Major physics labs join forces to tackle climate change

Leading physics facilities including CERN, the European Space Agency, Fermilab and the Los Alamos National Laboratory plan to step up scientific collaboration on carbon-neutral energy and climate change.

QiBAM: Approximate Sub-String Index Search on Quantum Accelerators Applied to DNA Read Alignment

With small-scale quantum processors transitioning from experimental physics labs to industrial products, these processors in a few years are expected to scale up and be more robust for efficiently computing important algorithms in various fields. In this paper, we propose a quantum algorithm to address the challenging field of data processing for genome sequence reconstruction. This research describes an architecture-aware implementation of a quantum algorithm for sub-sequence alignment. A new algorithm named QiBAM (quantum indexed bidirectional associative memory) is proposed, which uses approximate pattern-matching based on Hamming distances. QiBAM extends the Grover’s search algorithm in two ways, allowing: (1) approximate matches needed for read errors in genomics, and (2) a distributed search for multiple solutions over the quantum encoding of DNA sequences. This approach gives a quadratic speedup over the classical algorithm. A full implementation of the algorithm is provided and verified using the OpenQL compiler and QX Simulator framework. Our implementation represents a first exploration towards a full-stack quantum accelerated genome sequencing pipeline design.

How Effectively Can Students’ Personal Smartphones be Used as Tools in Physics Labs?

This study seeks to answer the question of how effectively students can use their smartphones as tools for measuring and processing data when they perform physics experiments. The research was conducted in a local secondary school in Athens, Greece. The sample consisted of fifty-two 16-year-old students (10th grade). The students formed 26 pairs, and were asked to perform an experiment using their smartphones for measuring, processing and saving data, and then to email the data file to the researchers. During the implementation, students of each pair completed the steps on a worksheet. Two researchers monitored each pair individually and recorded scores and comments on evaluation sheets. The worksheets, the evaluation sheets, and the experimental data emailed by each pair constituted the data of the present study. The findings of the study show that the integration of students' smart mobile devices in the performance of physics experiments in the classroom or in the school lab is possible without posing particular problems. However, this integration presupposes the proper planning by the teacher and the dedication of appropriate time both for the preparation of the students for the activity, and for the installation of the necessary applications in the devices.

Synergetic effects by digitalization of education in natural science, example of training in physics at University

Presented is the study of developing a theory of practice of synergetic design and virtual physical laboratories to increase the level of compliance with reality and reduce the level of learner’s immersion in the virtual environment. The authors considered one of the objectives leading to the achievement of the goal, the use of synergistic aspect in the digitalization of physical education which allows consolidating virtuality and reality of the surrounding world, and use the “positive” effects to form new physical knowledge of the learner. The authors defined the requirements for digital physics labs, which should provide realism, interactivity, automation and virtualization. The distinctive feature of the research is the synergetic aspect, which consolidates subject knowledge, mathematical modeling and philosophical reflection. The combination of these components made it possible to synthesize a new form of digital physical laboratory and to perform its software implementation based on the developed scenario diagram for the incoming actors. The software implementation of the digital physical laboratory required: preparation of video clips with a series of physical experiments, definition of the laboratory work order (progress) and examples of “return” from virtual reality. The testing of the synergetic aspect and the possibility of its realization was done on the example of a digital laboratory work in the study of the fall of a body.

Framework for Technology-Enriched Active Class Learning of Physics in Secondary Schools in Kenya

Active learning transforms the learning process and activities from tutor focused to learner-cantered and is driven by the learner's learning ability. In other words, active learning provides an opportunity for self-directed learning that enables the learners to engage with the learning materials at personal level and pace. Thus, this chapter argues that active learning can provide equal learning opportunity for every single learner irrespective of the differences in their personality traits that would otherwise affect how they learn. Hence, this chapter proposes a framework for technology-enriched active learning for young learners that provides a personalized learning that deviates from the traditional “fit-for-all” classroom setups that tends to favour only the extrovert students. The proposed framework leverages advancement in technology such as personal learning network, virtual physics labs, massive open online courses, and crowd-sourced expert opinions to provide the learners with just-in-time active learning opportunity.