surface and will operate for 14 days.
The mission is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative and carries 10 NASA instruments.
Firefly's Blue Ghost Mission 2 is expected to launch next year to land on the far side of the Moon.

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Physicsworld

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Ask me anything: Artur Ekert – ‘Nature doesn’t know that we divided all phenomena into physics, chemistry and biology’

Artur Ekert, a leading scientist in quantum cryptography, emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and cross-disciplinary knowledge.
He believes that being able to connect different fields of study is crucial for advancing scientific understanding.
Ekert also mentions that the administrative aspects of his job are the least favorite, while meeting interesting people is the most enjoyable.
Reflecting on his career, Ekert encourages following instincts and interests, without being overly concerned with practicalities.

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