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Guardian

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Ian Shipsey obituary

Ian Shipsey, a physicist passed away at the age of 65, was known for developing silicon devices of precision to study subatomic particle collisions and light from the edge of the universe.
Shipsey played a significant role in unlocking the secrets of the earliest fractions of a second of the universe using these silicon devices.
Ever since going profoundly deaf after leukaemia treatment in 1989, Shipsey wore a cochlear implant from 2001 that helped him develop strategies to better interact with people and bridge disabilities.
Shipsey was not only known for posing the right scientific questions, but also for developing the necessary detectors that could yield answers to them.
He was one of the leaders of LHC experimentation, and developed novel silicon detectors to isolate rare decay instances of muon.
He led the application of silicon detectors to track the light from extremely remote objects in the universe and was a pioneer of the Vera C Rubin Observatory LSST Camera in both the US and the UK.
Towards the end of his career, in his pursuit to address fundamental questions in science, he steered several major initiatives to success, generally revolving around devices based on quantum entanglement.
Born in London, Shipsey was the son of Mary and Edward Shipsey. He graduated in physics from what is now Queen Mary University, London.
Ian hallucinated asymmetries in particle physics laws to determine the differences between matter and antimatter and constructed his first silicon detector for the project, leading to his pioneering work in developing silicon devices.
Despite his enormous load of research, he inspired over 100 faculty members as a dynamic head of the physics department at Oxford as Henry Moseley Centenary professor of experimental physics.

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Brighter Side of News

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NASA engineer developed a propellant-less rocket that defies conventional laws of physics

Dr. Charles Buhler, a NASA engineer and co-founder of Exodus Propulsion Technologies, has developed a propellant-less propulsion drive that defies conventional laws of physics.
The innovation utilizes electric fields to generate sustainable thrust without expelling mass, potentially revolutionizing space travel.
Dr. Buhler unveiled the breakthrough at the Alternative Propulsion Energy Conference, emphasizing its significance and encouraging collaboration with interested parties.
Their experiments have shown sustained thrust and achieved a milestone of generating thrust equivalent to one Earth gravity.

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Physicsworld

166

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‘Buddy star’ could explain Betelgeuse’s varying brightness

Betelgeuse, the red supergiant star, experiences a cycle known as the long secondary period (LSP).
Low-mass companion star named Alpha Ori B or 'Betelbuddy' may be responsible for the recent 'Great Dimming' of Betelgeuse.
A team of researchers analysed direct-observation data and combined it with advanced computer models to simulate Betelgeuse's activity.
Research hypothesis suggests the brightness of Betelgeuse varies when Betelbuddy displaces light-blocking dust.
Betelgeuse is the 10th brightest star in the night sky located 548 light-years away, in the constellation Orion.
Studies have shown that LSPs in red giants could be due to an orbiting companion star displacing cosmic dust, changing the amount of starlight reaching earth.
Advanced computer models revealed that the companion star could remove dust from its vicinity, resulting in the brightest phase of the star.
Observing space telescopes can provide direct evidence of this companion star’s existence.
The research may have far-reaching implications have more targets out there and potentially a need for more detailed models on how companions and dust clouds may interact.
The study has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal.

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Physicsworld

313

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Black hole in rare triple system sheds light on natal kicks

Astronomers have observed a black hole in a triple system with two other stars for the first time.
The observation supports the idea that some black holes do not experience a “natal kick” in momentum when they form.
The study used archival observations of V404 Cygni and revealed the presence of a distant tertiary star orbiting the black hole-binary system.
The research provides insights into the formation of black holes and suggests that some black holes can form with no natal kick.

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Physicsworld

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UK particle physicist Mark Thomson selected as next CERN boss

The UK particle physicist Mark Thomson has been selected as the 17th director-general of the CERN particle-physics laboratory.
Thomson, 58, will take up the position on 1 January 2026 for a five-year period succeeding Fabiola Gianotti.
Thomson has a PhD in physics from the University of Oxford and is currently the executive chair of the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
His main tasks will include overseeing the start of operations with the upgraded LHC and securing plans for the future collider project.

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Knowridge

397

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Feasting black hole found devouring matter at unbelievable speeds in early universe

Astronomers have discovered a black hole in the early universe that is consuming matter at an astonishing rate—more than 40 times the theoretical limit.
The black hole, known as LID-568, was found in a galaxy only 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang.
Observing LID-568 has helped shed new light on how black holes in the universe's youth grew so large so quickly.
This discovery supports theories that black holes could grow rapidly through intense feeding episodes, providing insights into the evolution of supermassive black holes in the universe.

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Physicsworld

205

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Timber! Japan launches world’s first wooden satellite into space

Researchers in Japan have successfully launched the world’s first wooden satellite, called LignoSat2, to test the durability of wood in space.
The satellite, developed by Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Wood is considered a more durable and sustainable alternative to metals in space due to its ability to withstand the harsh environment without rotting or burning.
If successful, wooden satellites could provide an environmentally friendly solution as they would burn up upon re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.

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Fyfluiddynamics

226

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Blocking Bubbles

Many industrial processes, including those producing aluminum and “green” hydrogen, use electrodes to speed up chemical reactions.
Bubbles that form on the electrode reduce its efficiency by blocking parts of the electrode.
A recent study shows that only the electrode area in direct contact with the bubble is blocked, not the entire shaded area.
Nanotextured electrodes with many spots for bubble formation actually perform better than smooth electrodes because the bubble contact area is smaller.

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Physicsworld

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Physicists propose new solution to the neutron lifetime puzzle

Physicists at TU Wien propose a possible explanation for the discrepancy in measuring the neutron lifetime.
The difference in lifetimes measured using the bottle technique and the beam technique could be due to the neutron being in undiscovered excited states.
The team suggests that the transition matrix describing the decay of neutrons into protons would be different for neutrons in excited states and ground states.
Experimental tests are needed to confirm the hypothesis and shed new light on the structure of neutral nuclear matter.

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Physicsworld

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Women and physics: navigating history, careers, and the path forward

Join us for an insightful webinar based on Women and Physics (Second Edition), where we will explore the historical journey, challenges, and achievements of women in the field of physics, with a focus on English-speaking countries.
The session will dive into various topics such as the historical role of women in physics, the current statistics on female representation in education and careers, navigating family life and career, and the critical role men play in fostering a supportive environment.
Laura McCullough, a professor of physics at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, will be sharing her expertise in gender and science, women in leadership, and students with disabilities.
The webinar aims to provide a roadmap for women looking to thrive in physics and features updated references and new chapters on career issues in the second edition of the book Women and Physics.

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Physicsworld

105

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Why AI is a force for good in science communication

In August 2024, Cosmos, an Australian science magazine, published AI-written articles that were fact-checked to avoid misinformation. However, one contained errors, leading to criticism for devaluing science journalism and concerns about the misuse of AI technology. Although generative AI has the capability to create new patterns, it can contribute to online misinformation and inaccuracies. But AI could benefit science communication in ways many do not realize, including providing broader accessibility to those facing barriers to education and communication.
Generative AI, which can create new interpretations, could spell trouble for science journalism, with misinformation and copyright issues being some of the concerns scientists and researchers have raised.
Generative AI can do more than just create articles. Chatbots, like ChatGPT, which can understand natural language, offer great potential for interactive and conversational discussions about science.
Generative AI could also prove beneficial for groups that face cultural and geographic barriers to educational resources, especially in helping such groups become more familiar with scientific concepts.
Generative AI is here to stay. However, information obtained from AI needs to be fact-checked, and science communication and journalism providers must be transparent in explaining how they used AI.
Although AI could increase the range of voices and making physics more accessible, it could worsen existing inequalities in society and contribute to biases in healthcare data. AI is not a substitute for critical thinking and having something substantial to say.
Generative AI can be a helpful tool for science communication while presenting its own set of unique challenges and concerns. However, incorporating AI into the scientific information ecosystem and evaluating it continuously is essential to maintain the quality of science journalism and public trust in science.

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Popsci

408

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Baseball’s legendary ‘magic mud’ finally analyzed by scientists

Baseball’s iconic “magic mud” has had its unique properties scientifically quantified in a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The mud improves the grip on the ball, can dull the shine on a new ball, and keep it from getting damaged.
The mud, Lena Blackburne Baseball Rubbing Mud, has been harvested since the 1930s by the Bintliff family in a secret location along the Delaware River estuary in southern New Jersey.
Sportswriter Matthew Gutierrez asked the group at Penn to analyze mud’s composition and flow behavior to see if the mud actually makes balls perform better, as players claim.
By 2021, a University of Pennsylvania scientist examined the mud using three different experiments and found that the mud's combination of stickiness, spreadability and friction let pitchers get a great grip on the ball.
But once it dries, the mud provides friction due to the sparse amount of sand present in it. The mud's consistency and combination of properties surprised the researchers.
MLB has considered replacing the magic mud with synthetic lubricants, but none of them have replicated the natural mud's properties.
The researchers hope their work can lead to more study of mud properties and an understanding of erosion, and further the study of looking to natural substances for more sustainable materials.
Nature creates these materials and we were able to look at their mechanical properties,” says Shravan Pradeep.
“So there are other materials out there which we don’t know what they do, but have exotic mechanical or transport properties that we might want to look at. They could be an inspiration for a different group of lubricants or gripping materials to engineer them.”

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Physicsworld

215

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Space-based solar power: ‘We have nothing to lose and everything to gain’

Space-based solar power (SBSP) involves capturing sunlight in space and beaming it as microwaves down to Earth, where it would be converted into electricity to power the grid. Wind, solar and batteries are 'low-density' renewables, requiring many tonnes of minerals to be mined and refined for each megawatt-hour of energy. SBSP technology can deliver baseload power 24 hours a day, irrespective of local weather conditions on Earth. Low-density renewables require a Herculean expansion in electricity grid transmission pylons and cables to connect them to users. Recently, Physics World reported that introducing just 8 GW of SBSP into the UK’s energy mix would deliver system savings of over £4bn every year.
The utility of SBSP is likely to be even greater when considering whole continents or global alliances, as it has a truly global impact. Proponents believe that SBSP is a “no-regrets” investment that will see huge environmental and economic benefits, with spin-off technologies in wireless power beaming, in-space assembly and photovoltaics. However, skeptics have criticized SBSP for its cost and practicality. NASA’s report on SBSP made absurdly conservative assumptions of the economics; however, the same study also looked at more reasonable scenarios than the “baseline” and concluded that 'these conditions would make SBSP systems highly competitive with any assessed terrestrial renewable electricity production technology’s 2050 cost projections'.
Currently, the UK has a leadership position in SBSP, with one company, Space Solar, designing a solar-power satellite called CASSIOPeiA with more than twice the power-per-unit-mass as ESA's design. The first commercial product, which could be launched by a single Starship rocket, is expected by 2029 and can deliver 30 MW of power at scale. Although engineering challenges still remain, efforts are underway to ensure SBSP remains an affordable and reliable clean energy source.
Despite current skeptics, SBSP's global impact on affordable, reliable, and clean energy offers us the opportunity to transition to sustainable energy sources, which can power our life quality and maintain energy security. There's nothing to lose and everything to gain from supporting the advancement of SBSP.

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Physicsworld

185

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Axion clouds around neutron stars could reveal dark matter origins

Hypothetical particles called axions could form dense clouds around neutron stars, potentially revealing the origins of dark matter.
Axions, being a possible candidate for dark matter, are extremely light and hardly interact with ordinary matter.
Researchers found that axions, if they exist, will be produced in large quantities at the polar regions of neutron stars and accumulate forming a cloud dense enough to emit detectable signals.
Several large radio telescopes, such as LOFAR and Murchison Widefield Array, could potentially detect the radiofrequency signatures of axion clouds.

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Knowridge

186

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The connection between black holes and dark energy is getting stronger

A new theory suggests that black holes might be the cause of dark energy, the mysterious force behind the accelerated expansion of the Universe.
The theory proposes that as more black holes form in the Universe, the pressure from dark energy increases.
Data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) supports the theory, showing a correlation between the density of dark energy and the number and mass of black holes.
Further observations and research are needed to confirm this hypothesis and quantify the growth of black holes over time.

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