ivo's home

Chemists at UC Riverside have directly observed the formation of Criegee intermediates, fleeting molecules produced when ozone reacts with plant-emitted isoprene. By using cavity ring-down spectroscopy, the researchers captured these short-lived compounds that have been theorized for eighty years but never previously detected in this context. This process acts as a primary trigger for the secondary organic aerosols that comprise city haze.

The study clarifies that while trees release the isoprene, the driver of the resulting pollution is ground-level ozone, suggesting that air quality management must focus on reducing nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. However, these findings are based on controlled laboratory conditions that do not fully replicate the complex, shifting environment of the open atmosphere. It remains a foundational observation rather than a complete model of atmospheric chemistry.

more: https://www.futurity.org/how-smog-begins-3345472/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-smog-begins-3345472

Researchers are finding that biological systems often process information using non-Boolean probability structures originally developed for quantum mechanics. Rather than relying on classical logic, these systems model decision-making through interference patterns and superposition-like states. This suggests that the mathematical framework of quantum physics is more useful for describing life than the physical properties of quantum particles themselves.

This shift moves the focus from hunting for delicate quantum states in warm biological environments to identifying how organisms effectively emulate quantum logic. While this provides a powerful new toolkit for modeling complex biological behavior, it remains a mathematical analogy rather than proof of a fundamental physical mechanism. Skepticism is warranted until we understand whether these patterns are universal features of life or merely convenient abstractions.

more: https://www.quantamagazine.org/biology-might-not-be-quantum-but-its-math-is-quantumlike-20260923/

my other side: ivo.blogspot.com

Astronomers have identified a bow shock around the white dwarf RXJ0528+2838 that defies standard stellar models. The system lacks the accretion disc typically required to drive such powerful outflows, yet it has been venting material for at least 1,000 years. Observations suggest the star's magnetic field plays a role in channeling matter, but the energy source remains unidentified.

This discovery forces a reconsideration of how binary systems exchange mass and energy without traditional discs. Current magnetic field theories fail to account for the duration of the phenomenon, leaving the underlying mechanism a mystery. Future observations with larger telescopes will be necessary to determine if this is an outlier or evidence of a broader, misunderstood process.

more: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924020410.htm

my other side: ivo.blogspot.com