Physicists move light back and forth in time

Plus: All types of plastics are now recyclable, thanks to two companies. Dec 12, 2022 [Blueprint]( Flipping heck. In fact, [quantum flipping heck](. Because in a world first, physicists have made light appear to move forward and backward in time simultaneously. They did this by achieving a quantum time flip. Which I realize sounds like something Doc and Marty would buy into, but it’s actually a real thing. It also involved a bit of superposition, which you might have heard of in relation to Schrödinger's feline friend. (The experiment where a hypothetical cat is considered simultaneously alive and dead due to the fact that its life is in the hands of a random subatomic event that both takes place and doesn't take place until it's observed. You know the one.) But before you check out just how super that is, take a look at [this video]( which shows a YouTuber building a functioning hovercraft with duct tape and foam. Nifty. Good morning. I’m Alice, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s dive in. Back by popular demand — following an overwhelming reader response, The Blueprint has brought back the beloved Quote of the Day feature! Be sure to send us all your comments and queries through [this link](. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [YouTuber builds functioning hovercraft with duct tape and foam.]( [YouTuber builds functioning hovercraft with duct tape and foam.]( Once he’d floated the idea it was plain sailing. [Must Read]MUST READ [In a world first, physicists move light back and forth in time simultaneously.]( [In a world first, physicists move light back and forth in time simultaneously.]( Scientists have made [light appear to move forward and backward in time]( simultaneously, in a world first. This is momentous because it could create new quantum computing techniques and give scientists a much better understanding of how quantum gravity works. They did it by achieving a quantum time flip. Which is basically where a photon exists in both forward and backward time states at the same time. Cool, right? This was achieved via the convergence of quantum superposition and charge, parity, and time-reversal (CPT) symmetry, both of which are principles of quantum mechanics — meaning they describe the physical properties of atoms and subatomic particles. → Quantum superposition is where sees tiny particles exist in several different states until they are observed. CPT is a principle that states any system containing particles will obey the same physical laws, even if their charge, spatial coordinates, and movements are precisely reversed. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [11 stunning images from the Mars Perseverance rover.]( NASA's Mars Perseverance rover was launched on July 30, 2020, as part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, which was created in 1993 to explore the climate, natural resources, and possibilities of life on the Red Planet. It successfully landed on Mars in 2021 and has been [giving us fascinating insights – and images – ever since](. In fact, such is their popularity that NASA uploads Mars Perseverance rover images on a regular basis and allows people to vote for the best ones. Perseverance's navigation cameras are its “eyes” essentially. They help it make its own decisions when driving, ensuring a safe path for the rover so that it doesn't always rely on controllers on Earth. And they take cool footage while they’re at it. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [INNOVATION]INNOVATION [All types of plastics are now recyclable, thanks to two companies.]( Two companies have found [technologies that recycle all types of plastic](. Yes, all. Their technology uses several proprietary techniques. These involve a series of methods, systems and chemical agents to reduce any petroleum-derived material into processable chips or powdered material. You can then use the resulting composite materials to make paving stones, construction blocks, tile beams, sheets of material, and boards (as just a few examples.) And, the system can process any material derived from petroleum, even mixed types of materials, at the same time. The plastics we can recycle, the plastics we can't, and even the plastics no one thought you could process, can all be mixed together in one batch and turned into chips and powder. Bingo. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [HEALTH]HEALTH [A nasal spray could be the key to treating sleep apnea.]( A new nasal spray for the [treatment of obstructive sleep apnea]( (OSA) has been tested for the first time. It works by preventing the narrowing or collapse of the upper airways during sleep, which is a key factor in OSA. While further rigorous clinical evaluation and testing is required, this is a great first step, which researchers think will offer hope to the many people worldwide who suffer from sleep apnoea OSA is one of the most common sleep-related breathing disorders, with an estimated one billion sufferers, and when untreated is associated with major health and safety consequences. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS In a world first, physicists move light back and forth in time simultaneously. What do you think is the most exciting development this work could bring about? [Enhanced quantum computing processing]( [A better understanding of quantum mechanics]( [A unified theory of quantum gravity]( [Something else entirely]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS On Saturday, we asked you if you think the alloy CrCoNi will be incorporated and implemented into future projects, and an overwhelming 74 percent of you said yes, it seems really useful. 74% Yes, it seems really useful and strong 17% Maybe, especially for cold temperature projects 5% I’m not sure 3% No, it’s too difficult to create [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY “The true story of quantum mechanics is a truth far stranger than any fiction.” John Gribbin, In Search of Schrödinger's Cat: Quantum Physics and Reality. 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