DeepSummary
The episode discusses the creation of a new kind of quantum matter, a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate, for the first time. Researchers have successfully cooled molecules to extremely low temperatures and coaxed them into this exotic quantum state, overcoming decades of challenges. This achievement opens up new possibilities for studying quantum phenomena and potentially developing new quantum technologies.
Another segment of the episode examines the impact of Twitter's decision to deplatform around 70,000 accounts after the US Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Research shows that this intervention led to a significant reduction in the spread of misinformation on the platform, both directly from the deplatformed accounts and their followers, as well as indirectly as other misinformation traffickers left the platform.
The episode also features a briefing chat discussing two news stories: a new antibiotic that can kill harmful bacteria without damaging the gut microbiome, and the discovery of a tiny plant with the world's biggest genome, raising questions about the evolutionary purpose and potential advantages of such a massive genome.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Researchers have created the first molecular Bose-Einstein condensate, a new form of quantum matter, opening up new possibilities for studying quantum phenomena and developing quantum technologies.
- Twitter's decision to deplatform around 70,000 accounts after the US Capitol riot led to a significant reduction in the spread of misinformation on the platform, both directly and indirectly.
- A new antibiotic called lollamycin has been developed, which can effectively kill harmful bacteria while sparing the beneficial gut microbiome.
- A tiny plant native to New Caledonia has been found to have the world's largest genome, raising questions about the evolutionary purpose and potential advantages of such a massive genome.
- Social media platforms have the ability to curb the spread of misinformation through interventions like deplatforming, but finding a comprehensive and effective solution remains a challenge.
- While social media plays a role in the spread of misinformation, traditional media and interpersonal communication still contribute significantly to the dissemination of false information.
- Achieving extreme low temperatures, close to absolute zero, was a crucial challenge in creating the molecular Bose-Einstein condensate.
- The molecular Bose-Einstein condensate opens up opportunities to study long-range interactions and potentially develop new applications, such as quantum computing.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Basically, we now have a new system that really opens the door to a lot of new explorations.“ by Sebastian Ville
- “I am still concerned about the future that we haven't, as a society really figured out how to manage the whole content moderation. It is a legitimately difficult question, but I don't think we've come up with an answer that protects us going forward.“ by David Lazar
- “It is still the case that most of the information that people get about politics does not come through social media. It is coming through television, it is coming through radio. It is coming through interpersonal conversation.“ by Emily Thorson
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Episode Information
Nature Podcast
podcast@nature.com
6/5/24
In this episode:
00:46 Making a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate
For the first time, researchers have coaxed molecules into a bizarre form of matter called a Bose-Einstein condensate, in which they all act in a single gigantic quantum state. While condensates have been made using atoms for decades, the complex interactions of molecules have prevented them from being cooled into this state. Now, a team has successfully made a Bose-Einstein condensate using molecules made of caesium and sodium atoms, which they hope will allow them to answer more questions about the quantum world, and could potentially form the basis of a new kind of quantum computer.
Research article: Bigagli et al.
News: Physicists coax molecules into exotic quantum state — ending decades-long quest
9:57 How deplatforming affects the spread of social media misinformation
The storming of the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 resulted in the social media platform Twitter (now X) rapidly deplatforming 70,000 users deemed to be sharers of misinformation. To evaluate the effect of this intervention, researchers analysed the activity of over 500,000 Twitter users, showing that it reduced the sharing of misinformation, both from the deplatformed users and from those who followed them. Results also suggest that other misinformation traffickers who were not deplatformed left Twitter following the intervention. Together these results show that social media platforms can curb misinformation sharing, although a greater understanding of the efficacy of these actions in different contexts is required.
Research article: McCabe et al.
Editorial: What we do — and don’t — know about how misinformation spreads online
Comment: Misinformation poses a bigger threat to democracy than you might think
20:14: Briefing Chat
A new antibiotic that can kill harmful bacteria without damaging the gut microbiome, and the tiny plant with the world’s biggest genome.
News: ‘Smart’ antibiotic can kill deadly bacteria while sparing the microbiome
News: Biggest genome ever found belongs to this odd little plant
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