Human brain, Internet and Cosmos have same structures'

Press Trust of India / Washington November 25, 2012, 15:35

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The structure and the growth of the Universe may be similar to that of human brain and the Internet, a new study has found.
Researchers found that the structure of the universe and the laws that govern its growth share more similarities than previously thought to the structure and growth of the human brain and other complex networks, such as the Internet or a social network of trust relationships between people.
"By no means do we claim that the universe is a global brain or a computer," said Dmitri Krioukov, co-author of the study from the University of California (UC), San Diego.

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"But the discovered equivalence between the growth of the universe and complex networks strongly suggests that unexpectedly similar laws govern the dynamics of these very different complex systems," said Krioukov in a UC statement. Having the ability to predict – let alone trying to control – the dynamics of complex networks remains a central challenge throughout network science.
Structural and dynamical similarities among different real networks suggest that some universal laws might be in action, although the nature and common origin of such laws remain elusive.
By performing complex supercomputer simulations of the universe and using a variety of other calculations, researchers have now proven that the causal network representing the large-scale structure of space and time in our accelerating universe is a graph that shows remarkable similarity to many complex networks such as the Internet, social, or even biological networks.
"These findings have key implications for both network science and cosmology.
"We discovered that the large-scale growth dynamics of complex networks and causal networks are asymptotically (at large times) the same, explaining the structural similarity between these networks," noted Krioukov.
"This is a perfect example of interdisciplinary research combining math, physics, and computer science in totally unexpected ways.
"Who would have guessed that the emergence of our universe's four-dimensional spacetime from the quantum vacuum would have anything to do with the growth of the Internet? Causality is at the heart of both, so perhaps the similarity Krioukov and his collaborators found is to be expected." said San Diego Supercomputer Center, Director Michael Norman.
The network representing the structure of the universe is astronomically huge – in fact it can be infinite. But even if it is finite, researchers' best guess is that it is no smaller than 10250 atoms of space and time.

Super-Earths Get Magnetic 'Shield' from Liquid Metal

by Charles Q. Choi, SPACE.com Contributor

Date: 22 November 2012 Time: 02:01 PM ET

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A new study suggests that the extreme pressures inside so-called super-Earth planets may create liquid magnesium oxide, a liquid metal, suggesting that similar processes may help create protective magnetic fields around the worlds. This image depicts a laser-shock experiment on Earth that recreated conditions deep within the planet as part of the study. Image released Nov. 22, 2012. CREDIT: Eugene Kowaluk, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester View full size image

Within supersized alien versions of Earth, a common transparent ceramic may become a flowing liquid metal, perhaps granting those distant worlds magnetic fields to shield life from harmful radiation, researchers say.
Among the hundreds of extrasolar planets, or exoplanets, that astronomers have discovered in recent years are so-called "super-Earths," which are rocky planets like Earth but larger, at up to 10 times its mass. Scientists have discovered super-Earths that may support oceans of water on their surfaces on their surfaces, and others that may even be planets made of diamond.
The increased mass of super-Earths would bring about internal pressures much greater than Earth's. Such high pressures would lead to large viscosities and high melting temperatures, meaning the interiors of super-Earths might not separate into rocky mantles and metallic cores like Earth's does.

'Star Trek' desks boost math skills

PTI | Nov 24, 2012, 04.34 AM IST

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READ MORE Math|Liz Burd|Durham University

Results from a 3-year project by the Durham University who worked with over 400 pupils, mostly 8-10 year olds, show that collaborative learning increases both fluency and flexibility in math.

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LONDON: Researchers are designing new interactive multi-touch 'smart' desk classrooms which have been found to boost pupils' mathematical skills. Using multi-user desks in the the "classroom of the future" the children were able to work together in new ways to solve questions and problems using inventive solutions.

Results from a 3-year project by the Durham University who worked with over 400 pupils, mostly 8-10 year olds, show that collaborative learning increases both fluency and flexibility in math.

It also shows that using an interactive 'smart' desk can have benefits over doing mathematics on paper. The 'Star Trek classroom' could also help learning and teaching in other subjects.

Seeing what your friends are doing, and being able to fully participate in group activities, offers new ways of working in class, the researchers say. The findings published in the journal Learning and Instruction, show that children using these SynergyNet classrooms improve in both mathematical flexibility and fluency, while children working on traditional paper-based activities only improve in flexibility.

Researchers found that 45% of students who used the desks increased in the number of unique mathematical expressions they created, compared to 16% in the traditional paper-based activity.

"Our aim was to encourage far higher levels of active student engagement, where knowledge is obtained by sharing, problem-solving and creating, rather than by passive listening. This classroom enables both active engagement and equal access," lead researcher, Liz Burd, said.

"We found our tables encouraged students to collaborate more effectively. We were delighted to observe groups of students enhancing others' understanding of mathematical concepts. Such collaboration just did not happen when students used paper-based approaches," said Burd.

Researchers designed software and desks that recognize multiple touches on the desktop using vision systems that see infrared light.