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Category: computing – Page 76

Eye told you so: Why illusions are all in the eye of the beholder

Our brain and eyes can play tricks on us—not least when it comes to the expanding hole illusion. A new computational model developed by Flinders University experts helps to explain how cells in the human retina make us “see” the dark central region of a black hole graphic expand outwards.

In a new article posted to the arXiv preprint server, the Flinders University experts highlight the role of the eye’s in processing contrast and motion perception—and how messages from the cerebral cortex then give the beholder an impression of a moving or “expanding hole.”

“Visual illusions provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of human vision, revealing how the brain interprets complex stimuli,” says Dr. Nasim Nematzadeh, from the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University.

Quantum Encryption Breakthrough Uses Light and Color to Create an Unhackable Internet

As quantum computers threaten traditional encryption, researchers are developing quantum networks to enable ultra-secure communication.

Scientists at Leibniz University Hannover have pioneered a new method using light frequencies to enhance quantum key distribution. This breakthrough reduces complexity, cuts costs, and paves the way for scalable, tap-proof quantum internet infrastructure.

Intel’s 18A found to be faster but TSMC’s N2 is denser in process node showdown

A new report from TechInsights breaks things down, suggesting we could be in for a closely matched competition.

When it comes to transistor density, TSMC’s N2 appears to take the lead. The publication’s data estimates N2’s high-density standard cell transistor density at an impressive 313 million transistors per square millimeter, outpacing Intel’s 18A at 238 million and Samsung’s SF3 at 231 million. Of course, density isn’t everything; chip designers use a mix of high-, standard-, and low-power cells. However, TSMC’s advantage in density could provide an edge for certain workloads.

The comparison becomes less clear when it comes to performance projections. Intel’s 18A may have an advantage over TSMC’s N2 and Samsung’s SF3, but these are still just estimates based on extrapolating from previous node improvements.

A Nose-Computer Interface Could Turn Dogs Into Super Detectors

Thanks to their excellent smelling ability, dogs have been used for hundreds of years to hunt down wild game and search for criminals. At airports, they help identify explosives and illicit drugs. In disaster situations, they can rescue survivors and find human remains.

But each dog can only be trained to detect one class of odor compounds, which limits the range of smells it’s able to detect. Training costs tens of thousands of dollars and takes several months. For Florida startup Canaery, the solution is merging canines with neurotechnology to allow them to detect everything from bombs and other contraband to human diseases and environmental toxins—no specialized training needed.

Researchers Propose Scalable Alternative to Quantum Volume Benchmark

To address this challenge, the researchers propose two alternative QV tests that sidestep classical simulation entirely. Their primary modification involves using parity-preserving quantum gates — gates that maintain the parity (even or odd sum) of qubits throughout the computation. This allows the heavy output subspace to be known in advance, eliminating the need for classical verification.

The first approach, the parity-preserving benchmark, modifies the structure of the quantum circuits while keeping the number of two-qubit interactions the same. The researchers argue that this change has minimal impact on experimental implementation but significantly reduces computational costs.

“Since the interaction part is unaffected, the number of fundamental two-qubit gates, 3 in case of CNOTs, remains unchanged,” they write in the paper.

Simulation shows wolves had time to self-domesticate and evolve into dogs

A team of mathematicians and statisticians from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, the University of Tennessee and Valparaiso University, all in the U.S., has found new evidence that wolves had ample time to self-domesticate and evolve into modern dogs. In their study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group developed a computer simulation showing the evolution process.

Prior research has suggested that the process of self-domesticating and then slowly evolving into modern dogs would have taken too long. Additionally, researchers believe that humans and dogs have been living in close proximity for approximately 30,000 years and that for the past 15,000 years, humans have been breeding them to perform certain tasks. But what happened in the first 15,000 years is less clear.

Some have suggested that humans may have begun encouraging the friendliest to hang around by adopting their puppies, finding their presence advantageous. Others have suggested that wolves moved ever closer to groups of humans for access to leftover food. But this , others have noted, would take more than 15,000 years to reach the point where humans began breeding them.

Scientists achieve electrical manipulation of spin filling sequence in bilayer graphene quantum dots

A research team from the University of Science and Technology of China has demonstrated the ability to electrically manipulate the spin filling sequence in a bilayer graphene (BLG) quantum dot (QD). This achievement, published in Physical Review Letters, showcases the potential to control the spin degree of freedom in BLG, a material with promising applications in quantum computing and advanced electronics.

BLG has drawn extensive attention in recent years due to its . When an out-of-plane electric field is applied, it can generate a tunable band gap. Moreover, the trigonal warping effect, caused by the skew interlayer coupling, gives rise to additional minivalley degeneracy, greatly influencing the behavior of charge carriers. Quantum dot devices, which can precisely control the number of charge carriers, have become a crucial tool for studying these phenomena at the single-particle level.

The research team delved into the intricate dynamics of electron shell structures within quantum dot, focusing on how these structures can be manipulated through the trigonal warping effect, a unique feature of bilayer graphene. They employed a highly tunable quantum dot device, which provided the means to control the electron filling sequence. They began by applying a small perpendicular electric field, observing that the s-shell filled with four electrons, two with spin-up and two with spin-down, each from opposite valleys.

Fabrication method advances high-performance photon detector technology

From high-speed communication to quantum computing and sensing, the detection, transmission, and manipulation of light (photons) have transformed modern electronics. Central to these systems are photon detectors, which detect and measure photons.

One notable type is the superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD). SNSPDs utilize ultra-thin superconducting wires that quickly transition from a superconducting state to a resistive state when a photon strikes, allowing for ultra-fast detection.

The wires in these detectors are arranged in a Peano arced-fractal pattern, which remains consistent across various scales. This unique design enables the detector to detect photons regardless of their direction or polarization (the orientation of the photon’s electric field). Due to these advantages, arced-fractal SNSPDs (AF SNSPDs) are crucial in applications such as light detection and ranging, quantum computing, and quantum communication.