Evolution of the Universe: Why Measuring Voids of Nothing Tells Us Something
A renewed focus on studying cosmic voids, the “nothingness” that occupies an estimated 90% of space, is yielding new information about the evolution of the universe. If the voids are remnants of vibrations from the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago, what might they tell us about the tiniest bit of energy, the quantum, and the fluctuating quantum energy of the vacuum of space?
Evolving Time: Can We Extend Our Lifespan, and the Earth’s Life Too?
Could advances in science and technology extend the human lifespan? As researchers have identified a gene for longevity and have transferred it from a rat to a mouse, we stand at the precipice of redefining our existence. The possibility of extending human life underscores the urgent need to confront climate change and safeguard Earth’s ecosystems that sustain life, and we report on some promising advances.
The Big Ring: Is the Newly Found Cosmic Megastructure the End for the Cosmological Principle?
The discovery of a colossal ring-shaped structure in space, known as the Big Ring, challenges the cosmological principle, a foundational concept in astrophysics. This finding reinforces questions about the completeness of current cosmological models and hints at the need for a potential overhaul of our understanding of the evolution of the universe.
The Ghost in the Machine: Chatbots and Their Problem with Time
A new mathematical proof points to global instability over time in machine learning, which is the basis for training chatbots like ChatGPT. Designed to generalize inputs from prompts and generate the most probable outputs, what does this mean for the future of chatbots trained on data from the past when human users operate in the dynamically changing present?
Editorial Perspectives
Blog
Celebrating Human Creativity Means Guarding Against Stereotyping by AI
The term "model collapse" has been used to describe the loss of creativity in machine learning trained on its own outputs. Several new studies provide potent examples of the risks of model collapse, and highlight the importance of ensuring the traceability and human-sourcing of data to prevent stereotyping by generative AI.
Blog
Tempered Gratitude for Sam Altman’s AGI Quest: It’s a Question of Trust
By pledging the value of AGI to the general good, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman has created a trust with 7.8 billion beneficiaries. But for what purpose is AGI being pursued, and how will the trustee overcome profit incentives and discharge fiduciary responsibility for the incredible value and risk of AGI?
Blog
For Heaven's Sake, We Must Protect the Children
The future of the world's children and all subsequent generations is in our hands. Technology has driven an increase in child-on-child sexual abuse to the majority of the cases in the UK – is this the legacy we want to leave for those who will be carrying our hopes and dreams into the future?
In Focus
How Many Languages Are There? Scientists Shed Light on What Animals Other Than Humans are Saying
Scientists are uncovering the mysteries of animal languages and the profound implications of bridging the gap in communication with other species. From decoding orangutan calls reminiscent of human language to utilizing AI tools for cross-species dialogue, the exploration of animal communication promises to reshape our understanding of the natural world and relationship with other living beings.
Asthma Shots for Severe Food Reactions? Repurposing Drugs Advances Treatment Options
Finding new uses for existing medications is a pivotal strategy in modern medicine. The repurposing of an asthma drug to treat severe food allergies demonstrates the potential for significant breakthroughs. By exploring beyond original purposes of drugs, scientists can maximize the benefits of existing treatments for emerging health challenges while paving the way for new discoveries.
Finding Truths: Defense and Criticism of the Scientific Method
The scientific method’s emphasis on falsifiability, empirical evidence, incremental progress, and predictive power, makes it humanity’s most powerful tool for unraveling the mysteries of the universe. But can it reveal absolute truths, and knowledge about things like our own consciousness, that aren’t directly observable? We explore some important limitations and criticisms of the scientific method.
Podcasts and Webcasts
Jessica West on Space Governance: The Challenges and Potential for Humanity Beyond Earth
Louis Rosenberg on Collective Superintelligence and the Virtual Future
Saima Fancy: Why Privacy Matters on the Road to AGI
The Quantum Record is a non-profit journal of philosophy, science, technology, and time.
The potential of the future is in the human mind and heart, and in the common ground that we all share on the road to tomorrow. Promoting reflection, discussion, and imagination, The Quantum Record highlights the good work of good people and aims to join many perspectives in shaping the best possible time to come.
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Latest Quantum Computing
Science Probes the Frontiers of Quantum and Mathematical Consciousness
Scientists are exploring the intriguing connections of consciousness to quantum mechanics and mathematics. Does consciousness exist at the level of the quantum, and if it does how does it operate – and can we be consciousness of consciousness itself?
The Geometry of Information: Is Topological Quantum Computing the Future?
Topological quantum computing could set the path to resolving error correction challenges in today’s quantum computers. The technology uses braiding and other mathematical concepts to map quantum signals in two, three, and four dimensions, and holds promise in combination with photonic qubits.
Remembering or Forgetting? Quantum Computing May Need Both
Both memory and forgetfulness may be requirements for error-free quantum computing. New research shows the potential of non-Abelian anyons, which retain enduring memory, to operate with quantum maze-solving algorithms, which sacrifice memory for efficiency. Could eliminating noise among qubits be close at hand?
Featured Science News
Does the Universe Have a Holographic Memory?
The discovery of a low-frequency vibrational “hum” in the fabric of spacetime has added to the mystery of gravitational waves first detected in 2015. Does the universe remember gravitational effects over time, and is its memory encoded at the border of black holes?
Latest Philosophy of Technology
The Ghost in the Machine: Chatbots and Their Problem with Time
A new mathematical proof points to global instability over time in machine learning, which is the basis for training chatbots like ChatGPT. Designed to generalize inputs from prompts and generate the most probable outputs, what does this mean for the future of chatbots trained on data from the past when human users operate in the dynamically changing present?
Finding Truths: Defense and Criticism of the Scientific Method
The scientific method’s emphasis on falsifiability, empirical evidence, incremental progress, and predictive power, makes it humanity’s most powerful tool for unraveling the mysteries of the universe. But can it reveal absolute truths, and knowledge about things like our own consciousness, that aren’t directly observable? We explore some important limitations and criticisms of the scientific method.
Can We Trust the Global Index of Data? How Google’s Outputs Diverge From its Human Inputs
Google has a profound influence on the worldwide production and consumption of information with its search engine, YouTube, and other products. The U.S. Government’s antitrust lawsuit, and the way some websites use the company’s undisclosed algorithms to manipulate users, highlight serious questions about transparency, regulation, and misinformation that could be especially important in global elections in 2024.
Latest Technology Over Time
The Mystery of the Ancient Roman Dodecahedrons
What was the purpose of these curious dodecahedrons, discovered in the northern parts of the ancient Roman Empire? Why does no record exist to explain their use and manufacture? We review the intriguing possibilities, but more detective work is needed to uncover the truth of this ancient technology.
The Genius of Alan Turing, and the Technology that Cracked the Nazi Enigma Code
Alan Turing’s skills in mathematics and computer science helped build the “Bombe,” the computing machine that cracked the Nazi Enigma code. The technology was instrumental in the Allied victory over Hitler.
Ancient Astronomy: The Technology of the Golden Hats
With four Golden Hats now unearthed, dating back over 3,000 years, the mysteries remain. What was the purpose of this ancient technology? What was the source of the knowledge, and how was it used? Were they astronomical time calculators, or more?
Latest Science News
Evolution of the Universe: Why Measuring Voids of Nothing Tells Us Something
A renewed focus on studying cosmic voids, the “nothingness” that occupies an estimated 90% of space, is yielding new information about the evolution of the universe. If the voids are remnants of vibrations from the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago, what might they tell us about the tiniest bit of energy, the quantum, and the fluctuating quantum energy of the vacuum of space?
Evolving Time: Can We Extend Our Lifespan, and the Earth’s Life Too?
Could advances in science and technology extend the human lifespan? As researchers have identified a gene for longevity and have transferred it from a rat to a mouse, we stand at the precipice of redefining our existence. The possibility of extending human life underscores the urgent need to confront climate change and safeguard Earth’s ecosystems that sustain life, and we report on some promising advances.
The Big Ring: Is the Newly Found Cosmic Megastructure the End for the Cosmological Principle?
The discovery of a colossal ring-shaped structure in space, known as the Big Ring, challenges the cosmological principle, a foundational concept in astrophysics. This finding reinforces questions about the completeness of current cosmological models and hints at the need for a potential overhaul of our understanding of the evolution of the universe.