in News
NASA’s lunar endeavors overshadowed by a colossal rocket detonation, the impending collapse of the Doomsday Glacier’s ice shelf, an innovative quantum computer AI fusion, and Iran’s severe water scarcity.
Jump to category:
- Hybrid quantum computer AI can solve questions base models can’t
- Life’s Little Mysteries
- “Doomsday Glacier” will lose ice shelf
- Also in science news this week
- Science Spotlight
- Something for the weekend
- Science news in pictures
- Follow Live Science on social media
Share this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleSubscribe to our newsletter
Space commanded the headlines in science news this week, as NASA revealed its subsequent phases for establishing a permanent lunar habitat, an announcement somewhat overshadowed by the dramatic explosion of a rocket intended to transport its payloads.
Three uncrewed missions scheduled for later this year will feature private enterprises conveying cargo to the moon’s surface, preceding the return of astronauts by 2028. Nevertheless, some experts have expressed doubt regarding NASA’s extremely ambitious schedule, with the massive detonation of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket during a static “hotfire” test likely causing significant setbacks.
In other celestial news, the solar system’s largest moon, Jupiter’s Ganymede, might be experiencing warming due to a distinctive and enigmatic process associated with the planet’s inscrutable magnetic field, an unforeseen effect is compressing Mars’ atmosphere, and peculiar, scratch-like formations on Venus’ surface are puzzling scientists.
If that isn’t sufficiently unconventional for your taste, we covered the far-reaching enigma of the controversial “JuMBO” planets identified by the James Webb telescope, alongside the telescope’s discovery of a “naked” black hole that surpasses its host galaxy in mass.
However, one does not need to venture into space to encounter novel perspectives on the cosmos, as evidenced by this compelling interview on the applications of radio astronomy in space exploration and the quest for extraterrestrial life. Indeed, one can experience that sense of wonder by observing this recent footage of a brilliant-green meteor exploding over an active volcano in the Philippines.
Hybrid quantum computer AI can solve questions base models can’tScientists trained an AI model using an IBM quantum computer — and it answered questions correctly that the base model couldn’t
IBM researchers found that AI trained with a quantum computer showed significant enhancement.
IBM researchers discovered that an AI model trained with a quantum computer exhibited considerable improvements.
Current artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are known for their frequent inaccuracies.
To achieve greater precision, large language models (LLMs) historically had to expand, utilizing more parameters and consequently consuming more computational resources. However, scientists have now devised a method to circumvent this seemingly unavoidable compromise by incorporating a quantum computing element into the AI.
The outcome was a marginal reduction in the perplexity score—a metric used to gauge the errors LLMs make in forecasting their subsequent tokens—and an enhancement in the questions the hybrid AI could address compared to a standard model.
Explore additional technology articles
—Can AI genuinely simulate human cognition? Research casts doubt on a prominent study, suggesting an advanced model was merely adept at pattern memorization.
—Scientists identified the ideal robot anatomy, featuring 20 legs — observe its ability to scale walls and navigate through trees
—OpenAI’s internal AI model successfully resolved an 80-year-old mathematical problem — confirmed by mathematicians
Life’s Little MysteriesWhat is jetlag, and how can you avoid it?
Jet lag is a mismatch between our internal body clock and our time zone.
Jet lag arises from a discordance between our internal biological clock and the local time zone.
If you have undertaken a long-distance flight previously, you are likely quite familiar with the sensation of jet lag — that debilitating feeling of temporal disorientation that persists for days after arriving in a new time zone. But what physiological processes are responsible for it? And is it preventable?
—If you found this interesting, subscribe to our Life’s Little Mysteries newsletter
“Doomsday Glacier” will lose ice shelf’Poised to disintegrate’: Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier’ is set to lose its ice shelf this year
Thwaites Glacier has been melting rapidly since the 1980s.
Thwaites Glacier has experienced accelerated melting since the 1980s.
Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier, referred to as the “Doomsday Glacier,” could trigger a rise in global sea levels by 2.1 feet (65 centimeters) if it collapses, leading to widespread flooding of coastal communities.
This week, reports indicated that a crucial ice shelf supporting the glacier is anticipated to disintegrate this year.
While this sounds alarming, it doesn’t necessarily signify immediate catastrophe. Although scientists cannot provide a precise timeline for the collapse of Thwaites Glacier, they do not foresee it occurring in the immediate future. This provides a measure of time for residents of cities like New York, Boston, and Miami to consider relocating inland.
Discover more Planet Earth news
—A single day of attacks on Iranian oil refineries released a quantity of sulfur dioxide comparable to a volcanic eruption
—The ‘Doomsday Glacier’ is projected to lose its ice shelf this year. An Antarctic researcher elucidates the implications for global sea levels.
—Gold fragments are present around Ghana’s ‘lake of souls’ attributed to a catastrophic meteor impact — Earth viewed from space
Also in science news this week
—Chemists have developed ‘water armor’ that provides resistance to stains and microbial adhesion on fabrics
—A hoard of gold dating back 1,200 years discovered in Saudi Arabia might have been interred by a medieval pilgrim
—Research suggests that the Romans and Vikings left minimal genetic evidence of their presence in Britain
—Diagnostic challenge: Whiplike rashes emerged on a woman’s back following the consumption of shiitake mushrooms
—A novel test employing the filming of eyeballs could potentially identify individuals at risk for anemia, eliminating the need for needles
—The repair of most of our electronic devices is legally restricted. The underlying reason is surprisingly complex.
Science SpotlightWar has brought Iran’s water crisis to a breaking point: ‘Things will collapse unless there is meaningful structural change’
War is deepening a water crisis in Iran that has depleted the country’s surface water, as well as its groundwater resources.
The ongoing conflict has exacerbated Iran’s water crisis, leading to the depletion of both its surface and groundwater reserves.
The conflict between the U.S. and Israel has incurred costs beyond military spending and casualties, encompassing critical infrastructure and escalating energy prices.
However, some consequences of the conflict are not immediately evident. One of the less publicized impacts, for instance, is the strain on Iran’s water infrastructure, which was already on the verge of collapse prior to the current hostilities. In this Science Spotlight, Live Science staff writer Sascha Pare provides an overview of the crisis’s origins, how the war intensified the situation, and the prospects for its resolution.
Something for the weekend
For those seeking weekend activities, here is a compilation of the week’s notable news analyses, crosswords, interviews, and opinion pieces.
—’It’s being promoted as if there is absolutely no risk’: Why certain experts advocate for classifying melatonin as a drug rather than a supplement [News Analysis]
—Live Science crossword puzzle #45: Featuring the world’s tallest waterfall — clue 10 across [Crossword]
—’We can identify these very early, before the clinical diagnosis’: Epigenetic markers may offer insights into why Native Hawaiians exhibit accelerated aging [Interview]
—AI-generated imagery is making it increasingly difficult to discern truth from falsehood. The implementation of regulations and AI watermarks is necessary to safeguard our collective reality. [Opinion]
Science news in picturesMars looks blue and bruised in surreal new images from Psyche spacecraft — Space photo of the week
This stunning photo of the Whirlpool Galaxy could reveal clues to how stars form.
This striking image of the Whirlpool Galaxy may offer insights into stellar formation.
This striking photograph of the bruised-blue Martian landscape was captured by NASA’s Psyche spacecraft during its close approach to the Martian surface, approximately 2,864 miles (4,609 kilometers) away, on May 15.
The image, showcasing a detailed view of the double-ringed Huygens crater and the surrounding cratered southern highlands, was taken by the probe to evaluate its multispectral cameras prior to its scheduled arrival at the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche in 2029. The enhanced color processing applied to the images revealed deposits of hidden minerals, accounting for the blue hues.
Follow Live Science on social media
Seeking more science news? Follow our Live Science WhatsApp Channel for real-time updates on the latest discoveries. It offers the most efficient way to access our expert reporting on the move. Alternatively, if you do not use WhatsApp, we are also available on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Flipboard, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.
TOPICS
Sourse: www.livescience.com
