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Composing the programs for the education of specialists in the field of environmental protection requires clear ideas about the concepts, place of basic disciplines and the main issues of the future specialty. Peculiarities of methodological aspects of description of levels and assessment of quality of education in terminology of competences and learning outcomes are considered. They consist in the predominance of competencies, that have a physical meaning and ensure the filling of the "core" of the educational program with physical principles, methods and models. The study of polluting processes in natural objects requires knowledge of the physics of aerodisperse systems in connection with the solution of aerosol emissions into the atmosphere, knowledge of the physics of the dispersible silt-covered upcasts into the aquatic environment, knowledge and understanding of physical phenomena of heat and mass transfer processes in soil, as in the granular system, knowledge of the physics of external radiation, including sound, heat, electromagnetic, in particular, ionizing radiation, and their impact on the environment. Peculiarities of the educational system of training specialists in the field of environmental protection take into account the tasks of systemic radioecology, among which the tasks of radiation monitoring are especially important. The conceptual approach to the study of radioecology is proposed not as a whole, mixing the laws of physics, chemistry and, for example, biology, but by individual branches, and systematically.

When several multistable displays are viewed simultaneously, their perception is synchronized, as they tend to be in the same perceptual state. Here, we investigated the possibility that perception may reflect embedded statistical knowledge of physical interaction between objects for specific combinations of displays and layouts. We used a novel display with two ambiguously rotating gears and an ambiguous walker-on-a-ball display. Both stimuli produce a physically congruent perception when an interaction is possible (i.e., gears counterrotate, and the ball rolls under the walker’s feet). Next, we gradually manipulated the stimuli to either introduce abrupt changes to the potential physical interaction between objects or keep it constant despite changes in the visual stimulus. We characterized the data using four different models that assumed (1) independence of perception of the stimulus, (2) dependence on the stimulus’s properties, (3) dependence on physical configuration alone, and (4) an interaction between stimulus properties and a physical configuration. We observed that for the ambiguous gears, the perception was correlated with the stimulus changes rather than with the possibility of physical interaction. The perception of walker-on-a-ball was independent of the stimulus but depended instead on whether participants responded about a relative motion of two objects (perception was biased towards physically congruent motion) or the absolute motion of the walker alone (perception was independent of the rotation of the ball). None of the two experiments supported the idea of embedded knowledge of physical interaction. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.3758/s13414-021-02383-1.

The explanation of energy conservation on the cosmic scale requires an understanding of two sets of processes. (1) The set of processes by which electromagnetic energy, the energy of photons in the free state or in the confined state, is gained or is diminished. (2) The set of processes by which the vacuum, i.e., aether, is generated or is lost—processes by which it emerges/expands and by which it suffers contraction and vanishment. At the heart of the explanation is a straightforward definition of energy at the fundamental level: Any process in which there is a quantitative change in the units of aether (the discretized medium that permeates all space) constitutes, in and of itself, a manifestation of energy. The workings of the long-overlooked mechanism are revealed. Cosmic-scale energy conservation is maintained by balancing the relevant processes of two distinct realms—the physical and the subphysical. The physical realm achieves balance by means of a harmony between processes of photon energy gain and energy loss. The subphysical realm achieves balance through the harmony between aether emergence and aether consumption/vanishment. Needless to say, the implications for cosmology are profound.

When objects move, their motion is governed by the laws of physics. We investigated whether multiple objects that move while correctly obeying aspects of Newtonian physics are easier to track than those that do not accurately obey the laws of physics. Participants were asked to track multiple objects that either did or did not take on the correct angles and/or speeds after collisions with each other. We found an advantage for tracking when objects obeyed realistic physics, such that people were more accurate when objects reflected from each other at proper angles and when objects varied in speed after collisions (as opposed to always maintaining the same speed). This advantage was independent of a variety of low-level factors that would be expected to affect object tracking, such as object spacing. However, we also found that performance was not affected when objects' speed changed randomly after each collision (so long as it varied), nor when the reflection angles were jittered moderately after collisions. We conclude that perceptual noise seriously limits many aspects of object trajectory estimation, but nevertheless people are sensitive to at least a subset of the Newtonian laws of physics under demanding attentional tracking conditions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Familiar laws of physics are applied to study human relations, modelled by their world lines (worldlines, WLs) combined with social networks. We focus upon the simplest, basic element of any society: a married couple, stable due to the dynamic balance between attraction and repulsion. By building worldlines/worldsheets, we arrive at a two-level coordinate systems: one describing the behaviour of a string-like binary system (here, a married couple), the other one, external, corresponding to the motion of this couple in the medium, in which the worldline is embedded, sweeping there a string-like sheet or brane. The approach is illustrated by simple examples (semi-quantitative toy models) of worldlines/sheets, open to further extension, perfections and generalization. World lines (WLs) are combined with social networks (SN). Our innovation is in the application of basic physical laws, attraction and repulsion to human behaviour. Simple illustrative examples with empirical inputs taken from intuition and/or observation are appended. This is an initial attempt, open to unlimited applications., Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures

The laws of gravity are important for understanding the foundations of the material world at all its levels, from elementary particles to the entire Universe. Therefore, their study allows you to better understand the problems of natural science for all levels of the material world. The greatest opportunities for studying the laws of gravity are associated with the solar system, where the masses of space objects and the laws of their motion are well known. However, the determination of their fields on the basis of traditional theories of gravity still leads to abstract equations that do not give concrete results; therefore, they have a level of hypotheses. A number of initial scientific propositions based on abstract mathematical dependencies have controversial meanings. In particular, schemes of the gravitational interaction of the fields of 2 physical bodies belong to them. Elimination of this disadvantage is the main goal of the work performed. Its main difference and scientific novelty is the substantiation of the spatial wave system of the gravitational interaction of fields on the example of the Sun, the Earth and the planets closest to it, as well as the possibility of testing this system during experimental measurements. The solution to this problem is an urgent and important scientific and applied problem since it develops knowledge about the gravitational field and the material world in general. The performed work is based on the methods of deduction and induction in the research of the material world based on the application of the well-known reliable laws of physics and the general principles of the development of the theory of knowledge. Other research methods are still unknown since the work performed is associated with new scientific discoveries, the search for which is difficult to formalize by technique methods. The results of the study consist in the analysis of secondary waves on the based structural diagram of the superposition of primary gravitational waves between two objects such as the Earth and the Moon, which made it possible to reveal the trail of the shock wave cone behind the orbit of the Moon’s motion. A similar picture can be obtained for the Sun-Venus pair. In this case, the shock wave cone arising behind the orbit of the motion of Venus can intersect the orbit of the Earth’s motion in 2 places: at the entrance to the cone and at the exit from it. It is possible to register a burst of gravitational waves from this cone using the LIGO, VIRGO, KAGRA observatories. Conclusions: To carry out the experiment, it is necessary to perform calculations of the cone of the shock wave of Venus when it moves around the Sun and the position of the points of entry of the Earth into and out of this cone. The solution to this problem is possible in modern conditions with joint work of physicists and astronomers.

Extreme gravitational collapse is explored by utilizing two fundamental properties and one reasonable assumption, which together lead logically to an end-state gravitating structure. This structure, called a Terminal state neutron star, manifests nature’s ultimate density of mass and possesses the ultimate electromagnetic barrier. It is then shown how this structure is central to the remarkable mechanism whereby the density is prevented from going higher. A simple process assures that such density is not exceeded—regardless of the quantity of additional mass. As an example, the discourse focuses on the expected progression and outcome when a compact star of —far more mass than can be accommodated by the basic Terminal state structure—undergoes total gravitational collapse. An examination of what happens to the considerable excess mass leads the discussion to the principle of mass extinction by the process of aether deprivation and its profound implications for black-hole physics and the current revolution in cosmology.

The purpose of this paper is to present a logical, consistent and understandable alternative formulation of physical laws of motion. This paper gives also a different view and understanding of physical laws of motion. This new point of view gives a deeper understanding about our universe. The central idea of this formulation is the concept of momentum and its conservation. This idea is emphasized in this paper. It is shown that Newton's laws of motion are given as a consequence of the law of conservation of momentum.

In different areas of mechanics, highly non-equilibrium processes are accompanied by self-organization of various type turbulent structures and localized inhomogeneities at intermediate scale between macro and micro levels. In order to describe the self-organization of the new dynamic structures on the mesoscale, a new problem formulation based on the results of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, control theory of adaptive systems, and theory of a special type nonlinear operator sets is proposed. Determination of the turbulent structure parameters through constraints imposed on the system in the form of nonlinear functionals is an inverse problem similar to problems on spectra in quantum mechanics. Like in quantum mechanics, the bounded system in response to impact forms a discrete spectrum of the turbulent structure sizes and lifetimes which goes into continuous spectrum close-to-equilibrium. The proposed description of the structure evolution on the intermediate scale level which is valid far from thermodynamic equilibrium bridges the gap between macroscopic theories and quantum mechanics and affirms the unity of the physical laws of nature.

Reductionism is a prevalent viewpoint in science according to which all physical phenomena can be understood from fundamental laws of physics. Anderson [Science, 177, 393 (1972)], Laughlin and Pines [PNAS, 97, 28 (2000)], and others have countered this viewpoint and argued in favour hierarchical structure of the universe and laws. In this paper we advance the latter perspective by showing that some of the complex flow properties derived using hydrodynamic equations (macroscopic laws) are very difficult, if not impossible, to describe in microscopic framework---kinetic theory. These properties include Kolmogorov's theory of turbulence, turbulence dissipation and diffusion, and dynamic pressure. We also provide several other examples of hierarchical description.

Theorists of the 20th century had failed to recognize the law governing the prolonged interaction between electromagnetic radiation and gravity gradients—they had overlooked the principle of velocity differential propagation (the Principle). Historical background is provided and includes the bafflement surrounding the discovery of the cosmic redshift and its interpretation. The Principle is presented. Its application to gravity wells reveals that light waves traversing the external portion of a gravity well will intrinsically lose energy. The energy loss occurs during the inbound propagation AND during the outbound propagation. In other words, light undergoes redshifting throughout the entire journey. Three proofs are detailed. Observational evidence (several examples) is presented. Highlights are given of the momentous misinterpretation that could have been avoided if only there had emerged cognizance of the Principle. Examined is the question, How could it have happened that scientists missed the Principle? The implications for cosmology are profound.

The purpose of this paper is to show how the result of an erroneous experiment and the lack of understanding of the basic laws of Newtonian mechanics and its application diverted the progress of an important branch of theoretical physics from its true path and led to the creation of the theory of relativity (SR). Every year, many new papers regarding this theory are published that show its many contradictions and anomalies. This paper shows why Einstein's theory of relativity is theoretically and fundamentally incorrect and why, despite its problems, the theory gives some empirical predictions. A more logical solution based on Newtonian mechanics and on experiments and observations plus the concept of ether, leading to the same results, is proposed. As an example, mass-energy equivalence E ≅ m c 2 is derived to show that Newtonian mechanics is adequate in the domain of high-speed particles. The derivation in this paper is by a similar technique to what has been previously published by the same author but with a different method of calculation. The paper also shows that SR does not explain, as claimed by Einstein, the null result of the Michelson and Morley experiment, which is the basis for the theory. It explains why the error in the experiment is hidden and difficult to detect. It also gives more information about the three previously published papers by the same author and endeavors to give a more comprehensive explanation as to what went wrong in this branch of theoretical physics.

Developing a comprehensive model of the early universe that describes events and conditions prior to recombination has proved difficult. Using a new approach, we express Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle in terms of measures and counts of those measures to resolve an expression consisting entirely of counts. The description allows us to resolve explicit values for discrete measures. With these values, we present new expressions describing the earliest epoch and the transition event that initiates expansion. We determine the quantity, age, density, and temperature of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Moreover, we approach the CMB power spectrum anew, describing each mass/energy distribution, its physical significance, its peak temperature, and the effects of relativity. We do not engage in fitting or modification of the existing laws of physics. The approach is classical and correlates both quantum and cosmological phenomena with descriptive expressions that are measurable, verifiable, and falsifiable.

One of the most important uses of vector analysis (cf. Appendix A) is in the concise formulation of physical laws and the derivation of other results from these laws. We will develop and use the differential equations of motion for a body moving under the influence of a gravitational force only. In Chap. 5, we will add other (perturbing) forces to our model.

Significance In order to carry out their functions, most proteins assemble into multicomponent complexes. In the process of assembly, complexes need to discriminate their specific components from a mixture of hundreds of different proteins present in the cell. To assess some of the implications of this requirement, we develop a minimal model of self-assembly based on equilibrium statistical physics. We argue that the need to assemble reliably imposes fundamental constraints on the characteristics of complexes, which we support with analysis of available structural and compositional data. Our work constitutes only a step toward future theory of protein complex assembly, which will have to incorporate also nonequilibrium and kinetic aspects of this fundamental and rich, yet theoretically neglected, problem., Cellular functions are established through biological evolution, but are constrained by the laws of physics. For instance, the physics of protein folding limits the lengths of cellular polypeptide chains. Consequently, many cellular functions are carried out not by long, isolated proteins, but rather by multiprotein complexes. Protein complexes themselves do not escape physical constraints, one of the most important being the difficulty of assembling reliably in the presence of cellular noise. In order to lay the foundation for a theory of reliable protein complex assembly, we study here an equilibrium thermodynamic model of self-assembly that exhibits 4 distinct assembly behaviors: diluted protein solution, liquid mixture, “chimeric assembly,” and “multifarious assembly.” In the latter regime, different protein complexes can coexist without forming erroneous chimeric structures. We show that 2 conditions have to be fulfilled to attain this regime: 1) The composition of the complexes needs to be sufficiently heterogeneous, and 2) the use of the set of components by the complexes has to be sparse. Our analysis of publicly available databases of protein complexes indicates that cellular protein systems might have indeed evolved so as to satisfy both of these conditions.

Symmetry underpins our understanding of physical law. Open systems, those in contact with their environment, can provide a platform to explore parity-time symmetry. While classical parity-time symmetric systems have received a lot of attention, especially because of the associated advances in the generation and control of light, there is much more to be discovered about their quantum counterparts. Here we provide a quantum theory which describes the non-Hermitian physics of chains of coupled modes, which has applications across optics and photonics. We elucidate the origin of the exceptional points which govern the parity-time symmetry, survey their signatures in quantum transport, study their influence for correlations, and account for long-range interactions. We also find how the locations of the exceptional points evolve as a function of the chain length and chain parity, capturing how an arbitrary oligomer chain transitions from its unbroken to broken symmetric phase. Our general results provide perspectives for the experimental detection of parity-time symmetric phases in one-dimensional arrays of quantum objects, with consequences for light transport and its degree of coherence., 10 pages, 7 figures

It is possible that both the classical description of spacetime and the rules of quantum field theory emerge from a more-fundamental structure of physical law. Pregeometric frameworks transfer some of the puzzles of quantum gravity to a semiclassical arena where those puzzles pose less of a challenge. However, in order to provide a satisfactory description of quantum gravity, a semiclassical description must emerge and contain in its description a macroscopic spacetime geometry, dynamical matter, and a gravitational interaction consistent with general relativity at long distances. In this essay, we argue that a framework that includes a stochastic origin for quantum field theory can provide both the emergence of classical spacetime and a quantized gravitational interaction.

We present an English translation of Erwin Schr\"odinger's paper on "On the Reversal of the Laws of Nature". In this paper Schr\"odinger analyses the idea of time reversal of a diffusion process. Schr\"odinger's paper acted as a prominent source of inspiration for the works of Bernstein on reciprocal processes and of Kolmogorov on time reversal properties of Markov processes and detailed balance. The ideas outlined by Schr\"odinger also inspired the development of probabilistic interpretations of quantum mechanics by F\'enyes, Nelson and others as well as the notion of "Euclidean Quantum Mechanics" as probabilistic analogue of quantization. In the second part of the paper Schr\"odinger discusses the relation between time reversal and statistical laws of physics. We emphasize in our commentary the relevance of Schr\"odinger's intuitions for contemporary developments in statistical nano-physics., Comment: Revised version. 24 pages, 2 figures. Introduction 2 pages, Translation of the german original pag. 3-10, Commentary pag 10-22

Optical communications and linear optical devices can be efficiently and precisely described by the modes obtained by the singular value decomposition (SVD) of the coupling operator. This uniquely gives all the orthogonal channels between input and output spaces. It leads to general sum rules that generalize diffraction and clarify counting of channels, and modal limits on device complexity. Novel physical laws apply only to these SVD modes.

(1) This review has been written in memory of Steven Moszkowski who unexpectedly passed away in December 2020. It has been inspired by our many years of discussions. Steven’s enthusiasm, drive and determination to understand atomic nuclei in simple terms of basic laws of physics was infectious. He sought the fundamental origin of nuclear forces in free space, and their saturation and modification in nuclear medium. His untimely departure left our job unfinished but his legacy lives on. (2) Focusing on the nuclear force acting in nuclear matter of astrophysical interest and its equation of state (EoS), we take several typical snapshots of evolution of the theory of nuclear forces. We start from original ideas in the 1930s moving through to its overwhelming diversity today. The development is supported by modern observational and terrestrial data and their inference in the multimessenger era, as well as by novel mathematical techniques and computer power. (3) We find that, despite the admirable effort both in theory and measurement, we are facing multiple models dependent on a large number of variable correlated parameters which cannot be constrained by data, which are not yet accurate, nor sensitive enough, to identify the theory closest to reality. The role of microphysics in the theories is severely limited or neglected, mostly deemed to be too difficult to tackle. (4) Taking the EoS of high-density matter as an example, we propose to develop models, based, as much as currently possible, on the microphysics of the nuclear force, with a minimal set of parameters, chosen under clear physical guidance. Still somewhat phenomenological, such models could pave the way to realistic predictions, not tracing the measurement, but leading it.

Traditionally, the study of quantum key distribution (QKD) assumes an omnipotent eavesdropper that is only limited by the laws of physics. However, this is not the case for specific application scenarios such as the QKD over a free-space link. In this invited paper, we introduce the geometrical optics restricted eavesdropping model for secret key distillation security analysis and apply to a few scenarios common in satellite-to-satellite applications.

Coriolis effect, regarded as one of the universal physical law, describes the phenomenon that an arbitrary object will deflect left relative to the original speed when the object is laid on a reference frame with clockwise rotation, and vice versa. In this Letter, we designed a specialized piezoelectric metamaterial which is consist of a piezoelectric sensing element, an elastic rubber, and a mass element by using the finite element method (FEM). The FEM results suggested that the deflection behavior in this type of piezoelectric metamaterial, could strictly break the Coriolis effect and a negative Coriolis effect was observed. The exploration of negative Coriolis effect in piezoelectric metamaterial would provide theoretical guideline for the further design of ultrasensitive gyroscopes.

In this paper, we have presented a new approach to the dynamics of hypothetical primary particles, moving at speeds greater than the speed of light in a vacuum within their flat spacetime, which is why we understood the reason why they have not been detected so far. By introducing a new factor, we have linked the space-time coordinates of primary particles, within different inertial frames of reference. We have shown that transformations of coordinates for primary particles with respect to different inertial frames of reference, based on this factor, constitute the Lorentz transformations. Utilizing this factor, we have set the foundations of primary particle dynamics. The results obtained for the dynamic properties of these particles are in accordance with the fundamental laws of physics, and we expect them to be experimentally verifiable. Likewise, due to their dynamic properties, we have concluded that the Big Bang could have occurred during a mutual collision of the primary particles, with a sudden speed decrease of some of these particles to a speed slightly greater than the speed of light in a vacuum, which would release an enormous amount of energy. Created in such manner, our Universe would possess a limit on the maximum speed of energy-mass transfer, the speed of light in a vacuum, which we will show after introducing the dynamic properties of these particles. Similarly, we have concluded that the creation of other universes, possessing a different maximum speed of energy-mass transfer, occurred during the collision of these particles as well, only by means of deceleration of some of these particles to a speed slightly greater than the maximum speed of energy-mass transfer in that particular universe.

A physical description of the orbital mechanics of stars around a galactic core has proved difficult. Notably, there is insufficient mass to account for observed star velocities. The mystery is one of few in modern science that defy the known laws of physics. It has been conjectured that there is a new form of matter that interacts gravitationally while otherwise remaining undetectable. In this paper we resolve the mystery. The expressions do not modify the known laws of physics, contain no free variables or fitting and are entirely classical in nature. Using the notion of counts of the fundamental measures—length, mass and time—it is shown that measure is bounded. Accounting for this bound and the expansion of space reveal that the conjecture is unnecessary thus resolving the dark matter mystery.

Recently a great deal of interest in field theories formulated in a Lorentz violating framework has been developed. Here the Very Special Relativity (VSR) is considered. The main aspect in the VSR proposal is that laws of physics are invariant under the subgroups of the Poincar\'e group preserving the basic elements of special relativity. An important point is that the photon acquires a mass. In this context, the energy-momentum tensor for the electromagnetic field is calculated. From this, the Stefan-Boltzmann law and Casimir effect at finite temperature in VSR are obtained. The effects of temperature are introduced using the Thermo Field Dynamics (TFD) formalism. A comparative analysis with the Casimir effect for the standard electromagnetic case is developed., Comment: 14 pages, accepted for publication in Annals of Physics

The change in the kinetic moment of a material body is considered regarding to classical and quantum mechanics. The possibility of creating the propulsion system in terms of energy efficiency exceeding the photon engine has been theoretically proved. The proposed new principle of motion is based on the law of conservation of angular momentum and is fully consistent with the basic fundamental laws of physics. It is proposed to use the emission/absorption of streams of low-energy particles with spin in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the material body. The practical implementation of this idea is confirmed by the presence of promising approaches to solving the problem of quantizing gravity (string theory, loop quantum gravity, etc.) recognized by the world scientific community and by the successful results of experiments conducted by the authors with the motion of bodies in a vacuum chamber. The proposed idea, the examples and experiments has given grounds for the formation of new physical concepts of the speed, mass and inertia of bodies. The obtained results can be used in experiments to search for elementary particles with low energy, to explain a number of physics phenomena and to develop transport of objects based on new physical principles.

Simulating complex biological and physiological systems and predicting their behaviours under different conditions remains challenging. Breaking systems into smaller and more manageable modules can address this challenge, assisting both model development and simulation. Nevertheless, existing computational models in biology and physiology are often not modular and therefore difficult to assemble into larger models. Even when this is possible, the resulting model may not be useful due to inconsistencies either with the laws of physics or the physiological behaviour of the system. Here, we propose a general methodology for composing models, combining the energy-based bond graph approach with semantics-based annotations. This approach improves model composition and ensures that a composite model is physically plausible. As an example, we demonstrate this approach to automated model composition using a model of human arterial circulation. The major benefit is that modellers can spend more time on understanding the behaviour of complex biological and physiological systems and less time wrangling with model composition., Author summary Biological and physiological systems usually involve multiple underlying processes, mechanisms, structures, and phenomena, referred to here as sub-systems. Modelling the whole system every time from scratch requires a huge amount of effort. An alternative is to model each sub-system in a modular fashion, i.e., containing meaningful interfaces for connecting to other modules. Such modules are readily combined to produce a whole-system model. For the combined model to be consistent, modules must be described using the same modelling scheme. One way to achieve this is to use energy-based models that are consistent with the conservation laws of physics. Here, we present an approach that achieves this using bond graphs, which allows modules to be combined faster and more efficiently. First, physically plausible modules are generated using a small number of template modules. Then a meaningful interface is added to each module to automate connection. This approach is illustrated by applying this method to an existing model of the circulatory system and verifying the results against the reference model.

In this paper, a modified formulation of generalized probabilistic theories that will always give rise to the structure of Hilbert space of quantum mechanics, in any finite outcome space, is presented and the guidelines to how to extend this work to infinite dimensional Hilbert spaces are given. Moreover, this new formulation which will be called as extended operational probabilistic theories, applies not only to quantum systems, but also equally well to classical systems, without violating Bell's theorem, and at the same time solves the measurement problem. A new answer to the question of why our universe is quantum mechanical rather than classical will be presented. Besides, this extended probability theory shows that it is non determinacy, or to be more precise, the non deterministic description of the universe, that makes the laws of physics the way they are. In addition, this paper shows that there is still a possibility that there might be a deterministic level from which our universe emerges, which if understood correctly, may open the door wide to applications in areas such as quantum computing. In addition, this paper explains the deep reason why complex Hilbert spaces in quantum mechanics are needed., arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1506.00398 by other authors

2019 marked the 75th anniversary of the publication of Erwin Schrodinger's What Is Life?, a short book described by Roger Penrose in his preface to a reprint of this classic as "among the most influential scientific writings of the 20th century." In this article, I review the long argument made by Schrodinger as he mused on how the laws of physics could help us understand "the events in space and time which take place within the spatial boundary of a living organism." Though Schrodinger's book is often hailed for its influence on some of the titans who founded molecular biology, this article takes a different tack. Instead of exploring the way the book touched biologists such as James Watson and Francis Crick, as well as its critical reception by others such as Linus Pauling and Max Perutz, I argue that Schrodinger's classic is a timeless manifesto, rather than a dated historical curiosity. What Is Life? is full of timely outlooks and approaches to understanding the mysterious living world that includes and surrounds us and can instead be viewed as a call to arms to tackle the great unanswered challenges in the study of living matter that remain for 21st century science.

In general, the laws of physics are not invariant under a change of scale. To find out whether the “scale-invariance hypothesis” corresponds to nature or not, a careful examination to its implications is required. As a consequence, the scale-invariance cosmological models need to be carefully checked with many tests in order to confirm or disconfirm them. In this paper, three different toy models have been introduced in the framework of a scale-invariance cosmology to examine dark energy and cosmic transit. Although cosmic transit exists in the three models, the pressure stays always negative during cosmic evolution. In addition, there is always a singularity in the evolution of the equation of state parameter which is not suitable for a complete investigation of dark energy evolution. The undesirable features of the parameters have been discussed, and a comparison with other cosmological contexts has been done.

Machine learning models alone are excellent approximators, but very often do not respect the most elementary laws of physics, like mass or energy conservation, so consistency and confidence are compromised. In this paper we describe the main challenges ahead in the field, and introduce several ways to live in the Physics and machine learning interplay: encoding differential equations from data, constraining data-driven models with physics-priors and dependence constraints, improving parameterizations, emulating physical models, and blending data-driven and process-based models. This is a collective long-term AI agenda towards developing and applying algorithms capable of discovering knowledge in the Earth system.

The largest and most detailed map of the distribution of dark matter in the Universe has been recently created by the Dark Energy Survey (DES) team. The distribution was found to be slightly (by a few percent) smoother and less clumpy than predicted by general relativity. This result was considered as a hint of some new physical laws. In the present paper we offer a relatively simple model that could explain the above result without resorting to any new physical laws. The model deals with the dynamics of a system consisting of a large number of gravitating neutral particles, whose mass is equal to the mass of hydrogen atoms. The central point of the model is a partial inhibition of the gravitation for a relatively small subsystem of the entire system. It would be sufficient for this subsystem to constitute just about a few percent of the total ensemble of particles for explaining the few percent more smooth distribution of dark matter (observed by the DES team) compared to the prediction of general relativity. The most viable candidate for the dark matter particles in this model is the second flavor of hydrogen atoms (SFHA) that has only S-states and therefore does not couple to the electric dipole radiation or even to higher multipole radiation, so that the SFHA is practically dark. The SFHA has experimental confirmation from atomic experiments, it does not go beyond the Standard Model, it is based on standard quantum mechanics and it explains puzzling astrophysical observations of the redshifted line 21 cm from the early Universe. Thus, our model explaining the DES result of a little too smooth distribution of dark matter without resorting to any new physical laws seems to be self-consistent.

One of the most incredible things about the universe we live in is that the laws of physics are the same everywhere. Let go of an object above the surface of the Earth, and it will be accelerated downward at a velocity determined by the ratio of total mass of the matter below and the object’s distance from the center of that mass. Let go of an object above a planet a billion light-years away, and it will be accelerated downward by the exact same ratio of mass and distance. The fundamental rules that make the universe “work” are the same across the entire cosmos.

In the first paragraph of his 1929 paper “Quantum Mechanics of Many-Electron Systems”, Dirac wrote that “The underlying physical laws necessary for the mathematical theory of a large part of physics and the whole of chemistry are thus completely known, and the difficulty is only that the exact application of these laws leads to equations much too complicated to be soluble [...]

While interacting with objects during every-day activities, e.g. when sliding a glass on a counter top, people obtain constant feedback whether they are acting in accordance with physical laws. However, classical research on intuitive physics has revealed that people’s judgements systematically deviate from predictions of Newtonian physics. Recent research has explained at least some of these deviations not as consequence of misconceptions about physics but instead as the consequence of the probabilistic interaction between inevitable perceptual uncertainties and prior beliefs. How intuitive physical reasoning relates to visuomotor actions is much less known. Here, we present an experiment in which participants had to slide pucks under the influence of naturalistic friction in a simulated virtual environment. The puck was controlled by the duration of a button press, which needed to be scaled linearly with the puck’s mass and with the square-root of initial distance to reach a target. Over four phases of the experiment, uncertainties were manipulated by altering the availability of sensory feedback and providing different degrees of knowledge about the physical properties of pucks. A hierarchical Bayesian model of the visuomotor interaction task incorporating perceptual uncertainty and press-time variability found substantial evidence that subjects adjusted their button-presses so that the sliding was in accordance with Newtonian physics. After observing collisions between pucks, which were analyzed with a hierarchical Bayesian model of the perceptual observation task, subjects transferred the relative masses inferred perceptually to adjust subsequent sliding actions. Crucial in the modeling was the inclusion of a cost function, which quantitatively captures participants’ implicit sensitivity to errors due to their motor variability. Taken together, in the present experiment we find evidence that our participants transferred their intuitive physical reasoning to a subsequent visuomotor control task consistent with Newtonian physics and weighed potential outcomes with a cost functions based on their knowledge about their own variability., Author Summary During our daily lives we interact with objects around us governed by Newtonian physics. While people are known to show multiple systematic errors when reasoning about Newtonian physics, recent research has provided evidence that some of these failures can be attributed to perceptual uncertainties and partial knowledge about object properties. Here, we carried out an experiment to investigate whether people transfer their intuitive physical reasoning to how they interact with objects. Using a simulated virtual environment in which participants had to slide different pucks into a target region by the length of a button press, we found evidence that they could do so in accordance with the underlying physical laws. Moreover, our participants watched movies of colliding pucks and subsequently transferred their beliefs about the relative masses of the observed pucks to the sliding task. Remarkably, this transfer was consistent with Newtonian physics and could well be explained by a computational model that takes participants’ perceptual uncertainty, action variability, and preferences into account.

Machine learning offers an intriguing alternative to first-principles analysis for discovering new physics from experimental data. However, to date, purely data-driven methods have only proven successful in uncovering physical laws describing simple, low-dimensional systems with low levels of noise. Here we demonstrate that combining a data-driven methodology with some general physical principles enables discovery of a quantitatively accurate model of a non-equilibrium spatially-extended system from high-dimensional data that is both noisy and incomplete. We illustrate this using an experimental weakly turbulent fluid flow where only the velocity field is accessible. We also show that this hybrid approach allows reconstruction of the inaccessible variables -- the pressure and forcing field driving the flow., Comment: Under review at Nature Communications

When coping with complex global optimization problems, often it is not possible to obtain either analytical or exact solutions. Therefore, one is forced to resort to approximate numerical optimizers. With this aim, several metaheuristics have been proposed in the literature and the primary approaches can be traced back to biology and physics. On one hand, there exist bio-inspired metaheuristics that imitate the Darwinian evolution of species (like, for instance, Genetic Algorithms) or the behaviour of group of social organisms (like, for instance, Ant Colony Optimization). On the other hand, there exist physics-inspired metaheuristics that mimic physical laws (like, for instance, gravitation and electromagnetism). In this work, we take into account the Fireworks Algorithm and the Particle Swarm Optimization in order to compare their exploration and exploitation capabilities. In particular, the investigation is performed considering as complex global optimization problem the estimation of the parameters of the technical analysis indicator Bollinger Bands in order to build effective financial trading systems, similarly to what proposed in [3].

The paper deals with thermoelectric phenomena from the standpoint of nonequilibrium thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The consideration is based on the fact that thermoelectric effects can occur if there is electrical and thermal contact of electrically conductive media. The necessary condition for the effect is the subsystems’ different ordering degree of charge and heat carriers or different entropy and heat capacity per each carrier particle. The presented approach gives the possibility to understand physics of thermoelectric phenomena deeply. Its development can help to establish the theoretical limits of the efficiency of thermoelectric energy conversion imposed by fundamental physical laws.

The ability to use concepts learned in one context to solve problems in a different context (i.e., transfer of learning) is a hallmark of expertise in physics. The majority of the studies on transfer of learning in physics have focused on introductory students. However, compared to advanced students, introductory students have significantly less prior relevant knowledge and skills which may be crucial for promoting effective transfer. Here, we examine upper-level undergraduate and graduate students' ability to transfer their learning about the concept of "which-path" information and its relation to whether or not interference is observed from the context of the Mach Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) to a new context of the double-slit experiment (DSE). Students worked through a tutorial on the MZI in which they learned to use the concept of "which-path" information to reason about interference of single photons when polarizers with various orientations are placed in one or both paths of the MZI. After working on the MZI tutorial, students were asked similar questions in the isomorphic context of the DSE before any instruction about the DSE and we examined the extent to which transfer of learning about "which-path" information occurred from the MZI to the DSE context. We find evidence suggesting that positive transfer of learning from the MZI to the DSE occurred despite the lack of an instructional intervention designed to help students recognize the similarity between the two contexts. The effectiveness of the MZI tutorial in promoting positive transfer of learning from one context to another in quantum mechanics sheds light on the expertise of the advanced physics students. Instructors of advanced physics courses can take advantage of the findings presented here which shows the difference between introductory and advanced students' ability to transfer from one context to another., 14 pages, 7 figures

We have measured the fine-structure constant via the ratio h/mCs of the Planck constant and the mass of the cesium atom. In this proceedings, we will comment on prospects for further improvements.

Training prescription and load monitoring in running activities have benefited from power output (PW) data offered by new technologies. Nevertheless, to date, the sensitivity of PW data provided by these tools is still not completely clear. The aim of this study was to analyze the level of agreement between the PW estimated by five commercial technologies and the two main internationally theoretical models based on laws of physics, in different environments and running conditions. Ten endurance-trained male athletes performed three submaximal running protocols on a treadmill (indoor) and an athletic track (outdoor), with changes in speed, body weight, and slope. PW was simultaneously registered by the commercial technologies Stryd (StrydApp and StrydWatch), RunScribe, GarminRP and PolarV, whereas theoretical power output (TPW) was calculated by the two mathematical models (TPW1 and TPW2). Statistics included, among others, the Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) and standard error of measurement (SEM). The PolarV, and above all Stryd, showed the closest agreement with the TPW1 (Stryd: r ≥ 0.947, SEM ≤ 11 W; PolarV: r ≥ 0.931, SEM ≤ 64 W) and TPW2 (Stryd: r ≥ 0.933, SEM ≤ 60 W; PolarV: r ≥ 0.932, SEM ≤ 24 W), both indoors and outdoors. On the other hand, the devices GarminRP (r ≤ 0.765, SEM ≥ 59 W) and RunScribe. (r ≤ 0.508, SEM ≥ 125 W) showed the lowest agreement with the TPW1 and TPW2 models for all conditions and environments analyzed. The closest agreement of the Stryd and PolarV technologies with the TPW1 and TPW2 models suggest these tools as the most sensitive, among those analyzed, for PW measurement when changing environments and running conditions.

At the close of the 19th century, many physicists believed that the laws of physics had been essentially settled — we do not live under that illusion today. We are blessed with an abundance of puzzles covering all aspects of particle physics, including the incompleteness of the standard model, the origin of neutrino mass, and the perplexing nature of dark matter and dark energy. Over the last half century, the focus of particle physics has shifted from cosmic rays to accelerators, returning in the disguise of particle astrophysics with the discovery of neutrino mass in the oscillating atmospheric neutrino beam, the first chink in the armor of the standard model. This book anticipates strategies for exploiting natural neutrino beams, which now include very high-energy neutrinos from the cosmos. In the Preface, we introduce the cosmic accelerators that produce them in heavenly beam dumps, including in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Galileo postulated the main principle of Einstein’s theory of relativity, namely that the laws of nature are unique and should only be stated once for any frame of reference moving at a constant speed along a straight line. In other words, that the generic laws of physics are independent of the particular speed and direction of the frame of reference of the observing physicist.

Abiogenesis, life arising from non-living matter, is reconsidered. A historic account is given from Darwin to the present with special consideration of the incipient relationship between quantum theory and life processes. Recent ideas relating to the spontaneous emergence of life are considered and evaluated, including the work on self-organizing systems by Ilya Prigogine and the Brussels-Austin School. The second law is commensurate with chemical evolution, but is incapable of explaining the mechanism behind the selection of specific polymers from an infinitude of molecular specimens. We attest abiogenetic life processes originating from a quantum chemical material world. A Gibbs free energy formulation is derived ab initio conceding non-equilibrium evolutions and open system self-organization. Correlated Dissipative Structures, CDS, combine quantum-thermal correlations at precise temperatures commensurate with their adaptive time scales, constituting CDE, a Correlated Dissipative Ensemble. The theory suggests an objective communication principle reminding of a Call-Centre-Poisson point process. The self-referential structure applies directly to biological systems, suggesting a fundamental quantum-chemistry life-principle incorporating evolution of the whole biosphere without contradicting the objectivity of physical laws.

General Relativity is today the best theory of gravity addressing a wide range of phenomena. Our understanding of physical laws, from cosmology to local scales, cannot be properly formulated without taking into account its concepts, procedures and formalism. It is based on one of the most fundamental principles of Nature, the Equivalence Principle, which represents the core of the Einstein theory of gravity describing, under the same standard, the metric and geodesic structure of the spacetime. The confirmation of its validity at different scales and in different contexts represents one of the main challenges of modern physics both from the theoretical and the experimental points of view. A major issue related to this principle is the fact that we actually do not know if it is valid or not at quantum level. We are simply assuming its validity at fundamental scales. This question is crucial in any self-consistent theory of gravity. Furthermore, recent progress on relativistic theories of gravity, including deviations from General Relativity at various scales, such as extensions and alternatives to the Einstein theory, have to take into account, besides the Equivalence Principle, new issues like Dark Matter and Dark Energy, as well as the validity of fundamental principles like local Lorentz and position invariance. The general trend is that high precision experiments are conceived and realized to test both Einstein’s theory and its alternatives at fundamental level using established and novel methods. For example, experiments based on quantum sensors (atomic clocks, accelerometers, gyroscopes, gravimeters, etc.) allow to set stringent constraints on well established symmetry laws (e.g. CPT and Lorentz invariance), on the physics beyond the Standard Model of particles and interactions, and on General Relativity and its possible extensions. In this review, we discuss precision tests of gravity in General Relativity and alternative theories and their relation with the Equivalence Principle. In the first part, we discuss the Einstein Equivalence Principle according to its weak and strong formulation. We recall some basic topics of General Relativity and the necessity of its extension. Some models of modified gravity are presented in some details. This provides us the ground for discussing the Equivalence Principle also in the framework of extended and alternative theories of gravity. In particular, we focus on the possibility to violate the Equivalence Principle at finite temperature, both in the frameworks of General Relativity and of modified gravity. Equivalence Principle violations in the Standard Model Extension are also discussed. The second part of the paper is devoted to the experimental tests of the Equivalence Principle in its weak formulation. We present the results and methods used in high-precision experiments, and discuss the potential and prospects for future experimental tests.

We construct an analytic solution to Maxwell's equations that violates global charge conservation, by building on the possibilities demonstrated in [Foundations of Physics 49, 330 (2019)]. The construction is valid for a spacetime containing a temporary singularity and a Maxwellian electrodynamics containing a proposed "topological" axion field. As such, it demonstrates that although "physics breaks down" at a singularity, the physical laws on the spacetime still impose constraints on what can happen. Further, the concepts of transformation optics can be applied to show that our specific mathematical solution has a much wider applicability., Comment: 15 pages, 19 figures

The fascinating story of Tycho, Kepler, and Newton, illustrates humanity’s profound challenge in fully understanding and describing the Solar System in terms of the correct heliocentric model, and ultimately in terms of physical laws of motion, and the gravitational forces applied to the planets.

The development of fluid dynamics has been strongly influenced by its numerous applications in engineering (including aeronautical and marine), environmental and biological sciences, meteorology, oceanography, and the study of blood flow. The phenomena of fluid motion are governed by known laws of physics: conservation of mass, classical mechanics (Newton's laws of motion), and thermodynamics. Therefore, this chapter discusses the analysis of fluid in motion and presents their derivation using the basic laws of physics, together with the physical properties of the fluid. The basic equations of viscous flow and heat transport are explained with adequate derivative analysis to make them conceivable. The momentum equation and principle of conservation of momentum were used to predict forces induced by flowing fluids. Navier–Stokes equations and constitutive equations for non-Newtonian fluids that are of tremendous importance in applications in industrial manufacturing processes are analyzed. In the analysis of the slip flow boundary condition, energy equations are employed taking into account the velocity slip and temperature jump.