Academic notebook
Classical physicsPhysics

Newton’s Laws – Most Common Misconceptions

Newton's laws of dynamics form the foundation of classical physics and are an integral part of school education. Unfortunately, they are often presented in a simplified, and even erroneous manner, which can lead to misunderstandings and difficulties in deeply comprehending these fundamental principles. In this article, we will discuss the classic laws of dynamics, highlighting the frequent errors and simplifications encountered in schools and everyday reasoning.
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Particle physicsPhysicsQuantum physics

Vortex Electric Field—A Discovery Poised to Revolutionize Nanoelectronics

Modern science continually searches for innovative avenues to reshape the landscape of electronics and computing. In recent years, two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as graphene, have captured global attention as researchers explore their extraordinary properties. Now, a breakthrough by Professor Ly Thuc Hue’s team at the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) marks another pivotal moment in this rapidly evolving field.
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Particle physicsPhysics

New Observations of Group Delay in Multiphoton Processes

Scientists in Canada have made a groundbreaking advance in the field of quantum optics by observing group delay phenomena induced by gain during spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC). In SPDC, a single high-energy photon is converted into two lower-energy “daughter” photons. Previous studies had largely focused on scenarios with a low probability of such photon conversions. However, by increasing the intensity of the pump laser, the researchers were able to generate multiple photon pairs simultaneously, ultimately revealing a measurable shift in the arrival times of the daughter photons.
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Mechanisms of addiction development
MedicinePsychology

Mechanisms of addiction development

Addiction is a robust, acquired need to use a psychoactive substance or perform an activity. A person with an addiction uses a substance or engages in behavior whose rewarding effects provide an irresistible incentive to repeat the activity, despite the harmful consequences. Addiction can include the use of substances such as alcohol, inhalants, opioids, cocaine, and nicotine, or behaviors such as gambling, shopping, playing computer games, eating, or having sex.
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The origins of mass spectrometry
History

The origins of mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry is a technique used to analyze the chemical composition of a sample. It uses ionizing radiation to separate the molecules of the sample into their constituent ions, which are then separated according to their mass-to-charge ratio. Mass spectrometry has been used since the early 19th century, but the principles behind it have been known about 100 year earlier.
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Why is water so important for living organisms?
Biology

Why is water so important to living organisms?

Water, although it is a very simple molecule, because it consists of only 3 atoms - one oxygen and two hydrogen - is the foundation of life on Earth, and probably in the universe at all (if we find one). It is not without reason that when observing distant solar systems, astronomers look for planets that are in the so-called habitable zone, i.e. the habitable zone enabling, among others, the occurrence of liquid water. But let's go back to Earth and look at water from the side of its properties important for life ...
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