Research Preview: Nature Magazine – June 15, 2023

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nature Magazine – June 15, 2023 issue: In this week’s issue, Abhinav Kandala and his colleagues show that it is still possible for a quantum computer to outperform a classical computer, by mitigating, rather  than correcting, the errors. 

DeepMind AI creates algorithms that sort data faster than those built by people

A replica of a game between 'Go' player Lee Se-Dol and a Google-developed super-computer, in Seoul, Korea, 2016.

The technology developed by DeepMind that plays Go and chess can also help to write code.

An artificial intelligence (AI) system based on Google DeepMind’s AlphaZero AI created algorithms that, when translated into the standard programming language C++, can sort data up to three times as fast as human-generated versions.

“We were a bit shocked,” said Daniel Mankowitz, a computer scientist at DeepMind who led the work. “We didn’t believe it at first.”

Ukraine dam collapse: what scientists are watching

Maxar satellite imagery of the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power facility.
Large sections of the Kakhovka dam have collapsed, unleashing catastrophic floods. Credit: Satellite image (c) 2023 Maxar Technologies via Getty

Extensive flooding could have severe consequences for farming, health and the environment.

The 66-year-old Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper River in south Ukraine collapsed on the morning of 6 June after a suspected explosion, triggering a catastrophic humanitarian and environmental crisis.

Politics: The Guardian Weekly – June 16, 2023

The Guardian Weekly (June 16, 2023) Ukraine and the Kakhovka dam burst. Plus: biting down into doughnut economics

More than a week has passed since the collapse of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine. Only as the flood waters begin to recede is the long-term scale of the disaster becoming apparent.

With suspicion (though not yet, according to western capitals, conclusive proof) falling on Moscow, Dan SabbaghArtem Mazhulin and Julian Borger report on a human and environmental catastrophe, and what it might mean for Ukraine’s counteroffensive plans against Russia.

And amid reports of disunity among Moscow’s ruling elite, Shaun Walker went along to a gathering of exiled influential Russians who are once again daring to dream of an end to Vladimir Putin’s rule.

Travel Tour: Landmarks & Landscapes Of Jordan (4K)

Carsan Choong Films (June 13, 2023) – Jordan, an Arab nation on the east bank of the Jordan River, is defined by ancient monuments, nature reserves and seaside resorts.

It’s home to the famed archaeological site of Petra, the Nabatean capital dating to around 300 B.C. Set in a narrow valley with tombs, temples and monuments carved into the surrounding pink sandstone cliffs, Petra earns its nickname, the “Rose City.”

Arts Tour: The Courtauld Institute Of Art In London

The Courtauld Institute of Art (June 14, 2023) – The Courtauld Gallery is home to one of the world’s greatest art collections, located in the magnificent historical setting of Somerset House in Central London.

Join actor and friend of The Courtauld Gallery, Bill Nighy, as he returns to the Gallery following its three year refurbishment, and discover our world-renowned collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces.

Highlights on display include the world-famous A Bar at the Folies Bergère by Édouard Manet, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear by Vincent van Gogh, the most significant collection of works by Paul Cézanne in the UK and works by Degas, Gauguin, Monet, Seurat and more.

Green Energy: Potential & Economics Of Hydrogen

Financial Times (June 13, 2023) – In this film, the FT’s Simon Mundy explores how hydrogen – the lightest, most abundant element in the universe – could play a crucial role in the global push for net zero carbon emissions.

Video timeline: 00:00 What is Hydrogen 00:50 Green Hydrogen 02:50 Current uses of hydrogen 04:10 The concerns 05:00 The Hydrogen rainbow 05:51 Emerald Hydrogen 07.35 The investors 10:50 The policymakers 13:40 Green steel 17:35 Cleaning up aviation 22:15 The hydrogen economy of the future

From southern Spain to Swedish Lapland, we meet those at the forefront of this fast-growing space – all seeking a share of the billions to be made in the emerging hydrogen economy.

#hydrogen #greenhydrogen #EmeraldHydrogen #steel #hydrogeneconomy #zerocarbon #emission

News: Trump Makes Court Appearance, Israel Joins Morocco Military Drills

The Globalist Podcast, Wednesday, June 14, 2023: Donald Trump’s historic court appearance – where does it leave the former US president?

Plus: Israel joins Africa’s largest military exercise in Morocco, the business news and a special interview with Indian diplomat and politician, Shashi Tharoor.

The New York Times – Wednesday, June 14, 2023

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Trump Is Arraigned on Documents and Obstruction Charges

“I did everything right and they indicted me,” former President Donald J. Trump said in a speech after his arraignment on Tuesday.

Donald J. Trump, now twice indicted since leaving the White House, surrendered to federal authorities in Miami and pleaded not guilty, striking a defiant tone afterward.

N.Y. Police Chief’s Exit Is Latest in Exodus From Adams Administration

Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday suggested that the handful of high-level departures represented a small fraction of the city’s work force.

New York City’s top officials overseeing crime, housing and homelessness have stepped down. Critics say the mayor’s management style is part of the problem.

Southern Baptists Move to Purge Churches With Female Pastors

Some conservatives in the evangelical denomination fear a liberal drift, and are set to vote on a strict ban against women in church leadership. Two churches are appealing their expulsions.

Cormac McCarthy, Novelist of a Darker America, Is Dead at 89

“All the Pretty Horses,” “The Road” and “No Country for Old Men” were among his acclaimed books that explore a bleak world of violence and outsiders.

Art Gallery Exhibitions: ‘Art Basel 2023’ Preview

VernissageTV (June 13, 2023) = The 2023 edition of Art Basel in Basel features 284 of the world’s leading galleries from across the globe. At Art Basel, the galleries present modern and contemporary art across all media including painting, sculpture, photography, and digital artworks. The art fair runs from June 15-18, 2023.