Monthly Archives: June 2020

At the base of modern physics is something called quantum theory. It explains the behavior of energy and matter on different atomic levels - atomic and subatomic. Quantum theory encompasses the working of the realms of physics commonly referred to as quantum physics and quantum mechanics and it offers up a rather interesting look into the foundations of modern physics.

Quantum theory was first presented to the general public in the year 1900, by a physicist named Max Planck. He presented the theory to the German Physical Society, specifically by presenting the results of an experiment he had done looking into the color of radiation from glowing bodies (not human bodies, physical bodies).

In the experiment, he found that if he assumed that energy existed in individual units similar to matter, that he would find the answer to the original question posed in his experiment. Thinking of energy in this way was new and allowed the energy to be easily quantified. These units of energy that he was able to quantify were named quanta by Planck in his writings about the experiment and subsequent mathematical equations.

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The equation that formed the beginnings of quantum theory demonstrated that at certain temperature levels, the energy that was let off from a glowing body would exist in different areas of the spectrum of color, or wavelength. Planck initially imagined that his discovery of quanta would set in motion the creation of a new theory, but what actually ended up happening was that it completely rewrote humanity's understanding of the laws of nature.

In 1918, Planck won the Nobel Prize for his discovery and research on quanta. It is important to note though, that while Planck's research began the foundation of modern quantum theory, tens to hundreds of other scientists worked in the years prior to set Planck up to make this discovery just at the point that he did. Taking a closer look at the timeline, we can see how the theory progressed after the discovery.

1900: Planck makes the initial discovery, or rather assumption, that energy was made of units called quanta.

1905: Albert Einstein theorizes that energy and radiation could be quantified in the same way that Planck had theorized of quanta.

1924:Louis de Brogliefirst proposed that there was no difference between energy and particles in his theory of wave-particle duality, also demonstrated in the famous double-slit experiment.

1927: A scientist by the name of Werner Heisenberg theorized that the measurement of two complementary values at the same time, such as the position and momentum of a given subatomic particle, would be impossible. This stands starkly in contrast to traditional physics and became known as the uncertainty principle.

Now that we've taken a closer look at the timeline of quantum theory development, let's take a closer look at who exactly Max Planck was.

Born in April of 1858, Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck (quite the name) was a theoretical physicist who was the originator of quantum theory, which, as we've discussed, afforded him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918. During his lifetime he made major contributions to the field of theoretical physics but the quantum theory remains his largest accomplishment.

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Quantum theory at the hands of Planck completely revolutionized our understanding and conceptualization of quantum particles and processes. It could be equated in gravity of the theory of Alber Einstein's theory of relativity that changed our understanding of space and time.

Both quantum theory and the theory of relativity exemplify the foundations of all of the 1900s physics, forcing researchers to rethink how they approach the world around them.

Planck passed away at the age of 89 years-old in 1947 in Germany.

The main methods of interpreting quantum theory are known as the Copenhagen interpretation and the many-worlds theory. The Copenhagen theory proposes that a particle is whatever it is measured to be. In other words, if you measure a particle as a wave, it's a wave. However, it also states that you can't assume that it has any specific properties or that it exists until you measure it. It's an off-the-cuff way of insisting that physical reality doesn't actually exist until you observe it. This leads way to the idea of superposition, which means that any given particle or object can be in any number of potential places at once during the period that we don't know its position, or aren't observing it.

The famous thought experiment of Schrodinger's Cat is the perfect exemplification of this interpretation of the quantum theory.

The many-worlds theory or multiverse theory. This states that as soon as the potential for an object to exist occurs, the universe splits into a series of parallel universes where both states of that object exist. This theory is the basis of TV shows like Rick and Morty or other popular science fiction stories, but at the end of the day, it's a very real interpretation of the quantum theory.

Both Stephen Hawking and Richard Feynman expressed that they preferred the multiverse theory style of interpretation.

At the end of the day, quantum theory and Planck's research have drastically influenced the work of physicists and researchers over the last 100 years. The implications of quantum theory can be a little mind-boggling though, even causing Planck himself to balk at them during his time. The foundational principles of the theory, however, continue to be repeated and proven through subsequent experimentation. Physics in many ways still will be fleshed out in the next century, but its foundation of quantum theory laid by Max Planck is likely here to stay.

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Max Planck Created Quantum Theory and Laid a New Foundation for Physics - Interesting Engineering

Driving Route 66 requires no specialized training. Steering wheel, pedals, lights, mirror controls they are all familiar concepts, each one a well-established automobile technology. If youve driven one car, youve more or less driven them all. Call it drivers intuition.

However, despite the publics growing awareness of quantum technology, a corresponding intuition is rare, even among experts in the field. With quantum intuition, one could differentiate between quantum and classical worlds at the most basic level without deliberation.

For most of us, stuck with our classical minds, quantum intuition is difficult due to the counterintuitive nature of the quantum world. Concepts like entanglement and superposition can be challenging, since there is no obvious mapping of the bizarre quantum world to everyday life.

Developing our quantum minds

Most of us have technological intuition, like the ability to drive an unfamiliar car or use a new computer program. Unhindered by philosophical obstacles, it allows children to program a TV remote or master a smartphone much faster than their parents. Thats because kids today have been born and raised surrounded by technology built upon classical computers and have developed an intuition for them.

With quantum computers only now emerging, such early development is lacking. Consider, for example, light. While familiar in the macroscopic world, its quantum properties are odd. Sometimes it behaves like a wave, sometimes like a particle. Think of quantum particles that can pass, or tunnel, through energy barriers. Or imagine entangled particles, which influence each other even if separated by a large distance. There are also mind-boggling interpretations of quantum mechanics that drive ongoing and vigorous debates among specialists, such as theories of multiple universes or theories in which the future influences the past.

The legendary spookiness of quantum mechanics which so bothered Albert Einstein is born from similar examples, and the frustrations expressed by Einstein, Richard Feynman or Erwin Schrdinger are as painful today as they were a century ago.

As the quantum technological revolution changes the world, it must first move out from laboratories and into proverbial garages. To get there requires a quantum education at an early stage, an effort to tunnel through the barrier of quantum weirdness and kick-start a quantum generation of young people who can consider entanglement without being spooked, like we are, and instead set up those garages and launch completely new approaches to quantum technology.

From quantum intuition to quantum workforce

We are not yet ready for that transition. Mastering intuition requires a solid quantum education, one that crosses disciplines and fuses physics, computer science, engineering, mathematics and materials research in nearly equal parts.

Such an education must include focused training at the elementary, middle and high school levels, as well as informal education at museums and unconventional approaches like merging art into quantum education.

How do we get there? With much to do, the United States is not sitting idle. For example, several first steps emerged from a recent collaborative effort from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy that brought together cross-disciplinary specialists to develop core resources for inspiring quantum information science learners. One outcome, a necessary minimum list of nine key concepts with narratives developed by subject-matter experts, is helping shape the nations approach to early education, tackling such concepts as qubits, quantum computers and entanglement, just to name a few.

Industry is also getting involved. As students further develop their careers, the convergent efforts of industry, academia and government will be vital, as will early introductions to industrial settings. One initial effort, known as the TRIPLETS program, was initiated by NSF and co-sponsored by industrial partners such as IBM, Google, Raytheon, Montana Instruments and many others, including several Department of Energy National Laboratories. This approach allows students to collaborate with both an industrial advisor and an academic investigator, forming a triplet that introduces fundamental research and industrial culture well before graduation.

A continuing national investment

Fundamental research generates high quality educational experiences, which will lead to quantum intuition, and this cultural and technological shift requires investment.

The ambitious all-of-government approach known as Industries of the Future includes a plan to increase federal investments in five key industries to $10 billion per year by fiscal year 2025. In addition to quantum information science, the targeted industries include artificial intelligence, 5G technologies and advanced communications, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing, with quantum technologies further integrating across the other fields.

This plan builds upon the National Quantum Initiative Act, established in 2018, with both efforts calling for the development of a future quantum workforce and a strong focus on education.

However, implementation will require educators, academics, industry, and government agencies working together to create the policies and practices that enable young people today to develop the quantum intuition needed for the future.

Armed with intuition, the quantum generation will come.

Tomasz Durakiewicz is program director for Condensed Matter Physics at the National Science Foundation, Division of Materials Research, and since February 2019 has served as staff associate, Office of the Assistant Director, in the agency's Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences. Durakiewicz has co-authored more than 170 peer-reviewed publications, more than 210 conference abstracts and six patents, and he has presented more than 60 invited talks. For more than a decade prior to his service at NSF, Durakiewicz was a materials researcher at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory.

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Do we need a 'Quantum Generation'? | TheHill - The Hill

Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide at the age of 34 on June 14 and since then there have been a lot of theories floating around why he took such a drastic step. Filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor who has worked with Sushant in debut film 'Kai Po Che' and later in 'Kedarnath', in a recent interview said that he was a "troubled man, whose mind was systematically dismantled by the industry."

As per reports on BollywoodLife, Abhishek said, "Its a systematic dismantling of a fragile mind. Sushant was brilliant, he was an engineer, he was into astrophysics and quantum physics. But because we couldnt box him into stereotypes we called him off. He was off, just off your radar. Theres this thing that if youre not like us then you cant be with us. There are so many camps that if youre not part of a camp, even if youre in the middle of a room, you will be ignored. It is true, especially for actors. I, as a filmmaker, can isolate myself. I can warn a young actor but he cannot see it at the time because the lights are so bright. You lose yourself."

The director further added how Sushant was trobled while shooting for 'Kedarnath' but when it was time to shoot he was 100% in the scene. For the uninformed, 'Kedarnath' was the debut film of actress Sara Ali Khan. The filmmaker said that Sushant felt that all the media attention had diverted towards her and he became reclusive.

"I had not spoken to him for about a year and a half. There were times, you talk and then youd go away to do a film. He must have changed his number 50 times and I remember when Kedarnath was coming out, the media had just slammed it. I dont know what happened, he could see that he was not getting the kind of love because everything was centered around Sara at that time. He was just kind of lost. When the film released and it did really well, I sent him a message saying, 'Bro I have been trying to reach you, Im not sure if you are upset, or just busy, but call me so we can chat. We made a super film together, again. If we are not going to celebrate it then what the hell are we going to celebrate in life? So please call me, I love you' to which he didn't respond. He didnt respond to me on his birthday. I said to myself just let it be. I could see he was not in a good place but you cannot cross a line," he stated.

Abhishek was present at Sushant's funeral along with his wife. He was cremated at Mumbais Vile Parle crematorium on Monday.

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'Everything was centered around Sara, he was lost': Abhishek Kapoor on Sushant Singh Rajput after 'Kedarnath' - DNA India

Fans have been clamoring for more quantum physics on the show and it's finally here, in the guise of Walker Texas Ranger AKA Denise Richards husband.

A collective exhale of relief was released from the fandom earlier this season on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, when the franchise finally decided to nix dinner topics like you fat-shamed my dogs caftan to finally unpack the theory of quantum physics and neurophysiology and its relation to molecular healing from vibrational frequencies (its about time). To whom holds the honor of elevating dinner discussion from tarot readings to highly classified government conspiracies? Sir Aaron Phypers / Aaron Cameron / Mr. Denise Richards, AKA "D-packin Chopra."

A wellness human tank, by way of Walker Texas Ranger, the only vibrations audiences were attuned to last season were the ones emitting from below Aarons Bootbarn belt buckle. The size of the rookie house husbands womb broom fell out of Ms. Richardss mouth more frequently than Kyle has a panic attack on a domestic flight.

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But this season Aaron ignored all warning signs from the House Husbands Handbook to Navigating Reality TV Fooferah and went all in. Based a previous episode, An Hour of Bouncy Bonding with Lisa Rinna,' Phypers was intent on speaking The Truth, if The Truth was a riddle from a rotted fortune cookie. Attempting to break up a fight, Aaron interjected: When people win, also people engage because they want to see how people won ...keep that in mind ladies.That they did, as you could see the cogs turn behind their collective eyes. What? Was this the prologue of The Shart of War? The rest of his diatribe was equally confusing, attempting to drop truth bombs from space. Its pretty hard to be condescending when the words never ascend. Much like Gigi Goode of Drag Race, this was not an Aha moment.

That said, Watching Aaron argue is exhilarating. Every jab is like a mad-libs of bro-isms, or like watching a straight guy solve an "instant shad" Rubik's cube. Hes above their frequency, apparently. So what frequency is he on? Wed always gotten curious nuggets dropped every now and then as to what exactly his job is. Then, of course, the latest in the Dinner Party From Hell franchise an episode earlier (in which Phypers and Denise seemed to be on high alert as to whether the government was listening - seriously), where he went on a heavily edited lunacy rant on quantum theory while Mauricio counted the vast black hole of minutes fly by before he could get his jush again.

It was insane. Definitely up there in the Museum of Errant House Husbands collection of Antiquities, alongside The Career of one Slade Smiley, A Night in Prison at the Apollo, and Simon McCord's red leather pants. Phypers business apparently is called the "Q360 Club," which according to their website is a "state-of-the-art healing center designed to foster optimal health in mind-body-spirit." Q360 uses sound therapy and a "holistic approach to harness a wide range of energy fields to accelerate healing and amplify healing capabilities. Just in case youre wondering, yes the scientific community disowns it, and yes he thinks big pharma is out to kill him, at best its "Big Parma" a heavy set Italian Maitre d who wants his look back.

Whatever, either way, we have this on our TV sets, and were glad to see it. The more alarming moments, however, are his chilling aggressions towards Denise both at this dinner and in the latest episode, when the pair left hand in hand and he muttered under his breath: "Don't tell me what to say, I'm going to crush you f*cking hand." Foreshadowing indeed, as the rest of the season is about to heat up once again for the couple when chaotic evil fan-favorite Brandi Glanville (who entered the franchise without a leg to stand on, literally) is back to do what she does best: hunt, kill, and destroy. The rumor? Brandi has secretly been in a sexual relationship with Denise outside of her marriage. In the real world: oh sure, maybe theyre in an open pansexual relationship with like-minded consenting adults, on Real Housewives: Escandalo!

Regardless, this information comes by way of Glanville Courier Pidgeon, meaning its carrying an avian bird virus intent on leveling 90210. As for The Richards, were strapped in and ready to burst, waiting to see how this turns out on the remaining season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. In the meantime, some sage advice for Mr. Phypers, to quote Lisa Simpson: tis better to be thought the fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt.

Next:The Real Housewives: Worst Couples, Ranked

90 Day Fianc: Happily Ever After? Are Colt & Jess Still Together?

Marshall Lorenzo is a sketch comedy writer and performer living in Toronto. Originally from Auckland, New Zealand, he was the head writer of the multi Canadian Comedy Award-winning sketch troupe The Sketchersons, and a writer/performer in the 2019 Canadian Comedy Award-winning show Extravaganza Eleganza. He now writes for TV (the eyeballs and earholes) and the computer screen (just the eyeballs). He likes sitting down and vodka.

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RHOBH: What's with Denise Richards Husband Aaron Phypers? - Screen Rant

Quantum computing holds the potential to one-day resolve some of the worlds most intricate and pressing conundrums. With the science and technology industry at the forefront of the global battle to defeat COVID-19, for example, it has played a part in discovering viable solutions, not just in the short term but for future pandemics. However, quantum computing is bound to force major changes to the cybersecurity landscape.

Rodney Joffe, SVP, senior technologist and Fellow, Neustar.

While quantum computing is still in its relative stages of infancy, its rapid evolution means it will soon overtake technologies weve previously relied on, including high performance cloud computing.

This is why numerous tech giants such as IBM, Google, Amazon and Microsoft have entered the race to achieve what has been coined quantum supremacy: the competition to build the first fully-functioning and practical quantum computer. Microsoft, for instance, just announced that its quantum computing platform, Azure Quantum, is now available in limited preview.

Advancements such as these, however, have resulted in experts debating how the power of quantum will affect the cybersecurity landscape. Research from the Neustar International Security Council (NISC) recently revealed that almost a quarter of security professionals are already experimenting with quantum computing strategies, worried that it will outpace the development of existing security technologies.

These concerns are, in fact, extremely valid and require urgent action. Looking ahead, laying the foundations for rebuilding our current overarching cybersecurity approach including our algorithms, strategies and systems should be a key priority.

Across our most critical industries, quantum computing has the promise to solve what would have previously been described as unsolvable or existential problems.

When it comes to medical development, it has the potential to simulate how drugs will react. This reduces the risk during the commonly used trial and error method, and saves computational chemists both time and money. Already, researchers at Penn State University have announced that they are exploring how machine learning and quantum physics can be used to discover possible treatments for COVID-19.

In addition, Accenture recently published a paper with biotechnology innovator Biogen, which found that as quantum computers become more available, drug discovery will accelerate significantly, allowing scientists to compare much larger molecules.

Drug discovery is not the only area quantum computing will improve. Much has been reported about the technologys potential to beat climate change in the future. The World Economic Forum recently outlined how, by simulating large complex molecules, it will potentially be able to create new ones for carbon capture.

Whats more, last year, Google and NASA sparked frenzy within the technology community when together they revealed quantum computers hold the capability to compute in three minutes what would usually take supercomputers 10,000 years. While this feat is still years away, it is this level of power that cybersecurity professionals need to begin planning for.

At present, the cybersecurity industry depends on encryption to safeguard devices and personal data. In theory, encryption is possible to crack. In practice, however, it is impossible and would take a colossal amount of time to do so, over timescales of trillions of years.

Cryptography can be categorized in two ways: symmetric and asymmetric cryptography. In symmetric schemes, the same key is used to encrypt and decrypt data. In asymmetric schemes also known as public key there is a publicly shared key for encryption and a private key for decryption. Built on complex mathematical calculations, these are crafted for a fundamental purpose: to be so complicated that they would take classical computers too long and use too much computational power to be solved.

However, encryptions time as a viable solution is limited. Neustars research revealed that nearly three quarters (75%) of cybersecurity professionals expect advances in quantum technology to beat current technologies, such as encryption, within the next five years. Its ability to break encryption techniques such as private key poses a major challenge to the cybersecurity industry. In the wrong hands, it could be used to launch a cyberattack on an unprecedented scale.

Given quantums ability to crack problems weve specifically created to be unsolvable at an unrivaled pace, there is a crucial need to create new public key schemes that are resistant to quantum technology. Even though a quantum computer capable of beating encryption is approximately ten years away, quantum-proof encryption needs to be implemented before then.

Planning for quantum requires a careful consideration of its progress. Luckily, most organisations have quantum computing on their radar. In fact, 74% of cybersecurity professionals have admitted to paying close attention to the technologys development.

Businesses are also required to take note of all encrypted data and make sure it is surrounded by 24/7 monitoring and threat intelligence tools, alongside robust processes. There needs to be a recognition that even though it is impossible for this data to be decrypted currently, advances in quantum computing will mean that it will be vulnerable in future.

The current global pandemic has taught us that we need science and technology more than ever to guide us through challenging times and produce the innovations that will see us benefit in the long run.

The sheer power and uncertainty of quantum should not be viewed negatively in fact, 87% of CISOs, CSOs, CTOs and security directors admitted that they are excited about the potential positive impact it will have. Quantum computing is part of the future, and the cybersecurity industry has to prepare early for its impact if they wish to reap the benefits.

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Restructuring cybersecurity with the power of quantum - TechRadar

Earth is not the only planet with an atmosphere that glows green: Astronomers have observed the same ethereal phenomenon on Mars, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Astronomy.

The emerald sheen high in the Martian atmosphere was observed by the European Space Agencys Trace Gas Orbiter, which has been circling the Red Planet since 2016. The glow, which astronomers say is triggered by interactions between the suns light and oxygen molecules in Mars atmosphere, could help researchers better understand the composition of the planets atmosphere and how it behaves.

Its also the first time that the distinct green lights have been seen on a planet beyond Earth, according to Jean-Claude Grard, an astronomer at the Universit de Lige in Belgium and lead author of the study. The lights are similar to auroras on Earth, but unlike auroras, Mars' green glow appears as a thin band around the planet.

This emission has been predicted to exist at Mars for around 40 years and, thanks to TGO [the Trace Gas Orbiter], weve found it, Grard said in a statement.

Auroras on Earth the colorful light displays that can be seen at high latitudes occur when charged particles from the sun collide with Earths magnetic field and mix with molecules in the atmosphere. Auroras fluctuate with the suns activity, but Earths green glow is different because the light is continuous albeit faint.

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On Mars, this so-called night glow can be tricky to spot, but Grard and his colleagues were able to observe the lights by pointing one of the instruments aboard the Trace Gas Orbiter directly at the surface of Mars from an edge-on perspective.

From April 24 to Dec. 1, 2019, the astronomers scanned altitudes from about 12 miles to 250 miles above the Martian surface twice each time the spacecraft circled the planet. The researchers were able to detect the green glow at all altitudes, with the strongest emission found at around 50 miles above the surface.

The scientists used these observations to examine what causes the green glow and found that the light comes from oxygen atoms that were stripped from carbon dioxide.

On Earth, the green glow is driven by oxygen atoms in the upper atmosphere interacting with electrons from interplanetary space. These stunning displays are sometimes known as polar auroras.

Like on Mars, the emerald lights in Earths atmosphere can be faint unless seen edge-on, which is why many of the most dramatic views of the phenomenon have come from photos taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

Though on both planets the green hue is characteristic of oxygen in the atmosphere, the astronomers noted some differences in the resulting emissions of light.

The observations at Mars agree with previous theoretical models but not with the actual glowing weve spotted around Earth, where the visible emission is far weaker, Grard said. This suggests we have more to learn about how oxygen atoms behave, which is hugely important for our understanding of atomic and quantum physics.

The findings also have important implications for planetary science missions to Mars. Understanding the composition of the Red Planets atmosphere is crucial for operating orbiters around Mars or landing rovers on the surface, because these spacecraft are all affected by the density of the Martian atmosphere.

Predicting changes in atmospheric density is especially important for forthcoming missions, including the ExoMars 2022 mission that will send a rover and surface science platform to explore the surface of the Red Planet, Hkan Svedhem, a Trace Gas Orbiter project scientist at the European Space Agency who was not involved with the new study, said in a statement.

Denise Chow is a reporter for NBC News Science focused on the environment and space.

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In the atmosphere of Mars, a green glow offers scientists hints for future visits - NBCNews.com