Show Notes 27 December 2024
Story 1: Google ‘Willow’ quantum chip has solved a problem the best supercomputer would have taken a quadrillion times the age of the universe to crack
Source: LiveScience.com Story by Afifi-Sabet
See also: https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.13687
- First, let’s set the stage [source for the following from a Co-Pilot AI question]: A quantum computer is a type of computer that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to perform calculations. Unlike classical computers, which use bits as the smallest unit of information (with values of either 0 or 1), quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits. Qubits can represent both 0 and 1 simultaneously, thanks to a property called superposition.
- Here’s a breakdown of key concepts:
- Qubits: The basic unit of quantum information, capable of representing 0, 1, or both at the same time.
- Superposition: This allows qubits to be in multiple states at once, enabling parallel computations.
- Entanglement: A phenomenon where qubits become interconnected, such that the state of one qubit can depend on the state of another, even across large distances. This property allows for more efficient information processing.
- Quantum Gates: Operations that change the state of qubits, analogous to logic gates in classical computing but able to manipulate qubits in complex ways.
- Because of these properties, quantum computers have the potential to solve certain problems much more quickly than classical computers. However, building and maintaining a quantum computer is extremely challenging due to the fragile nature of quantum states and the need for low temperatures and isolation from environmental interference.
- Quantum computing is still in its early stages, but it holds promise for advancing fields like cryptography, material science, and complex system simulations.
- Now, here’s the big news: Google scientists have created a new quantum processor that, in five minutes, cracked a problem that would have taken the world’s best supercomputer 10 septillion years to solve.
- Side note – A septillion is a number that is written as 1 followed by 24 zeros in the United States, and 1 followed by 42 zeros in Great Britain.
Optional side note – Why do Americans have a different definition of septillion than the British?
The difference in definitions of “septillion” between Americans and the British arises from the two numbering systems: the short scale and the long scale.
- Short Scale (Used in the United States): In this system, a septillion is 102410^{24}. Each new term greater than a million is 1,0001,000 times the previous term (e.g., billion is 10910^9, trillion is 101210^{12}, and so on).
- Long Scale (Traditional in British English): In this system, a septillion is 104210^{42}. Each new term greater than a million is 1,000,0001,000,000 times the previous term (e.g., billion is 101210^{12}, trillion is 101810^{18}, and so on). However, it’s worth noting that modern British usage has largely shifted to the short scale, in line with American usage.
- The breakthrough will allow quantum computers to become less error-prone the bigger they get, achieving a milestone that overcomes a decades-long obstacle.
- Quantum computers are inherently “noisy,” meaning that, without error-correction technologies, every 1 in 1,000 qubits — the fundamental building blocks of a quantum computer — fails.
- It also means coherence times (how long the qubits can remain in a superposition so they can process calculations in parallel) remain short.
- This high error rate is one of the key barriers to scaling up quantum computers, so they are good enough to perform far better than the fastest supercomputers. This is why research has centered on building quantum computers with better and less error-prone — not simply more — qubits.
- Google says its new quantum processing unit (QPU), dubbed “Willow,” is the first in the world to achieve results that are “below threshold” — a milestone outlined by computer scientist Peter Shor in a 1995 paper.
- The team outlined the technology in a study published Dec. 9 in the journal Nature.
Story 2: IBM Study: “Vehicles Believed to be Software-Defined and AI-Powered by 2035”
Source: AutoTechNews Press Room
Link: https://autotech.news/ibm-study-vehicles-believed-to-be-software-defined-and-ai-powered-by-2035/
See also: https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/en-us/report/automotive-2035
- The IBM Institute for Business Value recently conducted a survey of over 1,200 global automotive industry executives to understand the future of vehicles. The findings predict a transformative shift in the automotive sector by 2035, where software-defined vehicles (SDVs) powered by artificial intelligence (AI) will be the norm.
- Example of the many findings:
- 74% of executives believe that by 2035, vehicles will be entirely software-defined and AI-powered, affecting everything from vehicle controls and functions to in-car experiences.
- Software-defined vehicles are expected to generate substantial revenue, with 51% of industry revenue projected to come from digital and software-related sources by 2035, up from just 15% today. This includes revenue from subscriptions, over-the-air upgrades, autonomous driving, and enhanced connectivity.
- Summary: The shift towards software-defined vehicles is inevitable, but it requires automakers to navigate significant technical, cultural, and workforce challenges.
- To stay competitive, they must re-architect their vehicle systems, invest in digital capabilities, and embrace new business models.
- The transition to a software-driven automotive industry will redefine how vehicles are built, operated, and experienced by consumers, making software and AI the cornerstone of the industry’s future.
Story 3: Mercedes is working on “solar paint” that could drastically reduce the need for charging – Enough juice for 12,000 km per year in sunny areas
Source: TechSpot.com Story by Zo Ahmed
Link: https://www.techspot.com/news/105884-mercedes-working-solar-paint-could-eliminate-need-charging.html
- Mercedes-Benz is developing an innovative “solar paint” capable of generating electricity when applied to a car’s entire body. The technology could potentially provide enough energy to power thousands of miles of driving annually, significantly increasing the range of electric vehicles while reducing the need for frequent charging stops during road trips.
- The company states that this groundbreaking solar paint is just five micrometers thick and weighs a mere 50 grams per square meter – practically weightless. Despite its lightness, it is packed with energy-generating potential. Notably, the paint contains no rare earth materials, no silicon, and is made from inexpensive, non-toxic ingredients that are easy to recycle.
- What truly sets this technology apart is its efficiency. Mercedes claims that with an 11-square-meter surface area – roughly the size of a mid-sized SUV – the paint could produce enough energy to power up to 12,000 kilometers (7,456 miles) of driving annually under ideal conditions.
- The energy harvested could either directly power the car’s electric motors or recharge its high-voltage battery pack. Remarkably, the system would remain active even when the vehicle is parked, continuously generating electricity.
- Of course, real-world performance would depend on variables such as shade, sun intensity, and geographic location.
- However, Mercedes has provided some theoretical examples to illustrate the paint’s potential. In Stuttgart, Germany, the company’s hometown, it estimates that the solar paint could supply enough energy to cover approximately 62 percent of the average daily driving distance of 52 kilometers, using solar power alone.
Story 4: Noninvasive imaging method can penetrate deeper into living tissue – Using high-powered lasers, this new method could help biologists study the body’s immune responses and develop new medicines
Source: MIT News Story by Adam Zewe
Link: https://news.mit.edu/2024/noninvasive-imaging-method-can-penetrate-deeper-living-tissue-1211
- Metabolic imaging is a noninvasive method that enables clinicians and scientists to study living cells using laser light, which can help them assess disease progression and treatment responses.
- But light scatters when it shines into biological tissue, limiting how deep it can penetrate and hampering the resolution of captured images.
- Now, MIT researchers have developed a new technique that more than doubles the usual depth limit of metabolic imaging. Their method also boosts imaging speeds, yielding richer and more detailed images.
- This new technique does not require tissue to be preprocessed, such as by cutting it or staining it with dyes. Instead, a specialized laser illuminates deep into the tissue, causing certain intrinsic molecules within the cells and tissues to emit light. This eliminates the need to alter the tissue, providing a more natural and accurate representation of its structure and function.
- The researchers achieved this by adaptively customizing the laser light for deep tissues.
- Using a recently developed fiber shaper — a device they control by bending it — they can tune the color and pulses of light to minimize scattering and maximize the signal as the light travels deeper into the tissue.
- This allows them to see much further into living tissue and capture clearer images.
Honorable Mentions
Story: German Firm Tests Powerful NASA Battery That Offers 30,000 Cycles and A 30-year Life
Source: WonderfulEngineering.com Story by Jannat Un Nisa
- RWE, a leading German energy company, is piloting advanced battery technology originally developed by NASA for the International Space Station (ISS). This innovative energy storage solution, designed to enhance renewable energy projects, is being tested at RWE’s Milwaukee testing facility in Wisconsin, where the company plans to integrate nickel-hydrogen batteries into its wind and solar energy systems.
- The Energy Storage Vessels (ESVs), provided by EnerVenue, are designed to offer a durable and scalable energy storage solution, capable of enduring over 30,000 charge cycles. This makes them an attractive alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries, which are increasingly costly and complex to manage at scale. The nickel-hydrogen batteries used in the ESVs store energy in tanks, with a cathode made from nickel hydroxide and an anode relying on hydrogen. The batteries generate hydrogen gas during charging, which is later oxidized to produce water during discharge.
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Story: GE-Hitachi’s small reactor design closer to deployment in UK, passes key milestone
Source: InterestingEngineering.com Story by Prabhat Ranjan Mishra
Link: https://interestingengineering.com/energy/small-modular-reactor-ge-hitachi
- GE-Hitachi (GEH) has passed a major regulatory milestone for its small modular reactor (SMR) design. This is a major step in bringing the technology closer to deployment in the UK.
- BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactor completed Step 1 of the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process, which enables regulators to begin assessing the safety, security, safeguarding, and environmental aspects of new nuclear power station designs at an early stage of the regulatory process and to provide confidence that these new designs can be constructed, operated, and decommissioned in England and Wales.
- The company claims that the BWRX-300, powered by proven and commercially available fuel, features an innovative and simplified configuration, resulting in less concrete and steel needed for construction.
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Story: Here are 8 remarkable scientific firsts of 2024
Source: ScienceNews.org Story by Sophie Hartley
Link: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/remarkable-scientific-firsts-of-2024
Example: The first complete map of a fruit fly’s brain details all 139,255 nerve cells and the 54.5 million connections between them. It’s the largest brain map made of any animal, even though the fruit fly’s brain is poppy seed–sized
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Story: 38 best science books for kids and young adults
Source: LiveScience.org Story by Ben Biggs
Link: https://www.livescience.com/human-behavior/best-science-books-for-kids-and-young-adults
- Whether they are a young Marie Curie or Albert Einstein, a budding botanist, cuckoo for chemistry or simply looking for something new and exciting to read over the summer vacation, if there is one thing we know about our young Live Science readers, it’s that they love a good science book.
- With the help of our sister magazine “How It Works,” we’ve pulled together some of the best science books for kids of all ages, which should keep their young minds fizzing with ideas long into the future.
- To make things easier, we’ve grouped them into two sections: one featuring books for children under 10 years old, and the other books for older children and young adults.
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