PHYSICS & MATH

Russian physicists upgrade cheap diode laser for use in precise measurements

Russian physicists have developed a method for drastically narrowing the emission spectrum of an ordinary diode laser, like that in a laser pointer, for use in compact chemical analyzers that can fit into a smartphone, cheap lidars for self-driving cars, as well as security and structural health monitoring systems on bridges, gas pipelines, and elsewhere.

Physicists train robotic gliders to soar like birds

Scientists know that upward currents of warm air assist birds in flight. To understand how birds find and navigate these thermal plumes, researchers used reinforcement learning to train gliders to autonomously navigate atmospheric thermals. The research highlights the role of vertical wind accelerations and roll-wise torques as viable biological cues for soaring birds. The findings also provide a navigational strategy that directly applies to the development of UAVs.

The complicated mathematics behind poker

The complicated mathematics behind poker What's the difference between an average poker player and a successful one? Some say that it's mainly down to luck and how the cards fall in any given situation.

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