Futurology Today

Electrons inside solid materials behave in a surprisingly similar way. When they gain extra energy (for instance, when the material is struck by other electrons), they can sometimes break free from the solid. This process has been known for decades and forms the basis of many technologies. However, until recently, scientists had been unable to calculate it with precision. Researchers from several groups at TU Wien have now found the solution. Just as the frog must find the right opening, an electron also needs to locate a specific "exit," known as a "doorway state."

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The key discovery is that energy alone cannot determine whether an electron escapes. There are quantum states above the energy threshold that still fail to lead out of the material, a fact missing from earlier models. "From an energetic point of view, the electron is no longer bound to the solid. It has the energy of a free electron, yet it still remains spatially located where the solid is," says Richard Wilhelm. The electron behaves like the frog that jumps high enough but fails to find the exit.

"The electrons must occupy very specific states -- so-called doorway states," explains Prof. Florian Libisch from the Institute for Theoretical Physics. "These states couple strongly to those that actually lead out of the solid. Not every state with sufficient energy is such a doorway state -- only those that represent an 'open door' to the outside."

I stopped using piefed a week ago when I got a message some random quack banned my account in some community I had never engaged with but I could not figure out who did it or where it happened. Any lack of modlog accountability for mods and admin with full transparency are an absolute no-go for me.

Maybe I am just dumb and not seeing where to find these. I only use the web browser front end.

's electoral fraud has gotten way too out of hand. It's downright Russia levels of clown fuckery nowadays.

Viridiana (Silvia Pinal) is preparing to start her life as a nun when she is sent, somewhat unwillingly, to visit her aging uncle, Don Jaime. He supports her; but the two have met only once. Jaime thinks Viridiana resembles his dead wife. Viridiana has secretly despised this man all her life and finds her worst fears proven when Jaime grows determined to seduce his pure niece. Viridiana becomes undone as her uncle upends the plans she had made to join the convent.

https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/4497-viridiana

In America, when you vote for free busses, they take away the elections.

Around 10 years ago, Internet historians discovered that the little-appreciated trebuchet (depicted bottom right) could launch a 90kg projectile in excess of 300m. Prior to this discovery much of the Internet's medieval siege engine enthusiast community had presumed such a feat impossible due to its preoccupation with the catapult (a popular medieval siege engine [depicted top right]). This sensational discovery launched the previously poorly-regarded siege engine into the limelight of popular internet culture, much as a trebuchet might launch a 90kg payload into a fortification at a distance of ~300m.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/38557055

Ding-dong, the witch is dead ...

Dick Cheney, the former White House chief of staff, member of Congress, secretary of defense and US vice-president, has died, his family has said. He was 84.

Cheney was one of the country’s most powerful vice-presidents, widely reported to wield great influence over the less experienced George W Bush, the president under whom he served.

Cheney was in office on 11 September 2001 during the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. While Bush was hurried to safety, Cheney worked with the defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, to assume policy control. Troops were soon in Afghanistan, fighting the Taliban and hunting al-Qaida.

But Cheney’s place in history will be dominated by the decision to invade Iraq. He had been defense secretary during the first Gulf war against Saddam Hussein, in 1990 and 1991, but now Cheney and Bush’s public rationale for war was that the Iraqi dictator was linked to al-Qaida and thus 9/11, and possessed weapons of mass destruction. By March 2003, when US and coalition forces invaded, no proof had been found for either charge, and both were soon proved false.

For the first time, Health Canada has approved a new drug that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and it’s giving new hope that the disease can be tackled early.

On Monday, Health Canada announced approval for lecanemab, commercially known as “Leqembi.”

The treatment has already been approved in some other countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Japan, Mexico and China. It is currently under regulatory review in 15 other countries and regions, including the European Union.

Lecanemab is meant for adults who have a clinical diagnosis of mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/5467471

Archived version

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos in Brussels on Tuesday presented the European Commission’s annual Enlargement Package, its report on the progress of EU candidate countries, which contained strong criticism for Serbia but praise for its Balkan neighbour Montenegro.

“In Serbia, the authorities continue to declare EU membership as their strategic goal but the actual pace of implementation of reforms has slowed down significantly. While some recent positive developments are noted, Serbia needs to deliver on credible reforms, most importantly in the area of fundamentals,” Kos said.

She said that in order to progress towards membership, Serbia needs “urgently reverse the backsliding on freedom of expression, on freedom of academia, as well as ensure progress on the electoral framework”.

She added that Serbian politicains needs to curb hostile rhetoric against the EU and the European Parliament, saying that disinformation about the EU being behind the current anti-government protests in the country could cost Serbia dear.

“I can’t hear any more politicians from Serbia accusing the EU of standing behind what’s happening in Serbia. I will fight so that this disinformation stops. Otherwise, there will be consequences,” she said during the debate that followed the presentation of the Enlargement Package.

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In contrast to her tough words for Serbia, Kos said Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine had made “significant advances on the EU path”, adding that Montenegro “could be the first [of them] in the EU.

“Montenegro is the most advanced and has made significant progress towards EU accession, and it is at the same time, the most prepared country,” Kos said.

Albania has also made clear progress in harmonising its laws with the EU’s body of legislation over the past year, she added.

“This outstanding result is a clear recognition of the firm political commitment of Albania and the clear EU aspirations of its society – 91 per cent of citizens are supporting EU membership,” she said.

Regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kos noted that it faced political tensions and a stalemate in the reform process. However, on September 25, Bosnia submitted its reform agenda to the Commission, following recent changes in the Serb-led Republika Srpska entity.

“The country now has an opportunity to progress on its EU path with, in the first place, the adoption of judicial reform laws and a department of chief negotiator,” Kos said.

She noted that North Macedonia had kept its full alignment with EU foreign policy but “has not taken decisive steps to advance in the accession negotiations process over the last year”. Required constitutional amendments have not been adopted yet.

Kosovo, meanwhile, remained committed to its European future, Kos said. “But progress was stalled by domestic politics, notably by elections [in February] and a protracted political deadlock afterwards.” Kosovo still does not have a government, nearly nine months on.

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Cy-Fair ISD's board president and vice president were losing their re-election bids after the early voting period, and a slate of nonpartisan newcomers was poised to break a politically conservative majority in the Houston-area school district, based on incomplete results released Tuesday night by the Harris County Clerk's Office.

Lesley Guilmart in position 5, Cleveland Lane Jr. in position 6 and Kendra Camarena in position 7 were leading their races after the early voting period. Lane is trying to unseat board President Scott Henry and Vice President Natalie Blasingame — with Blasingame opting to run against her former ally Henry instead of seeking re-election in position 6.

Conservative board members have held a 6-1 majority since 2023. They will preserve that majority if at least one of the following candidates manages to win – either Blasingame or Henry in position 6, Radele Walker in position 5 or George Edwards Jr. in position 7.

The board runs the third-largest school district in Texas and oversees 117,000 students as well as a $1.2 billion budget.

cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/23037393

A former Navy pilot, first elected to Congress in 2018, will be New Jersey's next governor.

Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill defeated former Republican Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, according to a race call by The Associated Press, capping a closely-watched gubernatorial election that some polls predicted would be a coin flip.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/52429990

https://archive.is/4Q56Z

The Commission has been working on creating an intermediate category between quadricycles that weigh a few hundred kilograms and all other cars, so that small electric vehicles no longer have to include as much safety equipment and technology as a large saloon car.

Renault Group CEO François Provost recommended on Tuesday that automotive regulations in Europe be frozen for 10 to 15 years to encourage the emergence of this category, which would include cars up to 4.2 metres long.

For context the BYD Dolphin surf at less than 4 metres long scored 5 stars on Euro NCAP

https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/byd/dolphin+surf/56154