physics

An artistic illustration shows how microscopic bolometers (depicted on the right) can be used to sense very weak radiation emitted from qubits (depicted on the left). Credit: Aleksandr Käkinen/Aalto University Chasing ever-higher qubit counts in near-term quantum computers constantly demands new feats of engineering. Among the troublesome hurdles of this scaling-up race is refining how … Read more

Mouhamed Sall, who is deaf, attends class at the Guinaw Rail Sud public high school in Pikine, Senegal, Monday, March 18, 2024. Sall and three other students are part of a new approach in a small number of schools in Senegal that seat those who are deaf and hard of hearing with the rest of … Read more

The decision is expected to set a legal precedent for other European states. Europe’s top rights court on Tuesday said Switzerland was not doing enough to tackle climate change in a historic decision that could force governments to adopt more ambitious climate policies. The European Court of Human Rights, part of the 46-member Council of … Read more

Main histological features of the giant ichthyosaurs lower jaws. Credit: PeerJ (2024). DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17060 Several similar large, fossilized bone fragments have been discovered in various regions across Western and Central Europe since the 19th century. The animal group to which they belonged is still the subject of much debate to this day. A study carried … Read more

Credit: CC0 Public Domain Worldwide over the past 35 years, dams and land reclamation activities have converted 250,000 acres of estuary—an area roughly 17 times the size of Manhattan—to urban land or agricultural fields, with most land conversion and estuary loss in rapidly developing countries, a new study finds. The findings could help developing countries … Read more

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A new fertilizer recommendation tool, developed nationally in collaboration with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, could save farmers millions of dollars annually while reducing excess nutrient losses to the environment. FRST (Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool) is a decision aid that provides an unbiased, science-based interpretation of soil test phosphorus and potassium … Read more

A fractured stick of lactic acid with added ultra-high molecular weight LAHB (left) exhibits obvious white discolorations at the fracture face, which is a sign of plastic deformation in toughened materials. On the other hand, pure polylactic acid (right) does not show such whitening, which is a sign of brittle materials. Credit: Koh Sangho Engineered … Read more

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Algorithms were supposed to make our lives easier and fairer: help us find the best job applicants, help judges impartially assess the risks of bail and bond decisions, and ensure that health care is delivered to the patients with the greatest need. By now, though, we know that algorithms can be … Read more

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) heard in September 2023 a case brought by six Portuguese youths accusing governments of moving too slowly to counter climate change. The battle against climate change is increasingly being fought in the courtroom, as national governments, specific laws and individual companies are targeted over their role in the … Read more

Credit: CC0 Public Domain Just two emails, at the right time with the right message, can make a big difference for students who are the first in their families to go to college. A recent Washington State University study highlighted the power of an instructors’ growth mindset—the belief that abilities are not innate but can … Read more