Frankly speaking ...

Introduction: The Informational Universe We typically perceive our world through the lens of tangible matter and flowing energy. We see a landscape of atoms, forces, and heat. However, modern science is beginning to realise that these physical properties might merely be the surface of a deeper architecture. At its most fundamental level, the universe appears to be composed of “bits” of information. Consider the extraordinary feat of a single microscopic cell: how does it “know” how to construct a complex human being? The answer lies not just in chemistry but in the sophisticated processing of data. By shifting our perspective to information theory, we can begin to decode the underlying software of existence and see ourselves as nodes within a vast, self-optimising system. This article follows that idea from first principles to wider systems. It moves from Shannon’s formal definition of information, through biology and thermodynamics, then into active theoretical debates in physics...

If you’re reading Superheavy: Making and Breaking the Periodic Table by Kit Chapman , it really helps to understand the concept of 'cross-sections.' However, the book's explanation is pretty brief. To help clear things up, I put together this summary of what cross-sections actually mean in the context of creating new elements. Cross Sections In nuclear physics, a cross-section is a measure of the probability that a specific nuclear reaction (like fusion) will occur. When scientists say the cross-sections get smaller as the atomic number (Z) increases, they mean that it becomes exponentially harder and less likely for two nuclei to successfully fuse and survive as a new, super-heavy element. Think of the cross-section as the “size of the target” you are trying to hit. As you try to create heavier elements, that target shrinks from the size of a barn door to the size of a needle’s eye. Infographic: The Challenge of Element Synthesis Why the Cross-Section Decreases The pr...