Physics
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Materials Science
Bone inspires strong, lightweight material
Tiny synthetic structures modeled after bone are as sturdy as metal.
- Physics
Quarks celebrate their 50th anniversary
In a 1997 interview with Context blogger Tom Siegfried, Murray Gell-Mann discussed the origin of the idea for the subatomic particles that he named quarks.
- Materials Science
Etched glass stops cracks in their tracks
Adding wavy lines to glass reduces the material’s notorious brittleness.
- Materials Science
Nanotube whiskers could aid robot-human interaction
Tiny hairlike sensors made from nanomaterials are more sensitive than existing devices to detect tiny pressures.
- Quantum Physics
Atomic clock sets world records for precision, stability
The strontium atomic clock is about 50 percent more precise than the previous record holder made of a single charged aluminum atom and rivals the ytterbium atomic clock for the title of most stable.
- Physics
Laser builds mirror by pushing beads together
The light technique may one day be used to build giant telescopes in space.
- Quantum Physics
Gell-Mann, Hartle spin a quantum narrative about reality
The “consistent histories” approach to quantum physics removes any role for people in creating “quasiclassical” reality.
- Physics
Transfixing tetrahedrons
Dervishes are Sufi Muslims who represent the revolving heavens with their spinning dance.
- Quantum Physics
‘QBists’ tackle quantum problems by adding a subjective aspect to science
Advocates of a program called “Quantum Bayesianism” take a subjective approach to resolving the paradoxes of quantum physics.
- Computing
Materials’ light tricks may soon extend to doing math
A simulation paves the way toward metamaterials that can perform ultrafast complex mathematical operations using light waves.
- Physics
Google search fails to find any sign of time travelers
A search of the Internet for signs of time travelers from the future fares no better than the party hosted by Stephen Hawking that nobody attended.
- Physics
Tom’s top 10 time travel movies
The lack of a credible scientific basis doesn’t stop movie makers from making films about time travel.
