March 4, 2024: Quantum mechanics on a large scale, plague in the U.S., and this fierce orca takes down a great white shark. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | | Physicists are planning an experiment to test whether the rules of quantum mechanics hold for relatively large objects. A new experiment will use lasers to suspend a single 100-nanometer glass bead inside a vacuum chamber. Though tiny, the bead is 1,000 times larger than anything used in previous quantum experiments. An electromagnetic field inside the chamber will shift the bead back and forth between two locations like a pendulum. Physicists will point laser light at the pendulum to measure its position at a certain point along its path, and sometimes also at an intermediate point. If quantum rules hold, the intermediate measurement could change the subsequent measurement at the appointed spot.
Why this matters: Quantum objects don't exist in a single, defined location—they may be in multiple places until a measurement (by humans) nails them down. If the researchers find indications that measurements affect the glass bead's position, it would be evidence that quantum mechanics applies to larger objects in the universe.
What the experts say: Just because we haven't been able to observe quantum effects at a large scale doesn't necessarily mean they don't have sway over the universe. "We believe that quantum mechanics is a universal theory," says Debarshi Das, a physicist at University College, London. "The theory itself does not have any limit. But in reality, whether that is true or not, we don't know yet. Only experiment can resolve this dilemma." | | | Plague (yes, the plague) continues to affect people around the world. Last month, Oregon had its first case of plague in 8 years, likely contracted from a pet cat. Doctors in the U.S. diagnose about 10 cases of plague per year. Most of these are reported on the West Coast and in Southwestern and Rocky Mountain states—particularly in New Mexico.
How it works: Plague is caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis and persists in rodent populations. The bacterium doesn't make rodents very sick and "so that means it can just kind of quietly circulate in that population," says Erin Phipps, state public health veterinarian of New Mexico. It can hop from animal to animal (or human) via fleas or other small mammals like pets.
What can be done: In regions with known plague, keeping cats and other pets indoors lessens the chance they'll encounter rodents and fleas. Long pants and sleeves and insect repellent prevent fleas from jumping on you if you're out in nature. | | | Credit: Shuyao Xiao; Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (data) | | | • Many mental illnesses overlap. A concept called "p factor" could explain why. | 10 min read | | | • A machine-learning tool called Sora transforms text prompts into detailed video. Here's everything you need to know about it. | 7 min read | | | • As of last week, Florida has recorded 10 cases of measles, nine of which are in children. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known on Earth and is very dangerous for young people. The state's surgeon general has said that unvaccinated kids who may have been exposed to measles can continue to attend school. This tactic significantly increases the chance of a prolonged outbreak, write Katelyn Jetelina and Kristen Panthagani, an epidemiologist and emergency medicine specialist, respectively. "Keeping kids home from school is hard but is sometimes necessary to keep them and other children healthy," they say. | 4 min read | | | It's the age of digital information. But that can be a blessing and a curse. Parents in particular have to wade through a deluge of friendly advice, influencer posts and product marketing campaigns to find reliable, data-backed answers. We're pleased to announce the launch of The Science of Parenting, a regular column by Scientific American, offering evidence-based advice on issues related to parenting and parent-child relationships, including caring for elderly parents. We'll cover plenty of these articles in this newsletter as well. | —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters . | | | | Scientific American
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