Round-Up: Monthly Science News and Updates September 2020
Science is progressing as each second in our clock pass by. Here is our list of monthly science News and Updates for September 2020.
1. Quantum Computer Solving Real-life Problems
Quantum computers have been admired for long but were not used to solve real-life problems. Google AI quantum and collaborators were able to run a molecular simulation on Google’s quantum processor Sycamore. They used variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) algorithm to simulate the binding energy of hydrogen chains and isomerism mechanism of diazene. The accuracy of the calculations was reliable and this could be used to conduct more complex simulations, the ones which are unsolvable for classical computers in coming future.
Molecular chemistry is one of the major fields to be benefitted by the development of quantum computers and this achievement is a milestone for quantum computers for solving real problems. –Source
2. Antibody Treatment of COVID 19 Brings Hope
COVID 19 vaccine is not coming soon enough. During this tough time, the results shown by a pharmaceutical company regarding antibody treatment has brought hope. According to research done in 275 people, the data seems positive. The antibody treatment is found to decrease the number of virus in swabs.
The antibody combines with the surface protein of coronavirus causing COVID 19 and can block it from infecting cells. This in turn can decrease the number of the virus by preventing them to multiplicate. However, this treatment is only deemed useful to those patients who have mild symptoms and are in preliminary phase. –Source
3. First Evidence of Extraterrestrial Life in Venus
The search for extraterrestrial life is always on and scientists have found most authentic evidence till now in Venus. A team led by Jane Greaves of Cardiff University, UK have observed compound called phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array and James Clerk Maxwell Telescope.
Phosphine is a compound which can be synthesized by living organisms and is an essential compound to form RNA and DNA. The abiotic track for the formation of phosphine in Venus is not possible. So, it is concluded that this might be a hint of life forms in Venus. But it might be possible that the phosphine has been acquired from the abiotic process which is still unknown to us. –Source
4. Puzzling Massive black hole Merger
On 21 May 2019, a strong gravitational wave was recorded by different observatories. That wave was originated from a massive black hole merger. Those black holes were the only medium-sized black holes ever detected and could not have been formed when a massive star ran out of fuel since the explosion of dead star is so powerful that it leaves no remnants.
This month the data was analyzed and published but the formation of such massive merger remains a mystery. They could have been formed from merging of smaller black holes or maybe primordial black holes but both possibilities were ruled out because they do not fit the data. The upgrade of observatories Virgo and LIGO can be of massive help in discerning the truth about this merger. –Source
5. Brain Scanning Backpack Taking Neuroscience to the Next Level
The study of the human brain has been taken to next level with the development of a portable backpack like brain scanning and stimulating device. Previously these scanning devices were confined to the lab. But now with the development of this device, it can be used to study the reaction in response to a real-world stimulus.
This device can be useful in analyzing the reaction of the brain in response to stress and shocks, hence providing better insight into neuroscience. However, it can be only used on people with neural implants. This gear can aid in monitoring Parkinson’s and post-traumatic stress disorder. –Source
6. Bird Brain Mystery Solved
Bird show good cognitive ability and some are even smart enough to do special craft as per their need. But they do not have cerebral cortex as in mammals which is responsible for thought and reasoning in mammals. So, the cognitive behaviour of birds was a mystery.
Recently, scientists have found a structure in bird brain, which is responsible for cognitive abilities analogous to the cerebral cortex in mammals. This structure has a similar structure as mammalian cerebral cortex hinting that both cognitive units may have been the result of evolution from a common stem amniote. –Source
7. Two States of Supercooled Water Finally Observed
A supercooled liquid is a liquid form of a matter well below its freezing point. If a liquid is free of particle impurity to trigger the crystallization, it won’t freeze even below the freezing point. Supercooled water was theoretically studied and the possibility of two forms with two different compactness in the structure was theorized. However, those forms were not detected in experiments.
A group of researchers were able to detect those two forms of supercooled water within the temperature range of 135 to 235 kelvin. The group used supercooled film and performed ultrafast cooling and heating between the temperature range. Meanwhile, the densities are still not measured and there is ample room for further studies. –Source
8. Attosecond Pulse Tracking Electrons in Liquid
Attosecond pulse generation is a technology which can generate a pulse in a billion billionth fraction of second. This technology can be very useful in unravelling the mysteries of superfast phenomena. Scientists used this technology to track an electron in a liquid. An electron revolves around a hydrogen nucleus in about 150 attoseconds for Bohr model of a hydrogen atom. So, these pulses can even track electrons.
Previously these measurements could be done in gases only but the measurement in liquid phase means they can be used to study chemical reactions. This means a better insight into the mechanism of various chemical reactions is on its way. –Source
