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Walk or run in the rain? A physics-based approached to staying dry (or at least drier)

Caught outside without an umbrella as the sky opens up is a common phenomenon, and rushing isn't always going to alleviate the problem of staying dry. A new scientific approach explains the physics behind this. Vertical surfaces like a person's body will be hit by more raindrops as the speed increases, as drops appear to fall at an angle. Walking faster means encountering more drops per second, and reducing time spent in the rain, thereby balancing the two effects. Walking faster reduces the overall amount of water collected on horizontal surfaces like head and shoulders, except when stationary.
When standing still, rain only falls on the horizontal surface of the head and shoulders. As the walker moves, they'll receive raindrops that would have fallen in front, while now missing the drops that fall behind, creating a balance. The amount of rain received on the horizontal surfaces remains the same regardless of walking speed, but walking faster reduces the time spent in the rain, and ultimately the overall amount of water collected on horizontal surfaces will be less.
A mathematical approach to this is also presented with ρ representing the number of drops per unit volume and a denoting their vertical velocity. While moving, the number of drops reaching the vertical surface which was zero when stationary is equal to the number of drops contained within a horizontal cylinder with a base area of Sv and a length of v.T. This length represents the horizontal distance the drops travel during this time interval. In total, the walker receives a number of drops given by the expression: ρ(Sh·a + Sv·v)T.
The equation reveals two key pieces of information, firstly, the faster you move, the less water hits your head and shoulders. Secondly, the total amount of water hitting the vertical part of your body stays the same regardless of speed, because the shorter time spent in the rain is offset by encountering more raindrops per second. The author finally recommends that you walk faster and lean forward to try and remain dry.

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Join the global celebration of Dark Matter Day

Each year, around the end of October, particle physics laboratories, universities, and institutions around the world celebrate Dark Matter Day.
The international celebration aims to shed light on the mystery of dark matter, which makes up approximately 25 percent of the missing mass and energy in the universe.
Scientists continue to search for dark matter using various experiments and tools, such as detectors, particle beams, and telescopes.
Dark Matter Day is sponsored by the Interactions Collaboration, an international community of particle physics communication specialists.

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Physicsworld

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Negative triangularity tokamaks: a power plant plasma solution from the core to the edge?

Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion journal is set to release a special issue on Negative Triangularity Tokamaks with a webinar discussing details surrounding this plasma shaping concept and its potential solution to power exhaust.
Researchers have found that negative triangularity plasmas have been observed to improve energy confinement significantly.
It can improve energy confinement by more than a factor of two whilst materially preventing H-mode.
It holds significant promise in terms of power plant engineering and fusion energy.
The confinement improvement should enable it to achieve similar confinement to a positive triangularity H-mode and avoid typical difficulties of damaging edge localized modes (ELMs) and the narrow scrape-off layer (SOL) width.
The negative triangularity approach offers an elegant and simple method that could reduce the potential problems facing power plant engineering concerning Tokamak's power exhaust.
Lack of certainty is the biggest deficiency facing researchers.
No Tokamak's in the world are configured to create negative triangularity plasmas and the concept has not been visited as much by the theory community.
Researchers will explore what is known and unknown about negative triangularity plasmas and assess its potential future as a power plant solution.
Several theoretical and experimental physicists will come together in a webinar to discuss the possibility of negative triangularity as a power plant solution.

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Physicsworld

294

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How a next-generation particle collider could unravel the mysteries of the Higgs boson

High-energy physics is looking to take the next step now that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is undergoing an upgrade towards the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC). The question remains; what machine should follow that up and where should it be located?
One possibility is the Future Circular Collider (FCC) which is a 91 km circumference collider at CERN. But new technologies suggest more appealing options such as a muon collider.
The Higgs boson was discovered at the LHC in 2012, and research into its properties continues. Discovering how the Higgs boson interacts with all other particles in the Standard Model is still uncertain.
The HL-LHC will amass enormous amounts of data, allowing the understanding of how the Higgs interacts with lighter particles such as the muon and itself. A £1.1bn upgrade is aimed to complete the initiative by the end of the decade.
Following the HL-LHC, particle physicists believe the next machine should be a Higgs factory, the requirements of which could lead to a linear or circular particle collider.
Linear colliders have some advantages over their circular counterparts, such as using less energy which may make it cheaper to build. However, circular colliders allow more detectors in the ring and can be recirculated
The £12bn FCC is CERN’s design choice; it is a stepping stone to a proposed proton-proton machine and runs after the Higgs factory element come into play.
Muon colliders are another consideration. The particles are heavier and a collider that exploits them could offer the advantages of electron machines while propelling the project to the same energy ranges as a proton machine.
Muon colliders require significant R&D before construction but interestingly need less tunnel space than current designs. However, a massive global collaborative effort will still be needed for their creation.
Particle physics is at a major crossroads, and the next machine designed to study the enigmatic Higgs boson will need to unravel its mysteries.

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Knowridge

228

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Scientists create first clear picture of atomic nuclei using quarks and gluons

Scientists have created a detailed picture of atomic nuclei using quarks and gluons.
This breakthrough discovery solves a decades-old puzzle in nuclear physics.
The study combines the understanding of protons and neutrons at low energies with the behavior of quarks and gluons at high energies.
The research provides a unified description of the structure of atomic nuclei and improves the precision of future studies.

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Knowridge

338

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Dark matter has a firm grip on these galaxies

NGC 1270, part of the Perseus Cluster, is the brightest X-ray object in the sky and imaged by Gemini North telescope but dark matter cannot be seen.
The discovery of other galaxies beyond the Milky Way goes back to 1920 when Edwin Hubble found individual stars far beyond the Milky Way which are trillions of other galaxies.
Dark matter, more accurately called invisible matter, binds galaxies and other groups together into a coherent group.
The Perseus Cluster is associated with the Perseus-Pegasus Filament, a long, thin structure of galaxies over a billion light-years.
Scientific theory suggests that a web of invisible dark matter draws galaxies together, where they intersect with its gravitational pull.
Vera Rubin (American astronomer) observed in 1970s that stars move faster than predicted by visible mass of galaxies. She thought there must be more invisible matter than visible matter beyond galaxy’s visible edge.
Our Universe is dominated by Dark matter, which is mapped only by its inference alone, without knowing what it is.
Lambda Cold Dark Matter (Lambda-CDM) model of cosmology is a widely accepted understanding of dark matter but it still can't tell what dark matter is.
Most scientists think that dark matter is some type of particle, but if it is, it is extremely elusive.
Observation of objects like NGC 1270 and the Perseus Cluster can help to see the effects of dark matter, even though we cannot see what it is.

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Physicsworld

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Objects with embedded spins could test whether quantum measurement affects gravity

Theoretical physicists from the UK, India, and the Netherlands have proposed a new experiment to determine whether gravity is affected by the act of measurement.
The experiment, which could potentially be easier to perform, aims to reconcile Einstein’s theory of relativity with quantum theory.
Multiple experimental groups around the world are testing whether gravitational fields can exist in non-classical states that contradict general relativity.
The proposed experiment involves measuring the quantum state of a massive particle that is affected by the detection of its mass.
A diamond crystal containing a single nitrogen vacancy centre would be used to hold the quantum spin at the beginning of the experiment.
The crystal would be passed through a Stern-Gerlach interferometer and experience a magnetic field gradient, deflected by the gradient and recombine with itself.
If a second interferometer placed close enough to detect the gravitational field produced by the first mass, it would collapse the superposition by providing “which path” information.
The researchers are investigating potential ways to implement their proposal in practice, which will take at least 15 years.
One of the researchers argues the proposal may take a small system and measure its gravitational field, but it does not actually avoid the problem.
A paper describing the research has been accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters and is available on the arXiv pre-print server.

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Physicsworld

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Flocking together: the physics of sheep herding and pedestrian flows

Physics World Stories explores the world of crowd dynamics and the surprising science behind how animals and people move together in large groups.
Science writer Philip Ball discusses the principles behind the movement of sheep in flocks and how physics can inform herding tactics.
Alessandro Corbetta talks about his research on pedestrian flow, which won him an Ig Nobel Prize and helps understand the movements of human crowds in busy spaces.
Corbetta shares how winning the Ig Nobel has given his research a broader audience than expected.

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Fyfluiddynamics

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Feeding Hurricanes

Warm oceans intensify hurricanes by providing energy and moisture to the storm.
Ocean surface temperatures of around 27 degrees Celsius are critical for hurricane intensification.
Warmer ocean temperatures sustain a hurricane's warm core and fuel the storm.
As the climate warms, warmer oceans are expected to rapidly intensify tropical storms and hurricanes.

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Brighter Side of News

395

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Giant catapult defies gravity by launching satellites into orbit without the need of rocket fuel

California-based SpinLaunch has developed a revolutionary system to launch satellites into space using a giant rotating arm and eliminating the need for rocket fuel, relying only on electricity. The company has successfully conducted multiple tests and plans to launch satellite constellations into orbits below 600 miles by 2026.
The innovative technology is made possible by modern materials and compact electronic systems that must withstand extreme conditions such as the vacuum of space and rapid acceleration.
SpinLaunch has secured significant funding and collaborated with major organizations like NASA, Airbus, and Cornell University, using their equipment for various tests. They plan to develop a coastal orbital launch site for advancing their technology and offering a viable alternative to conventional rocket launches.
SpinLaunch's innovative technology could dramatically reduce the fuel required for satellite launches and potentially reduce the environmental impact traditionally associated with rocket launches.
SpinLaunch is not the first company to provide innovative satellite launching technologies. The industry is shifting toward more cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly methods such as reusable rockets, 3D-printed rockets, spaceplanes and air-launched systems among others.
Sierra Nevada Corporation is developing a spaceplane, Dream Chaser, to transport cargo to the International Space Station, while Momentus and other companies are developing space tugs.
Hybrid and environmentally-friendly rocket propulsion systems are also under development to reduce the carbon footprint of launches.
Smaller, lighter rockets, such as Rocket Lab's Electron and Astra Space's Rocket 3, which utilize electrically pumped engines, make small satellite launches more affordable and accessible to a wide range of industries, including telecommunications and Earth observation.
Laser and microwave propulsion systems are experimental but potentially offer a sustainable and efficient means of reaching orbit by using ground-based lasers or microwave beams to propel spacecraft.
These innovative technologies open new opportunities for space exploration and commercial applications.

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Physicsworld

401

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Confused by the twin paradox? Maybe philosophy can help

Physicists and philosophers often misunderstand each other's field of study, as this fascinating history of the twin paradox demonstrates. The idea was introduced by Einstein in 1905 and Zeno in ancient Greece and refers to the illusion of time dilation which looks at how each person's perception of time is different relative to one another. French philosopher Bergson had a theory of time that differed to the experts in physics of the day, and Einstein was dismissive of it at a talk at the Paris Philosophical Society in 1922. A new book by a scientist and two philosophers called The Blind Spot acknowledges both views as valuable.
The Blind Spot's authors explain that time cannot be made of abstract instants stuck together, humans live in a temporal flow that French philosopher Bergson called "duration", as being experienced by an individual, but it cannot be measured. Many philosophers have demonstrated that scientific activity arises from and depends on something like duration. What The Blind Spot bring to the table is to use philosophical arguments to show how specific problems arise in science when the role of experience is overlooked.
Einstein and Marcello Gleiser's twin paradox was observed properly when Russians deployed an atomic clock into orbit for an extended period. When the clock returned to Earth, it recorded a different time than an atomic clock that stayed on the surface because of time dilation on the wristwatch of the orbiting astronaut, whose time proceeded slower because they were moving faster.
Bergson's theory of time, which depends on duration, was more complicated that Einstein's, explaining that but some criticise it due to its reliance on the idea that time is one continuous flow. The Blind Spot shows how science arises from, and depends on, experiences nobody can directly measure, and that even simple questions about the fate of the universe or the age of the earth have no absolute answer outside of the estimated measurements we take.
The role of experience in science is a continuing source of confusion for many scientists who do not necessarily consider the subjective perspective in their work. The Blind Spot authors argue that the way we experience the world is fundamental to our understanding of it, complementary to our ability to measure and quantify it through the methods of science.
The Blind Spot helps us to better understand the twin paradox, which is the effect of time dilation (and time travel) popping up in our everyday life. Einstein's theory entailed that the twins would age differently, but Henri Bergson thought that duration underlies the experience of each twin and neither would experience any dilation of it; neither would experience time as "slowing down" or "speeding up". This new work questions what we define as measured time and time flow, in this regard the Blind Spot is doing something profound in the field of philosophy.
Perception of time is different for everyone, and our ability to measure changes with space-time, so what is time? The Blind Spot suggests that the relationship between experience and science can be more symbiotic and less antagonistic, a relationship that is, in fact, essential to the progress of both fields.
The Blind Spot flips the script on most science texts, by focusing on the unsayable aspects of science, that are foundational to such knowledge production. It's a refreshing and thought-provoking take on what we consider to be the purview of science, and what we believe to be part of the unspoken or unexplainable aspects of human experience.
The Blind Spot is a fascinating read that not only illuminates a bit of the history of science, but it does so in a very accessible way.
The authors of this book help us to understand that science cannot be fully understood, and that crucial aspects of its conceptual development involve the experiential or phenomenal that stretches beyond what can be measured or objectified.
Theoretical astrophysicist Adam Frank, is joined by philosopher Evan Thompson and physicist Marcelo Gleiser in the Blind Spot, a book that uses philosophical arguments to show how specific paradoxes and problems arise in science when the role of experience is overlooked.

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Physicsworld

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Physics-based model helps pedestrians and cyclists avoid city pollution

Scientists at the University of Birmingham have developed a physics-based model to help cyclists and pedestrians avoid pollution in cities.
The tool visualizes certain types of pollution in real-time, allowing users to take steps to avoid it.
The data behind the tool can also guide policymakers and urban planners in making cities cleaner and healthier.
The researchers used large-eddy simulations to predict pollutant transport from vehicle emissions and developed an immersive reality tool to make pollutants visible.

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Knowridge

321

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Scientists find new way to generate photon pairs on a chip

Scientists have discovered a new method to generate photon pairs on a chip using lithium niobate material.
The breakthrough could enhance quantum technologies like quantum communication and computing.
The new method, called LPLN (layer-wise poled lithium niobate), improves efficiency and simplifies fabrication.
This discovery has the potential to make quantum technology more accessible and practical for various applications.

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Brighter Side of News

410

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Breakthrough quantum physics experiment proves light travels in both space and time

Physicists from Imperial College London has recreated the double-slit experiment in the dimension of time, revealing more about the fundamental nature of light.
The experiment reflects changes in the frequency of light, rather than its direction. The team altered the color of light by changing the reflectivity of indium-tin-oxide, producing an interference pattern.
This breakthrough has the potential for creating new spectroscopies that can resolve the temporal structure of light pulses, leading to transformative applications in various industries.
Technologies could advance in fields ranging from telecommunications to medicine. Optical computing could result in energy-efficient processors faster than traditional electronic processors.
Better control of light in space and time could lead to more advanced imaging tools and the ability to precisely target and destroy cancer cells. It could also enable the exploration of black hole physics.
The experiment also opens up the potential for creating 'time crystals' - materials that have repeating structures not just in space but also in time - which might lead to ultrafast, parallelized optical switches.
Controlling light at such a fine level might enable more efficient energy systems or advanced sensor technologies for aircraft and vehicles.
With further exploration, these innovations could lead to entirely new ways of understanding and controlling light, providing tools that change everything from the devices in our pockets to the way we diagnose and treat diseases.
This breakthrough marks a significant leap in that direction.
Observation of a spectral diffraction pattern from temporal double slits has opened up endless possibilities for researchers.

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Knowridge

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Astronomers discover ancient quasars with mysterious origins

Astronomers have discovered ancient quasars in the universe that appear to be 'lonely' and isolated in space.
These quasars, formed just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang, puzzled scientists due to their extreme size and brightness at an early stage.
Using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers observed five ancient quasars and found that some exist in near-empty regions, challenging theories about their formation.
The existence of these 'lonely' quasars raises questions about how they grew so large without a rich supply of material around them and sheds light on the formation of galaxies and black holes.

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