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Scant Evidence of Power Laws Found in Real-World Networks
A new study challenges one of the most celebrated and controversial ideas in network science.
Neutron Lifetime Puzzle Deepens, but No Dark Matter Seen
Two methods of measuring the neutron’s longevity give different answers, creating uncertainty in cosmological models. But no one has a clue what the problem is.
Quantum Algorithms Struggle Against Old Foe: Clever Computers
The quest for “quantum supremacy” – unambiguous proof that a quantum computer does something faster than an ordinary computer – has paradoxically led to a boom in quasi-quantum classical algorithms.
How the Universe Got Its Bounce Back
Cosmologists have shown that it’s theoretically possible for a contracting universe to bounce and expand. The new work resuscitates an old idea that directly challenges the Big Bang theory of cosmic origins.
Solution: ‘Triangulation and Motion Sickness’
A method for estimating distances in sailing and astrophysics helps explain why riding on buses and boats can make us nauseous.
Job One for Quantum Computers: Boost Artificial Intelligence
The fusion of quantum computing and machine learning has become a booming research area. Can it possibly live up to its high expectations?
The Era of Quantum Computing Is Here. Outlook: Cloudy
Quantum computers should soon be able to beat classical computers at certain basic tasks. But before they’re truly powerful, researchers have to overcome a number of fundamental roadblocks.
Fossil Discoveries Challenge Ideas About Earth’s Start
A series of fossil finds suggests that life on Earth started earlier than anyone thought, calling into question a widely held theory of the solar system’s beginnings.
What Makes the Hardest Equations in Physics So Difficult?
The Navier-Stokes equations describe simple, everyday phenomena, like water flowing from a garden hose, yet they provide a million-dollar mathematical challenge.