Physicists led by Arun Paramekanti at the University of Toronto devised a technique using rotating light to detect atomic vibrations tied to electron spin, revealing a hidden magnetic state called octupolar order that behaves as if it has eight poles instead of the usual two. The findings, published in Physical Review Letters, provide the first direct optical evidence of this exotic quantum magnetic state in crystalline materials.
science.slashdot.org
· 2026-10-04
A new report titled 'Pacing the Frontier' argues that despite widespread agreement among AI leaders that development may need to slow down, there is no clear technical or policy framework for how to actually do it. Coauthor Raymond Douglas of the University of Toronto says the field needs to treat slowdown as an unsolved research problem rather than a vague aspiration, especially as fears grow over AI systems being used to build even more powerful successors.
wired.com
· 2026-09-18
A new NBER working paper by researchers including Baker examines the long-run impact of a universal child care program, focusing on outcomes for mothers rather than just children. The study draws on data analyzed through the Canadian Research Data Centre Network, using British Columbia's research infrastructure to assess how access to subsidized child care shaped mothers' economic trajectories over time.
nber.org
· 2026-09-09
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