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  • ⚡️US firm sets plasma fusion temperature record, EV range extender, Kagome superconductor shatters time-reversal symmetry at record temperature

⚡️US firm sets plasma fusion temperature record, EV range extender, Kagome superconductor shatters time-reversal symmetry at record temperature

Plus: 500,000 WWII ‘phantom coins’ that were thought to have been destroyed found in Japan

In Coordination with EINES VISION SYSTEMS

Join Eines Vision Systems this month for a live webinar on revolutionizing automotive quality control thanks to vision technology.

A Washington-based firm has reportedly set a world record in nuclear fusion research during third-party, peer-reviewed experiments with radioactive wastewater. Quantum Kinetics Corporation (QKC) claimed that it successfully triggered plasma fusion temperatures of 392 million degrees Fahrenheit (18 keV X-rays) for 24 hours.

The previous record was achieved in April 2024 by the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Reactor (KSTAR). The Korean reactor had achieved 105 million degrees Celsius for 48 seconds.

Using its patented modular reactor, the QKC surpassed KSTAR’s mark by a significant difference. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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The company claimed that the momentous demonstration takes QKC to the top of the S-curve in fusion research and establishes the path forward for safe and clean nuclear power globally.

“This is truly extraordinary. In addition to thorium, lead, and tungsten forming from the process, we see other elements forming like boron, potassium, magnesium, gallium, and silicon. I’ve never seen anything like this before,” said QKC’s newly elected vice president, Randal Bird, a retired business manager who was present as an observer of the recent experiments at the national laboratory.

During the process, the company also claimed that it cracked Uranium 234/235/238. QKC has now called the process “Safe Nuclear Systems.”

Xpeng has recently unveiled a gas-powered range extender called the Kunpeng Super Electric System.

The company’s extended-range EV powertrain offers up to 267 miles (430 km) on electric alone, and up to 869 miles (1,400 km) when using both the battery and gas.

Although China’s range estimates tend to be optimistic compared to US figures, it’s an impressive range, Inside EVs reported.

Quantum systems don’t work effectively under normal conditions and typically require extremely low-temperature settings. This is because, at higher temperatures, thermal energy can disrupt quantum states, causing decoherence or loss of the desired quantum effects.

However, scientists are developing superconductors to make quantum systems work at higher temperatures. This is crucial for adopting quantum technology on a large scale.

A team of researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland has made a significant breakthrough in this direction. Using a Kagome superconductor (RbV3Sb5), they have achieved time-reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking at 175 Kelvin (-144.67 °F or -98 °C).

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A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR

Whether driven by human intervention or time pressure, quality issues can cost car manufacturing companies a fortune. This increases the possibility of human errors. But thanks to the advent of Machine Vision and AI, there's a solution.

EINES VISION SYSTEMS will hold a webinar on November 27th on error-free assembly of interior and exterior parts in automotive manufacturing. This session will showcase how advanced vision systems are reshaping quality control for automotive parts, both interior and exterior. Learn how these technologies detect defects in real-time, reduce human error, and ensure top-tier compliance.

Register now for the webinar today!

HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> For the first time, LBL researchers have captured direct images of the Wigner molecular crystal using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) —- an imaging technique that produces high-resolution visuals of materials at the atomic scale. (More)

> For the first time, two dark matter experiments have detected a neutrino fog, a dense cloud of neutrinos. This discovery is reported by researchers from XENON and PandaX — two scientific experiments that aim to detect dark matter, operating independently in Italy and China respectively. (More)

> Archaeologists at Gönnersdorf, Germany, found engravings on schist slabs that could date net fishing back 15,800 years. (More)

ENERGY

> Researchers have developed a novel method to produce biodiesel from waste oil. This simple process requires relatively mild heat and has the potential to make the alternative fuel source much more appealing to the massive industrial sectors. (More)

> In a move that would provide a major boost to battery technology in electric vehicles (EVs), Chinese tech conglomerate Huawei has filed a new patent application for a sulfide-based solid electrolyte, a component used in lithium-ion batteries. (More)

> BioLargo Energy Technologies is working to create a battery that would replace the lithium-ion battery with one that uses molten salt. (More)

INNOVATION

> Thanks to researchers at TU Wein in Vienna, the promise of housecleaning robots is one step closer. The team has developed a self-learning robot to mimic humans to complete simple tasks like cleaning washbasins. (More)

> A team of researchers at the University of Minnesota has developed a next-generation transparent and efficient semiconductor material. This breakthrough could have enormous ramifications for improving the efficiency of high-power electronics, especially those that need transparency, like lasers. (More)

> NASA engineer turned YouTuber Mark Rober unveiled his latest project, a Rock, Paper, Scissors robot that can never lose a game, or so we'd like to think. (More)

VIDEO

> On October 13, SpaceX achieved arguably the most impressive feat of engineering in history. What could catching the Starship booster mean for SpaceX? How will SpaceX push the limits of current spaceflight tech next? (More)

> Sungwoo Kim, CEO of Balcony Farm, shows off their fresh gardening technology. Using a smartphone app, owners can monitor their plants and harvest as needed, reducing the dependence on stored vegetable products. (More)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

In yesterday’s quiz, we asked you to find the area shaded in yellow.

The answer is: 12

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FROM THE WEB

> 500,000 WWII ‘phantom coins’ that were thought to have been destroyed found in Japan

> Renewable energy giants 'getting it wrong over wind and solar droughts'

> Magnetic shield over North America is losing strength: PLA scientists

> Study raises hopes of treating aggressive cancers by zapping rogue DNA

> Mars’s Frozen Ocean Likely Existed About 3.6 Billion Years Ago

> Scientists work to create 'insurance' policy in race to save toxic macadamia nut

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