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Sónar Lisboa 2022 kicks off in the Portuguese capital this weekend. It commences at 12:00 pm on Friday the 8th of April, concluding at 10:00 pm on Sunday the 10th of April.  The festival is three days packed with music, creativity and technology.

Sónar Lisboa brings together more than 100 artists to Lisbon. The festival is comprised of Sónar +D, which is comprised of conferences, exhibitions, and AV shows as well as a series of musical performances, that are broken down into Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night.

Sónar +D explores creativity as the driving force for change in the 21st century. The conferences will be held in Factory Lisbon, focusing on Sustainability and Human Rights. There are three sub-themes, primarily Artificial  Intelligence and Algorithms; the Intersections of Art, Science, Ecology, Sustainability and Climate  Change; and Creative Technologies and Digital Economy: from Metaverse to Web3.

Included among the featured speakers is Bas Grasmayer, leader of the community platform COLORS and founder of Music x, whose talk will include a discussion of NFTs.

Canadian DJ and producer Jayda G, whose background in Environmental Toxicology allows for an in-depth analysis of the music/sustainability dichotomy. There will be talks from artist Tupac Márti whose latest work takes on medical neuroscience technology to materialize pioneering visual work.  Biologist Filipa Bessa,  winner of the United Nations Oceans Day Oceanic Photo Competition in 2018, specializes in marine plastic pollution and the effects of human activities on marine and coastal ecosystems.

Another highlight is bound to be Francisco Vidal whose use of VR showcases a bold and colourful universe.

Climate change, natural resources conservation, artificial intelligence and its ethical implications,  misinformation, algorithms, and the media are also brought together as part of the festival. 

Completing the Sónar+D Exhibitions are ten digital pieces by international and Portuguese artists, the large-scale installation by Artworks and the artistic collective based in Porto berru.

The depth and breadth of the discussions across the Sónar+D workshops allow for education and introspection. As well as the workshops, don’t forget the extensive and expansive music performances.

There are more than 70 concerts and performances by artists and DJs, such as Arca, Bicep (live), The Blaze  DJ, Charlotte de Witte, Dixon, DJ Shadow, Polo & Pan, Enchufada Na Zona, Honey Dijon, Floating  Points, Pongo, Leon Vynehall, Partiboi69, Nicola Cruz, Richie Hawtin and Thundercat. These performances will take place in the iconic Lisbon venues: Centro de Congressos de Lisboa, Coliseu dos Recreios, Pavilhão Carlos  Lopes, and Hub Criativo do Beato.

Tickets are available on the official website SonarLisboa.pt and authorized ticket partners, with a limited number of General and VIP passes being back on sale. There are different ticket types that allow the audience to create their own experience – day and/or night – centred on a single venue or throughout the various locations of Sónar Lisboa 2022.

Sónar by Night

Pavilhão Carlos Lopes

April 8
dixon, elkka dj, switchdance, thundercat live, trikk

April 9
enchufada na zona
dengue dengue dengue live, dj shadow, kampire, pongo, shaka lion

Coliseu dos Recreios

April 8
arca, dj lycox, dj marfox, dj nigga fox live, nídia, total freedom

April 9
bicep live, chloé robinson, floating points, helena guedes, leon vynehall live, rroxymore live, rui vargas

Congressos Lisboa

April 8
aril brikha live, bleid, charlotte de witte, héctor oaks, imogen, marum, nkisi, phoebe, photonz, richie hawtin, stingray 313 live, vil b2b cravo, violet live, yen sung

April 9
acid alice, dj lynce, dj stingray 313, dust devices live, ellen allien b2b dr. rubinstein, fjaak live, lewis fautzi, nina kraviz, otsoa, partiboi69, valody

Sónar by Day

Pavilhão Carlos Lopes

April 9
ana pacheco, the blaze dj, discos extendes crew, honey dijon, iamddb live, india jordan, ka§par live, nicola cruz live, percebes cru djs, poté dj

April 10
anah, cruz, eu.clides live, evan baggs, jayda g, moullinex, noia, overmono dj, pedro da linha b2b riot, polo & pan live, tiago marques, torres, xinobi, zé salvador

Sónar by Night

Single Ticket – Access to 8 or 9 of April

Centro de Congressos de Lisboa
General – 55€
VIP – 85€

Coliseu dos Recreios
General – 60€
VIP – 90€

Pavilhão Carlos Lopes
General – 40€
VIP – 60€

Sónar by Day
2 Day Ticket – Access to 8 and 9 of April
General – 110€
VIP – 175€

Pavilhão Carlos Lopes
Single Ticket – Access to 8 or 9 of April
General – 50€
VIP – 90€

Sónar + D
2 Day Ticket – Access to 8 and 9 of April – 25€
Single Ticket – Access to 8 or 9 of April – 15€

Tickets are available for Sónar Lisboa 2022 HERE

Atletico Madrid went third in LaLiga after doubles from Joao Felix and Luis Suarez sealed a 4-1 victory over lowly Deportivo Alaves on Saturday.

It had looked like Diego Simeone’s side would be denied a sixth straight top-flight win when Gonzalo Escalante cancelled out Joao Felix’s opener in the 63rd minute. 

However, Suarez’s penalty and Joao Felix’s second wrapped up maximum points at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Suarez prodded in a fourth in the 90th minute as Atleti moved level with second-placed Sevilla on 57 points, although Julen Lopetegui’s side do have a game in hand. 

Atleti thought they had opened the scoring in the ninth minute, yet Thomas Lemar’s finish was ruled out for offside.

They went ahead two minutes later, though, as an unmarked Joao Felix superbly headed Sime Vrsaljko’s cross into Fernando Pacheco’s top-left corner.

Yet a sluggish start to the second half meant Atleti had to wait until the hour mark for another clear sight of goal, Marcos Llorente whipping wide from just outside the area. 

Atleti were made to pay when Escalante stole into the area and headed Edgar Mendez’s sumptuous cross past Jan Oblak. 

However, Florian Lejeune fouled substitute Matheus Cunha in the area and Suarez duly slammed his penalty down the middle.

Joao Felix got his second in the 82nd minute with a venomous close-range effort after Cunha’s initial shot had been saved.

Suarez added gloss to the scoreline in the 90th minute with a cool finish after being played in by the hugely influential Cunha.

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) April 2, 2022

What does it mean? Late show maintains Atleti’s winning run

Atleti started at a breakneck pace following an emotional pre-match tribute to Simeone’s father, Carlos, who died last month, but they failed to put the game out of Alaves’ reach before Escalante’s excellent header.

They had no issues taking their chances in the closing stages, however, with that late rally ensuring a sixth consecutive LaLiga win for the first time since January last year when they won eight on the spin. Atleti are 12 points shy of leaders Real Madrid, but look good for a Champions League place.

Joao Felix in the thick of it… again

It was another fantastic display from Joao Felix. The Portugal international has now been involved in eight goals in his last six games in all competitions (six goals, two assists), which is the same as his 33 games before that (four goals, four assists).

Griezmann upstaged

Antoine Griezmann was replaced by Suarez shortly after the hour mark and the France international might struggle to win his place back after his team-mate’s decisive contribution. Griezmann failed to have a single shot during his time on the pitch and only played one key pass.

Credit also has to go to Suarez’s fellow substitute Cunha, who played a part in all three of Atleti’s second-half goals.

What’s next?

Atleti travel to England to face Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, before visiting Real Mallorca in LaLiga. Alaves, meanwhile, are away at Osasuna next Sunday.

Skyrmions creation and deletion with a Notch

We first demonstrate the current induced skyrmion creation using a notch at the sample boundary²³. The fabricated micro-device²⁴ comprises two Pt electrodes and a thin lamella with a thickness of ∼150 nm (see Methods, Supplementary Fig. S1 and Movie 1). A \(190\times 280\) nm² notch is specifically designed to serve as a nucleation seed for creating skyrmions using current. The notch width of ~190 nm is comparable to the period of the spin helix (L ∼ 114 nm)²⁵, much smaller than that reported in a recent FeGe-based device¹², making the creation of a single skyrmion possible.

Figure 1a shows the snapshots of the skyrmion creation process after applying a sequence of current pulses with the width of 20 ns and current density of \(-4.26\times {10}^{10}{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\) in the x-direction (see the details in Supplementary Movie 2). Initially, the sample is in the conical state under the external field B of 70 mT. After applying two pulses, one skyrmion with a topological charge of \(Q=-1\) is created. The created skyrmion is attached to the notch, indicating the attractive interaction between the skyrmion and the notch. Further application of current pulses continuously creates skyrmions one-by-one till the end of the 12th pulse (Fig. 1b). After that, it occasionally happens that no skyrmion is created under a few applications of current pulses. Nevertheless, the linear relationship between the number of created skyrmion and applied pulses is well identified (Fig. 1b and see also Supplementary Fig. S2 for other datasets). At last, a skyrmion cluster composed of 19 skyrmions is created after the 21st pulse. It stretches into a ribbon-like shape due to the skyrmion Hall effect^16,19,26.

a A sequence of Lorentz TEM images of the skyrmion creation process after applying designated numbers of current pulses. After the 2nd, 6th, and 21st pulse, the created skyrmions are 1, 5, and 19, respectively. The depth and width of the notch are 280 nm and 190 nm, respectively. The orange circle highlights a skyrmion at the corner. b The number of created skyrmions as a function of pulse numbers. Inset: Schematic plots of the experimental setup (upper left) and a magnetic skyrmion (lower right). c The average numbers of created skyrmions per current pulse as a function of current density. The creation rate is asymmetric with respect to the current direction, especially in the STT-dominated region. The scale bar in (a) is 400 nm. d Unidirectional skyrmion creation in the STT-dominated regime. Skyrmions with the topological charge of Q = −1 (Q = +1) are created on the right (left) side of the notch under a negative (positive) j and a positive (negative) external field B. No skyrmion is created under the combinations \(j \, > \, 0\), B > 0, and \(j \, < \, 0,{B} \, < \, 0\). The unidirectional skyrmion creation originates from the unique direction of the spin precession that breaks the reflection symmetry. \(\odot\) and .. stand for the upward and outward directions of the external magnetic field, respectively. The amplitude of the magnetic field is B = 70 mT, and the current density is \({{{{{\rm{|}}}}}}j{{{{{\rm{|}}}}}}=4.26\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\) and pulse width 20 ns.

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a A sequence of Lorentz TEM images of the skyrmion creation process after applying designated numbers of current pulses. After the 2nd, 6th, and 21st pulse, the created skyrmions are 1, 5, and 19, respectively. The depth and width of the notch are 280 nm and 190 nm, respectively. The orange circle highlights a skyrmion at the corner. b The number of created skyrmions as a function of pulse numbers. Inset: Schematic plots of the experimental setup (upper left) and a magnetic skyrmion (lower right). c The average numbers of created skyrmions per current pulse as a function of current density. The creation rate is asymmetric with respect to the current direction, especially in the STT-dominated region. The scale bar in (a) is 400 nm. d Unidirectional skyrmion creation in the STT-dominated regime. Skyrmions with the topological charge of Q = −1 (Q = +1) are created on the right (left) side of the notch under a negative (positive) j and a positive (negative) external field B. No skyrmion is created under the combinations \(j \, > \, 0\), B > 0, and \(j \, < \, 0,{B} \, < \, 0\). The unidirectional skyrmion creation originates from the unique direction of the spin precession that breaks the reflection symmetry. \(\odot\) and .. stand for the upward and outward directions of the external magnetic field, respectively. The amplitude of the magnetic field is B = 70 mT, and the current density is \({{{{{\rm{|}}}}}}j{{{{{\rm{|}}}}}}=4.26\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\) and pulse width 20 ns.

The spin textures of the notch play an essential role in creating the skyrmions. The notch has a sizeable in-plane magnetization component that is perpendicular to the direction of electrical current, while it is parallel at the normal edges. Under the electrical current, the spin textures could swell out and then nucleate a skyrmion due to the STT, but absent at the regular edges (Supplementary Fig. S3). Therefore, the skyrmion nucleation energy is lower at the notch than the “normal” sample edges.

The effect of the current pulse magnitude and direction on the skyrmion creation is summarized in Fig. 1c, where the parameter <N_s> represents the average number of created skyrmions per current pulse. Under a negative current pulse, the threshold current density for the skyrmion creation is approximate \(-3.4\times {10}^{10}{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\), which is one order of magnitude smaller than the theoretical estimation²³. On the contrary, a positive current with the same current density failed to create skyrmions (Fig. 1d), indicating the asymmetric STT effects with regard to the current direction²³. This asymmetry of STT-induced skyrmion creation originates from the breakdown of reflection symmetry due to the unique direction of the spin precession²³. Consequently, skyrmions with Q = +1 could only be created with a positive current and a negative field (Fig. 1d). The thermal effect starts to dominate the creation process when the current density exceeds \(5\times {10}^{10}{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\). After that, the Joule heating becomes increasingly prominent. The ultrafast field-warming beyond the T_c and then field-cooling process results in the creation of skyrmions^27,28. As a result, the unidirectionality is weakened (Supplementary Movie 3) and <N_s> rapidly increases (Fig. 1c and Supplementary Fig. S4).

The unidirectionality of skyrmion creation with the notch allows us to delete the skyrmion by using its inverse process. Figure 2a shows the representative Lorentz-TEM images of an N_s = 15 skyrmion cluster after successive applications of negative current pulses under \(j \sim 4.06\times {10}^{10}{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\) and B ~ 70 mT (see the details in Supplementary Movie 4). Once the positive current pulses are applied, the number of skyrmions \({N}_{s}\) decrease quickly with the increase of pulse number. Finally, only one skyrmion is left. It is attached to the edge owing to the attractive interaction between skyrmion and the edge²⁹, which is different from the two-dimensional system where the boundary twist owing to DMI induces a repulsive potential to skyrmions.

a A skyrmion cluster is pushed towards the notch using current pulses and absorbed by the notch gradually. The snapshots were taken under the defocus of 1 mm. The external field B = 70 mT, the pulse width is 20 ns and current density is \(4.06\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\). b The number of skyrmions \({N}_{s}\) decreases as the current pulses are applied to the system. c The average number of erased skyrmion per pulse as a function of current density.

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a A skyrmion cluster is pushed towards the notch using current pulses and absorbed by the notch gradually. The snapshots were taken under the defocus of 1 mm. The external field B = 70 mT, the pulse width is 20 ns and current density is \(4.06\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\). b The number of skyrmions \({N}_{s}\) decreases as the current pulses are applied to the system. c The average number of erased skyrmion per pulse as a function of current density.

The number of remaining skyrmions as a function of current pulses is shown in Fig. 2b. The average number of deleted skyrmions per pulse depends on the strength of current density, as shown in Fig. 2c. The deletion rate increases with the current density (Supplementary Fig. S5) and reaches its maximum at \(j \sim 3.65\times {10}^{10}{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\). Note that the threshold current density required to delete skyrmions is much smaller than that to create skyrmions, although it appears to be the inverse process of the latter. It can be attributed to the asymmetric energy landscape between the conical state and the skyrmion state. The energy barrier of skyrmion deletion is smaller than that of skyrmion creation³⁰. In principle, a flat edge should also absorb skyrmions due to the inevitable skyrmion Hall effect under large current density¹⁶. However, it did not occur even at \(j \sim 4.06\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\) (Supplementary Fig. S6), indicating the crucial role of the rectangular notch.

Skyrmions motion by current

We now turn to the motion of skyrmions driven by STT. The universal current-velocity relation of skyrmion dynamics under STT has been theoretically addressed³¹. The longitudinal velocity of a skyrmion is derived as \({v}_{x}\approx -b\,j\) under the electrical current, where b is a constant and \(j\) is the current density (see Supplementary Note I). The experimental results of the nanosecond-pulse-driven skyrmions motion are summarized in Figs. 3–5 with varied skyrmion numbers. For Q = −1, the skyrmion moves along the \(+x\) direction under a negative current with pulse width of 80 ns and \(j \sim -3.48\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\) (Supplementary Movie 5 for \(j \sim -2\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\)). The transverse motion along the \(+y\) direction, i.e., skyrmion Hall effect (quantified as \(\tan {\theta }_{h}={v}_{y}/{v}_{x}\)) is observed, as depicted in Fig. 3a. The trajectory (Fig. 3e) shows approximately linear behavior as predicted in theory. The pinning effect and thermal fluctuation can reasonably explain the deviation from the linearity. The longitudinal velocity \({v}_{x}\) is always antiparallel to the current flow while the transverse velocity \({v}_{y}\) is related to the topological charge Q (Supplementary Note I and Fig. 3). Therefore, the magnetic skyrmion moves in the opposite direction when a positive current is applied, and a reversal sign of Q only changes the direction of velocity \({v}_{y}\) (Fig. 3b, d).

a A single skyrmion with \(Q=-1\) moves forward with a negative \(j \, < \, 0\). b The reversal motion of skyrmion with \(Q=-1\) at \(j \, > \, 0\). c A single skyrmion with \(Q=+1\) moves forward at \(j \, < \, 0.\) d The reversal motion of skyrmion with \(Q=+1\) at \(j \, > \, 0\). The corresponding trajectories of the skyrmion motion are shown in (e–h). The fitted lines are shown to guide the eyes. The nonzero transverse motion in the +y direction is characterized by the skyrmion Hall angle, which depends on the skyrmion number while not the current direction. A negative (positive) Q is determined by the positive (negative) magnetic field at B = 94 mT. The current density is \({|j|}=3.48\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\) and the pulse width is 80 ns. The scale bars are 300 nm.

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a A single skyrmion with \(Q=-1\) moves forward with a negative \(j \, < \, 0\). b The reversal motion of skyrmion with \(Q=-1\) at \(j \, > \, 0\). c A single skyrmion with \(Q=+1\) moves forward at \(j \, < \, 0.\) d The reversal motion of skyrmion with \(Q=+1\) at \(j \, > \, 0\). The corresponding trajectories of the skyrmion motion are shown in (e–h). The fitted lines are shown to guide the eyes. The nonzero transverse motion in the +y direction is characterized by the skyrmion Hall angle, which depends on the skyrmion number while not the current direction. A negative (positive) Q is determined by the positive (negative) magnetic field at B = 94 mT. The current density is \({|j|}=3.48\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\) and the pulse width is 80 ns. The scale bars are 300 nm.

The sequences of images in (a) and (b) show the positions of skyrmions after applying the negative current pulses where the duration of each pulse is 80 ns, and the current density is \(-2\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\). a A skyrmion cluster with \({N}_{s}=4\). b A skyrmion cluster with \({N}_{s}=26\). The corresponding trajectories of the skyrmion center are shown in (c and d) and fit well to straight lines. The negative pulses lead to positive displacements in the +x direction independent of the skyrmion number. The skyrmion Hall angle characterizes the nonzero transverse motion in the +y direction \({\theta }_{{{{{{\rm{h}}}}}}}\) which depends on the skyrmion number and is unrelated to the current direction. The amplitude of the external field B is 117 mT. e The skyrmion velocity as a function of the current density. The x-component velocity scales linearly with the current density. f The skyrmion Hall angle \({\theta }_{{{{{{\rm{h}}}}}}}\) as a function of current density.

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The sequences of images in (a) and (b) show the positions of skyrmions after applying the negative current pulses where the duration of each pulse is 80 ns, and the current density is \(-2\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\). a A skyrmion cluster with \({N}_{s}=4\). b A skyrmion cluster with \({N}_{s}=26\). The corresponding trajectories of the skyrmion center are shown in (c and d) and fit well to straight lines. The negative pulses lead to positive displacements in the +x direction independent of the skyrmion number. The skyrmion Hall angle characterizes the nonzero transverse motion in the +y direction \({\theta }_{{{{{{\rm{h}}}}}}}\) which depends on the skyrmion number and is unrelated to the current direction. The amplitude of the external field B is 117 mT. e The skyrmion velocity as a function of the current density. The x-component velocity scales linearly with the current density. f The skyrmion Hall angle \({\theta }_{{{{{{\rm{h}}}}}}}\) as a function of current density.

a The snapshots of the skyrmion cluster on different stages. The skyrmion cluster is created in the first stage (①②③) and moves forward in the second stage (③④⑤). Then, the skyrmion is pushed back in the third stage (⑥) and is finally deleted in the fourth stage (⑦⑧). b The details of the current pulses and the number of skyrmions as a function of pulse number are plotted. The current densities used on these four stages are \(-4.87\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\), \(-2.03\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\), \(2.03\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\) and \(3.65\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\), respectively.

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a The snapshots of the skyrmion cluster on different stages. The skyrmion cluster is created in the first stage (①②③) and moves forward in the second stage (③④⑤). Then, the skyrmion is pushed back in the third stage (⑥) and is finally deleted in the fourth stage (⑦⑧). b The details of the current pulses and the number of skyrmions as a function of pulse number are plotted. The current densities used on these four stages are \(-4.87\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\), \(-2.03\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\), \(2.03\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\) and \(3.65\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\), respectively.

The current-driven skyrmions motion can also be observed in skyrmion cluster states (Fig.4). Figure 4a, b show the collective motion of skyrmion clusters with \({N}_{s}=4\) and \({N}_{s}=26\), respectively. Both the velocity and skyrmion Hall angle are similar to those of the single skyrmion, which is because the shape factor \(\eta\) of a cluster scales linearly with \({N}_{s}\) (see Supplementary Note I). However, the trajectories’ deviation from straight lines is significantly suppressed with the increased number of skyrmions in the cluster states (Supplementary Fig. S7). The collective motions of two skyrmion clusters are possible, as shown in Supplementary Fig. S8 with \({N}_{s}=11\) and \({N}_{s}=21\), where the distance between the two clusters remains constant during the motion. Interestingly, the skyrmion clusters can even steadily pass through a defect without noticeable deformation (Supplementary Fig. S8 and Movie 6).

Based on the trajectories of magnetic skyrmions under varied current densities, the current-density-dependent skyrmion velocities are summarized in Fig. 3e. To minimize the uncertainty, skyrmion clusters with the number of \({N}_{s} \sim 20\) is selected therein. The predicted linear relationship³² between the skyrmion velocity and current density is obtained. Moreover, the estimated spin polarization of current for Co₈Zn₁₀Mn₂ is P ∼ 0.57 (see Methods), which is two times larger than that for FeGe¹² (P ∼ 0.27), resulting in a comparable efficiency (defined as \({\varepsilon =v}_{x}/j\)) to the reported record using SOT mechanism^13,16. Below a low critical current density \({j}_{c1}=1.0\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\), magnetic skyrmions are static. This critical current density is directly related to the pinning forces arising from the disorder or impurity³². In addition, the critical current density depends on the pulse width as well. It decays exponentially with respect to the pulse width and reduces to \(\sim 5\times {10}^{9}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\) at the pulse width of 200 ns (Supplementary Fig. S9). Above the critical density \({j}_{c2}=3.5\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\), skyrmions are dynamically created and annihilated due to the combined effect of STT and the Joule heating by current pulses²⁷.

Figure 3f depicts an inverse relationship between the skyrmion Hall angle (\({\theta }_{{{{{{\rm{h}}}}}}}\)) and the current density. In a defect-free system, the skyrmion Hall angle \({\theta }_{{{{{{\rm{h}}}}}}}\) should be constant. However, in natural materials, the defects-induced pinning force will give rise to a transverse motion of magnetic skyrmions, yielding an extrinsic skyrmion Hall effect³² (Supplementary Note I and Supplementary Fig. S10). At low current density, a low drift velocity increases the scattering rate and thus results in a large skyrmion Hall angle (Supplementary Fig. S11 and Supplementary Movie 7). At higher current density, the scattering rate decreases, and the observed skyrmion Hall angle is close to the intrinsic value \({\theta }_{h}\), which is as low as ∼15º. Our results are quite different from previous studies in magnetic multilayers^16,33,34, where the skyrmion Hall angle shows a complicated relationship with current density. The underlying reason is that the skyrmion Hall angle therein is particularly susceptible to the change of radius under magnetic field and the deformation of the spin texture in the motion.

Integrated operations of skyrmions

At last, we demonstrate a combination of all creation, motion, and deletion operations on a single device shown in Fig. 4 (see the details in Supplementary Movie 8 and Supplementary Fig. S12 for other datasets). In the first stage, a skyrmion cluster with ten skyrmions is created with the pulse width of 20 ns and \(j \sim -4.86\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\) as shown in Fig. 4a. In the second stage, the skyrmion cluster is displaced by 680 nm after five pulses with the pulse width of 60 ns and \(j \sim -2.03\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\). After that, the skyrmion cluster is pulled back with the pulse width of 60 ns at \(j \sim 2.03\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\). In the final stage, the skyrmion cluster is deleted eventually with the pulse width of 20 ns at j = \(3.65\times {10}^{10}\,{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}\cdot {{{{{\rm{m}}}}}}}^{-2}\).

In this work, we show a proof-of-concept demonstration of necessary operations for skyrmion-based memory. In our experiments, this achievement of skyrmion creation, motion, and deletion at room temperature enable the chiral magnets as a unique platform for skyrmion-based spintronic devices. Additionally, chiral magnets allow the coexistence of other exotic particle-like magnetic objects such as bobbers³⁵ and hopfions^36,37, making the versatile spintronic devices³⁸ based on three-dimensional spin textures possible.

Crime data listed below is for information purposes only and subject to change upon the receipt of updated information. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The data listed below is subject to change each week. 

Atascadero Police Department

March 07, 2022

00:03— Richard Albert Reasner, 30, transient, was arrested on the corner of El Camino Real and HWY 41 and booked for TAKING VEHICLE WITHOUT OWNER’S CONSENT [10851(A)], POSSESS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11377(A)], FELONY COMMITTED ON BAIL [12022.1]; Case no. 220564

08:43— Heriberto Salazarperez, 29, transient, was arrested on the 8500 block of El Camino Real and cited for POSSESSING NARCOTIC CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11350(A)]; Case no. 220565

23:33— Joseph Edward Pennington, 41, transient, was arrested on the 9800 block of El Camino Real and booked for FAILURE TO APPEAR AFTER PTA AND NOT POSTING BAIL [853.8]; Case no. 220575

23:33— Joseph Edward Pennington, 41, transient, was arrested on the 9800 block of El Camino Real and booked for POSSESSING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11377(A)]; Case no. 220576

March 08, 2022

15:46— Julia Christine Gustafson, 32, of Atascadero was cited for ARREST WARRANT/ MISDEMEANOR AND INFRACTION CASES [1427], FAILURE TO APPEAR AFTER PTA AND NOT POSTING BAIL [853.8]; Case no. 220588

23:23— Raymond George Bullus, 33, of Atascadero was arrested on the 5100 block of Palma Ave. and booked for POSSESSING UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)], POSSESS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11377(A)]; Case no. 220593

March 09, 2022

10:01— Cierra Nicole Romeroheath. 27, of Atascadero was booked for ENHANCEMENT- INFLICTING GREAT BODILY INJURY [12022.7(A)], INFLICT INJURY UPON CHILD [273D(A)]; Case no. 220217

11:25— Robert Joe Reynoso, 56, of Atascadero was cited for FAIL TO APPEAR; WITHOUT PAYMENT OF BAIL [40515]; Case no. 220585

14:15— Joseph Henry Wright, 45, of Atascadero was cited for ARREST WARRANT/ MISDEMEANOR AND INFRACTION CASES [1427], FAIL TO APPEAR; WITHOUT PAYMENT OF BAIL [40515], FAILURE TO APPEAR AFTER PTA AND NOT POSTING BAIL [853.8]; Case no. 220596

14:15— Joseph Henry Wright, 45, of Atascadero was cited for DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED/REVOKED [14601.1(A)]; Case no. 220597

14:16— Brandy Stacy Kolbe, 30, of Atascadero was arrested on the 9000 block of Ash St. and cited for DUI ALCOHOL [23152(A)], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)]; Case no. 220598

23:23— Raymond George Bullus, 33, of Atascadero was arrested on the 5100 block of Palma Ave. and booked for FAIL TO APPEAR; WITHOUT PAYMENT OF BAIL [40515], FAILURE TO APPEAR AFTER PTA AND NOT POSTING BAIL [853.8]; Case no. 220592

March 10, 2022

00:10— Kenneth William Bourbeau, 32, of Atascadero was arrested on the corner of Graves Creek Rd. and Monterey Rd. and cited for DUI ALCOHOL [23152(A)], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)]; Case no. 220608

22:02— Scott Allen Shockley, 63, of Atascadero was arrested on the corner of Morro Rd. and Serena Ct. and cited for DRIVE WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED/REVOKED FOR DUI:SPECIFIC VIOLA [14601.2(A)]; Case no. 220613

March 11, 2022

00:27— Ned Andrew Fennell, 25, of Paso Robles was arrested on the 6900 block of El Camino Real and booked for DUI ALCOHOL [23152(A)], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)]; Case no. 220614

13:19— Margaret Diane Pacheco, 63, of San Luis Obispo was arrested on the 7700 block of Morro Rd. and booked for VIOLATION PROBATION/MISDEMEANOR [1203.2(A)], CONTEMPT OF COURT:VIOLATE PROTECTIVE ORDER/ETC [166(C)(1)]; Case no. 220616

March 12, 2022

01:10— Jacob Daniel Dowless, 18, of Atascadero was arrested on the 8000 block of El Camino Real and booked for DISORDERLY CONDUCT:ALCOHOL [647(F)]; Case no. 220623

23:35— Caden Bryce Napolitano, 35, of Atascadero was arrested on the corner of Santa Barbara Rd. and 101 FWY and booked for DUI ALCOHOL [23152(A)]; Case no. 220633

March 13, 2022

10:20— Jesse Ray Easterday, 30, transient, was arrested on the 5500 block of Capistrano Ave. and booked for POSSESSING UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)], POSSESS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11377(A)], FELONY COMMITTED ON BAIL [12022.1], ATTEMPTED RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY [664/459-RES]; Case no. 220638

Paso Robles Police Department

March 07, 2022

23:40— Librado Lopezmartinez, 38, of Paso Robles was arrested on the 100 block of Niblick Rd. and released to another agency for DISORDERLY CONDUCT/DRUNK IN PUBLIC [647(F)PC]; Case no. 22-0645

03:13— Lisa Suzanne Murray, 57, of Paso Robles was arrested on the 2000 block of Riverside Ave. and booked and released for DISORDERLY CONDUCT/DRUNK IN PUBLIC [647(F)PC]; Case no. 220646

09:22— Collin Earl Higbee, 30, of Creston was arrested on the 200 block of Santa Ysabel Ave. and booked and released for being UNDER INFLUENCE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11550(A)H&S], POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S], POSSESS NARCOTIC CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11350(A)H&S], POSSESSION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11377(A)H&S], SHOPLIFTING UNDER $950 [459.5(A)PC]; Case no. 220648

10:52— Mark Edward Omara, 65, of Paso Robles was arrested on the corner of Riverbank Ln. and Creeksand Ln. and booked and released for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANY DRUG [23152(F)VC]; Case no. 220649

12:35— Ryan David Sears, 40, of Atascadero was arrested in the Riverbed and booked and released for LOCAL WARRANT-MISDEMEANOR [B/W-M], OUTSIDE WARRANT- MISDEMEANOR [O/W-M], OUTSIDE WARRANT- MISDEMEANOR [O/W-M], OUTSIDE WARRANT- MISDEMEANOR [O/W-M]; Case no. 220651

12:54— Beth Denia Skinner, 39, of Creston was arrested in the Riverbed and booked and released for OUTSIDE WARRANT- MISDEMEANOR [O/W-M]; Case no. 22-0650

13:16— Daniel Lee Stainbrook, 51, of Paso Robles was arrested on the 180 block of Niblick Rd. and booked and released for POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S], UNDER INFLUENCE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11550(A)H&S], RECEIVE STOLEN PROPERTY VEH/TRAILER [496D(A)PC]; Case no. 220650

17:28— Spencer Douglas Donovan, 37, of Paso Robles was arrested on the corner of Union Rd. and Avenida Del Sol and released to a third party for POSSESS NARCOTIC CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11350(A)H&S], POSSESSION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11377(A)H&S], POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S], UNLAWFUL DISPLAY EVIDENCE OF REGISTRATION [4462.5VC], DRIVE WHILE SUSPENDED FOR DUI [14601.2(A)VC]; Case no. 220651

21:17— Darin Christopher Willis, 26, of Paso Robles was arrested on the 100 block of Niblick Rd. and booked and released for OUTSIDE WARRANT- MISDEMEANOR [O/W-M], POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S]; Case no. 220660

21:25— Agustin Alvaradomendez Ramirez, 34, of San Bernardino, CA, was arrested on the corner of Spring St. and 6th St. and booked and released for DISORDERLY CONDUCT/DRUNK IN PUBLIC [647(F)PC], OUTSIDE WARRANT- MISDEMEANOR [O/W-M], OUTSIDE WARRANT- MISDEMEANOR [O/W-M], OUTSIDE WARRANT- MISDEMEANOR [O/W-M]; Case no. 220661

March 08, 2022

23:59— Hannah Michelle Hogue, 28, of Los Osos was arrested on the 2400 block of Riverside Ave. and booked and released for being UNDER INFLUENCE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11550(A)H&S], POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S]; Case no. 220671

March 10, 2022

00:49— Justin Reed Billips, 31, of Paso Robles was released by a peace office on the corner of Golden Hill Rd. and Summit Rd. for being UNDER INFLUENCE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11550(A)H&S]; Case no. 220683  

01:37— David Raymond Merino, 51, of Templeton was arrested on the 1000 block of Sylvia Cir. and released to another agency for OUTSIDE WARRANT- FELONY [O/W-F]; Case no. 220684

17:08— Angelica Monique Smith, 25, of Paso Robles was booked and released for OUTSIDE WARRANT- MISDEMEANOR [O/W-M], LOCAL WARRANT-MISDEMEANOR [B/W-M]; Case no. 220691

21:39— Uriah Orian Giles, 48, of Bradley was arrested on the corner of 13th St. and Spring St. and booked and released for UNLAWFUL DISPLAY EVIDENCE OF REGISTRATION [4462.5VC]; Case no. 220696

23:22— Haley Elizabeth Delia, 22, of Paso Robles was arrested on the corner of S River Rd. at Navajo and booked and released for DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC], DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC]; Case no. 220697

23:59— Leon Curtis Roberts, 34, of Paso Robles was arrested on the 2700 block of Black Oak Dr. and booked and released for LOCAL WARRANT-MISDEMEANOR [B/W-M]; Case no. 220104

March 11, 2022

21:44— Edgar Daniel Guevara, 22, of Paso Robles was arrested on the 1200 block of Corral Creek Ave. and released to another agency for BATTERY BY SPOUSE, COHABITANT, FORMER SPOUSE [243(E)(1)PC]; Case no. 220702

March 12, 2022

02:32— Gerardo Jesus Castro, 20, of Templeton was arrested on 101 S At 4th St. and released to another agency for EVADING A PEACE OFFICER/RECKLESSDRIVING [2800.2VC], DUI PROBATION W/BAC GREATER THAN .01 [23154(A)VC], POSSESS/PURCHASE FOR SALE NARCOTIC/CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11351H&S], UNLAWFUL TRANSPORTATION/SALE OF NARCOTIC [11352(A)H&S], POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS FOR SALE [11378H&S], VIOLATION OF PROBATION/TERMS OF PROBATIO [1203.2PC]; Case no. 220705

03:36— Shawn Michael Sweeney, 35, of San Miguel was arrested on SR 101 and Ramada Dr. and booked and released for DRIVE WHILE SUSPENDED FOR DUI [14601.2(A)VC]; Case no. 220704

05:40— Darin Christopher Willis, 26, of Paso Robles was arrested on the 190 block of Niblick Rd. and booked and released for being UNDER INFLUENCE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11550(A)H&S], POSSESSION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11377(A)H&S]; Case no. 220706

05:40— Edward Glenn Hash, 37, of Paso Robles was arrested on the 190 block of Niblick Rd. and booked and released for being UNDER INFLUENCE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11550(A)H&S], POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S]; Case no. 220706

16:55— Amber Leeann Trusty, 37, of Lockwood, CA, was arrested on the 1200 block of Ysabel St. and booked and released for TRESSPASS/REFUSE TO LEAVE PROPERTY [602(O)(1)PC]; Case no. 220712

18:43— Benito Avalos Dominguez, 25, of King City, CA, was arrested on the corner of 21st. St. and Pine St. and booked and released for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC]; Case no. 220713

16:00— William Dean Foote, 68, of Templeton was arrested on the 2000 block of Riverside Dr. and released to another agency for CONTACT W/MINOR W/INTENT TO COMMIT SEX CRIME [288.3(A)PC]; Case no. 220709

20:37— Luciano Rosalesdelossantos, 24, of Paso Robles was arrested on the corner of Corral Creek Rd. and Branch Creek. Rd. and booked and released for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC]; Case no. 220714

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Carmen Pacheco: A Journey of Perseverance and Triumph

Introduction:
Carmen Pacheco, a remarkable individual whose life story is one of perseverance and triumph, has left an indelible mark on the world through her unwavering determination, resilience, and commitment to making a difference. Born on July 10, 1955, in the vibrant city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Carmen’s journey has been a testament to the power of resilience in overcoming adversity. From humble beginnings to becoming a beacon of hope for countless individuals around the globe, Carmen’s life is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to rise above any challenge. In this comprehensive biography, we delve deep into Carmen Pacheco’s life and explore the defining moments that shaped her into an inspiring figure.

Chapter 1: Early Life and Challenges
Carmen Pacheco’s early life was marked by numerous challenges that would have deterred many from pursuing their dreams. Growing up in a working-class neighborhood in Buenos Aires during a time of political and economic turmoil presented its fair share of obstacles. Despite these challenging circumstances, Carmen possessed an unwavering spirit and an insatiable thirst for knowledge.

Carmen’s parents recognized her potential from an early age and encouraged her curiosity by providing her with books and educational resources. They instilled within her the importance of education as a means to break free from the cycle of poverty that had plagued their family for generations.

However, tragedy struck when Carmen lost both her parents at the tender age of 13 due to a devastating car accident. This unforeseen event left Carmen orphaned and facing an uncertain future. Nevertheless, even amidst unimaginable grief, she refused to succumb to despair.

Chapter 2: Pursuit of Education
Determined not to let adversity define her future, Carmen channeled her grief into pursuing education as a means to carve out a better life for herself. With the support of her extended family, she enrolled in a local school and threw herself into her studies with unparalleled dedication.

Carmen’s academic prowess soon caught the attention of her teachers, who recognized her exceptional abilities. Despite facing financial constraints, Carmen’s determination led her to secure scholarships that allowed her to continue her education at prestigious institutions.

During this period, Carmen developed a deep passion for literature and social justice. She found solace in the works of renowned authors such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende, whose stories fueled her desire to make a positive impact on society. This newfound passion became the driving force behind Carmen’s relentless pursuit of knowledge.

Chapter 3: Activism and Humanitarian Efforts
Inspired by the injustices she witnessed in her community, Carmen embarked on a path of activism and humanitarian work. Her tireless efforts led to significant improvements in access to education, healthcare, and social welfare for marginalized communities.

Carmen founded several non-profit organizations dedicated to empowering underprivileged youth through education. Through these initiatives, she provided scholarships, mentoring programs, and vocational training opportunities to countless individuals who would have otherwise been denied access to quality education.

Additionally, Carmen spearheaded campaigns advocating for gender equality and women’s rights. She firmly believed that empowering women was crucial for societal progress. Her advocacy work led to legislative changes that protected women from domestic violence and ensured equal opportunities in employment.

Chapter 4: Global Impact
Carmen’s impact transcended borders as she dedicated herself to addressing global issues such as poverty alleviation and environmental conservation. Recognizing the interconnectedness of these challenges, she worked tirelessly to raise awareness about sustainable development practices and fostered collaborations between governments, NGOs, and corporations.

As an influential figure in international forums on sustainable development, Carmen played a pivotal role in shaping policies that prioritized environmental preservation while promoting economic growth. Her efforts earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Global Humanitarian Award.

Chapter 5: Legacy and Continued Inspiration
Carmen Pacheco’s journey of perseverance and triumph continues to inspire countless individuals worldwide. Her unwavering commitment to social justice, education, and sustainability serves as a reminder that one person can make a significant difference in the world.

In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, Carmen established the Carmen Pacheco Foundation, which continues her legacy by supporting initiatives that empower marginalized communities and promote sustainable development. The foundation provides scholarships, grants, and resources to individuals and organizations committed to creating positive change in their communities.

Conclusion:
Carmen Pacheco’s life is a testament to the transformative power of perseverance and determination. From her humble beginnings in Buenos Aires to becoming a global advocate for social justice and sustainable development, Carmen has left an indelible mark on the world. Her unwavering commitment to making a difference serves as an inspiration for generations to come. Through her remarkable journey of perseverance and triumph, Carmen Pacheco has shown us that with resilience and determination, anything is possible.

A lot of planning goes into comic book events, with creators often spending years plotting the stories and figuring out just how many different characters need to be included. Few of these events, however, have been in the works quite as long as Marvel’s upcoming Reckoning War. Writer Dan Slott is bringing chaos to his Fantastic Four run with Fantastic Four: Reckoning War Alpha #1, a kickoff to an event that he has quite literally been planning and writing for the last 17 years. The first seeds for the Reckoning War were planted in the third issue of Slott’s She-Hulk run, and the writer has been continuing to plant them in almost every series he has worked on since. The plan is finally coming to fruition in the Fantastic Four and Reckoning War is off to a decent start here.

Reckoning War Alpha #1, written by Slott and illustrated by Carlos Pacheco, Rafael Fonteriz, and Carlos Magno, sets the stage for the event, gathering all of the players and offering readers the pitch. The long and short of the story is that the Watchers (a group of characters that are relentlessly difficult to make compelling) didn’t always have a vow not to interfere with life in the universe. They originally tried to foster growth and evolution, only for the first civilization they helped to use Watcher technology for destructive purposes. This group, which comes to be known as the Reckoning, was walled off into their own corner of the universe by the Watchers, where they were left to die. Spoiler alert: They didn’t.

The Reckoning return with a vengeance and their master plan begins with the destruction of the actual moon, likely killing Uatu and sending the world into absolute chaos. This is how the First Family and other important characters get involved. It should come as no surprise that both She-Hulk and Spider-Man are set up for pretty significant roles. The Fantastic Four, however, are the most important to the story, with Reed developing an exciting (and terrifying) connection to the Watchers in the third act. 

So much of what has happened throughout Slott’s run on Fantastic Four to this point seems like it is going to have significant importance in Reckoning War, making it a great payoff to what has been a good overall series. That said, Reckoning War has a lot going on. The story the Watchers and the Reckoning alone is a lot to process, then 39 issues of Fantastic Four are being added to the mix, alongside a She-Hulk story from nearly two decades ago. Then toss in a confusing side plot with Silver Surfer, just for good measure.

Reckoning War Alpha #1 is a solid comic book, and utilizing multiple art styles feels necessary when juggling the different stories. In spite of that quality, the issue has moments where Reckoning War already starts to feel like a bit of a chore. The first issue does a good job with the narrative balancing act, keeping you invested from page to page. The key to a great event kickoff book, though, is its ability to excite you about what’s to come, to get you hooked into the promise of an epic tale. Reckoning War‘s debut issue doesn’t fully accomplish that. 

Perhaps 17 years of planning one event is a little too much time. It’s clear that Slott is passionate about the tale, and that offers reason to be excited about what’s to come. But almost two decades of teasing and clue-dropping might have piled too much on the plate. The challenge now is going to be incorporating all of the various threads and finding a way for them to matter without getting bogged down by exposition, callbacks, and needless details. Reckoning War Alpha offers reason to believe either outcome could be true.

Published by Marvel Comics

On February 2, 2022

Written by Dan Slott

Art by Carlos Pacheco, Rafael Fonteriz, and Carlos Magno

Cover by Carlos Pacheco, Rafael Fonteriz, and Marte Gracia

There’s a good chance you’re familiar with Frankenstein’s monster. But have you heard about his garden?

Around the time the scientist who inspired Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein was busy electrocuting live animals and dead prisoners, several of his contemporaries were doing the same to perennials and root vegetables. And just as these 18th Century forays into electrical stimulation purported to make the human body more robust (by delivering it from maladies ranging from paralysis and depression to diarrhoea and venereal disease), they were also being investigated for the betterment of plant life. Experiments on electrified gardens were alleged to produce a range of benefits, from brighter flowers to tastier fruit. Before long, this pursuit went the way of its cousin, medical electro-quackery, and by the end of the 19th Century, respectable science had largely jettisoned both.

More than a century on, better tools and new insights are reanimating the study of electricity’s effects on biology. Uninformed early animal experiments have resolved over the past 200 years into real understanding – and led to promising electrical medicine. Similarly, the old vegetable experiments are being exhumed to see what modern fruit they may yield. Maybe the new understanding could even improve 21st Century gardens.

The first hints that electric shocks might have a dramatic impact on crops came not from any human intervention but from nature itself. After a lightning storm, according to longstanding Japanese farming lore, mushrooms would proliferate madly.

But you couldn’t exactly call down lightning on demand to confirm this experimentally. Until, that is, the 1740s when various new devices allowed scientists to store and deploy this still-mysterious phenomena of “electricity” at will for the first time. 

Soon deploying electricity as a gardening aid became a hot topic. Pierre Bertholon de Saint-Lazare – a French physicist and philosopher who experimented widely on the still poorly understood mysteries of electricity – curated many of his contemporaries’ plant experiments into a collection, De L’électricité des Végétaux.

Alongside the brighter blossoms, flowers were alleged to bloom earlier after electrification; similarly, electrifying fruit reportedly hastened the ripeness of their smell and taste. But Bertholon’s main focus was on the new device he had invented: instead of zapping individual fruits and vegetables one by one, the huge contraption could infuse electricity into entire garden plots. It electrified the very soil and air that nurtured the growing plants – as if it was an electrical “manure”.

The electro-vegeto-meter

The elevated system of masts and wiring Bertholon had rigged up collected atmospheric electricity, drew it down, and distributed it into his crops. According to him, it mimicked the stimulating effects of lightning. Only it did the job better than the natural variety, dispensing small, continuous amounts of electricity rather than dosing with a single, damaging strike. The “electro-vegeto-meter”, he reported, increased the growth of the plants beneath its arc, accelerating “the germination, the growth, and production of leaves, flowers, fruit, and their multiplication”.

Bertholon also made copious use of electricity in other forms, reportedly dispatching insect pests by using a rudimentary tool to zap an infested tree. His contemporaries had many other colourful uses for electricity in their gardens – one set out plans to irrigate his plants with a special water that he claimed, rather dubiously, had been “impregnated with electrical fluid” to replace traditional approaches to fertiliser.

Not everyone was convinced. Things went badly after Jan Ingenhousz, the Dutch-British physiologist who discovered photosynthesis, availed himself of an electro-vegeto-meter of his own to use on his garden – and it promptly shrivelled up all his plants. He concluded that Bertholon’s electrical manure was, well, manure.

Interest in electroculture waned. A few private gentleman scientist types continued to run small experiments: in the 1830s, one  claimed his experiments demonstrated that plants are excellent conductors, implying that electricity was a fundamental aspect of their biology. But neither the science nor tools were sufficiently advanced to support such claims. After that, apart from a few niche projects, the idea of electroculture swiftly fell out of favour among the electrorati.

“We cannot avoid asking ourselves,” wrote two critics in a plaintive 1918 paper, looking back on the fall of the events, “how it is that while the study of electricity and its many industrial applications has developed into enormous importance, electroculture in the meantime has remained practically stationary for a century and a half.” They concluded: “We probably find the answer in the stagnation of the science of the living plant.”

In other words, to improve electroculture you’d first have to understand how it might work, and to understand that, one would need to understand the electrical dimensions of plant biology. Luckily, by the time the duo voiced their complaint, the first slim shoots of exactly such an endeavour were already poking through the frost. Interest in vegetation and electricity had been reanimated by none other than Charles Darwin.

Darwin‘s carnivorous vegetables

His grandfather had been convinced that electricity could hasten the growth of plants – but Charles Darwin’s contention was built on more solid scientific ground. He believed electricity to be a fundamental aspect of plant physiology, the same way the neurophysiologists of the 19th Century were starting to show how electric signals are the fundamental underpinning of the human nervous system signals that let us to think and feel and move.

Darwin’s obsession had started small, with a single meat-eating plant in the genus Drosera, otherwise known as the sundews. Barely a year after the publication of On the Origin of the Species, it was all he could think about. “At the present moment, I care more about Drosera than the origin of all the species in the world,” he wrote in 1860. Little wonder. Drosera did everything plants aren’t supposed to – it ate meat, and it hunted. Its long, sticky tentacles trapped flies on glue-like secretions and then curled inexorably around the unfortunate prey until it was wrapped up like a macabre Swiss roll.

Rod Laver Arena – Ora italiana: 01:00 (locale: 11:00)
S. Groth / P. Rafter vs W. Ferreira / M. Philippoussis
(4) B. Krejcikova vs M. Keys (Ora italiana: 02:30 (locale: 12:30))
(14) D. Shapovalov vs (6) R. Nadal (Ora italiana: 04:00 (locale: 14:00))

Rod Laver Arena – Ora italiana: 09:00 (locale: 19:00)
(1) A. Barty vs (21) J. Pegula
(17) G. Monfils vs (7) M. Berrettini

Margaret Court Arena – Ora italiana: 01:00 (locale: 11:00)
P. Martic / S. Rogers vs (2) S. Aoyama / (2) E. Shibahara
(3) M. Granollers / (3) H. Zeballos vs (5) J. Peers / (5) F. Polasek
S. Mirza / R. Ram vs (WC) J. Fourlis / (WC) J. Kubler
L. Hradecka / G. Escobar vs (A) M. Ninomiya / (A) A. Qureshi

Kia Arena – Ora italiana: 01:00 (locale: 11:00)
(1) D. Alcott vs A. Lapthorne
A. Danilina / B. Haddad Maia vs R. Peterson / A. Potapova
(WC) T. Kokkinakis / (WC) N. Kyrgios vs (6) T. Puetz / (6) M. Venus (Ora italiana: 05:30 (locale: 15:30))
(8) E. Shibahara / (8) B. McLachlan vs (2) S. Zhang / (2) J. Peers
(5) K. Mladenovic / (5) I. Dodig vs E. Routliffe / M. Venus (Ora italiana: 08:00 (locale: 18:00))

1573 Arena – Ora italiana: 01:00 (locale: 11:00)
(1) B. Kuzuhara vs (WC) E. Winter
(8) S. Costoulas vs M. Safi
E. Khayrutdinova / A. Sagandikova vs M. Laki / D. Pavlou
(WC) J. Jin / (WC) E. Winter vs N. Ciavarella / D. Minighini

Court 3 – Ora italiana: 01:00 (locale: 11:00)
(WC) T. Preston vs (2) D. Shnaider
T. Sretenovic vs (9) C. Naef
A. Michelsen / A. Vallejo vs (7) H. Barton / (7) J. Mensik
(3) Y. Bartashevich / (3) K. Zaytseva vs Ma. Mushika / Mi. Mushika

Court 5 – Ora italiana: 01:00 (locale: 11:00)
(14) V. Mboko vs Q. Lopez
(10) Y. Bartashevich vs L. Radivojevic
(7) A. Gureva / (7) E. Pridankina vs C. Fontenel / Q. Lopez
(WC) C. Kempenaers-Pocz / (WC) T. Preston vs V. Ferrara / G. Pedone

Court 6 – Ora italiana: 01:00 (locale: 11:00)
(9) R. Pacheco Mendez vs J. Weekes
J. Nicod vs D. Dietrich
A. Okutoyi vs (Q) Z. Larke
M. Donald / J. Nicod vs (2) B. Kuzuhara / (2) C. Wong
H. Kinoshita / S. Saito vs (2) P. Marcinko / (2) J. Svendsen

Court 7 – Ora italiana: 01:00 (locale: 11:00)
B. Zgola vs (14) D. Prizmic
S. Houdet vs (2) A. Hewett
(1) D. De Groot vs (WC) L. Shuker
(1) E. Butvilas / (1) M. Poljicak vs L. Gavrielides / A. Kukasian

Court 8 – Ora italiana: 01:00 (locale: 11:00)
H. Davidson vs (2) S. Schroder
(1) S. Kunieda vs T. Egberink
K. Montjane vs A. Van Koot
O. Colak / A. Kim vs L. Mikrut / D. Prizmic

Court 12 – Ora italiana: 01:00 (locale: 11:00)
(3) A. Vallejo vs W. Shin
A. Basile vs (16) L. Midon
A. Todoni / H. Vandewinkel vs (8) A. Blokhina / (8) L. Hovde
A. Basile / D. Verbeek vs (3) G. Debru / (3) K. Feldbausch

Court 13 – Ora italiana: 01:00 (locale: 11:00)
(1) P. Marcinko vs K. Cross
(12) C. Wong vs T. Tokac
(8) B. Artnak / (8) V. Petr vs L. Boika / Y. Demin
I. Buse / D. Dinev vs T. Nirundorn / J. Weekes

Court 14 – Ora italiana: 01:00 (locale: 11:00)
(WC) M. Batyutenko vs (7) E. Butvilas
A. Smejkalova vs D. Glushkova
(1) C. Ngounoue / (1) D. Shnaider vs M. Kupres / R. Stoiber
K. Cross / V. Mboko vs L. Havlickova / D. Salkova