Modeling Landslide-Induced Tsunamis

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We all know how tsunamis caused by earthquakes and underwater explosions behave, but those caused by landslides have only recently been understood…thanks to glass beads. Researchers can now create an accurate model that can predict the behaviour of landslide-induced tsunamis; their setup consisted of a glass tank, a makeshift water reservoir, a hill of glass beads, and a plastic wall separating the latter two. When the wall is lifted, the beads fall into the water, simulating a landslide. They then study the waves and use that data to create their model. Read full article here

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A look inside the lab building mushroom computers

The Unconventional Computing Laboratory at the University of the West of England is pushing the boundaries of computing, working to see if mushrooms can be used to carry out computing and sensing functions. By stimulating the mycelium—the branching, web-like root structure of the fungus—researchers can get it to produce electrical activity and see if it can be used to create complex, multi-dimensional functions that are more precise than traditional computers. This could lead to a whole new world of possibilities, such as using mushrooms to create fault-tolerant, energy-efficient computers and even mapping neural networks. It’s truly a fascinating field of study – and one that could shape the future of computing. Read full article here

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