Physicists Show ‘Molecules’ Made of Light May Be Possible

Physicists - Building Objects Out of Photons

A team of theoretical physicists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology – NIST, have come up with building objects out of photons and the discoveries indicate that the weightless particles of light can be linked into a kind of molecule having its own peculiar force. The discoveries are build on earlier research which many team members have contributed prior to joining NIST.

 In 2013, collaborators from Harvard, Caltech and MIT had found a way of binding two photons together so that one would sit right on top of the other, overlaid as they tend to travel. Their experimental demonstration was considered an invention since no one had constructed anything by joining single photons, motivating some to imagine that life lightsaber were very near.

In a forthcoming paper in Physical Review Letter, the NIST and University of Maryland based team together with other collaborators had showed in theory thattwo hydrogen atoms are near each other in a hydrogen molecule. Alexey Gorshkov of NIST has commented that `it is not a molecule per se, but one can imagine it as having a similar kind of structure and that they are learning how to build complex states of light which in turn could be built into more complex objects.

Modern Technologies Depend on Light

This seems to be the first time anyone has ever shown how to fixtwo photons a finite distance apart. Binding photons need extreme conditions which are difficult to produce with a plenty of lab equipment. However there are various other reasons in making molecular light humbler than lightsabers but nonetheless useful. Gorshkov states that `lots of modern technologies depend on light from communication technology right to high definition imaging and several of them could be enhanced if we could engineer their interaction between photon.

 For instance, engineers would require a method to regulate accurately the light sensors and Gorshkov says that the findings could make it very easy in the creations of a `standard candle’ which could shine a precise number of photons at a detector. Possibly more important to industry, binding as well as entangling photons would enable the computers in using photons as a means of information processors; a task that electronic tends to switch in the computer to do currently.

Important to Test the New Theory in Practice

This would not only provide a new basis in creating computer technology but it could also be the outcome in substantial conservation of energy. Other data and phone messages which presently tend to travel as light beams via fibre optic cable need to be converted into electrons for the purpose of precession which is an inefficient step that tends to waste a great amount of electricity.

If the transport as well as the processing of the data could be done directly with photons, it would reduce the energy losses. Gorshkov had indicated that it would be important to test the new theory in practice for these as well as other possible benefits.

He adds that `it is a cool new way to study photons and there are massless and fly at the speed of light and slowing them down and binding them, would show us other things we had not been aware of prior to it’.

Misuse Of Artificial Intelligence 'Could Do Harm

Google’s Head – Demis Hassabis – Artificial Intelligence, Powerful Technology

The head of Google’s £400m machine learning business, Demis Hassabis, has called for a responsible debate on the role of ethics in the creation of artificial intelligence. It seems to be a technology which is so powerful that probably in the near future, could mean that the computers would be able to advice on the best way to treat patients, handle climate change or even feed the poor.

 With this potential power there is also a big responsibility. Mr Hassabis has stated that artificial intelligence is like any new powerful technology. It needs to be used in a responsible manner and if misused could cause much harm.

He informs that all need to be aware of that and those developing it – the companies and universities need to realise and take their responsibilities seriously and have proper concern as the main focus of their mind. He adds that they tend to engage actively with artificial intelligence community at MIT at Cambridge, Oxford and there are lot of academic institutes speculating about this and they interact with them actively and openly in their research.

Artificial Intelligence – Science of Making Machine Smart

Mr Hassabis is of the belief that there are valid concerns which need to be discussed and debated, decades prior to anything which could actually give cause to any potential consequence or power that may result in worry and hence the need to have the answers in place much in advance.

He was responding to apprehensions with regards to the development of artificial intelligence raised with others by the technology entrepreneur and a DeepMind investor, Elon Musk and Professor Stephen Hawking. Prof Hawking had informed his colleague Rory Cellan-Jones that mankind would end, with artificial intelligence.

Hassabis’ work is focused on learning machine that are capable to scrutinise large amount of data and support human understanding of the exponential rise of digitised information. He informs that artificial intelligence is the science of making machines smart and we are capable to fill machines with intelligence, they would be able to assist us as a society in solving all types of big problems which then could have better control on all things like disease and healthcare to big issues like climate change and physics, where the ability for machines to understand and obtain insights in large amount of data could be beneficial to human scientist as well as doctors’.

Computers Unable to Copy Human Behaviour/Way of Thinking

Mr Hassabis adds that the computers cannot copy human behaviours or overtake human way of thinking. London is doing well in artificial intelligence. DeepMind which is located in King’s Cross has grown to a 150 strong company of computer scientists and mathematicians.

Mr Hassabis has advised the UK not to misuse its leading position in the developing sector and has commented that they are proud to be a UK company. He further adds that though they are owned by Google, their whole operation is in UK and Cambridge, Oxford, University College London, Imperial has very strong machine learning departments.

This is something that UK is strong in and he thinks that it is great UK success story. However, unlike in the past, when they were at the beginning of the computer age and Silicon Valley ended with all the innovation as well as reaping the commercial benefits, they will now ensure that they stay at the forefront of what would be an incredibly important technology in the forthcoming 10 or 20 years’.

Adaptive Headlights Could Help Drivers Avoid Hitting

Automotive Headlight – Improve Safety in low light/Poor Weather

The main purpose of an automotive headlight is to improve safety in low light as well as poor weather situations. However, inspite of innovation on light sources, several accidents tend to take place at night with even less traffic on the road.

Recent progress in adaptive lighting have addressed certain restrictions of standard headlights but they have limited flexibility like switching between high and low beams, turning off beams towards the opposing lane or rotating the beam as the vehicle turns.

 They are not designed for all driving environments.Present day cars are equipped with dozens of computers which monitor and adjust mechanical as well as electrical systems though the headlights need to be improved upon. Their light sources have evolved from acetylene and oil lamps to tungsten filaments to LEDs in the past century but an advanced headlight available on a luxury vehicle only tend to light whatever is in front of them.

These limitations could cause problems to the driver, as indiscriminate illumination tends to reflect light off, of the snow and rain during storms creating glare for oncoming drivers in dry weather which could also be dangerous.

Headlights to Adjust Instantly to Anti-Glare High Beams

Robotics researchers are developing a headlight which tends to adjust instantly to anti-glare high beams, improved driver visibility during changing conditions, enabling the driver to see through rain and snowstorm, increased contrast of lanes, follow GPS directions as well as early visual alerts of obstacles.

The ultra-low latency reactive visual system tends to sense, react as well as adapt quickly to any environment at the time of moving at highway speeds wherein the single hardware design can be programmed to accomplish various task.

These adaptive headlights coming to the market, features automatic dimmers, motors which reorient the headlight as the vehicle tend to turn or lighting arrays which change beam pattern in order to avoid shining in the oncoming driver’s eyes, for Audis, BMWs, Mercedes and some other costly vehicles.

Unfortunately even the smart headlight systems seem to have only one of these competences. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute are attempting to go beyond these issues by programming headlight which could improve the driver’s visibility by dynamically modifying to a wider variety of driving conditions.

Smart Headlight a Looped System

The team are working on developing a headlight system which would avoid illuminating raindrops or snowflakes in poor conditions, reducing glare when high beams are used, lights up the driving lane, much brighter than the adjacent lane and provide early visual alert of obstacles on the road.

The smart headlight is a looped system which tends to read continuously, assesses and reacts the driving conditions and the headlight camera senses and captures images in front of the vehicle which is analysed by the computer processor.

 It then utilises that information in controlling the headlight’s spatial light modulator, thereby dividing a single beam from the headlight into one million smaller beams each of which can be switched on or off when needed.

The researchers led by Professor Srinivasa Narasimhan, states that their system reduces the visibility of rain four meters away from the light source by 70% when the vehicle tends to move at 30 km per hour. The model equally reduces the visibility of snowflakes which fall more slowly and seem to be larger than raindrops by 60%.

Boomer Alert: Exercise Keeps Your Brain Young

Photo: Kelly Rossiter

Boomer Alert – Exercises Keeps Brain Young

Baby boomers are aware that exercise tends to keep the brain young and several of them would be pleased to know that using the phone or a computer could be of great help. In the course of the ageing we tend to suffer from cognitive decline but there are options wherein we could slow it down and one of these options is exercising the brain to keep it active.

It is a known fact that exercise can add years to our lives and helps in keeping physically fit and a new study shows that it keeps us mentally fit as well. A new study – Smarter every day: The deceleration of population ageing in terms of cognition indicates that the use of computers and smartphones could make a difference.

The authors of the study were not the first to notify about it. Nora Ephron had pointed it out some years ago. She indicates that we tend to live in the Google years and there are benefits to it. When one tends to forget something, you take the iPhone and go to Google. The Senior Moment has become the Google moment and by controlling the obligation of the search mechanism, one can prove that you can cope up.

The Flynn Effect – To Perform Better

Study conducted indicated different intelligent tests that were performed on people 50+ in 2006 and thereafter in 2012 and it was observed that the 2012 group had cognitive functioning equivalent to people four to eight years younger.

 Moreover there has been a steady inclination among all ages to do perform better on these tests which is known the Flynn effect, which has been attributed to nutrition, education and other causes. However, they studied in particular if the technology made any kind of a difference.

The theory that the growing use of modern technology in daily life tends to increase cognitive demand on the older people which can helps them in maintaining cognitive potentials to higher ages, is put to an experimental test in the current study.

As the authors of the study draw their conclusion observing other factors which could have affected the consequences they conclude that the use of computers as well as smartphones does make a difference. Valeria Bordone, one of the study authors has summarized the results in an interview in `business website Quartz’.

Smartphone Users – Enhanced Thumb Sensory Representation

In several cases 52 years old from 2006 obtained the same score as 60 years old from 2012 and the levels of education had not changed between these two groups. However, it was observed that their use of computers as well as mobile phones had undergone a bit of a change.

Evidently to kids essay at Quartz, 52 and 60 years olds are considered senior citizens. The authors of the study reason and suggest that video games together with the other software programs could be helpful in keeping multi-tasking skills and attention extents high as we age.

Nora seems to be right that living in the Google years tends to keep one smarter for a longer period of time, not for the information one gets whenever essential but for the act of looking out for it and locating it tends to keep the brain working. As per another study, smartphone users also have `an enhanced thumb sensory representation in the brain’ and utilising the phone and the tablet could keep your thumb young also.

Cancer Patient Receives 3D Printed Ribs

Cancer Patient Receives First 3D Printed Rib Cage

A 54 old cancer patient from Spain has become the first person in the world to receive a 3D printed RIB CAGE who had been suffering from a cancerous tumour which had grown around his rib cage and sternum. A section of it had to be removed to cut out the growth completely.

However, rather than changing the ribs with a metallic plate as is the custom, surgeon at Salamanca University Hospital requested Anatomics, an Australian firm to make a personalized titanium imitation. By scanning the patient’s sternum and the rib cage, the team designed a customized model utilising a 3D printer provided by Australia’s national science agency – CSIRO.

Additive manufacturing research leader at CSIRO, Alex Kingsburg informed that `the reason 3D printing was preferred in making this implant was because it needed to be customised accurately to suit the patient since no human body tends to be the same and hence every implant would be different’. He further adds that it would have been an extremely complex piece to create usually and would have also been impossible.

CSIRO’s 3D Printing Facility Lab 22

After the 54 year old Spanish had been diagnosed with a chest wall sarcoma, the surgical team made a decision to remove his sternum an a part of his rib cage, to replace it with an implant where the implant was designed and manufactured by medical device company – Anatomics.

The device company used the CSIRO’s 3D printing facility Lab 22 in Melbourne, Australia. The surgical team comprising of Dr Jose Aranda, Dr Marcelo Jimene and Dr Gonzalo Varela from Salamanca University Hospital, were aware that the surgery would be a difficult one due to the complicated geometries that were involved in the chest cavity.

The process has been described in the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic surgery. Dr Aranda has stated that they thought that they could create a new kind of implant which could fully customise to replicate the intricate structures of the sternum and ribs. They wanted to provide a safer option for the patient and improve their recovery post-surgery’. Hence the surgeon had sought the help of Anatomics.

Implant Out of Surgical Grade Titanium Alloy

On evaluating the complexity of the requirements, Andrew Batty, CEO of Anatomics informed that the solution lay in metallic 3D printing. He stated that they wanted to 3D print the implant from titanium due to its complex geometry and design.

He added that while titanium implants had previously been utilised in chest surgery, designs have not considered the issues related to long term fixation and flat and plate implants depend on screws for firm fixation which may tend to get loose over a period of time. This could however, increase the risk of complication and the possibility of a re-operation. With high resolution CT data, the Anatomics team were capable of creating a 3D reform of the chest wall as well as the tumour enabling the surgeons to plan and precisely define resection margins.

With this, Mr Batty informed that that they were able to design an implant with firm sternal core and semi-flexible titanium rods which acted as prosthetic ribs attached to the sternum. Operating with experts at CSIRO’s 3D printing facility, the team then developed the implant out of surgical grade titanium alloy. The implant was built using a $1.3 million Arcam printer according to Alex Kingsbury from CSIRO’s manufacturing team.