All Stories by Emily Conover
- Quantum Physics
Vacuum’s quantum effect on light detected
Light can be polarized through interactions with empty space.
- Materials Science
Graphene Silly Putty detects pitter-patter of spider footsteps
Sensor made of graphene and Silly Putty can detect pulse, breathing — and spider feet.
- Life
Bird plus goggles equals new insight into flight physics
Slow-flying parrotlet produces vortices that explosively break up.
- Quantum Physics
Cosmic test confirms quantum weirdness
Physicists used starlight to perform a cosmic Bell test.
- Physics
Despite lack of free electrons, bismuth superconducts
Bismuth conducts electricity with no resistance at temperatures near absolute zero, despite lack of mobile electrons.
- Chemistry
Names for four new elements get seal of approval
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry has approved the proposed names for the four elements added to the periodic table in December 2015.
- Chemistry
Names for four new elements get seal of approval
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry has approved the proposed names for the four elements added to the periodic table in December 2015.
- Life
Blue leaves help begonias harvest energy in low light
The iridescent color of some begonias comes from tiny structures that also help the plant convert dim light into energy.
- Earth
50 years ago, nuclear blasting for gas boomed. Today it’s a bust.
50 years ago, scientists made plans to use nuclear explosions to extract natural gas from underground. In one such experiment, the gas was released but turned out to be radioactive.
- Physics
Whirlpools might have stirred up baby universe’s soup
Vortices appear in the quark-gluon plasma produced in heavy-ion collisions.
- Particle Physics
New analysis boosts case for smaller proton
Electron scattering data hint at a slightly smaller proton radius.
- Physics
‘Void’ dives into physics of nothingness
In modern physics, emptiness is elusive and difficult to define, a new book shows.
