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New technique advances compact particle accelerator development

An international collaboration has developed a new diagnostic technique for measuring ultra-short particle beams at STFC’s Central Laser Facility. This collaboration is led by the University of Michigan and Queen’s University Belfast. The research addresses a key challenge in developing compact alternatives to kilometer-long particle accelerators.

Current X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs), which produce laser-like X-rays for imaging at the viral scale, require facilities stretching for kilometers. These installations demand substantial resources and space that many institutions cannot accommodate.

Laser-wakefield acceleration technology offers the potential to create similar capabilities in devices small enough to fit on a laboratory bench. This approach works by focusing an intense, ultra-short laser pulse into plasma, matter where electrons and ions are separated.

Electrons that act like photons reveal a quantum secret

Quantum materials, defined by their photon-like electrons, are opening new frontiers in material science. Researchers have synthesized organic compounds that display a universal magnetic behavior tied to a distinctive feature in their band structures called linear band dispersion. This discovery not only deepens the theoretical understanding of quantum systems but also points toward revolutionary applications in next-generation information and communication technologies that conventional materials cannot achieve.

Engineers develop technology that stimulates heart cells with light

In a new study, University of California, Irvine chemical and biomolecular engineering researchers report the creation of biomolecules that can help grow light-sensitive heart muscle cells in the laboratory. The development enables a biotechnology that could deliver light-triggered signals to the heart, improving its function, without requiring genetic modifications or invasive procedures.

“We show for the first time that light can be converted into cardiac stimulatory cues, with made of biomolecules,” said Herdeline Ann Ardoña, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. “This can be beneficial for downstream medical applications, such as in cardiac pacemaking technologies, or helping direct therapeutic patient-derived stem to better mimic adult heart cell features.”

The findings are reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The paper’s co-first authors are recent Ph.D. graduate Sujeung Lim, and Ze-Fan Yao, previous postdoctoral scholar in the Ardoña Research Group.

Tesla’s Momentum Can’t Be Stopped

Tesla continues to advance and solidify its momentum in the electric vehicle market through significant technological innovations, expansions, and achievements in autonomous driving, AI-powered technologies, and overall growth.

## Questions to inspire discussion.

Robo Taxi Service Expansion.

🚕 Q: How has Tesla’s robo taxi service in California expanded its operations? A: Tesla’s robo taxi service now operates until 2 a.m. with only 4 hours of downtime, indicating operational readiness and confidence in the system’s performance.

🌎 Q: What hiring moves suggest Tesla’s plans for global robo taxi expansion? A: Tesla is hiring a senior software engineer in Fremont to develop backend systems for real-time pricing and fees for robo taxi rides worldwide.

🌙 Q: How is Tesla preparing for expanded robo taxi coverage across the US? A: Tesla is hiring autopilot data collection supervisors for night and afternoon shifts in Arizona, Florida, Texas, and Nevada, indicating planned expansion of services.

Continue reading “Tesla’s Momentum Can’t Be Stopped” | >

New layered material successfully confines terahertz light to the nanoscale

A new study has successfully demonstrated the confinement of terahertz (THz) light to nanoscale dimensions using a new type of layered material. This could lead to improvements in optoelectronic devices such as infrared emitters used in remote controls and night vision and terahertz optics desired for physical security and environmental sensing.

The paper, “Ultraconfined terahertz phonon polaritons in hafnium dichalcogenides,” is published in Nature Materials. The research was led by Josh Caldwell, professor of mechanical engineering and Director of the Interdisciplinary Materials Science graduate program at Vanderbilt University, and Alex Paarmann of the Fritz Haber Institute in collaboration with Prof. Lukas M. Eng from the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD), Germany.

While THz technology promises high-speed data processing, integrating it into compact devices has been challenging due to its long wavelength. Traditional materials have struggled to confine THz light effectively, limiting the potential for miniaturization.

British Startup Installs New York City’s First Quantum Computer

A British startup has installed New York City’s first quantum computer at a data center in Manhattan.

Oxford Quantum Circuits has placed the system at a data center run by Digital Realty Trust in the Google building in Chelsea, billing the technology to customers of the site as a means of running artificial intelligence programs faster and more efficiently. Oxford Quantum Chief Executive Officer Gerald Mullally said he expects his firm to spend tens of millions of dollars over three to five years, in part to buy Nvidia Corp. chips to integrate into it. He declined to provide the exact costs of the computer.

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