Lifeboat Foundation

Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced when metals like uranium or radium break down in rocks and soil, is a known cause of lung cancer. Now new research has found exposure to high levels of this indoor air pollutant is associated with an increased risk of another condition in middle age to older female participants with ischemic stroke. The study is published in the January 3, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage of blood flow to the brain and is the most common type of stroke.

The condition, called clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), develops when some hematopoietic stem cells, the building blocks for all blood cells, undergo genetic mutations as a person ages. Cells with such mutations replicate more quickly than cells without them. Previous research has shown people with CHIP may have a higher risk of blood cancers like leukemia and cardiovascular disease including stroke.

Continue reading “Is Radon linked to health condition other than lung cancer?” »

Ever think you’d see a single atom without staring down the barrel of a powerful microscope? Oxford University physicist David Nadlinger has won the top prize in the fifth annual Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s (EPSRC) national science photography competition for his image ‘Single Atom in an Ion Trap’, which does something incredible: makes a single atom visible to the human eye.

Click image to zoom. Photo: David Nadlinger/EPSRC

Captured on an ordinary digital camera, the image shows an atom of strontium suspended by electric fields emanating from the metal electrodes of an ion trap—those electrodes are about 2mm apart. Nadlinger shot the photo through the window of the ultra-high vacuum chamber that houses the ion trap, which is used to explore the potential of laser-cooled atomic ions in new applications such as highly accurate atomic clocks and sensors, and quantum computing.

A history-making mission to send a commercial lander to the moon is set to carry DNA to the final frontier.

In an exciting development, researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have made significant strides in the exploration of a material known as LK99 and its potential for superconductivity. This innovative research, rooted in computational methods, has stirred the scientific community, despite initial skepticism. Their determined investigation into the optimization of LK99 as a superconductor holds promise for a scientific breakthrough, shedding light on the persistent nature of scientific research and the pursuit of knowledge.

Unraveling the Mysteries of LK99

Scientists at Berkeley Lab have been delving into the possibilities held by LK99, a material identified as a candidate for superconductivity. Their computational work suggests that through careful optimization, LK99 can indeed function as a superconductor. This breakthrough is the result of a relentless commitment to scientific exploration and the willingness to challenge conventional wisdom.

Governor Kristi Noem has proposed a $6 million investment in a new Center for Quantum Information Science & Technology (C-QIST) in her recommended budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

According to details from the proposed budget, the center, a collaborative effort between Dakota State University, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, South Dakota State University, and the University of South Dakota, aims to position the state as a leader in this emerging field with the potential to revolutionize everything from national security to healthcare.

The governor mentioned the potential of quantum computers to solve intractable problems as a reason for pursuing a quantum computing center, according to South Dakota Searchlight.

Chip likely designed for Samsung, Google mixed reality headset.

To delve into the technical specifications, Apple’s Vision Pro boasts an impressive resolution of 11.5 million pixels per eye, more than a 4K TV for each eye, with a total resolution of 23 million pixels.

Continue reading “Qualcomm unveils cutting-edge XR chipset to compete with Apple Vision Pro” »

Small and medium-sized enterprises should be ready for opportunities and threats of the oncoming quantum era.

In this introduction to quantum consciousness, Justin Riddle presents six arguments that quantum consciousness is an important theory of mind.\
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To summarize them briefly, People always identify as their latest technology and so most people believe that they are a digital computer. Time to update those models of self, because… Quantum computers are here. We wouldn’t want the brick of metal in our pocket to have greater computational power than our brain. People say the brain is too warm, wet, and noisy for quantum effects; yet, evidence keeps emerging for quantum effects in biology (such as photosynthesis). Where do we draw the line? Evolution might be selecting for quantum systems that can maintain quantum coherence. The debate around the role of quantum mechanics in consciousness has been raging for 100 years. Many key historical figures like Bohr, Schrodinger, Heisenberg, von Neumann entertained the idea that quantum mechanics might relate to our mind. Physical theories that are purely deterministic have failed to account for key aspects of subjective experience. There may be novel answers from a perspective that incorporate new physics.\
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0:00 Introduction\
1:26 1. People identify as their latest technology\
4:07 2. Quantum computers are here\
7:30 3. Biology utilizes quantum properties\
12:00 4. Evolution selects for quantum systems\
14:10 5. Historical precedent for quantum consciousness\
16:30 6. Failure of physical theories to explain\
a. Sense of self\
b. Freewill\
c. Meaning\
21:07 Outro\
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#quantum\
#consciousness\
#philosophy\
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Website: www.justinriddlepodcast.com\
Email: [email protected]\
Twitter: @JRiddlePodcast\
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Music licensed from and created by Baylor Odabashian. BandCamp: @UnscrewablePooch\
Painting behind me by Paul Seli. IG: @paul.seli.art\
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Relevant external link:\
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A material that doesn’t just rival the strength of diamonds and graphene, but boasts a yield strength 10 times greater than Kevlar, renowned for its use in bulletproof vests.

Researchers at Delft University of Technology, led by assistant professor Richard Norte, have unveiled a remarkable new material with the potential to impact the world of material science: amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC).

Beyond its exceptional strength, this material demonstrates mechanical properties crucial for vibration isolation on a microchip. Amorphous silicon carbide is therefore particularly suitable for making ultra-sensitive microchip sensors.