Mathematics and computation
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AI dominates the 4th International Congress of Basic Science in Beijing
Subir Sarkar finds that AI was a hot topic among the over 800 delegates
Earthquake fault irregularities control rupture speed and influence ground motion
New models show that high-speed rupture propagation produces stronger and longer-duration ground motion
Research headlines
AI sniffs out tuberculosis in breath’s chemical signature
Machine learning decodes the complex chemical signatures in human breath to deliver rapid, non-invasive tuberculosis diagnoses
Privacy risks from medical AI are greater than previously thought
Study reveals how sensitive health information about individual patients could be extracted from diagnostic medical AI models
Solar tower power plants get a data boost
Accessible new database could accelerate research on solar thermal power generation and allow wider deployment
AI-enhanced rare-event sampling helps predict extreme weather
Combining artificial intelligence with physical climate modelling enables more accurate characterization of rare weather events
‘Back to the future’ messages are more efficient
Closed time-like curves allow greater information capacity when sending messages backwards in time
Physics-based models still beat AI for predicting extreme weather events
Artificial intelligence struggles to forecast events with no precedent in training data
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Explore more in mathematics and computation
Word wave puzzle no.8
Can you work out the word in this puzzle, which relates to a recent Physics World article?
Read article: Word wave puzzle no.8
The physics of novel computation: beyond bits and chips to spikes and spins
Sidney Perkowitz looks into alternative computing methods inspired by physics to improve computational efficiency and power
Read article: The physics of novel computation: beyond bits and chips to spikes and spins
Word wave puzzle no.6
Can you work out the word in this puzzle?
Read article: Word wave puzzle no.6
Large physics models boost the performance of passenger cars
Aerodynamics expert David Wheater is our podcast guest
Read article: Large physics models boost the performance of passenger cars
AI’s black box problem: discovering physics we don’t understand
Claire Malone wonders what happens if AI produces answers we can’t – or don’t – understand
Read article: AI’s black box problem: discovering physics we don’t understand
Physicists create mechanical memory device from slap-bracelet-like structures
Placing the structures on a variably spinning turntable creates a scalable way of addressing single bits of memory
Read article: Physicists create mechanical memory device from slap-bracelet-like structures
AI-led solutions of Erdős problems spark debate over the future of mathematics
Problems that defeated human mathematicians for decades are now solved, but for whose benefit?
Read article: AI-led solutions of Erdős problems spark debate over the future of mathematics
Thermodynamic computing: noise as a resource, not an enemy
Theoretical physicist Stephen Whitelam is our podcast guest
Read article: Thermodynamic computing: noise as a resource, not an enemy
AI could help human scientists pick promising research topics
Large language models flag up novel combinations of concepts in materials science
Read article: AI could help human scientists pick promising research topics
Meta-design: language models generate novel quantum experiments
Researchers stretch the limits of how far artificial intelligence can contribute to scientific discovery
Read article: Meta-design: language models generate novel quantum experiments
STEM stock rising in quantitative finance
Find out what it’s like working for options trading firm Susquehanna
Read article: STEM stock rising in quantitative finance
Gauge theory could give quantum error correction a boost
Concept from theoretical physics could reduce qubit requirements
Read article: Gauge theory could give quantum error correction a boost
Is ‘vibe physics’ the future?
Scientists discuss whether AI could surpass human contributions to physics by 2035
Read article: Is ‘vibe physics’ the future?
Wanted: an electrical grid that runs on 100% renewable energy
Global conflicts are making renewable energy more attractive, but an all-renewable grid will require solving physics problems as well as political and economic ones
Read article: Wanted: an electrical grid that runs on 100% renewable energy
Physicists identify unexpected quantum advantage in a permutation parity task
The list of things that quantum features enable us to do just got a little longer
Read article: Physicists identify unexpected quantum advantage in a permutation parity task
Wobbling gyroscopes could harvest energy from ocean waves
Design can be tuned to work at a wide range of wave frequencies
Read article: Wobbling gyroscopes could harvest energy from ocean waves
Transfer learning could help muon tomography identify illicit nuclear materials
Hidden coated materials could be detected using new technique
Read article: Transfer learning could help muon tomography identify illicit nuclear materials
Physics‑based simulations help diagnose and treat disease
Computer scientist Amanda Randles is our podcast guest
Read article: Physics‑based simulations help diagnose and treat disease
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