The Ultimate Aging Test, Quantum Wires, and an Entangled Universe

The Point by Modern Sciences - July 23, 2025

Author

Don Smith
July 23, 2025

By The Modern Sciences Team

July 23, 2025

Hello again, Cultivators of Curiosity!


Welcome to the 29th volume of The Point by Modern Sciences! This edition explores breakthroughs at every level of existence, from the deeply personal to the infinitesimally small and the cosmically vast.


We begin with a look inward at a simple physical test—standing on one leg—that has profound implications for your health and longevity. Then, we zoom into the nano-scale to uncover a new material poised to revolutionize computer chip technology. Finally, we look to the stars, where new research suggests the very fabric of spacetime may be entangled, connecting our universe in ways we’re only beginning to comprehend. We invite you to explore these incredible stories.

HEALTH AND THE BODY

How long can you stand on one leg? This simple test is the single clearest indicator of physical ageing

The ability to stand on one leg for just ten seconds can reveal more about your health than you might expect. Studies show it strongly predicts longevity and reflects neuromuscular aging, outperforming grip strength and gait tests. Practicing balance can help preserve stability, reduce fall risk, and support healthy aging well into later life.



The Point:

  • Balance as a Health Indicator: Recent studies show that the ability to balance on one leg, particularly for 10 seconds, is strongly linked to overall health and longevity, with the inability to do so increasing the risk of death in people over 50.

  • Decline with Age and Health Conditions: Balance deteriorates significantly with age and is the best indicator of neuromuscular aging. This decline is influenced by factors like muscle strength, coordination, and health conditions such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

  • Improving and Maintaining Balance: Balance can be improved with regular practice through simple exercises like standing on one leg, walking in a straight line, or using unstable surfaces. Incorporating strength-building activities like yoga and tai chi is key to maintaining stability and reducing the risk of falls.


TECH

Next generation computers: new wiring material could transform chip technology

As electronic chips shrink, their copper wiring generates more heat. Researchers have found a promising alternative in niobium phosphide (NbP), a material with unique quantum properties. Below specific thicknesses, it is a much better conductor than copper. Remarkably, this high conductivity persists even in disordered films, potentially simplifying manufacturing for powerful, next-generation computer chips.



The Point:

  • Revolutionizing Nanoelectronics: Researchers at Stanford University have discovered that niobium phosphide (NbP) exhibits superior conductivity compared to copper in wires thinner than 5 nanometres, making it a promising material for energy-efficient nanoelectronics.

  • Quantum Properties in Disordered Materials: NbP’s unique quantum phenomenon, known as topologically protected surface states, allows it to maintain excellent conductivity even in disordered films, simplifying manufacturing processes and reducing costs.

  • Implications for Computing and Supply: The study highlights NbP's potential to enable more powerful and energy-efficient computer chips. Affordable global resources of niobium and phosphorus suggest feasibility for large-scale production.


MATH AND THE SCIENCES

Quantum effects make distant objects move together: new research finds this may happen with ripples in space

We’ve detected gravitational waves as classical ripples in spacetime, but could they also have a quantum side? Theoretical physicists have explored this, finding that quantum gravitational waves could “entangle” distant objects in a way classical physics can’t explain. This finding could help bridge the gap between relativity and quantum mechanics, revolutionizing our understanding of the universe.



The Point:

  • Quantum Gravitational Waves: Researchers hypothesize that some gravitational waves, particularly those from the early universe, exhibit quantum properties like entanglement, challenging the classical understanding based on Einstein's relativity.

  • Experimental Insights: Using a model similar to LIGO detectors, the study found that quantum gravitational waves could cause entangled mirror oscillations—behavior impossible under classical physics.

  • Scientific Implications: Confirming quantum gravitational waves could bridge general relativity and quantum mechanics, offering new insights into the early universe, black holes, and the fundamental nature of reality.