☕️ New model calculates chances of intelligent beings in our universe and beyond.

Good morning. Apologies for no Brew yesterday! I was sick as a dog.

I miss one day and look how much crazy science news there is today.

If the constant influx of discoveries from science is making you feel anxious and like you need to be in a rush to do science or discover something, just remember: You have plenty of time.

—Dylan J. Dance

SCIENCE

🪐 Meteorite contains evidence of liquid water on Mars 742 million years ago. A meteorite discovered at Purdue University contains evidence of liquid water on Mars dating back 742 million years. The Lafayette Meteorite, which fell to Earth after being ejected from Mars, interacted with water on the red planet, offering insights into Mars' geological history and suggesting episodic magmatic activity even today.Kristian Arjas.

❤️ Human stem cell-derived heart tissue patch successfully implanted in animal model. In a major breakthrough, scientists from Cedars-Sinai have successfully implanted a human stem cell-derived heart tissue patch into an animal model. This innovation could lead to new regenerative treatments for heart disease, providing damaged hearts with functioning tissue capable of improving cardiac health.

🧪 Scientists identify flaw in astrophysics models of massive stars and supernovae. A team of astrophysicists has uncovered a flaw in existing astrophysics theories about the final evolutionary phases of massive stars. They found discrepancies between predictions and observations involving core-collapse supernovae, prompting a need for new models that can account for the diversity of such stellar explosions.

🔬 Experiment supports existence of a new type of superconductor. Physicists have developed a new type of superconductor that exhibits unconventional behavior, challenging current theories about superconductivity. The study, conducted by an international team, found that this material could be used in quantum computing due to its ability to remain in a superconductive state under conditions different from those of known superconductors.

🌌 12,000-year-old stones may be very early evidence of wheel-like technology. Researchers have discovered a collection of perforated pebbles in Israel that could be spindle whorls, marking one of the earliest uses of rotational technology by humans. These donut-shaped stones, recovered from the Nahal-Ein Gev II dig site, date back 12,000 years and may represent early steps towards wheel and axle technology.

A formula for life? New model calculates chances of intelligent beings in our universe and beyond. 

The chances of intelligent life emerging in our universe—and in any hypothetical ones beyond it—can be estimated by a new theoretical model which has echoes of the famous Drake Equation.

This was the formula that American astronomer Dr. Frank Drake came up with in the 1960s to calculate the number of detectable extraterrestrial civilizations in our Milky Way galaxy.

More than 60 years on, astrophysicists led by Durham University have produced a different model which instead focuses on the conditions created by the acceleration of the universe's expansion and the amount of stars formed.

It is thought this expansion is being driven by a mysterious force called dark energy that makes up more than two thirds of the universe.

Since stars are a precondition for the emergence of life as we know it, the model could therefore be used to estimate the probability of generating intelligent life in our universe, and in a multiverse scenario of different hypothetical universes.

The new research does not attempt to calculate the absolute number of observers (i.e. intelligent life) in the universe but instead considers the relative probability of a randomly chosen observer inhabiting a universe with particular properties. The study has been published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

It concludes that a typical observer would expect to experience a substantially larger density of dark energy than is seen in our own universe—suggesting the ingredients it possesses make it a rare and unusual case in the multiverse.

The approach presented in the paper involves calculating the fraction of ordinary matter converted into stars over the entire history of the universe, for different dark energy densities.

The model predicts this fraction would be approximately 27% in a universe that is most efficient at forming stars, compared to 23% in our own universe.

This means we don't live in the hypothetical universe with the highest odds of forming intelligent life forms. Or in other words, the value of dark energy density we observe in our universe is not the one that would maximize the chances of life, according to the model.

TECH

✈️ Boom Supersonic's XB-1 jet sets new speed record during 7th test flight. Boom Supersonic's XB-1 aircraft set a new speed record during its seventh test flight, reaching Mach 0.82 (629 mph). This milestone brings the supersonic demonstrator aircraft closer to crossing the Mach 1 threshold and breaking the sound barrier. The Nov. 5 flight included tests to expand the flutter envelope and verify cockpit pressure at higher altitudes, in preparation for future supersonic test flights. This test serves as a stepping stone for Boom Supersonic’s ultimate goal: the development of the Overture supersonic airliner, which aims to revolutionize air travel.

⚡ Algorithm enhances electronic correlation energy calculations for a wide range of fields. Scientists have developed a new algorithm capable of predicting electronic energy, which could accelerate advances in renewable energy, quantum computing, and electronic devices. The algorithm addresses limitations in current models by providing more accurate predictions for a broader range of materials and conditions.

💠 Universal control of quantum dot-based system with four singlet-triplet qubits demonstrated. Researchers at Delft University of Technology have successfully demonstrated universal control of a quantum dot system with four singlet-triplet qubits. This advancement could pave the way for scalable quantum computing solutions, with a system of germanium quantum dots serving as a key innovation in the study of quantum information processing.

HEALTH

🧠 Huntington’s disease gene also enhances early brain development and intelligence. A recent study led by the University of Cambridge reveals that the gene responsible for Huntington disease may also impact early brain development. This new finding sheds light on the disease's effects even before symptoms appear, potentially guiding new avenues for earlier interventions.

🔬 New CRISPR system for gene silencing doesn't rely on cutting DNA. Researchers from Stanford University have demonstrated that CRISPR gene silencing techniques can alter gene expression without modifying the underlying DNA sequence. This development may pave the way for new treatments that do not involve permanent genetic alterations, reducing potential risks associated with genome editing.

🧪 New inflammation molecule may be key to halting atherosclerosis. Researchers have discovered a new inflammation molecule that plays a key role in the development of atherosclerosis, the primary cause of cardiovascular disease. Targeting this molecule may provide an effective strategy for preventing or treating this dangerous buildup of fatty deposits in arteries.

SPACE

🌠 Discovery of three galactic 'red monsters' in early universe challenges current models of galaxy formation. Astronomers have found extremely red galaxies from the early universe that could provide insight into star formation processes. These "red monsters" likely formed large numbers of stars and are key to understanding the growth of massive galaxies soon after the Big Bang.

💨 Wind Blowing Out of Uranus Makes It Hard to Probe, NASA Complains. A recent analysis of NASA's Voyager 2 flyby data suggests that a "rare intense wind event" made it difficult to probe Uranus in 1986. The solar wind event compressed Uranus' magnetosphere, distorting its shape and impacting the observations made by Voyager. Scientists now caution that any conclusions drawn from that flyby are tentative at best.

🛸 UFO whistleblowers tell Congress ‘we are not alone in the cosmos’. In a recent congressional hearing, UFO whistleblowers made astonishing claims, stating that extraterrestrial technology has been recovered and that humanity is not alone in the universe. The testimonies add to the growing public and scientific interest in UFO phenomena and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

CLIMATE

🌿 Climate scientists argue that 1000-year sequestration strategies must be used to meet climate goals. Leading climate scientists have outlined ambitious new carbon sequestration strategies aimed at drastically reducing atmospheric CO2 levels over the next decade. The proposed methods include enhanced mineral weathering, improved forest management, and new ocean-based technologies, all designed to help meet climate targets.

WORLD

🐚 Remarkable sea slug found among Monterrey Bay’s lightless depths is nicknamed ‘mystery mollusk’. Scientists exploring the depths of Monterrey Bay have discovered a remarkable sea slug species, which they’ve affectionately nicknamed the ‘mystery mollusk.’ The unusual creature, with its iridescent, flowing form, offers new insights into deep-sea biodiversity and highlights the secrets still hidden in Earth’s oceans.

🎤 Mark Zuckerberg Just Released a Cover of Lil Jon's "Get Low" and Yes, He Says the Line About Balls. Mark Zuckerberg has teamed up with T-Pain to release a cover of Lil Jon's "Get Low," now titled "Z-Pain". The cover, dedicated to his wife, Priscilla Chan, is a peculiar addition to the tech mogul's public persona, prompting mixed reactions online.

🗺️ Two Lost Cities Discovered Along the Silk Road Alters What We Know About the Iconic Ancient Trade Route. New archaeological findings reveal that trade along the Silk Road was so abundant that it supported thriving high-altitude cities in Central Asia. The study highlights the economic prosperity of these ancient societies and emphasizes the interconnectedness brought about by this historic trading network.

Thanks for reading!