- Phantastic Physics
- Posts
- From Phantom Heat to 6,100 Qubits: Your Mind-Bending Physics Roundup
From Phantom Heat to 6,100 Qubits: Your Mind-Bending Physics Roundup
This week: Empty space might be warm, quantum computers just got massive, and a rogue black hole is breaking all the rules
Hey there, Physics Friend!
Hey there, Physics Friend!
Quick question: Is the empty space in this room actually empty?
Your students will say "no, there's air."
But what about the space BETWEEN air molecules?
Turns out, physicists just figured out how to prove that even "empty" vacuum has a temperature. It's called the Unruh effect, and detecting it has been impossible... until now.
Plus this week: 6,100 qubits in one quantum computer (that's massive), a rogue black hole that wandered off, and why diamonds make it to Earth's surface.
Let's dive in.
📰 This Past Week’s “Wait, WHAT?!” Physics News (with why it matters for class)
Empty Space Has a Temperature (And We Can Finally Prove It)
Researchers just figured out how to detect something physicists have theorized about for decades: the Unruh effect. When you accelerate through empty space, you experience "phantom heat"—a thermal bath that shouldn't exist but does because of quantum mechanics.
The breakthrough? Using superconducting Josephson junctions spinning in circular motion to achieve extreme accelerations. They'll measure voltage jumps from metastable fluxon-antifluxon pairs (yes, that's a real thing) to prove empty space isn't actually empty.
Why this matters for class: Perfect intro to quantum field theory and the weirdness of "nothing"
The student hook: "Wait, so vacuum isn't actually empty?"
6,100 Qubits Walk Into a Lab... (This Isn't a Joke)
A Caltech team just trapped 6,100 neutral-atom qubits in an optical-tweezer lattice—nearly 10x more than previous quantum computers. They kept these qubits in superposition for 13 seconds and manipulated individual qubits with 99.98% accuracy.
The game-changer? They moved qubits hundreds of micrometers without losing coherence. That's like moving a house of cards across the room without a single card falling.
Why this matters for class: Shows why quantum computing needs SO many qubits (error correction)
Real-world impact: Brings us closer to quantum computers that can crack encryption, design new drugs, and solve problems classical computers can't touch
Quantum Internet Gets Its First Router
Engineers built a quantum router that can direct single photons or entangled photon pairs while preserving their quantum states with >99% fidelity. Think of it as a traffic controller for quantum information—except the cars are in two places at once.
The router works with existing fiber networks and only loses 0.06 dB of signal. That's ridiculously efficient for quantum tech.
Why this matters for class: Shows students that quantum computing isn't just theory—it's being built right now
The breakthrough: This router could enable a quantum internet where information is fundamentally unhackable
🚀 Quick Hits:
📏 Breaking Heisenberg's Limit (Sort Of) — Sydney/RMIT researchers measured position and momentum simultaneously beyond the classical limit without violating Heisenberg. They "squeezed" uncertainty into variables they didn't care about. Could transform quantum sensors for navigation and medicine. Read More
🗺️ Space-Time Isn't Real (It's Just a Map) — Philosopher-physicist Daryl Janzen argues space-time is a mathematical framework, not a physical substance. Events happen, but space-time is just how we record them. Mind-bending essay that clarifies relativity without changing any predictions. Read More
🕳️ Rogue Black Hole Spotted Off-Center — Astronomers found an intermediate-mass black hole nearly 1 kiloparsec off-center in a dwarf galaxy, with radio jets showing it's actively feeding. Supports the idea that supermassive black holes grow via distributed feeding, not just at galactic centers. Read More
💎 Why Diamonds Reach Earth's Surface — New simulations show kimberlite eruptions need at least 8.2% CO₂ to carry diamonds from 150+ km depth to the surface. Without enough CO₂, diamonds stay trapped underground forever. Read More
⚡ 30-Second Classroom Win
Want to hook your students in the first 30 seconds of class?
Walk in and ask: "Is this room empty?"
Students: "No, there's air."
You: "What about the space between air molecules?"
Students: thinking
Drop this: "Physicists just proved that even 'empty' vacuum has a temperature. Space isn't empty—it's full of quantum fields that generate heat when you accelerate through them."
Now you've got their attention for quantum field theory.
Bonus: This connects to why "space is cold" is actually wrong—temperature requires matter, but quantum fields exist everywhere.
📚 This Week's Ready-to-Print Article
Quantum Leap: Scientists Create a Massive 6,100-Qubit Computer
What you get:
Student article (grades 8-12) explaining qubits through relatable analogies
5 discussion questions spanning comprehension, critical thinking, and creativity
Teacher notes for each question with guidance on facilitation
Connects to: Quantum mechanics, computing, cybersecurity, career planning
Time needed: 15-20 minutes
Zero prep required—just print and go
The hook that works: "What if you could flip a coin and have it land on heads AND tails at the same time?"
Topics covered: Superposition, why quantum computers need thousands of qubits, real-world applications (medicine, AI, cybersecurity), future career impacts.
Why students will care: Connects quantum computing to their future jobs and the world they'll live in as adults.
🧪 10-Minute Demo: Entangled Light Polarization
Quick Stats:
Setup time: 5 minutes
Class time: 10-15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy (no physics background needed)
Wow factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
You'll need:
2 pairs of polarized sunglasses
1 flashlight
Whiteboard or screen
Tape
Setup:
Dim the lights. Tape one pair of sunglasses in front of the flashlight pointing at the whiteboard.
The Demo:
Shine flashlight through taped sunglasses → whiteboard
Students observe light intensity
Hold second pair of sunglasses in front of your eyes
Slowly rotate the second pair while students watch
Stop at: 0° (aligned), 45°, and 90° (perpendicular)
The "Whoa!" Moments:
0° (aligned): Maximum brightness
45°: Moderate brightness
90° (perpendicular): Almost no light!
Why It Works: Polarizing filters only allow light waves oscillating in ONE direction. When filters are perpendicular, they block everything. This shows how entangled particles have correlated states—measure one, instantly know the other.
Discussion Prompts:
"What happens when I rotate one filter?"
"How does this relate to quantum entanglement?"
"How do quantum computers use this principle?"
⚠️ Safety: Don't use a super bright flashlight (eye strain risk)
Three quick clips your class will actually watch.
🎥 Videos Your Students Will Actually Watch
90 % of People Fail This Simple Light Bulb Challenge
Best for: Intro to circuits, current flow, problem-solving
Can your students light a bulb with one wire, one battery, and one bulb? Most people fail because they assume two wires are needed.
The trick: Touch the bulb's metal case to one battery terminal while the wire connects the other terminal to the bulb's bottom.
Why it works for class: Gets students thinking about complete circuits and current paths. The "aha!" moment when they figure it out is gold.
Pro tip: Let them struggle with it first. Don't show the solution immediately
Light Bulb Challenge: Can You Light a Bulb With Only 1 Wire?
Best for: Follow-up demo, homework challenge
Step-by-step solution to the challenge above. Perfect for showing how it works after students try.
Slinky Wave Reflection: Physics Experiment Explained
Best for: Wave behavior, reflection, boundary conditions
Watch pulses travel along a slinky and reflect from fixed vs. free ends. Shows how waves invert or stay upright depending on boundary conditions.
Why it's perfect: Visual, hands-on, and you probably have a slinky already.
😄 Physics Laugh & Learn
Why did the physicist break up with space‑time? Because they realized it was just a phase and had too many issues with relativity!
Why this joke works:
"Just a phase" is both relationship slang AND a physics term. Plus it connects to this week's essay arguing space-time is a map, not a substance.
Your students will groan. They'll also remember that space-time is a mathematical framework forever.
🛒 Popular This Week in Our TPT Store
Looking for more ready-to-use physics resources?
Popular This Week:
Stay Curious,
The Phantastic Physics Team
P.S. Got a physics question, demo idea, or quantum qubit story? Hit reply—we read every email (yes, really). And if you know a teacher who'd love this, forward it their way!
Quick Question: How useful was today's newsletter? |