We chart the classical moduli space of heterotic strings with broken supersymmetry a la Scherk-Schwarz and gauge group rank reduced by 8 in eight dimensions. This space consists of four connected components, each with its own characteristic spectrum and T-duality group. Three of these components uplift to nine dimensions and can be described as Coxeter polyhedra, allowing an exact characterization of their maximal symmetry enhancements and decompactification limits. We determine the maximal enhancements in the eight dimensional theories using lattice based algorithms in the bosonic formulation, and perform an indepth analysis of their massless spectra. Finally we argue that one component has a supersymmetric $\mathcal{N} = 1$ sector described by BPS objects at strong coupling in a non-supersymmetric version of the type IIB string on $T^2/\mathbb{Z}_2$ with one $O7^+$-plane.
When atomic nuclei smash together at nearly the speed of light, they create the hottest fluid in the universe, but scientists may have overlooked one of its most important forces。 New simulations reveal that extreme acceleration builds up along the edges of quark-gluon plasma, helping drive its explosive expansion。 This acceleration may do far more
A person’s sleeping brain may reveal warning signs of dementia long before memory problems begin。 Researchers used machine learning to analyze EEG recordings from about 7,000 adults and found that an older-than-expected “brain age” was tied to a sharply higher dementia risk。 Every additional 10 years of brain aging raised that risk by nearly 40%
Scientists traced a mysterious surge of low-energy gamma rays from zinc-70 to magnetic changes occurring inside its nucleus。 The breakthrough could improve models of how stars, supernovae, and neutron star mergers create heavy elements
Mathematicians have shown that no electoral system can perfectly balance local representation, proportional national results, and a fixed-size parliament once enough parties compete。 A newly proposed voting method could soften these unavoidable trade-offs and produce outcomes that are much closer to fair
A ten-month Antarctic experiment found that astronauts may struggle not only with loneliness but also with spending too much time around the same people。 Frequent contact was linked to greater tension and mistrust, while the crew increasingly divided into cultural and language-based groups
A massive magma reservoir has been detected deep beneath Tuscany, despite showing no obvious signs at the surface。 Scientists mapped the roughly 6,000-cubic-kilometer body using natural ground vibrations recorded by dozens of seismic sensors。 It poses no immediate danger, but the discovery reveals how enormous volcanic systems can remain hidden and
Chemists have developed a catalyst that breaks a long-standing rule governing which molecules receive electrons during chemical reactions。 By releasing electrons directly into solution, the technique could unlock reactions—and potentially useful new molecules—that were previously out of reach
A new nanostructured carbon design lets fuel-cell catalysts use tiny amounts of platinum while remaining remarkably stable and efficient。 The breakthrough could help hydrogen fuel cells become a more practical way to power data centers, vehicles, and other energy-intensive technologies
Engineers have transformed a notoriously brittle cobalt-aluminum compound into a material that is both extremely strong and capable of bending without breaking。 Their nanoscale design produced a yield strength about six to 10 times greater than high-strength structural steel while sustaining substantial deformation at room temperature。 The approach
Scientists have built the first all-optical photonic time crystal, allowing them to reshape the behavior of terahertz light at extraordinary speeds。 The breakthrough could open the door to ultrafast computing, smarter communication systems, advanced imaging, and a new generation of highly tunable lasers
A rare meteorite that crashed through a New Jersey roof contains evidence of ancient salty fluids, organic compounds, and amino acids from a primitive asteroid。 Its pristine chemistry could offer new clues about how space rocks helped supply early Earth with some of the ingredients needed for life
Ultrafast X-rays revealed how a molecule converts absorbed light into motion in just trillionths of a second。 Individual atoms recorded different stages of the process, opening a powerful new window into light-driven chemistry
Zuckerberg’s superyacht and support ship were slow to heed Coast Guard call
Researchers have found a way to build much larger “twisted” oxide materials while precisely controlling how their atomic layers line up。 Because these materials can be made over large areas and transferred onto different surfaces, the technique could help turn twistronics from a laboratory curiosity into a practical platform for next-generation ele
Cassini data has revealed a surprising twist in Saturn’s magnetic shield: the planet’s rapid rotation appears to drag a key opening in its magnetosphere far toward the afternoon side instead of keeping it near noon, as happens on Earth。 The finding confirms that giant planets like Saturn operate under a fundamentally different magnetic regime, wher
A new 3D printing technique can produce exceptionally hard tungsten carbide cobalt while using less of its expensive raw materials。 By softening rather than fully melting the material, researchers created defect-free samples with industrial-grade hardness and opened the door to more efficient manufacturing