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.
Phone and Bluetooth signals could turn roadside cameras into far richer tracking tools
A new hollow nanoreactor mimics living cells to make hydrogen peroxide more efficiently using visible light。 Its light-trapping cavity and proton-shuttling shell could open new possibilities for cleaner chemical manufacturing and artificial photosynthesis
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft aced its Mars flyby, using the planet’s gravity to speed toward its 2029 encounter with a metal-rich asteroid。 The spacecraft tested its cameras, magnetometer, and particle-detecting instruments, capturing unusual views of Mars and measuring its magnetic environment。 It also detected neutrons from the planet and spotted the
Scientists have discovered incredibly tiny plasma whirlpools swirling across the Sun’s surface, some just 20 kilometers wide。 These previously invisible vortices may twist magnetic fields and help build up the energy released in small solar eruptions called nanoflares。 They may also help magnetic fields spread through the Sun’s atmosphere far faste
Primordial black holes may occasionally pass through white dwarf stars and trigger enormous Type Ia supernova explosions。 Researchers found that these events could explain chemical patterns seen in supernova remnants, nearby explosions, and stars across the Milky Way
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
Atomically thin semiconductors could enable dramatically smaller and more efficient chips, but a stubborn problem at the boundary between materials has limited their performance。 Researchers have now engineered that atomic interface to protect electron flow while still allowing extremely thin insulating layers。 The resulting transistors delivered a
August brings four major celestial events, including a solar eclipse and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower。 Dark New Moon skies could make the Perseids especially impressive, while Venus will blaze in the west after sunset。 A deep partial lunar eclipse closes the month, darkening most of the Moon
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 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
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
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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 mathematician working at Anthropic says he used the AI model Claude Fable 5 to uncover a remarkably simple counterexample to the Jacobian conjecture, a famous problem that has resisted mathematicians for more than a century。 The result shows that the conjecture is false in three dimensions and above, although the original two-dimensional version
Zuckerberg’s superyacht and support ship were slow to heed Coast Guard call
A total solar eclipse will plunge parts of Europe into darkness on August 12, 2026, with Spain offering some of the best views。 ESA will livestream the spectacle from the Javalambre Observatory, combining telescope feeds, drone footage, and expert commentary。 At 20:31 CEST, the observatory will experience 1 minute and 21 seconds of totality, reveal