Quantum Computers model Quantum Matter

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Study this , Quantum simulations match real-world data. from the inimitable Nature Briefing. For you are seeing into the future, at a quantum level.

For the first time, physicists have matched detailed quantum-computer simulations to experimental data gathered from work with solid materials. Two teams of physicists achieved the feat independently: one simulated the physical properties of a magnetic material, such as its heat capacity, and the other modelled a different material’s response to being excited into a range of energy states. Both agreed with experimental data. The work “sets the stage for a new standard in the application of quantum simulation to materials science,” says theoretical physicist Daniel González-Cuadra.Nature | 5 min read
Reference: arXiv preprint 1 & preprint 2 (not peer reviewed)

And our thoughts? Well, for the first time, quantum computers have reproduced the real, experimentally measured behaviour of solid materials, not toy models or idealised systems. That matters because it turns quantum computing from a theoretical promise into a scientific instrument — one that can interrogate nature at its own level, rather than approximating it from above. It also signals that quantum tech is advancing faster and more quietly than the AI hype cycle suggests, edging into domains where classical intuition simply can’t follow. And in doing so, it blurs the old boundary between “understanding” and “emulating” reality, letting us use a human‑built quantum device to explore quantum structures our minds were never evolved to picture — all powered, in my case and yours, by nothing stronger than coffee.

LSS is about much more than antibiotics and Allosauruses, gentle readers. We do IT and computing too. If you want the real cutting edge stuff in many fields, all neatly wrapped up in espresso-sized cups, then this is where to place your order.

#IT #quantum computers #AI #materials science #sub atomic #technology #science

Microbial Antibiotic Resistance: The Musical

Well. We never thought we’d be writing this one, not in our wildest dreams. And you, gentle reader, never thought you’d be reading it. But thanks to the resourceful Deborah Linton of the Guardian[1] we bring you news that someone out there has written a musical about our number one Favourite subject antibiotic resistance.

The show is called Lifeline and it’s the work of an extremely experienced composer and lyricist called Robin Hiley. One of his masterstrokes was to recruit the help and counsel of the great Professor Dame Sally Davies, whom long standing readers will recall as a tireless campaigner and advocate of our Great Cause. Like many shows, it has been evolving since its first apparition at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018. Since when Its played in places as diverse as Washington and the UN General Assembly building in New York. Now it has a five-week run in London at the Southwark Elephant Playhouse. We hope the links to Deborah’s story and the others we have provided will give you more than enough. Suffice for us this astounding detail

Performing alongside the regular cast in the production is a rotating chorus of 60 real-life scientists – including doctors, nurses, vets, dentists, a researcher from San Francisco and a former Pfizer executive paying his own way – who break the fourth wall to explain their real-life work. “They give us an integrity,” says Hiley, who considers Lifeline “a heartfelt love letter to the medical community past, present and future”.

Regular readers, new readers, antibiotic fans everywhere: we needed a new approach. Something quite radical and different, because we are still not breaking through properly. Maybe this will be it. We think that all our readers will join with us to wish Robin and his collaborators-singers, musicians, scientists, the people who sell the half time drinks, whoever-the most tremendous success.

[1] Resistance movement: how a play about penicillin brought the arts, science and politics together | Musicals | The Guardian

[2] Robin Hiley | Composer/Songwriter/Producer – Music for theatre, film and television | Record producer and engineer

[3] Lifeline – Southwark Playhouse Elephant

#robin hiley #southwark playhouse #antibiotic #antibiotic resistance #dame sally davies #microbiology #health #theatre #medicine

Friday Night: Graves de Côte, Brighton

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We are acquainted with more than one person who refuses to dine in chain restaurants. Being both of limited means and unlimited hunger after a hard day of investigative journalism, my photographer and I decided to stake our all on Côte Brasserie Church Street Brighton. [1] Our delight was not only in the food, which was excellent, not the service (first rate), but was also owed to the fact that it enabled your correspondent to wax lyrical about a favourite subject: the clarets of the Graves region, entirely apposite to a blog rooted in the tastes and preoccupations of the eighteenth-century Whigs.

We started by sharing mixed starters of Cheesy French Onion Fougasse and the Charcuterie of truffle saucisson, savoie ham, celeriac remoulade and pan blanc. Being between the lunch and dinner rushes the service was fast and exceedingly friendly, with time to appreciate the excellent ambience and extreme cleanliness of our surroundings. For her main, my companion chose the Half Roast Chicken which turned outto have a delicious buttery flavour and light crumbling texture which lifted it significantly above the standards found in so many pubs and restaurants. Your correspondent chose an old favourite: a 10 oz ribeye. Cooked to medium rare, it was tender, delicious and utterly reflective of the subtle herbs which always seem to lift a French steak above a plain English one. Readers will be gratified to learn that Cote offered unlimited fries, of which generous offer we could not take full advantage, being both on diets. But I was allowed a side of delicious green and juicy broccoli, always the tastiest of fresh vegetables.

To drink, my companion chose a glass of Côte’s own grenache rosé. But for myself this was a chance to sample (more than one) glass of red Graves AOC. For your correspondent, Bordeaux has always our choice of French region: and Graves our choice of Bordeaux It’s the cradle of Bordeaux’s wine trade, the source of the first great châteaux, and still the place where you can taste the region’s history without paying Médoc grand cru prices. Graves is Claret in its original, flinty register: born from river‑washed gravel that soaks up the sun by day and bleeds it back into the vines by night, giving the wines that poised mix of ripeness, freshness, and a faint smoky edge. We frankly and unashamedly admit that the wine’s true strength and depth needs a large brimming glass to be fully appreciated, a user requirement fully satisfied by the handy 250 ml beakers on ready offer. Steak connaisseurs will be unsurprised to learn that it made the perfect partner to my dish.

Diets being diets, there was sadly no opportunity to sample the varied dessert menu beyond the usual coffee. Except that there is one tradition this writer will not let die: the custom of the dessert wine. Fortunately, this need was more than adequately met by their white Domaine de Barrubio Muscat, a deliciously cool, slightly sweet addition. An innovation entirely preferable to stuffing your face with endless ice creams or lashings of apple crumble and custard; a vice which we had practiced all too often in establishments of all sorts before the advent of our current Virtue.

If you like good food and are not a snob, then we utterly recommend this restaurant and its cheerful and ever-helpful staff

Côte Brighton 115-116 Church Street Brighton BN1 1UD

[1]https://www.bing.com/alink/link?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.cote.co.uk%2frestaurant%2fbrighton&source=serp-local&h=0amR%2byvWX27TKGXbQR4eJV9uEy

LSS has no personal, business or financial connection whatsoever with Côte nor any of its employees

food #drink #wine #restaurant #brighton

The Emperor Julian’s strategic disaster: are their any modern parallels?

When the Emperor Julian the Apostate [1] took the Imperial throne in 361AD, he inherited an Empire far past its peak. Although still close to full size, centuries of economic decline, pandemics and civil wars had left it gravely weakened and divided. But Julian was nothing if not idealistic. He would make Rome great again by restoring all the old ways of its Imperial zenith. And his chosen method was a culture war: he would overthrow the new religion of Christianity and restore the traditional Roman beliefs of the Pagan Gods.

But it takes more than a few decrees and orders to restore an nation in decline. Within a year the Empire was even more divided by the passions his reforms had unleashed. Prestige damaged, project weakened, Julian had one last way to seize the initiative. To invade Rome’s traditional enemy Persia ( a country now called Iran) and crushing them with superior military might. Thus his own prestige would be so enhanced that everyone at home would have to do what he said. It was tempting operation: he was a good general, the Roman Army was still a formidable force, the ruling Sassanid dynasty of ~~Iran,~~ sorry, Persia, was both oppressive and unpopular. So in the Spring of 363 Julian led his army across the Euphrates in a lightning march designed to shock and awe his enemies into submission.

At first all went well. Towns were captured, battles won, territories seized. But the Sassanids, masters of asymmetric warfare, refused to play by Roman rules. They harried, retreated, drew Julian deeper and deeper into hostile terrain. Supply lines thinned, losses mounted and the army grew increasingly unsure. We have an eyewitness account from a Roman Officer who served in the campaign:

The Persians, avoiding a regular engagement, harassed us with frequent skirmishes, and by burning the country round, deprived us of the means of subsistence.”
— Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae, Book XXV, Chapter 1

Eventually the Sassanids closed the trap. Julian was mortally wounded. His successor was forced to surrender the army and retreat in disgrace. But the real loss was far graver than that. Julian had made the last gamble of the undivided Roman Empire-and lost. His culture war did not outlive him, for the empire was fully Christian within a generation. The Roman army would never be strong enough to take the strategic offensive again: it became an entirely defensive force. Even that failed at the great Battle of Adrianople in 378, which finally shattered the myth of Roman invincibility. Julian has had many admirers, both ancient and modern [2] But the verdict on him is damning. For reasons of internal prestige he launched a war with no clear strategic aims against an underestimated enemy and thereby inflicted an irretrievable strategic defeat on his own nation. Can you think of any modern parallels?

[1] Julian (emperor) – Wikipedia

[2] Gore Vidal, Julian.Vintage International (Knopf Doubleday), reissued 2003.

#Julian the Apostate #history #Persians #Iranians #Roman Empire #military

Eleven Hottest Years: While the world argues, the planet sets another relentless record

We once asked someone who is far more intelligent than we are: “what is the secret of intelligence-what do intelligent people really do?” And he replied, “they pick out what is really important from what is merely important,” And in that spirit we urge you gentle readers to approach this story from Nature Briefing with due attention. Put it, as t’were in context with the doings of Mr Trump , the England cricket team and the various rescued felines who will flicker across your screen this morning. All important, no doubt. Yet this is the story which will affect you, your children and their childrens’ children for decades to come. Or maybe not: for it has the potential to ensure that such generations do not exist They’ve called it We’ve just had the hottest 11 years on record

The years from 2015–2025 have been the hottest stretch on record, according to a report by the World Meteorological Organization. For the first time, the report includes a measure called Earth’s energy imbalance — the difference between incoming energy from the Sun and the amount radiated back into space — which is at its highest level since observations started in 1960. And in 2024, the latest year that global figures are available, atmospheric CO₂ reached its highest concentration in two million years. “In this age of war, climate stress is also exposing another truth: our addiction to fossil fuels is destabilizing both the climate and global security,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in a statement.

Nature | 5 min read
Reference: State of the Global Climate 2025 report

There are many sorrowful things in here gentle readers, but we advise you to read them for yourselves. What actually scares us is this. Humans seem really good at identifying a perceived threat from other groups of humans. And reacting to it with hysterical fear and anger. They seem less good at perceiving and contending with long term insidious but ineluctable threats that threaten them all with extinction. Is this an actual cognitive defect of the human mind? In which case what chances will Natural Selection offer us in the next few decades?

#climate change #global warming #fossil fuels #oil #middle east #pollution #human extinction

Beyond the Nation #4: Of War and Peace

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Themes of war and peace are constant here. Human beings, we have often said, posses a pathological tendency to divide themselves, quickly, into mutually hostile groups [1,2] And that once those identities are established, their members proceed to ascribe all evil and nefariousness to their latest enemy. [3.4] Even the most advanced and enlightened nations are not immune. We do not wish to single out the US. But remember when the North Vietnamese were about to unleash a domino effect with countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and beyond toppling to Communism, ending with the Red Flag raised in triumph over the Sydney Opera House? Or when Mr Saddam Hussein grasped weapons of mass destruction of such awesome power and reach that they threatened the lives of very man woman and child with imminent destruction?

Nations change in size, Bu the threat is the same. Our Spanish readers will recall a time when nations such as Castille, Leon, Navarre, Aragon and the various emirates to the south fought each other like tom cats. If they tried it now the Spanish Government would simply send the police to arrest the culprits. Every nation shows the same sorry trend: remember our post on the unknown skeletons of Neolithic Alava, who died for causes long rendered futile by their utter unknowability? (LSS 5 11 2023)

It is impossible to estimate the costs-economic, ecological, in lives- of the current war in the Middle East. All of us must pay them, although only three of our current nation states are directly involved. But we know they will constitute a long lasting tax on future generations. Which leads back to the United States The principle of their founding Revolution was “no taxation without representation.” So do all the other nations deserve representation in the dialectic of this war? And thereby, perhaps, to stop it while there is still time?

[1] Social identity theory – Wikipedia

[2] Realistic conflict theory – Wikipedia

[3] Chua, Amy. Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations. New York: Penguin Press, 2018.

[4] Kaufmann, Eric. Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration and the Future of White Majorities. London: Allen Lane, 2018.

#war #social identity theory #peace #nation state #vietnam war #iraq war #middle east #saddam hussein #president george w bush

Another big thank you-and we apologise to a leading national newspaper and one of its most eminent journalists

Recently we have had so many likes, new readers and suggestions that we can’t keep up. As some of you know, we have other writing commitments beyond this blog, plus a busy programme of reading and learning; and many of you, erudite readers, will know the effort which that entails. We try to visit the sites of all who like or comment: many are far superior to our own in terms of design and layout. Have you all been to the Slade School of Fine Arts or something? Keep ’em going, and don’t worry about us nicking your ideas. Our IT and design skills are below those of a two-year-old Sasquatch, and that’s on a good day. But we will say to all and every one of you :THANK YOU. It is a pleasure to be in your intellectual company.

Now for an apology. To you our readers, to Larry Elliott, to the Guardian, to whomsoever really. For in our blog of 11 November 2024 From American Decline to World Government; fasten your seatbelts for a bumpy ride, we categorically stated

Let’s just jump across the Atlantic for a moment to say goodbye to Larry Elliott who quits his post at the Guardian after 36 years {2]

Well we’re happy to state Larry Elliott is still very much to be found among the pages of the Guardian. Whereby he still features as one of our regular showcased writers in turn, Perhaps the nature of his contractual relationship with the Guardian has changed. That is a matter between him and them. But there he is still, plugging away, filing copy, all of it worth a read, which is why he will continue to pop up here, gentle readers, Sorry for that misunderstanding. But there was one thing we did get right in that blog, gentle readers. Remember something about American Decline and bumpy rides? How’s your seatbelt today?

_{Editorial note: the picture of ourselves posted above is more of an idealised statement than a precise and literal likeness of its subject and anyway was made up a number of years ago, But you probably guessed that anyway}

#USA #geopolitics #Iran #middle east #inequlity #economics #war

Round Up: CART meets CRISPR, ancient conversation. beavers and museums

A quick run through of a few stories that caught our eye this week

Two’s better than one We love those old crossover films where two franchises meet-Godzilla v King Kong, or Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter, to name but a few. How much more thrilling then to see two of our favourite recent breakthrough techniques paied together for a tour de force of cancer treatment? CRISPR makes CAR T cells inside mice as Nature Briefing would have it:

Using the CRISPR–Cas9 gene-editing tool, researchers have developed a method to safely engineer cancer-fighting immune cells — called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells — inside a mouse’s body. The method uses a combination of virus-like particles to carry RNA and CRISPR–Cas9 machinery to T cells, and an engineered virus to deliver DNA that contains the CAR-encoding gene. A T cell had to receive both payloads to become a CAR T cell, lowering the risk of off-target effects. Reprogramming T cells inside the body would be quicker than removing and re-injecting them, which is how CAR-T-cell therapies are currently made.

Nature | 5 min read

It seems we’ve stood and talked like this before No not Lorenz Hart but some serious scientists who have attempted to reconstruct the languages of our hirsute ancestors like Neanderthal Man(surely person?-ed) and Homo erectus Could their conversations have been any less enlightened than some we hear today? The Mail has the answers

Ever wondered what Neanderthals sounded like? Scientists recreate the lost languages of ancient humans | Daily Mail Online

Beavering away at carbon capture The recent, heartwarming, trend to restore the Beaver (Castor fiber) to its rightful habitat in these islands has had some unexpected side effects. Its seems the busy little creatures hydrological engineering may also help with carbon capture, or so The Conversation thinks:

https://theconversation.com/beavers-can-turn-streams-into-carbon-stores-we-measured-how-much-278489?utm_medium=email&utm_ca

Funky Gibbon OK we’re bit Edward Gibbon heavy on this blog at times, endlessly talking about declines and falls of mighty empires when we should be getting on with some antibiotics. But we’re not alone. Larry Elliott of the Guardian compares the current US plight to the stae Britain was at the time of the Boer war: judge for yourself

Iran could be the US’s Boer war: a hollow victory that marks the beginning of the end of empire | Larry Elliott | The Guardian

Megafauna v Marbles No trip to London would be complete without a visit to the British Museum. Or the Natural History Museum. Problem is: which? But just like in one of those old Harryhausen movies it seems the gallant Greek warriors are losing out badly to the giant saurians as far as the Box Office is concerned Try this from the BBC

Natural History Museum most popular tourist attraction in 2025 – BBC News

Quote of the week ( we think it rather topical)

I will have such revenges on you both/That all the world shall-I will do such things-What they are yet, I know not/ But they shall be the terrors of the earth

King Lear Act 2 Scene 4

#tourism #museums #carbon capture #rewilding #health #medicine #evolution

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Heroes of Learning: Piero Della Francesca

Birth Virgin Fra Carnevale (Bartolomeo by themet is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

Think back to school: did you ever know the kid who was bright at everything? Most of us were good at something, but that alone: the sporty type who to put it politely, was not too strong on sciences. The maths nerd with negative social skills. The arty type, the musician, the classroom politician…..but did you ever know someone who was brilliant all around the block? We think that Piero Della Francesca (1415-1492) must have been one of those irritating subset of pupils who really was.[1]

Apprenticed as a painter and artist in his birthplace of Borgo Santo Sepolcro, he was soon brushing up against giants like Fra Angelico, Donatello and Brunelleschi. Something must have rubbed off, because within a few years he was earning the first commissions for what was to become a remarkable canon of early Renaissance masterpieces: they remain favourites of the art-loving public to this day. And for once we can be very specific about their USP: because alongside his studies in art the young Piero had been busy studying geometry and other branches of mathematics. Their influence is not just glimpsed in his work, they are the very basis of its careful precision and intellectual rigour. Here was a Renaissance man par excellence, who can stand comparison with Leonardo or indeed the genius of any age in human history. A Polymath for All Seasons.

One of the downsides of the immense quantities of knowledge in the modern world is the way it drives ever narrower specialisation. And this is quite necessary: one must spend years studying a particular enzyme system or economic model before there is anything new to say. In the course of a long life we have met one, possibly two, polymathic geniuses who might make useful contributions in several fields in the way that Della Francesca did. But to see the light sparkle in his pictures is to glimpse a time when the educated could still delight in all discoveries, and learning seemed to be something more than a task.

[1] Piero della Francesca – Wikipedia

#art #science #polymath #Italy #renaissance #mathematics

Why North Sea Oil is an error in critical thinking

It’s always touching to listen to the philosophical musings of our old friend Dave Watford and the lads at the Dog and Duck. Last night they favoured us with their thoughts(is that the right word?-ed) on the current Energy crisis:

“ Iss Bonkers! Why don’t we jus drill fer all that oil inna (expletive deleted) norwf sea, an forget orl this (expletive deleted) green palaver? There’s loads of it aht there, an we’d be enji sufichent and all that. Thass wot we did inner noineen (expletive deleted) ighteez an we ad loadsa munny”

That was the gist of what they said. But however well-meant their intentions, their chain of reasoning suffers from two fatal flaws: availability bias, and simplification. In fact this article from Cassandra Etter-Wenzel Anupama Sen and Nadia Schroedern so utterly confronts these errors that we offer it to you more in the spirit of a master class in clear thinking than a comment on energy policy.

Availability Trap 1 Yes there is oil under the North Sea. But even if extracted, it would go straight to world markets, meaning it would have no effect on consumer energy prices in the UK.

Simplicity Trap 1 All that gas would bring down prices The precise cost of the energy (gas renewable, whatever) is called the wholesale price and consitutes only 41% of the price paid per house. The rest includes many other factors like network running costs, etc.

Availability trap 2 Ignore the potential cost savings from renewables, which would actually bring the wholesale price of energy faster

Simplicity trap 2 Ignore other factors like insulation (at which the UK is dire) which would be addressed by a renewable based modernisation policy

Availability Trap 3 Completely ignore that the UKs utter dependency on fossil fuels has led to disaster in the past (1973: 2022) and is therefore likely to do so again

And finally: nostalgia for a vanished golden age is no guide to policy whatsoever. We don’t know the name for that error, but it’s probably the biggest one of all.

Hats off to Will de Freitas of the Conversation for commissioning this exquisite article

https://theconversation.com/would-more-north-sea-drilling-lower-uk-energy-bills-our-analysis-says-no-278467?utm_m

#fossil fuels #renewables #energy #climate change #north sea