1) Earthquake aftershocks are actually independent earthquakes
P. Bak, K. Christensen, L. Danon, and T. Scanlon
Physical Review Letters (Print issue: April 29, 2002)
The small shudders occurring after a large earthquake, commonly known as aftershocks, have always been thought of as some type of “relaxation” of the ground as it settles after a major quake. However, a new analysis of the statistical properties suggests that the small shocks are independent earthquakes unrelated to the main earthquake preceding them. Statistically, there should be some “clumping” of different sizes of quakes soon after each other and it is that clumping we happen to notice. The analysis shows that the statistical distribution of earthquakes applies equally well on timescales ranging from tens of seconds to tens of years. The result seems to indicate that the term “aftershock” is a misnomer.
Journal article: http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v88/e178501
2) Rain: Earthquakes for the sky
O. Peters and K. Christensen
arXiv preprint server
The distribution of rainfall throughout a year follows fractal laws similar to those governing the distribution of earthquakes or avalanches. Lots of small falls occur with fewer large falls. The rain seems to be a “release of tension” in the atmosphere just as earthquakes are a release of tension between moving tectonic plates. In analogy to the Richter scale for earthquakes, a similar scale could be introduced for measuring the magnitude of rainfalls.
Preprint: http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0204109
3) Single-step quantum searching
X. Peng, X. Zhu, X. Fang, M. Feng, M. Liu, K. Gao
Physical Review A (Print issue: April 2002)
The now well-known Grover’s algorithm for searching a database using quantum physics achieves a significant time-saving over classical techniques. For certain types of databases, Hogg’s algorithm makes just as much of a time-saving again, reducing the process to making a single measurement. Furthermore, Grover’s algorithm is only successful with a certain probability whereas Hogg’s algorithm is successful, in principle, 100% of the time. Hogg’s algorithm has been implemented experimentally on a three-bit NMR quantum computer and shown to be more efficient than Grover’s algorithm in the case considered.
Journal article: http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v65/e042315
4) Biological quantum teleportation
N.E. Mavromatos, A. Mershin, D.V. Nanopoulos
arXiv preprint server
Some researchers have suggested that quantum processes in the brain may account for consciousness and other phenomena but no clear suggestions of how those processes might work has been accepted. A speculative proposal suggests that biological microtubules may act as quantum electrodynamic cavities and have the potential for quantum entanglement, teleportation and computation. The authors suggest that this mechanism may be responsible for how the brain works or might at least provide biological building blocks for creating quantum computers.
Preprint: http://www.arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0204021
5) Waves of infection in Hantavirus epidemics
G. Abramson, V.M. Kenkre, T.L. Yates, R.R. Parmenter
arXiv preprint server
The Hantavirus zoonosis is a persistent problem in many parts of the world causing human infections with mortality rates greater then 50%. Each Hantavirus is associated with a single species of rodent, such as the deer mouse, carrier of the 1993 outbreak in the US Southwest. A model of how the virus propagates shows that mice move to new areas in two waves, with an infection-susceptible wave leading an infected wave. Control of how these waves move might allow for reduction of disease spreading and transmission.
Preprint: http://www.arxiv.org/abs/physics/0203088