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NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is set to perform its closest flyby of the sun on December 24, 2024, at 6:53 a.m. EST. The spacecraft, which launched in 2018, will approach within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometres) of the solar surface, setting a record for the nearest distance a human-made object has travelled to a star. Travelling at an extraordinary speed of 430,000 mph (692,000 kph), the probe will traverse the sun’s corona, collecting data on its high-temperature environment.

Mission Details and Flyby Preparations

The Parker Solar Probe, managed by NASA and designed at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL), has completed 21 previous solar encounters and seven flybys of Venus, as per a report by Parker Solar Space. The upcoming event marks the 22nd solar approach in its mission to deepen the understanding of the sun’s outer atmosphere. According to Nick Pinkine, mission operations manager at JHUAPL, the probe will provide unprecedented data from regions no spacecraft has explored before.

As part of its preparations, the probe sent a final transmission to Earth on December 20, signalling all systems are functioning normally, according to reports. Contact with the spacecraft will remain offline until December 27, when it is expected to send a health status update. Comprehensive science data, including telemetry, will begin to arrive in January 2025, as per reports.

Engineering to Withstand Extreme Temperatures

During the flyby, the spacecraft will endure temperatures reaching 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit (980 degrees Celsius). Its advanced heat shield, constructed from carbon foam, ensures the probe’s instruments remain at near room temperature while withstanding up to 1,377 degrees Celsius.

Future of the Mission

As per reports, two additional close solar flybys are planned for March 22 and June 19, 2025. Decisions regarding the spacecraft’s trajectory and continued operations are expected after the primary mission concludes. The Parker Solar Probe’s findings aim to address critical questions about the sun’s behaviour, contributing to the broader understanding of solar phenomena.

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MIT Researchers Measure Quantum Geometry of Electrons in Solid Materials

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December 24, 2024

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MIT Researchers Measure Quantum Geometry of Electrons in Solid Materials

A new study has allowed physicists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and collaborators to measure the quantum geometry of electrons in solids. The research provides insights into the shape and behaviour of electrons within crystalline materials at a quantum level. Quantum geometry, which had previously been limited to theoretical predictions, has now been directly observed, enabling unprecedented avenues for manipulating quantum material properties, according to the study.

New Pathways for Quantum Material Research

The study was published in Nature Physics on November 25. As described by Riccardo Comin, Class of 1947 Career Development Associate Professor of Physics at MIT, the achievement is a major advancement in quantum material science. In an interview with MIT’s Materials Research Laboratory, Comin highlighted that their team has developed a blueprint for obtaining completely new information about quantum systems. The methodology used can potentially be applied to a wide range of quantum materials beyond the one tested in this study.

Technical Innovations Enable Direct Measurement

The research employed angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), a technique previously used by Comin and his colleagues to examine quantum properties. The team adapted ARPES to directly measure quantum geometry in a material known as kagome metal, which features a lattice structure with unique electronic properties. Mingu Kang, first author of the paper and a Kavli Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University, noted that this measurement became possible due to collaboration between experimentalists and theorists from multiple institutions, including South Korea during the pandemic.

These experiences underscore the collaborative and resourceful efforts involved in realising this scientific breakthrough. This advancement offers new possibilities in understanding the quantum behaviour of materials, paving the way for innovations in computing, electronics, and magnetic technologies, as reported in Nature Physics.

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Flamanville 3 Nuclear Reactor Begins Operations After Long Delays in France

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December 24, 2024

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Flamanville 3 Nuclear Reactor Begins Operations After Long Delays in France

France’s nuclear energy sector reached a significant milestone as the Flamanville 3 European Pressurised Reactor in Normandy was successfully connected to the national electricity grid. According to reports, this reactor, now the country’s most powerful with a capacity of 1,600 MW, began supplying electricity at 11:48 am local time on Saturday. Officials from EDF, the state-owned energy firm, highlighted to the media that the connection marks an important chapter in the nation’s energy strategy, despite facing years of technical issues, delays, and cost overruns.

Decades in the Making

The Flamanville 3 project, initiated in 2007, was designed to revive interest in nuclear energy across Europe following past disasters. Reports have indicated that its advanced pressurised water reactor technology offers increased efficiency and improved safety measures. EDF’s CEO, Luc Rémont, called the development “historic,” noting that it was the first new reactor to begin operations in France in 25 years. Challenges during the reactor’s construction phase extended its timeline to 17 years, with costs escalating from an initial €3.3 billion to an estimated €13.2 billion.

Testing Phase and Future Plans

As per reports, it has been confirmed by EDF that Flamanville 3 will undergo extensive testing at varying power levels until summer 2025. A full inspection, lasting approximately 250 days, is expected to occur in spring 2026. The facility is projected to supply power to over two million homes once fully operational. France’s nuclear programme remains one of the most prominent globally, contributing to about 60 percent of the nation’s electricity output.

Government’s Commitment to Nuclear Energy

President Emmanuel Macron has underscored the importance of nuclear energy in the country’s shift towards sustainable power sources in the media. The government has announced plans for six additional next-generation reactors and possible options for eight more, reflecting its commitment to reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Macron previously described nuclear development as essential to safeguarding both energy security and the climate.

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Scientists Demonstrate Negative Time in Quantum Experiments at Toronto Lab



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Scientists Demonstrate Negative Time in Quantum Experiments at Toronto Lab

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December 24, 2024

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Scientists Demonstrate Negative Time in Quantum Experiments at Toronto Lab

A new study conducted at the University of Toronto has showcased experimental evidence of “negative time” in the quantum realm. While this concept has intrigued scientists for years, it has primarily been dismissed as a theoretical anomaly. The findings, which remain unpublished in a peer-reviewed journal, have sparked significant attention within the global scientific community after being shared on the preprint server arXiv. Researchers have clarified that this phenomenon, while perplexing, does not alter the broader understanding of time but instead highlights the peculiarities of quantum mechanics.

Insights Into the Experiment

Led by Daniela Angulo, an experimental physicist at the University of Toronto, the research team focused on interactions between light and matter. By measuring the behaviour of photons as they passed through atoms, the scientists observed that the atoms entered a higher-energy state, only to return to their normal state almost instantaneously. This change in energy duration was quantified, revealing a negative time interval.

Aephraim Steinberg, a professor of experimental quantum physics at the university, explained during a press interaction that while the findings might suggest particles travel back in time, this interpretation would be incorrect. Instead, the results demonstrate the probabilistic behaviour of quantum particles, which challenges traditional understandings of time.

Scientific and Public Reactions

This discovery has drawn both fascination and scepticism. Prominent physicist Sabine Hossenfelder criticised the interpretation in a widely-viewed video, asserting that the phenomenon described relates to photon travel and phase shifts rather than the passage of time. In response, the researchers emphasised the importance of exploring the complexities of quantum mechanics to better understand anomalies like these.

Steinberg acknowledged the controversy surrounding their approach but defended their interpretation of the results. He stated, according to reports, that while immediate practical applications are not apparent, the research could open doors to further investigation of quantum phenomena.

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