Physics
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Space
Amateur astronomers’ images of a rare double aurora may unlock its secrets
With breathtaking videos, citizen scientists have shown researchers a new pattern of auroras that may solve the mystery behind a strange red glow.
- Quantum Physics
Quantum entanglement makes quantum communication even more secure
Bell tests proved that quantum mechanics really is “spooky.” Now they’ve made quantum communication even more hacker-proof.
- Physics
A new dark matter experiment quashed earlier hints of new particles
Unlike its earlier incarnation, the XENONnT detector found no evidence of extra blips that scientists had hoped indicated new physics.
- Physics
Wiggling metal beams offer a new way to test gravity’s strength
A new experiment aims to get a better handle on “Big G,” the poorly measured gravitational constant.
- Particle Physics
A supersensitive dark matter search found no signs of the substance — yet
The LZ experiment’s first measurement raises hopes that scientists are closer than ever to finding the source of much of the universe’s mass.
- Quantum Physics
Aliens could send quantum messages to Earth, calculations suggest
Scientists are developing quantum communications networks on Earth. Aliens, if they exist, could be going further.
- Particle Physics
How physicists are probing the Higgs boson 10 years after its discovery
The famous particle may point to cracks in the standard model and new physics beyond.
- Physics
Physicists may have finally spotted elusive clusters of four neutrons
Long-sought clumps of four neutrons called tetraneutrons last less than a billionth of a trillionth of a second, an experiment suggests.
- Astronomy
Gravitational wave ‘radar’ could help map the invisible universe
Gravity ripples scattering off warped spacetime near massive objects might help astronomers peer inside stars and find globs of dark matter.
- Physics
How fast a row of dominoes topples depends on friction
Computer simulations reveal that two types of friction are important in determining how quickly dominoes collapse.
- Physics
Why even small sonic booms are more annoying in cities
Quieter sonic booms from next-generation planes could still be annoying in cities thanks to narrow streets and tall buildings, simulations suggest.
- Physics
Scientists created ‘smoke rings’ of light
A swirling doughnut of light shows that vortex rings aren’t just for fluids anymore.
