Physics
Sign up for our newsletter
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- 			 Physics PhysicsTevatron to shut down in SeptemberCiting a lack of funds, the U.S. Department of Energy has essentially pulled out of the race to make the next great discovery in particle physics. By Ron Cowen
- 			 Physics PhysicsA twisted way to take picturesA corkscrew-shaped beam of electrons might someday yield better images of atoms and other tiny things. 
- 			  
- 			 Humans HumansPeriodic table gets some flexIUPAC committee replaces fuzzy atomic weights with more accurate ranges 
- 			  
- 			 Chemistry ChemistryLocks to learnA new way to probe interactions between pairs of hairs could offer insights into fly-aways and other tonsorial woes. 
- 			 Physics PhysicsLight can generate liftResearchers create a lightfoil that can push small objects perpendicularly. 
- 			 Physics PhysicsNuclear split surprisesPhysicists spot a new and unexpected type of lopsided fission in the element mercury. 
- 			 Physics PhysicsDissolving a puzzleA mathematical analysis shows what it takes to remove rock fast enough to create a cavern. 
- 			 Chemistry ChemistryThe nitty-gritty of diamond polishingResearchers figure out what happens at the atomic scale when jewelers polish the hardest substance known. 
- 			 Physics PhysicsNegative temperature, infinitely hotPhysicists propose using ultracold atoms to create a thermodynamics puzzle routinely in the laboratory. 
- 			 Tech TechNewfound water risk: Lead-leaching valvesHidden elements in drinking-water lines can shed large amounts of lead, a toxic heavy metal. And it's quite legal, even if it does skirt the intent of federal regulations. By Janet Raloff