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How a quantum innovation may quash the idea of the multiverse

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Science

How a quantum innovation may quash the idea of the multiverse

© William Horton, William Horton Photography Every now and then, it is worth pausing for a second and giving thanks to the many, ever so slightly different versions of you that exist in parallel realities. It is these alternative selves that help to keep these universes in balance. At least, that is what’s going on if you happen to subscribe to the many-worlds interpretation of quantum theory. First proposed more than 65 years ago, the idea is that reality is constantly splitting off into parallel paths, due to subtle interactions at the level of quantum particles. Though it may boggle the mind, it also smooths over some devilishly tricky problems in physics and, for that reason, plenty of clear-eyed physicists believe it to be true. But now this strange idea migh...

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NASA

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory evacuated due to LA wildfire

LOS ANGELES – Devastating fires here have forced the closure and evacuation of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory as flames came less than one mile away from the facility. JPL, which operates robotic spacecraft and the Deep Space Network used for planetary missions, is located in a mandatory evacuation zone but officials have not reported any damage from the fire thus far. JPL director Laurie Leshin posted on X Jan. 8 that the facility had been damaged by the strong winds. “JPL is closed except for emergency personnel,” she wrote. “No fire damage so far (some wind damage) but it is very close to the lab. Hundreds of JPLers have been evacuated from their homes & many have lost homes. Special thx to our emergency crews. Pls keep us in your thoughts & stay safe.” JPL last...

USSF Honor Guard supports its first state funeral > United States Space Force > Article Display

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Space Force

USSF Honor Guard supports its first state funeral > United States Space Force > Article Display

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Joint Ceremonial Honor Guard members representing each military service are participating in the state funeral events honoring former President Jimmy Carter. The Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Honor Guards have all participated in state funerals previously. However, this is the first state funeral for the newest U.S. military service – the Space Force.Carter, the 39th president of the United States, died Dec. 29, 2024. His state funeral began Jan. 4, in Georgia, and continues in Washington, D.C., through Jan. 9. While some Honor Guard members were in Atlanta supporting the funeral events there, other members were in the nation’s capital, rehearsing for the local events.The U.S. Space Force celebrated its fifth...

SpaceX to launch Starshield satellites for the NRO on Falcon 9 rocket from California – Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX

SpaceX to launch Starshield satellites for the NRO on Falcon 9 rocket from California – Spaceflight Now

File: The Falcon 9 at sunrise Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 as final preparations were made for the NROL-167 mission. Image: SpaceX. SpaceX is preparing for its first West Coast Falcon 9 launch of the year, which will feature the latest batch of Starshield satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office. Liftoff of the NROL-153 mission from pad 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base is set for 7:52 p.m. PST (10:52 p.m. EST, 0352 UTC). This will be SpaceX’s fourth orbital launch of the year. Spaceflight Now will have live coverage of the mission beginning about 30 minutes prior to liftoff. The Falcon 9 first stage booster for this mission, tail number B1071 in the SpaceX fleet, will be launching for a 22nd time. It’s previous flights included three rideshare missions (Transporter-8, Transporte...

Operational C2 centers take center stage in Space Flag 25-1 > United States Space Force > Article Display

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Space Force

Operational C2 centers take center stage in Space Flag 25-1 > United States Space Force > Article Display

SCHRIEVER SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- The U.S. Space Force's premier space exercise, Space Flag 25-1, marked a significant milestone in the evolution of the exercise with the participation of Operational Command and Control (C2) centers, mostly from U.S. Space Forces - Space, as full players. For the first time, S4S’s National Space Defense Center, Combined Space Operations Center, and Joint Overhead Persistent Infrared Center, as well as the National Reconnaissance Office Operations Center, joined the exercise as Blue Cell players, bringing a new level of realism and complexity to the trainin...