Simulations suggest that one type of qubit could reveal its state through its own electric current, helping researchers monitor quantum computers with less disturbance and fewer components. Like a bit in an ordinary computer, a qubit stores information using states labeled 0 and 1. A qubit can also be prepared in a superposition, a quantum […]
Chemical Breakthrough Could Unlock the “Holy Grail” of Solid-State Battery Technology
A simple chemical treatment could overcome a persistent weakness in next-generation solid-state batteries. Scientists in China have developed a thin protective coating that could help overcome a major obstacle to longer-lasting, high-capacity batteries. In laboratory tests, solid-state batteries using the treated lithium metal retained 82.3% of their initial capacity after 300 charging cycles, compared with […]
Kids Who Learn To Swim Early May Have an Unexpected Advantage in School
Children who learn to swim early may have a head start in classroom skills, with research finding developmental advantages even after accounting for socioeconomic background. When family budgets tighten, swimming lessons can be among the first expenses to go. Most swim schools operate as commercial businesses, and cost is the biggest barrier to participation. Yet […]
Could Type 2 Diabetes Be Reversed? 14-Year Study Reveals Remarkable Results
In a long-term trial, weight-loss surgery led to more type 2 diabetes remissions than intensive medical and lifestyle management, while patients’ disease histories offered clues to who might benefit most. For some people with type 2 diabetes, keeping blood sugar under control without medication is possible. This state, known as remission, raises a question that […]
The Secret to Saving Shellfish From Acidifying Oceans Could Be Hiding in Crushed Shells
Crushed shells helped young clams grow larger shells in laboratory tests, showing how a long-standing Indigenous coastal practice can offer local protection against ocean acidification. For a young clam, the surrounding water can threaten the shell it is trying to grow. When seawater absorbs excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, it becomes more acidic, making […]
Earthquake Faults Can Suddenly Become Almost As Fluid as Water, Study Finds
Scientists have uncovered evidence of an unexpected process that may allow earthquake faults to slip enormous distances. Rocks along Japan’s Boso Peninsula have preserved evidence of an extraordinary process that may occur during powerful earthquakes. Researchers discovered ancient fault structures suggesting that clay trapped between moving rock surfaces became nearly as fluid as water, potentially […]
Scientists Reveal How a Mysterious Brain Structure Keeps Memories From Fading
Memories that last only seconds shape everyday thinking, and research in mice is revealing how a small brain structure supports an ability impaired in ADHD and schizophrenia. To understand a sentence, the brain has to keep earlier words in mind as new ones arrive. Working memory makes that possible, holding information for a few seconds […]
Scientists Reveal How a Mysterious Brain Structure Keeps Memories From Fading
Memories that last only seconds shape everyday thinking, and research in mice is revealing how a small brain structure supports an ability impaired in ADHD and schizophrenia. To understand a sentence, the brain has to keep earlier words in mind as new ones arrive. Working memory makes that possible, holding information for a few seconds […]
Scientists Reveal How a Mysterious Brain Structure Keeps Memories From Fading
Memories that last only seconds shape everyday thinking, and research in mice is revealing how a small brain structure supports an ability impaired in ADHD and schizophrenia. To understand a sentence, the brain has to keep earlier words in mind as new ones arrive. Working memory makes that possible, holding information for a few seconds […]
The Hidden Brain Mechanism That Makes You Love Coffee, Chocolate, Fat, and Sugar
Scientists have uncovered a previously understudied dopamine pathway that may explain how we learn to enjoy flavors we initially dislike. A food can become more appealing even when its flavor stays exactly the same. Researchers at UC San Francisco have identified a previously understudied dopamine pathway that helps the brain learn which flavors are worth […]