New Report Reveals Dirty Secret of Army Psychological Operations
Apr 2024, The Intercept
Military information Support Operations, or MISO - the military's new word for "psyops"
A December 2010 secretary of defense memorandum, issued during the Obama administration, discontinued the use of the term “psyops” and replaced it with Military information Support Operations, or MISO. The memo stated that the term “psyop” had become misleading and, “although psyop activities rely on truthful information, credibly conveyed, the term psyop tends to connote propaganda, brainwashing, manipulation, and deceit.” The memo noted that for that reason, the Pentagon would “no longer use the term psyop to describe activities (in peacetime or during combat operations) that are intended to influence foreign audiences.” Nonetheless, the Army continues to use the term “psyop” or psyops when referring to its units and to the overall career field.
Image credit: The images in this post were generated by an artificial art program prompted to make a motivational poster. They illustrate a funny moment in our technological trajectory, when robots can write text better than humans, and can make pictures better than humans, but ask that same robot to put a specific line of text into a specific picture, and well, that's the limit of robot magic apparently, because this is what you get. AI Art - Motivational Poster the Little Things - 2024
Protecting art and passwords with biochemistry
Apr 2024, phys.org
Q-Day - the day when quantum computers become so powerful that they can crack today's passwords.
Rather than processing the data using arithmetic operations, it is stored as a sequence of nucleotides - the chemical building blocks of DNA.
"Our system is based on true randomness"
via ETH Zurich: Anne M. Luescher et al, Chemical unclonable functions based on operable random DNA pools, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47187-7
Experiment demonstrates ultra-sensitivity for dark photon searches
Jul 2023, phys.org
Dark photons - "The dark photon is a copy similar to the photon we know and love, but with a few variations" (like it has mass)
Word watch - During an internet search circa July 2023, I spot these:
Synthographer - using AI to make art (synthetic art)
Bespoke pornography - no idea actually
Shocking' discovery: Electricity from electric eels may transfer genetic material to nearby animals
Dec 2023, phys.org
Electroporation - a gene delivery technique using an electric field to create temporary pores in the cell membrane to let molecules like DNA or proteins enter the target cell.
via Nagoya University: Shintaro Sakaki et al, Electric organ discharge from electric eel facilitates DNA transformation into teleost larvae in laboratory conditions, PeerJ (2023). DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16596
Researchers develop 'electronic soil' that enhances crop growth
Dec 2023, phys.org
https://phys.org/news/2023-12-electronic-soil-crop-growth.html
Electronic Soil - electrically conductive cultivation substrate for hydroponic plants that grow without soil, needing only water, nutrients and something their roots can attach to
via Linköping University: et al, eSoil: A low-power bioelectronic growth scaffold that enhances crop seedling growth, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304135120.
Semen microbiome health may impact male fertility
Jan 2024, phys.org
The semen microbiome - (no description needed?)
via Department of Urology at University of California Los Angeles: Vadim Osadchiy et al, Semen microbiota are dramatically altered in men with abnormal sperm parameters, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51686-4
Kirigami electrodes unfold new horizons for brain organoid research
Jan 2024, phys.org
Assembloids - organoids that mimic many aspects of the growth and maturation of human brain circuits
There breakthrough was instead of a flexible, mesh-like electrode that could be partly inserted into an organoid, a kirigami-like device that could fully cradle the organoid. The organoid then continues to grow, eventually engulfing the device's supportive strands. For the hammock-like electrode to work, it needed to be flexible enough to allow the organoid to grow naturally and stable enough to stay intact over many months of recording.
Now they can monitor organoids throughout their entire development.
via the Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program originating in the Stanford School of Medicine and Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute: Xiao Yang et al, Kirigami electronics for long-term electrophysiological recording of human neural organoids and assembloids, Nature Biotechnology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-02081-3
One person can supervise 'swarm' of 100 unmanned autonomous vehicles, research shows
Feb 2024, phys.org
Swarm commander -
Research involving Oregon State University has shown that a "swarm" of more than 100 autonomous ground and aerial robots can be supervised by one person without subjecting the individual to an undue workload.
"The commanders weren't physically driving each individual vehicle, because if you're deploying that many vehicles, they can't—a single human can't do that," Adams said. "The idea is that the swarm commander can select a play to be executed and can make minor adjustments to it, like a quarterback would in the NFL.
via Oregon State University Collaborative Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute: Robert Brown et al, Congestion Analysis for the DARPA OFFSET CCAST Swarm, Field Robotics (2023). DOI: 10.55417/fr.2023005
A star like a Matryoshka doll: New theory for gravastars
Feb 2024, phys.org
Gravastars (it's not a new word) - gravitational condensate stars
They exhibit a gravity at their surface that is essentially as strong as that of a black hole, hence resembling a black hole for all practical purposes. On the other hand, gravastars do not have an event horizon, that is, a boundary from within which no information can be sent out, and their core does not contain a singularity.
Instead, the center of a gravastar is made up of an exotic (dark) energy that exerts a negative pressure to the enormous gravitational force compressing the star. The surface of a gravastar is represented by a wafer-thin skin of ordinary matter, the thickness of which approaches zero.
Nestar - Theoretical physicists Daniel Jampolski and Prof. Luciano Rezzolla of Goethe University Frankfurt have now presented a solution to the field equations of general relativity that describes the existence of a gravastar inside another gravastar. They have given this hypothetical celestial object the name "nestar" (from the English "nested").
via Goethe University Frankfurt am Main: Daniel Jampolski et al, Nested solutions of gravitational condensate stars, Classical and Quantum Gravity (2024). DOI: 10.1088/1361-6382/ad2317
Altermagnetism: A new type of magnetism, with broad implications for technology and research
Feb 2024, phys.org
Altermagnetism - experimental proof of a third branch of magnetism where spins alternate resulting in no net magnetization, yet the symmetries give strong spin polarization that flips in direction as you pass through the material's energy bands - hence the name altermagnets; offers distinct advantages for the developing field of next-generation magnetic memory technology known as spintronics.
via Swiss Light Source, Czech Academy of Sciences, and Paul Scherrer Institute: Juraj Krempaský, Altermagnetic lifting of Kramers spin degeneracy, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06907-7.
'μkiss': A new method for precision delivery of nanoparticles and small molecules to individual cells
Feb 2024, phys.org
μkiss - the scientists describe their technique as a "μkiss" (microkiss) using two closely placed micropipettes, one to dispense the material, while the other suctions it in at a slightly higher rate; "You can easily maneuver the micropipettes around, and gently brush this confined droplet against your chosen cell—delivering a tiny μkiss of material."
via Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light: Cornelia Holler et al, A paintbrush for delivery of nanoparticles and molecules to live cells with precise spatiotemporal control, Nature Methods (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02177-x
The 'chronoworking' productivity hack that helps workers excel
Feb 2024, BBC News
Chronoworking - adapting working hours to natural energy levels for maximum productivity. (They don't mention the words synchronous or asynchronous work; this isn't about that)
Polymer-based tunable optical components allow for metasurfaces that can switched with light
Feb 2024, phys.org
Metasurfaces - nanostructured thin layers whose characteristic structural sizes are smaller than the wavelength of light. This allows the properties of light and its propagation to be specifically influenced, enabling a variety of optical functions that would otherwise be performed by lenses, polarizers, or gratings.
via University of Jena Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry: Sarah L. Walden et al, Two-Color Spatially Resolved Tuning of Polymer-Coated Metasurfaces, ACS Nano (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c11760
Study: 'Hexaplex' vaccine aims to boost flu protection
Feb 2024, phys.org
Hexaplex nanoliposome - a flu vaccine that covers different kinds of flu
via University at Buffalo: Adjuvanted Nanoliposomes Displaying Six Hemagglutinins and Neuraminidases as an Influenza Virus Vaccine, Cell Reports Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101433.
German patient vaccinated against Covid 217 times
Mar 2024, BBC News
Hyper vaccination - vaccinating yourself 217 times.
CSI in space: Analyzing bloodstain patterns in microgravity
Mar 2024, phys.org
Astroforensics - forensic investigations in space
via Staffordshire University: Zack Kowalske et al, Bloodstain pattern dynamics in microgravity: Observations of a pilot study in the next frontier of forensic science, Forensic Science International: Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100358
Research team establishes synthetic dimension dynamics to manipulate light
Mar 2024, phys.org
I'm really reading a different language here, the whole article.
Synthetic dimensions - They use phenomena like synthetic gauge fields, quantum Hall physics, discrete solitons, and topological phase transitions in four dimensions or higher. They help explore phenomena in higher-dimensional spaces, beyond our conventional 3D geometrical space. The concept has garnered significant attention, especially in topological photonics, due to its potential to unlock rich physics inaccessible in traditional dimensions.
Utopian network - A key goal in this field is the construction of a "utopian" network of resonators where any pair of modes can be coupled in a controlled manner.
via SPIE Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers: Shiqi Xia et al, Deep-learning-empowered synthetic dimension dynamics: morphing of light into topological modes, Advanced Photonics (2024). DOI: 10.1117/1.AP.6.2.026005
With the planet facing a 'polycrisis,' biodiversity researchers uncover major knowledge gaps
Apr 2024, phys.org
The Polycrisis - infectious disease spread, biodiversity loss and climate change, all at once
- "When we began to look into it, we had suspicions the number of studies would be low, but not that low"
- 1.8 million research articles published over the last decade
- 40,000 studies considered two of the areas in conjunction
- 505 combined research on all three areas
- 128 investigated the mechanistic links connecting all three
- In those cases, the studies are overly focused on just three areas: infectious disease in amphibians, forest health, and Lyme disease
- They recommend better collaboration for avoiding unintended consequences of only taking action in one area and ignoring others
(This is where the robots take over by the way)
via University of British Columbia's Biodiversity Research Center: Alaina Pfenning-Butterworth et al, Interconnecting global threats: climate change, biodiversity loss, and infectious diseases, The Lancet Planetary Health (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196(24)00021-4
*Note this study is from the departments of botany, biology, ecology, etc., at a bunch of Universities, but does not include researchers from for example the Complexity Science Hub Vienna or the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Complex Systems at Northeastern.
Been waiting 30 years to learn this word:
Phosphene - A phosphene is the phenomenon of seeing light without light entering the eye. The word phosphene comes from the Greek words phos (light) and phainein (to show). Phosphenes that are induced by movement or sound may be associated with optic neuritis.
Random thought on words - "woods" and "weeds" sound too similar for me not to have ever noticed:
Woods - From Middle English wode, from Old English wudu, widu (“wood, forest, grove; tree; timber”), from Proto-West Germanic *widu, from Proto-Germanic *widuz (“wood”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁weydʰh₁- (“to separate”).
Weeds - From Middle English weed, weod, from Old English wēod (“weed”), from Proto-West Germanic *weud (“weed”). Perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *wi-wdʰ-o-m, an archaic reduplicated noun formation of *wedʰ- (“to wind; bend; entangle; tie”). Note however that this pattern is extremely rare: *bebruz and *hwehwlą are the only reduplicated nouns that are positively reconstructed for Proto-Germanic proper (but see *gaukaz for another hypothetically potential example; and in West Germanic there is *weukā (“wisp, wick”) among a few others).
Not a language expert, but I see "woods" as "to separate" and "weeds" as "to wind together"
