The Geomagnetic Jerk
Superb explanatory post - via Julien Aubert from l’Institut de physique du globe de Paris (CNRS/IPGP/IGN/Université de Paris), and writing at CNRS - focusing on the phenom of geomagnetic jerks. Today's Must Read.
Behold, The Quantum Compass
via an Impact Lab post, in which, the astounding science of Imperial College London and Glasgow, Scotland, UK based M Squared combine for the possibility that we may soon possess the capability to arrive at our desired waypoints and caches through the utilization of a Quantum Compass - without the need for a satellite based positioning-system to enlighten our in-built curiosity for knowledge-of-place.
Are the days of GLONASS and GPS over? Is this merely an appropriation of geolocation processing with the assistance of a quantum accelerometer channeling data elements to a fundamentally stranger - in the quantum vernacular - platform - not subject to the vagaries of nation or space-borne detritus and political machinations? You be the judge.
"When the atoms are ultra-cold we have to use quantum mechanics to describe how they move, and this allows us to make what we call an atom interferometer", said Dr Joseph Cotter, a member of the Research Staff at The Centre for Cold Matter at Imperial College, London, UK.