ars technica | Nobel Intent | 28 Dec 2010
Nobel Intent covers a wide range of science topics. During 2010, you guys were particularly interested in physics, with stories on quantum mechanics and the Large Hadron Collider proving very popular. The TSA's backscatter scanners and some of our climate reporting also proved of particular interest to you. Here are the 10 most popular stories from Nobel Intent during 2010.
- Quantum teleportation achieved over ten miles of free space: Scientists have recently had success teleporting information between photons over a free space distance of nearly ten miles, an unprecedented length. Nature Photonics http://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=19456
Gamers beat algorithms at finding protein structures: Researchers have turned the biochemical challenge of figuring out protein folding structures into a computer game. The best players can beat a computerized algorithm by rapidly recognizing problems that the computer can't fix. Nature
A photo tour of the Large Hadron Collider: Ars takes a trip to the Large Hadron Collider, and invites you along to check out the hardware and control rooms that help run the largest physics experiment that humanity has ever attempted.
A tale of two qubits: how quantum computers work: Just how do quantum computers work? It turns out that most of the magic of quantum computers can be seen in the very simplest of systems. We take an in-depth look at systems of just one or two quantum bits, and see what they're doing when no one is watching.
The physics and biology of the TSA's backscatter security scanners: Confused by the backscatter backlash? Ars takes a look at the physics involved in the backscatter scanners being used in US airports, and considers how that can interact with the biology of its targets.
How robots think: an introduction: Computing's early pioneers anticipated that robots would come a lot further, a lot faster than they actually have. But despite the slow pace of progress over the initial decades of the computing revolution, robots have recently begun to advance quite rapidly. Here's what's behind the most recent advances in robot intelligence.
Why is the news media comfortable with lying about science?: When the news industry catches its own making up the content of a news story—especially involving politicians—the result is typically scandal, firings, and some public soul-searching. Why isn't the same true when it comes to science?
Not just oil: US hit peak water in 1970 and nobody noticed: Although peak oil might be traumatic, a new study suggests that the US hit peak water without most of us noticing. PNAS
Physicists look for the arrow of time, biologists find it: There's evidence that physicists are thinking seriously about the arrow of time, but biologists may be well ahead of them when it comes to understanding it.
Quantum memory may topple Heisenberg's uncertainty principle: Quantum memory may be all scientists need to beat the limit of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, according to a paper published in Nature Physics. http://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20492