M.J. Rose

Time crystals? This sounds more like a Star Trek technology than something incredibly real that scientists just discovered…

From Science Alert,

Scientists have confirmed a brand new phase of matter: time crystals
Constant motion without energy.
by Fiona McDonald

“For months now, there’s been speculation that researchers might have finally created time crystals – strange crystals that have an atomic structure that repeats not just in space, but in time, putting them in constant oscillation without energy.

Now it’s official – researchers have just reported in detail how to make and measure these bizarre crystals. And two independent teams of scientists claim they’ve actually created time crystals in the lab based off this blueprint, confirming the existence of an entirely new phase of matter.

The discovery might sound pretty abstract, but it heralds in a whole new era in physics – for decades we’ve been studying matter that’s defined as being ‘in equilibrium’, such as metals and insulators.

But it’s been predicted that there are many more strange types of matter out there in the Universe that aren’t in equilibrium that we haven’t even begun to look into, including time crystals. And now we know they’re real.

The fact that we now have the first example of non-equilibrium matter could lead to breakthroughs in our understanding of the world around us, as well as new technology such as quantum computing.

“This is a new phase of matter, period, but it is also really cool because it is one of the first examples of non-equilibrium matter,” said lead researcher Norman Yao from the University of California, Berkeley.

“For the last half-century, we have been exploring equilibrium matter, like metals and insulators. We are just now starting to explore a whole new landscape of non-equilibrium matter.”

Let’s take a step back for a second, because the concept of time crystals has been floating around for a few years now…

For the rest, click here.

A series of unfortunate events, plus a wizard.

From The Vintage News,

The cursed Island of Gaiola: those who have lived there have met with a terrible fate

“Gaiola Island (Isola della Gaiola in Italian) is a small Italian island located just off the coast of Naples in the heart of Gaiola Underwater Park, a protected region of about 42 hectares. The island takes its name from the cavities that dot the coast of Posillipo.

The location was held in high regard by the ancient Romans, who built a temple to Venus on the island, which was then known as “Euplea.”

It is said that the legendary Roman poet Virgil favored the island and taught his students there. In the 19th century, it played host to a coastal battery for the defense of the Bay of Naples.

There are many legends about the place being cursed. In the early 1800s, the island was inhabited by a hermit nicknamed “The Wizard”, who lived thanks to the charity of fishermen.

Soon after, the island saw the construction of the villa that occupies it today and which was, at one time, owned by Norman Douglas, author of Land of the Siren. Without warning, “The Wizard“ mysteriously disappeared…”

For the rest, click here.

Bronze! An incredible find sheds new light on the origins of Western civilization…

From Smithsonian Magazine,

This 3,500-Year-Old Greek Tomb Upended What We Thought We Knew About the Roots of Western Civilization

The recent discovery of the grave of an ancient soldier is challenging accepted wisdom among archaeologists

For the rest, click here.