Daily Archives: December 7, 2021

Enter The Dream House of La Monte Young: the avant-garde pioneer who inspired The Velvet Underground – Far Out Magazine

Posted: December 7, 2021 at 6:13 am

Walk along Church Street, just south of New Yorks Tribeca Grand Hotel, and youll notice an iridescent pink glow emanating from the third floor of number 275, an apartment known to those who care to ask as The Dream House. With its pink walls and tin-foil floors, this trip-inducing sound and light installation was created by one of the most pioneering artists of the 1960s, La Monte Young, a man who sat in the centre of the avant-garde scene that flourished in the city during those years, and whos incredible work in sound and visual art influenced everyone from Biran Eno and Yoko Ono to Lou Reed and John Cale.

Young was always sensitive to the world of sound. From an early age, he was struck by the droning sound of the wind sweeping along the vast Idaho plains, a natural force that, although invisible, seemed to have as much presence as any human being. Its no wonder then that his first instrument was one that utilised the power of breath, the saxophone. A prodigious talent from a young age, Young eventually abandoned jazz for the enigmatic world of the avant-garde in 1960, going on to establish himself as one of the leading figures of the new york avant-garde, at which time he began curating experimental art performances with his friend Yoko Ono. These loft-bound concerts served as a meeting place for some of New Yorks most experimental young musicians and artists, including Terry Riley, one of the founding fathers of classical minimalism alongside Phillip Glass and Steve Reich.

Young first met Riley when the two were graduate students in the 1950s, at which time Rileys work was heavily influenced by the atonalism and serialism of Stravinsky, Schoenberg, and Messiaen. Young, however, was far more interested in the work of fringe composers like John Cage, whose conceptual and proto-minimalist compositions inspired his idea to blend multiple drones together to create an ambient wash of sound. Youngs pioneering explorations of drones eventually led him to form the Theatre of Eternal Music in 1962, a group which consisted of La Monte Young (voice and saxophone) Tony Conrad (violin), Marian Zazeela (voice, lighting,) and John Cale (viola). Their musical aesthetic centred on a set of improvisational and mathematical rules laid down by Young himself and which were designed to guide the musicians as they tuned their instruments to non-western tunings and went about creating a mesmeric series of sustained microtones. These early compositions were greatly inspired by Hindustani classical music and, like that ancient musical style, were intended to induce a state of trance.

When the young violist John Cale met a budding songwriter called Lou Reed, he bought his experimental musical leanings with him, combining them with Reeds rough-shod pop songwriting to create an early incarnation of The Velvet Underground called The Primitives. Cales amplified viola drones quickly defined the groups primordial, deeply textural sound, the startling nature of which sent their early audiences fumbling for the exit. But Cale and Reed were unphased, they knew they were on to something great. As The Primitives picked up steam, the pair began rehearsing for hours at a time, Cales voila drones ebbing through the walls and seeping into the fabric of the groups sound all the while. These all-night sessions spawned many of the songs that would go on to form The Velvet Undergrounds first album, the sound of which would simply not have existed without La Monte Young.

Heroin, Venus In Furs, All Tomorrows parties, these songs contain the same faintly warped, trance-inducing textures that scale had been creating with Young in The Theatre of Eternal Music but the influence of Young goes beyond The Velvet Underground. The material on Reeds solo venture, Metal Machine Music was created by leaving several guitars tuned around the same note to feedback while leaning against hot valve amps, clearly revealing an absorption of the techniques Young created in the early 60s. Indeed, over the next four decades, Youngs pioneering work went on to inspire everyone from Krautrock adventurers Neu! to shoegaze pioneers My Bloody Valentine. Clearly, La Monte Youngs influence cannot be understated. As Brian Eno once put it, Young really was the daddy of us all.

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See the light with LAYER Designs new meditation headset for Resonate – Wallpaper*

Posted: at 6:13 am

See the light with LAYER Designs new meditation headset for Resonate

LAYERs latest foray into tomorrows technology is this new headset, a collaboration with the American start-up Resonate

Designed to enhance and accelerate the gentle art of meditation for a faster moving age, Resonates LightVision headset incorporates a series of LEDs that pipe a sequence of patterns into your visual cortex, activating the brains frequency-following response. Apparently theres a growing body of research that shows that a combination of vibration, sound, and light can subdue our racing thought patterns and make it easier to switch off and slow down. The headset is part of Resonates larger system of personal wellness that includes a chair and matching ottoman designed by Alexander Diaz Andersson, together with a pair of headphones and a six-month subscription of the companys proprietary content library. Plug the chair in, slip on the glasses and headphones, and treat yourself to a twenty-minute calming session.

All the components are designed to complement each other and be as un-tech as possible. This alternative physical appearance is down to Benjamin Hubert and his team at LAYER, who have softened the appearance of the LightVision and made it more tactile. For a start, theres the textile-wrapped casing, which is paired with a integrated adjustable strap so that it can follow the contours of the face. Keeping light out is extremely important, enabling the matrix LED display to pump in an array of dynamic lighting patterns in sync with the customised soundtrack. There are also lighting strips that cast a soft glow onto the face of the user, a way of signalling to any bystanders that youre deeply immersed.

LAYER describes the headset as operating at the cutting-edge science of neural entrainment, and whether or not you think more tech is the way to escape the deluge of tech-induced delirium, the device is more reminiscent of a soothing spa treatment than a piece of high technology. The LED lights take natural forms and movement and translates it into an abstract ever-changing sequence of biomorphic patterns. Hence you get abstracted representations of things like shoals of fish or waving trees, with the idea being that these naturally occurring rippling patterns of light combined with the subtle and synchronised vibrations coming through the chair and a soundtrack of monaural and binaural beats and isochronic tones will send you into a trance in no time at all. Resonates studies suggest that a daily dose of their system helps lower stress and anxiety and can even treat depression just as effectively as meditation.

Theres a deliciously West Coast ambience to all this, a synthesis of Sixties spiritualism and 21st century technocracy. Regardless of the science, the idea of being able to escape to a liminal space of light, movement, and sound is undeniably attractive. We live in an increasingly hectic world where we are constantly inundated with digital interactions, the media, and more recently the impact of a pandemic, says Hubert, In this world, mindfulness and meditation is more relevant than ever before.

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Siemens Gamesa partners on offshore wind-to-hydrogen – reNEWS

Posted: at 6:10 am

Siemens Gamesa has signed a memorandum of understanding with Strohm to collaborate on the development of offshore wind-to-hydrogen infrastructure.

The partnership will focus on the advancement of hydrogen transfer solutions that will look to improve the decentralized green hydrogen concept, whereby green hydrogen is generated in each turbine generator and transported to shore by a subsea pipe.

In this concept power cables are replaced by a pipe infrastructure used for storing and transferring hydrogen.

Siemens Gamesa has a technical advisory role while Strohm will lead in its specialist design and manufacturing of thermoplastic composite pipe (TCP), which is particularly suited for transporting hydrogen offshore and subsea.

The corrosion-resistant technology of TCP does not fatigue or suffer from issues associated with using steel pipe for hydrogen, such as embrittlement, the companies said.

Strohm said that the TCP will be produced at its plant in the Netherlands and after manufacturing the pipe can be pulled directly into the wind turbine generator, quickly and cost effectively.

The company added that TCP does not require any maintenance and is suitable for over 30 years in operation which lowers the levelized cost of electricity to a minimum and enables the decentralized concept solution.

Strohm chief commercial officer Martin van Onna said: This is a truly exciting collaboration, working with Siemens Gamesa to understand how TCP can be the missing link in an offshore wind farm, generating green hydrogen.

The key attributes of TCP - flexibility, no corrosion or maintenance requirements - allow for the most cost-effective infrastructure on a given wind farm.

Our proven track record with TCP offshore is a pre-requisite to be considered a solution in future green hydrogen.

Siemens Gamesa power to X innovation manager Finn Daugaard Madsen said: At Siemens Gamesa, we believe in the potential of green hydrogen and have been working on the decentralized concept for some years.

Strohm has supported us through several case studies, identifying the solutions that can be readily used which complement our own systems.

This partnership will assist us to innovate together in an open format, accelerating the availability of green hydrogen.

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Hubble telescope restores 3rd instrument in slow return to operations – Space.com

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NASA's most beloved space telescope is nearly back to normal.

Three of the Hubble Space Telescope's four science instruments are now back to work as the team behind the observatory continues to investigate and assess a glitch that sent all four instruments into safe mode on Oct. 25.

Hubble's Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) has now joined the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) and Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) in resuming observations, according to a statement released Monday (Nov. 29). The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) is now the only Hubble instrument that remains in safe mode.

Related: The best Hubble Space Telescope images of all time!

The observatory's science instruments went into safe mode after issues arose with a type of message that governs the instruments' internal clocks. The "loss of a specific synchronization message," as the situation is formally known, first occurred on Oct. 23, but resetting the instruments got them back to work quickly.

But not for long. Two days later, "the science instruments again issued error codes indicating multiple losses of synchronization messages" and went into safe mode, according to a NASA statement.

Hubble personnel worked to troubleshoot the issue using a retired instrument that remains aboard the observatory, then began applying fixes to each of Hubbles science instruments in turn. In tandem, the team is also working on software changes that would prevent science instruments from shutting down in a similar situation of multiple losses of synchronization messages.

The Hubble Space Telescope, a joint project of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), entered Earth orbit in April 1990 after launching aboard space shuttle Discovery. During the observatory's first two decades, astronauts were able to visit Hubble aboard space shuttles to replace instruments and conduct other upgrades and repairs.

But for the past 10 years, Hubble has been on its own: NASA retired the fleet of space shuttles in 2011, so astronauts can no longer visit the observatory. In that time, the Hubble Space Telescope has weathered its share of glitches, including most recently a computer issue that knocked the observatory out of service for a month this summer.

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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Stelliferous: Geminid meteor shower, and the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope – Sarasota Herald-Tribune

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Howard Hochhalter| The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature

Did you everthink about the factthat astronomy is a sciencethatdeals with what was rather than what is?

Seriously.Lets sayan astronomer trains a telescope tonight atthe Andromeda Galaxy, the closest galaxy to our own Milky Way. The Andromeda Galaxy is 2.5millionlight-years away,andalight-year is how far light travels in one year (5.87 trillion miles), sothe lightfromthe Andromeda Galaxy that our astronomer seestonightleft that galaxy 2.5 million years ago, about the time early hominids started using stone tools.

Even an astronomical event that happens in the present, such as a meteor shower, is a trip to the past.

Take theGeminidmeteor shower, which reaches its peak the nights of Dec. 13 and 14.

Most meteor showers occur when theEarth plows through debris left by a comet. When those cometary bits and pieces, usually the size of a grain of rice, hit the atmosphere,they burnup and create what some people call falling or shooting stars. The parent of OctobersOrionid meteor shower, for example, is the famous comet Halley.

The parent of the Geminids, however, is an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon. As it approaches the sunin its 1.7-year orbit aroundit, chunks of the asteroid break off to become the meteors of the Geminids as they rip through Earths atmosphere at 79,000 mph.

Producing up to 150 meteors per hour, including the occasional fireball, the Geminids were first recorded in 1833so meteors you see during this monthsshower might be from 3200 Phaethons first appearance in our part of the solar system, 188 years ago, or they might be from the asteroids most recent visit, in 2020. In any case, youre looking into the past.

Meteor showers are named for the constellation from which they seem to radiate (its called the radiant), and, for the Geminids, thats Gemini, which rises a little after 9 p.m. Nov. 13.

A waxing gibbous moon, 75% illuminated, will wash out meteors for much of the night, but it will set at2:25a.m. Dec. 14, while Gemini is still high in the sky, which means youll have good viewing until civil twilight at 6:47 a.m.

Our final iteminvolvesa tripwayback into the pastalmost to the beginning of time.

On Dec.18, the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope, a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency,will blast offaboard an Ariane 5 rocketfrom the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, on a mission that will look more than 13 billion years into the past and allow us to see light created just after the big bang.

For anyone interested in astronomy, this is a very exciting mission, one that is expected to surpass even theaccomplishmentsof the Hubble Space Telescope, which are many.

For more than 30 years, weve marveled at the mesmerizingly beautiful imagesHubblehas sent back to Earthand at the advances in our understanding of the universe the telescope has provided.Hubblehas made more than 1.9 millionobservations, and its data havebeen the source of more than 18,000 scientific papers, which, themselves have been cited inalmost 1 million otherpapers.

The worlds most brilliant astronomers do miracles with this observatory, said David Leckrone, former Hubble senior project scientist. And it just keeps going on and on and on, and my jaw keeps dropping lower and lower with each new discovery.

And, according to NASA scientist Michelle Thaller, Theres not a single astronomer in the world whose life hasnt been touched by Hubble.

So, whysuch high expectations forthe Webb Space Telescope?

Lets compare thetwo telescopes.

Size: When it comes to reflecting telescopes, the bigger the mirror, themore lightit gathers(in other words, the more it cansee).Hubblesmirror is 7 feet, 10 inches. Webbs mirror is 21 feet, 4 inches.

What Webb and Hubble see: While both telescopes operate in the visible spectrum (that is, they can photograph objectsvisible to humans),Webb will be able to see farther into the infraredportionof the spectrumthan Hubble does. This is important because light from the most distant galaxies (those formed soon after the big bang) reaches Earth as infrared light, and the more infrared light a telescope can detect, the more distant galaxies it will see.

Location: We send telescopes to space so they dont have to deal with manmade light pollution and the blurring effects of Earths atmosphere.Hubble orbits the Earth, atanaltitude of 340 miles. Webb willnot orbit the Earth; rather it will be at a fixed location called the second Lagrange point, or L2, 1 million miles from Earth.

ALagrange pointthere are five of themis aplacein space where the gravitational forces of two large bodies, such as the Earth and sun, cancel each other out, and an object, such as a telescope, can be parked there to make observations. Picture the Earth in its orbit around the sun; now, draw a straight line from the center of the sun through the center of the Earth, extendingto a point1 million miles past Earth. Thatis L2.

So, the Hubble telescope orbits the Earth, passing between the Earth and sun and between the Earth and moon,its observations affected by light from the sun, Earth and moon,buttheWebb telescope will always be on the oppositeside of the Earth from the sun, pointing its giant mirror out into the depths of space.Further, apolymershieldthe size of a tennis court will block all light from the sun, Earth, and moon, insuring a constantly dark sky for the telescope to peer into.

It will take roughly 30 days for Webb to reach its orbit at L2, then, after six months of checkouts and calibrations, its science mission will begin.

We can only wonder what its first images will be.

Astronomy by the Bay:TheBishopwill provide telescopesso you can observethe waxing gibbous moon andthe planets Venus, Saturn and Jupiter, which will be lined up like a string of pearls along the ecliptic in the western sky.And, yes, were still lookinginto the past:Venus, the closest of our three planets,is almost 60 million miles from Earth right now; thats more than five light minutes away, so the light youll see when you look at Venus left the planet five minutes before you see it. The event is freebut registration is required.(Dec. 14, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., The Bay Park, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota)

How to Use Your Telescope: Need some help figuring out how to use your telescope? Meet us out at Robinson Preserve and we will help you figure it all out! Dont forget to bring your telescope with you! The session is free but group size is limited and registration is required. (Dec. 18, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Robinson Preserve, 10299 9th Ave. NW, Bradenton)

Stelliferous, featuring the Star of Kings:This star has been a popular topic at planetarium shows since the 1940s,aspeople explore astronomical explanations for the star described in the nativity story. Was it a comet, a supernova or something else entirely? JoinmeinThe Planetarium,where welltake a journeyback in timeto what was really happening in the skies some 2,000 years ago. Cost is $8for members of theDiscoverySociety, $10for all others. (Dec. 22,7 p.m., The Bishop, 201 10th St. West, Bradenton;Dec. 23: Star of Kings will replace our regularly scheduled liveStar TalkinThe Planetarium. 12:15 p.m. Included in the price ofMuseumadmission.)

For further program details and registration, visit BishopScience.org/events.

Howard Hochhalter isdirectorofThe PlanetariumatThe Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. Each month, he hostsStelliferous, a live discussion at the Museum of whats happening in our night skies and in the world of astronomy. VisitThe Bishoponline atBishopScience.orgto register or to learn about other events and activities at the Museum.

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Stelliferous: Geminid meteor shower, and the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

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It happened today – this day in history – December 5 – Yellow Advertiser

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771: Charlemagne becomes the sole King of the Franks after the death of his brother Carloman.

1456: An earthquake strikes Naples, killing 35,000.

1492: Christopher Columbus discovers Hispaniola (Haiti).

1496: Jews are expelled from Portugal by order of King Manuel I.

1717: English pirate Blackbeard ransacks the merchant sloop Margaret and keeps her captain, Henry Bostock prisoner for eight hours. Bostock later provides the first description of Blackbeards appearance.

1791: Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart dies aged 35.

1792: George Washington is re-elected as president of the USA.

1804: Thomas Jefferson is re-elected as president of the USA.

1830: Hector Berliozs Symphonique Fantastique premieres in Paris. On the same day, poet Christina Rossetti is born in London.

1832: Andrew Jackson is re-elected as president of the USA.

1837: Hector Berliozs Requiem premieres.

1848: President James K. Polk triggers the Gold Rush of 1849 by confirming the discovery of gold in California.

1870: French author Alexandre Dumas dies aged 68.

1872: The Mary Celeste is discovered mysteriously abandoned by her crew in the Atlantic Ocean.

1890: The entire version of Hector Berliozs epic opera Les Troyens premieres in Karlsruhe, 21 years after the composers death.

1901: Walt Disney is born in Chicago.

1914: The Italian parliament proclaims the countrys neutrality.

1917: Austro-German Forces launch an offensive against the Italians on the western end of their line, around Asiago.

1925: Hans Luther is forced to resign as Chancellor and head of the German Weimar government.

1926: French impressionist painter Claude Monet dies from lung cancer aged 86.

1932: Albert Einstein is granted a visa to enter America.

1933: Prohibition ends in the US when the 21st Amendment to the US Constitution is ratified, repealing the 18th Amendment.

1936: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan become constituent republics of the Soviet Union.

1941: A Soviet anti-offensive in Moscow drives out the Nazi army.

1945: Flight 19 the Lost Squadron of five torpedo bombers and 14 airmen is lost east of Florida in the Bermuda Triangle.

1947: Joe Louis beats Jersey Joe Walcott Walcott in 15 rounds for the heavyweight boxing title.

1949: Ezzard Charles beats Jersey Joe Walcott Walcott for the heavyweight boxing title

1950: Chinese forces fighting for their Korean comrades enter the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and push UN troops back. On the same day, Ezzard Charles KOs Nick Barone in Round 11 for the heavyweight boxing title.

1955: The Montgomery Improvement Association formed by Ralph Abernathy, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Edgar Nixon to support the bus protest in Montgomery, Alabama.

1957: New York becomes the first US city to legislate against racial or religious discrimination in housing market. On the same day, President Sukarno of Indonesia expels all Dutch people.

1958: Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) is inaugurated in the UK by the Queen when she speaks to the Lord Provost in a call from Bristol to Edinburgh. On the same day, the Preston bypass, the UKs first stretch of motorway, opens to traffic for the first time. It is now part of the M6 and M55.

1960: Ghana drops diplomatic relations with Belgium.

1963: Singles chart:

1965: The Beatles play in their home town for the last time when they appeared at The Liverpool Empire.

1974: The final episode of Monty Pythons Flying Circus airs on BBC TV.

1977: President Anwar al-Sadat of Egypt breaks all relations with Arab hardliners Syria, Libya, Algeria and South Yemen.

1979: Ireland premier Jack Lynch resigns.

1987: Fat Larry James, drummer, singer and leader of Fat Larrys Band dies of a heart attack aged 38.

1988: A Federal Grand Jury indicts televangelist Jim Bakker for fraud after he paid hush money to cover up an alleged rape.

1989: Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher defeats Sir Anthony Meyer in the first challenge to her leadership of the Conservative Party. On the same day, the French TGV train reaches a world record speed of 482.4kph.

1991: Administrators are called in to try to salvage the Maxwell business empire, which is at least 1bn in debt.

1993: Astronauts begin to repair the Hubble telescope in space. On the same day, guitarist and songwriter Doug Hopkins of the Gin Blossoms dies of self-inflicted gunshot wounds age 32 a day after sneaking out of rehab in Phoenix, Arizona.

1995: Sri Lankan troops drive Tamil Tiger guerrillas out of their heartland capital of Jaffna. Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) reveal that in the weeks before his death, Robert Maxwell had removed 350m from its pension fund without authority.

2003: Coldplay singer Chris Martin marries actress Gwyneth Paltrow in California.

2005: The Civil Partnership Act comes into effect in the UK.

2006: Lyrics handwritten by Sir Paul McCartney to an early version of Maxwells Silver Hammer sold for $192,000 (97,000) at an auction in New York. On the same day, Commodore Frank Bainimarama overthrows the government in Fiji. Also, Audrey Hepburns Givenchy little black dress from the film Breakfast at Tiffanys is auctioned for charity for a record 467,200 at Christies in London.

2007: A gunman opens fire with a semi-automatic rifle at an Omaha, Nebraska mall, killing eight people before taking his own life.

2008: Human remains previously found in 1991 are finally identified by Russian and American scientists as those of Tsar Nicholas II. On the same day, O J Simpson is sentenced to 33 years in prison for kidnapping and armed robbery.

2010: Album chart:

2012: Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck dies aged 91.

2013: Nelson Mandela dies aged 95.

2016: Malta becomes the first country in Europe to outlaw conversion therapy.

2017: Russia is banned from the next Winter Olympics in South Korea over state-sponsored doping.

2018: A letter by Albert Einstein from 1954 on the concept of religion sells for $2.9 million at Christies in New York.

2019: National strike in France as more than 800,000 people in 100 cities protest against proposed pension reform.

BIRTHDAYS: Jeroen Krabb, actor, 77; Jos (Josep Maria) Carreras, tenor, 75; Kim Simmonds, guitarist (Savoy Brown), 74; Morgan Brittany (Suzanne Cupito) actress, 70; Eddie the Eagle Edwards, ski jumper, 58; Margaret Cho, comedian, 53; Sajid Javid, politician, 52; Ronnie OSullivan, snooker champion, 46; Paula Patton, actress, 46; Frankie Muniz, actor, 36; Anthony Martial, footballer, 26.

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It happened today - this day in history - December 5 - Yellow Advertiser

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The future of scientific research is quantum – TNW

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Over the past few years, the capabilities of quantum computers have reached the stage where they can be used to pursue research with widespread technological impact. Through their research, the Q4Q team at the University of Southern California, University of North Texas, and Central Michigan University, explores how software and algorithms designed for the latest quantum computing technologies can be adapted to suit the needs of applied sciences. In a collaborative project, the Q4Q team sets out a roadmap for bringing accessible, user-friendly quantum computing into fields ranging from materials science, to pharmaceutical drug development.

Since it first emerged in the 1980s, the field of quantum computing has promised to transform the ways in which we process information. The technology is centered on the fact that quantum particles such as electrons exist in superpositions of states. Quantum mechanics also dictates that particles will only collapse into one single measurable state when observed by a user. By harnessing these unique properties, physicists discovered that batches of quantum particles can act as more advanced counterparts to conventional binary bits which only exist in one of two possible states (on or off) at a given time.

On classical computers, we write and process information in a binary form. Namely, the basic unit of information is a bit, which takes on the logical binary values 0 or 1. Similarly, quantum bits (also known as qubits) are the native information carriers on quantum computers. Much like bits, we read binary outcomes of qubits, that is 0 or 1 for each qubit.

However, in a stark contrast to bits, we can encode information on a qubit in the form of a superposition of logical values of 0 and 1. This means that we can encode much more information in a qubit than in a bit. In addition, when we have a collection of qubits, the principle of superposition leads to computational states that can encode correlations among the qubits, which are stronger than any type of correlations achieved within a collection of bits. Superposition and strong quantum correlations are, arguably, the foundations on which quantum computers rely on to provide faster processing speeds than their classical counterparts.

To realize computations, qubit states can be used in quantum logic gates, which perform operations on qubits, thus transforming the input state according to a programmed algorithm. This is a paradigm for quantum computation, analogous to conventional computers. In 1998, both qubits and quantum logic gates were realized experimentally for the first time bringing the previously-theoretical concept of quantum computing into the real world.

From this basis, researchers then began to develop new software and algorithms, specially designed for operations using qubits. At the time, however, the widespread adoption of these techniques in everyday applications still seemed a long way off. The heart of the issue lay in the errors that are inevitably introduced to quantum systems by their surrounding environments. If uncorrected, these errors can cause qubits to lose their quantum information, rendering computations completely useless. Many studies at the time aimed to develop ways to correct these errors, but the processes they came up with were invariably costly and time-consuming.

Unfortunately, the risk of introducing errors to quantum computations increases drastically as more qubits are added to a system. For over a decade after the initial experimental realization of qubits and quantum logic gates, this meant that quantum computers showed little promise in rivalling the capabilities of their conventional counterparts.

In addition, quantum computing was largely limited to specialized research labs, meaning that many research groups that could have benefited from the technology were unable to access it.

While error correction remains a hurdle, the technology has since moved beyond specialized research labs, becoming accessible to more users. This occurred for the first time in 2011, when the first quantum annealer was commercialized. With this event, feasible routes emerged towards reliable quantum processors containing thousands of qubits capable of useful computations.

Quantum annealing is an advanced technique for obtaining optimal solutions to complex mathematical problems. It is a quantum computation paradigm alternative to operating on qubits with quantum logic gates.

The availability of commercial quantum annealers spurned a new surge in interest for quantum computing, with consequent technological progress, especially fueled by industrial capitals. In 2016, this culminated in the development of a new cloud system based on quantum logic gates, which enabled owners and users of quantum computers around the world to pool their resources together, expanding the use of the devices outside of specialized research labs. Before long, the widespread use of quantum software and algorithms for specific research scenarios began to look increasingly realistic.

At the time, however, the technology still required high levels of expertise to operate. Without specific knowledge of the quantum processes involved, researchers in fields such as biology, chemistry, materials science, and drug development could not make full use of them. Further progress would be needed before the advantages of quantum computing could be widely applied outside the field of quantum mechanics itself.

Now, the Q4Q team aims to build on these previous advances using user-friendly quantum algorithms and software packages to realize quantum simulations of physical systems. Where the deeply complex properties of these systems are incredibly difficult to recreate within conventional computers, there is now hope that this could be achieved using large systems of qubits.

To recreate the technologies that could realistically become widely available in the near future, the teams experiments will incorporate noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices which contain relatively large numbers of qubits, and by themselves are prone to environmental errors.

In their projects, the Q4Q team identifies three particular aspects of molecules and solid materials that could be better explored through the techniques they aim to develop. The first of these concerns the band structures of solids which describe the range of energy levels that electrons can occupy within a solid, as well as the energies they are forbidden from possessing.

Secondly, they aim to describe the vibrations and electronic properties of individual molecules each of which can heavily influence their physical properties. Finally, the researchers will explore how certain aspects of quantum annealing can be exploited to realize machine-learning algorithms which automatically improve through their experience of processing data.

As they apply these techniques, the Q4Q team predicts that their findings will lead to a better knowledge of the quantum properties of both molecules and solid materials. In particular, they hope to provide better descriptions of periodic solids, whose constituent atoms are arranged in reliably repeating patterns.

Previously, researchers struggled to reproduce the wavefunctions of interacting quantum particles within these materials, which relate to the probability of finding the particles in particular positions when observed by a user. Through their techniques, the Q4Q team aims to reduce the number of qubits required to capture these wavefunctions, leading to more realistic quantum simulations of the solid materials.

Elsewhere, the Q4Q team will account for the often deeply complex quantum properties of individual molecules made up of large groups of atoms. During chemical reactions, any changes taking place within these molecules will be strongly driven by quantum processes, which are still poorly understood. By developing plugins to existing quantum software, the team hopes to accurately recreate this quantum chemistry in simulated reactions.

If they are successful in reaching these goals, the results of their work could open up many new avenues of research within a diverse array of fields especially where the effects of quantum mechanics have not yet been widely considered. In particular, they will also contribute to identifying bottlenecks of current quantum processing units, which will aid the design of better quantum computers.

Perhaps most generally, the Q4Q team hopes that their techniques will enable researchers to better understand how matter responds to external perturbations, such as lasers and other light sources.

Elsewhere, widely accessible quantum software could become immensely useful in the design of new pharmaceutical drugs, as well as new fertilizers. By ascertaining how reactions between organic and biological molecules unfold within simulations, researchers could engineer molecular structures that are specifically tailored to treating certain medical conditions.

The ability to simulate these reactions could also lead to new advances in the field of biology as a whole, where processes involving large, deeply complex molecules including proteins and nucleic acids are critical to the function of every living organism.

Finally, a better knowledge of the vibrational and electronic properties of periodic solids could transform the field of materials physics. By precisely engineering structures to display certain physical properties on macroscopic scales, researchers could tailor new materials with a vast array of desirable characteristics: including durability, advanced interaction with light, and environmental sustainability.

If the impacts of the teams proposed research goals are as transformative as they hope, researchers in many different fields of the technological endeavor could soon be working with quantum technologies.

Such a clear shift away from traditional research practices could in turn create many new jobs with required skillsets including the use of cutting-edge quantum software and algorithms. Therefore, a key element of the teams activity is to develop new strategies for training future generations of researchers. Members of the Q4Q team believe that this will present some of the clearest routes yet towards the widespread application of quantum computing in our everyday lives.

This article was authored by the Q4Q team, consisting of lead investigator Rosa Di Felice, Anna Krylov, Marco Fornari, Marco Buongiorno Nardelli, Itay Hen and Amir Kalev, in Scientia. Learn more about the team, and find the original article here.

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University of Calgary gets $22M for research on infectious diseases, quantum computing – CBC.ca

Posted: at 6:08 am

The Alberta government is investing more than $22 million in research infrastructure and technology development at the University of Calgary with the hopeit will advanceinnovation in the province.

The funding is part of the Research Capacity Program andhelpspost-secondary institutions receive bothsmall equipment and large research infrastructure needed to attract researchers, according to a release.

It will support11 research projects for the next four years inareas likehealth and wellness, infectious diseases andquantum computing.

Ed McCauley, university president and vice-chancellor,says the financial support willhelpstrengthens the university'sreputation as a leader in innovation and world-class research.

"We're helping Calgary's economy grow and diversify in expanding fields such as tech, in medicine and the sciences," he said. "Investments like today's brighten Calgary's future."

"For those of you that pay attention to where the technology space is going, this is the technology that's going to disrupt the next decade," Schweitzer said at a press conference Monday.

"There's a huge opportunity for us to continue to leverage the work that's being done here at the University of Calgary to grow those opportunities, not just for researchfor research's sake, but for commercialization and jobs."

He says the province will be able to leverage that money into $170 millionof innovation and research for partner institutions and industry.

"This can not only help us diversify our economybut continue to leverage the momentum that we're seeing in so many different areas of the tech space here in the province of Alberta."

Jason Copping, minister of health, says he's particularly excited about research that will leadto new health treatments.

"There's still an incredible wealth of talented and dedicated people across the health system in our universitiesworking to make life better for all of us and for all our province."

He says researchers will studyinfectious diseases, mental illness in children and young adults, andhow regenerative therapies can be used to improve healing.

"All of this will help improve the health of Albertans and set the stage for more research down the road. And this announcement today is just a glimpse of the range of research projects supported by Alberta's government that aim to make life better and assure Albertans have access to leading-edge treatments."

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What’s the political strategy behind the Great Republican resignation in the Utah Legislature? – KUER 90.1

Posted: at 6:07 am

Call it the great Republican resignation.

While many industries are seeing workers leave in record numbers due to low pay, family priorities and other reasons four Republican lawmakers have left the Utah Legislature over the past couple months.

The latest is Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield. He recently announced he was stepping down for a job with the newly formed Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

That triggers a special election by the Davis County GOP to pick Rays replacement. The same thing happened when the three other lawmakers resigned in their respective counties.

Katie Matheson, deputy director of the left-leaning government watchdog group Alliance for a Better Utah, said she views these mid-term resignations and special elections as a way to help Republicans keep their seats.

It's certainly a travesty for our state that that's how public servants are picked, rather than really playing above board and letting the competition of ideas really win out in an election, Matheson said. They're kind of manipulating the process in a way that is perfectly legal.

The process, though, is the same for Democrats. When former Rep. LaWanna Shurtliff died late last year, the Weber County Democratic Party elected her replacement, Rep. Rosemary Lesser, D-Ogden.

As far as a resignation, though, a spokesperson for the Utah Democratic Party said the last time a Democratic lawmaker left the Legislature in the middle of their term was likely in 2015, when Rep. Justin Miller stepped down.

Republican political consultant Spencer Stokes said legislators typically leave mid-term for either a positive reason, like they were offered their dream job, or an unfortunate reason, like bad media coverage.

He said the resignations are less about a grand party strategy than where a lawmaker is in their life.

First and foremost, these are individuals, and they're going to be concerned about their personal lives and their familys lives, Stokes said. They will resign when the timing is [right].

But he said it does give whoever the county party picks an advantage because theyll have name recognition and experience under their belt if they decide to run for election.

So, if people dont like who the party picked to represent them, Stokes said theres one thing they can do.

Voters always have the ultimate trump card because they get to vote on that person in November, he said. The politically active always are advantaged in the electoral system the ones that participate, the ones that get elected to be delegates they always have the upper hand. But the trump card is, at the end of the day, that ballot box.

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We must get serious about fighting the Republican threat to our democracy – Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: at 6:07 am

When I was a kid, my parents were avid Republicans. At age 9, I drew a campaign poster that showed Barry Goldwaters head shaped like a light bulb and wearing his signature glasses. In big letters I wrote: Goldwater has a bright idea.

The Republican nominee lost that race for president. But he kept enough clout, 11 years later, to go to the White House and tell Richard Nixon his presidency was over.

Few Republicans nowadays have that much patriotism. In fact, the party has become a corrupt force spouting violent rhetoric and plotting to overthrow our democracy. Its not your grandfathers Republican Party now, unless your grandfather was a fascist.

Im not asking you to become a Democrat. Im asking you to become an anti-Republican. Here are six reasons why its time to get serious about the GOP threat:

1. Majority rules is a myth.

A recent poll showed only 26% of Americans consider themselves Republicans. Obviously, more Americans lean that way, but the GOP hasnt won a plurality in a national election since 2004. Complacent people say, There are more of us than them, as if the majority always prevails. Truth is, it rarely does. Look at all the foreign governments that suppress the will of the people. And remember: The Nazis never won a majority in any fair election. They took power anyway.

2. The deck is stacked for Republicans.

The American system is great in many ways. But the Senates makeup and the existence of the Electoral College promote inequality. California is about 24 times more populous than the Dakotas, but has half as many senators. Two of the last six presidential elections have gone to the candidate with fewer votes both times a Republican. And look at gerrymandering in Republican-run states. Joe Biden lost North Carolina by just 1 percentage point, but GOP mapmakers have rigged the system to give themselves the edge in 11 of 14 House seats. Its true that some Democratic-controlled states like Illinois gerrymander too. They wont unilaterally disarm. But the GOP controls redistricting for twice as many seats. Thats why Republicans are blocking Democratic legislation against gerrymandering.

3. On top of their built-in edge, Republicans are willing to cheat.

They tried to overturn the last presidential election based on zero evidence of significant fraud. Their Big Lie incited a deadly attack on the Capitol. When Donald Trump asked Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find 11,780 votes, he was pressuring him to commit fraud. Now Republicans want to push aside people like Raffensperger, who got in the way last time. In Wisconsin, theyre trying to scrap the bipartisan elections agency so Republicans can decide which votes get counted.

4. Criminals often get away with it.

Dont count on the courts to stop Republican criminals. Coup plotter Steve Bannon was indicted on fraud charges last year, but was pardoned by co-conspirator Trump. Its obvious that Trump has committed crimes (see 11,780 votes, obstruction of justice in the Mueller probe, misuse of funds in the Ukraine extortion plot and tax charges against the Trump Organization). In many ways, our justice system is failing to meet the moment.

5. People are manipulated by fear.

Republicans follow the fascist playbook: manufacture enemies. A migrant caravan is coming for you. Child tax credits are communist. Democrats want to abolish the suburbs. Republicans want you to be afraid of other people, when you should be afraid of Republicans.

6. The time to make a difference is running out.

If the Republicans win the House next November, they will be in a position to block the true results of the 2024 election and certify rival groups of presidential electors in key states. This is just one of the ways they could steal the election.

So what to do?

Vote against Republicans.

Persuade apolitical people of good will to vote.

Contribute to congressional campaigns with your money and time.

Worry about local races too. Electing state legislators is how the Republicans got the power to gerrymander.

Tell your lawmakers to prioritize voting rights.

Our children and grandchildren deserve to live in a free country. Its up to all of us to make sure that happens.

Mark Jacob is a former editor at the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune.

Send letters to letters@suntimes.com

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