🤖 Tech & Computer Science

IBM boosts the amount of computation you can get done on quantum hardware

IBM's recent quantum computing upgrades improve both hardware and software, aimed at reducing errors and making complex quantum calculations more feasible. The new Heron processor (133 qubits) minimizes errors from two-level system (TLS) defects, and software revisions have significantly sped up operations. These improvements allow calculations in hours rather than days, which reduces error risk due to shorter runtimes. IBM hopes these developments will enable useful, limited quantum calculations before fully error-corrected quantum computers are available by decade’s end.

Neural networks for abstraction and reasoning

Despite advances, neural networks struggle to match rule-based methods in solving abstract reasoning tasks like those in the Abstraction & Reasoning Corpus (ARC). This study adapts DreamCoder and large language models (LLMs) to improve performance, but results suggest diverse methods may be needed. Ensemble analysis shows combining approaches achieves better results than any single method, indicating AI might benefit from emulating the varied strategies humans use for complex reasoning.

⚛️ Physics and Chemistry

Researchers demonstrate universal control of a quantum dot-based system with four singlet-triplet qubits

Researchers at TU Delft have achieved universal control over a quantum dot system with four singlet-triplet qubits, a significant advance for quantum computing. By precisely tuning interactions between spins in a 2x4 germanium quantum dot array, they successfully performed single and two-qubit operations, achieving over 99% fidelity in single-qubit tasks. This work demonstrates the potential of quantum dot arrays for scaling quantum information processing and could support advanced simulations of quantum phenomena, marking progress toward larger, more reliable quantum systems.

From melanoma to malaria: photoacoustic device detects disease without taking a single drop of blood

A new device, Cytophone, developed by researchers from the USA and Cameroon, offers a non-invasive method to detect malaria without needing blood samples. Using photoacoustic flow cytometry, Cytophone detects malaria-infected red blood cells by targeting unique properties of the haemozoin crystals in infected cells. In clinical tests, the device was able to reliably detect malaria and track parasite levels over time, showing promise for use in malaria-endemic regions. The technology could offer an efficient, portable alternative to traditional malaria diagnostic methods.

🧬 Biology & Medicine

Teeny tardigrades can survive space and lethal radiation. Scientists may finally know how.

Chinese researchers have identified a new species of tardigrade, Hypsibius henanensis, which exhibits a complex defense system against radiation. Exposed to high doses of radiation, the species showed significant activation of genes linked to DNA repair and immune responses. One gene, DODA1, helps produce antioxidant pigments called betalains, which protect against radiation damage. This discovery could lead to advances in protecting astronauts from radiation and improving cancer treatments.

New Sexually Transmitted Fungal Infection Emerges in MSM

A new sexually transmitted fungal infection caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII (TMVII) has been identified in four U.S. men. The infection, causing genital tinea, is often mistaken for other dermatological conditions. TMVII spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact and has been reported mostly in men who have sex with men (MSM). The patients were successfully treated with antifungal medications, and healthcare providers are advised to consider TMVII in sexually active individuals with unusual rashes. Continued surveillance and rapid testing are needed to track this emerging infection.

UAB researchers reverse liver disease in mice with gene therapy

Researchers at UAB have developed a gene therapy using adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV-FGF21) to reverse metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in mice. This therapy targets liver fibrosis, obesity, insulin resistance, and liver tumors. It shows long-term efficacy and safety, with potential for clinical use in patients with MASH, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. The therapy will be tested in a future clinical trial, with Kriya Therapeutics leading the way. This breakthrough could offer a transformative treatment for millions suffering from metabolic diseases.

🔭 Space & Astronomy

SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites from California

SpaceX launched 20 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on November 14, 2024, including 13 with direct-to-cell capability. The Falcon 9 rocket's first stage successfully landed on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean, marking its eighth landing. This was the booster’s fifth Starlink mission. The launch and recovery highlight SpaceX's continued efforts to expand global internet coverage with Starlink.

NASA and Roscosmos disagree on cause and severity of ISS air leak

NASA and Roscosmos remain at odds over the cause and severity of a persistent leak in the Zvezda service module’s PrK vestibule on the ISS. Russian engineers attribute the issue to micro-vibrations, while NASA suspects multiple factors, including mechanical stress. Although repairs have reduced the leak rate, concerns persist over the module's structural integrity, with NASA fearing a potential catastrophic failure. Despite differing views, both agencies continue to manage the issue, with NASA taking precautions when the hatch to PrK is opened.

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