NASA finds life's building blocks on an asteroid

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In this newsletter

• The Arctic region is emitting more carbon than it …

  • Quantum geometry of electrons measured for the fir …

  •  What is at the core of black holes?

  • NASA finds building blocks of life on an asteroid

The Arctic region is emitting more carbon than it stores

For a very long time, it has been believed that the Arctic-Boreal Zone (ABZ) acts as a carbon reservoir. This means it absorbed more carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere than it released. Vast amounts of carbon were stored in its frozen soils (permafrost). However, recent studies have revealed that the Arctic region has undergone a concerning shift in its role in the global carbon cycle.

The study from the Woodwell Climate Research Center, shows that ABZ is now emitting more carbon than it absorbs. Approximately, one-third of the region is emitting more carbon. The Arctic-boreal zone encompasses tundra, boreal forests, and wetlands across Earth’s northernmost regions. 

The main reasons for this shift are rising temperatures, microbial activities and wildfires.
The Arctic is warming at a rate much faster than the global average. This leads to the thawing of permafrost, which releases the previously trapped carbon in the form of CO2 and methane.

Warmer and drier conditions have led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of wildfires in the Arctic. These fires release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and further contribute to the thawing of permafrost.

As the permafrost thaws, microbes in the soil become more active. They break down organic matter, releasing CO2 as a byproduct. This process is accelerated by warmer temperatures.

The release of large amounts of carbon from the Arctic amplifies the greenhouse effect, leading to further warming and climate change. Changes in the Arctic can have far-reaching effects on global climate patterns, including sea levels, ocean currents, and weather systems.

The insights were published in Nature Climate Change.

Quantum geometry of electrons measured for the first time

We often imagine electrons as tiny, solid spheres orbiting the nucleus of an atom, much like planets around the sun. This is a simplified model to help us understand their behaviour in some contexts. But in quantum physics, electrons are not particles. They exhibit wave-like properties. This aspect brings complexity to understanding the behavior of the electrons.

The wave-like properties indicate that electrons do not have any specific shape. Instead, it's described by a "wave function" that represents the probability of finding the electron in a particular location. These wave functions can take on various shapes depending on the energy level of the electron and the atom it's bound to. These shapes are often depicted as clouds or probability distributions, and they can be quite complex.

Recent research has focused on trying to see these wave functions and understand the geometry of electrons within materials. Techniques like angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to probe how electrons behave and arrange themselves in solids are used in research. These studies have shown that electrons in materials can exhibit complex and unexpected geometric patterns.

Knowing the geometrical dimensions of electrons is crucial for developing new materials with desired properties. By manipulating the arrangement of electrons, we can potentially create superconductors that work at room temperature, or more efficient electronic devices.

The findings were published in Nature Physics.

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 What is at the core of black holes?

Previously, two theories related to the core of black holes have prevailed. The particle physics theory implicates two-dimensional surface, resembling a flat disk. On the other hand, it is believed that gravity operates within the three-dimensional geometry of the black hole. This dual nature reveals both a crucial distinction and a strong connection between the two models.

A recent study led by Enrico Rinaldi at the University of Michigan has used quantum computing and machine learning to analyze the quantum state of a matrix model. This has provided new insights into the nature of black holes. The research is based on the holographic principle, which suggests that the fundamental theories of particle physics and gravity are mathematically equivalent, even though they are formulated in different dimensions.

This duality means that studying the behaviour of particles on the surface of a black hole (in two dimensions) can tell us about gravity within the black hole (in three dimensions). Rinaldi and his team established the mathematical representation of the quantum state of their matrix model. They called it the quantum wave function. They used a neural network to determine the ground state of the matrix. It is the state with the lowest energy level. This helped them understand the fundamental properties of the black hole's core.

This research is a significant step towards understanding the singularity at the heart of a black hole. By combining quantum computing, machine learning, and the holographic principle, physicists are gaining new tools to probe the mysteries of these extreme environments.

Findings were published in PRX Quantum.

NASA finds building blocks of life on an asteroid

Scientists have found the building blocks of life from the grainy dust of an asteroid called Bennu. Samples of the space rock contain a rich array of minerals and thousands of organic compounds. These were brought by the NASA spacecraft to the Earth.

Scientists found amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, and nucleobases, which make up DNA and RNA, in the sample from asteroid Bennu. These are essential components for all known life. The sample also showed evidence of past water activity and contained a surprising abundance of ammonia, another key ingredient for life.

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission involved a spacecraft traveling to an asteroid called Bennu, extending a robotic arm to collect a sample of its surface material. The mission successfully brought back about 120 grams of asteroid dust, which is proving to be incredibly valuable for scientific research.

The asteroid is rich in nitrogen and carbon-containing molecules, including 14 of the 20 amino acids used by life on Earth to build proteins, and all four nucleobases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine) that form the building blocks of DNA. Furthermore, the sample contains various minerals and salts, indicating the presence of water on Bennu at some point in its history. The discovery of ammonia adds to the significance of these findings.

This discovery supports the theory that asteroids may have played a role in seeding early Earth with the necessary ingredients for life to emerge. It's important to note that this doesn't mean life itself was found on Bennu. However, the presence of these fundamental building blocks is a major step forward in understanding the origins of life in our universe.

The insights were published by NASA.

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Until next time,
Adya