Physics

Sign up for our newsletter

We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Materials Science

    Smart windows could block brightness and harness light

    A new type of material pulls double-duty as window shade and solar cell.

    By
  2. Physics

    50 years on, nuclear fusion still hasn’t delivered clean energy

    In 1968, scientists predicted that the world would soon use nuclear fusion as an energy source.

    By
  3. Astronomy

    Readers ask about supernovas, dark energy and more

    Readers had questions about a supernova that continuously erupts, the difference between dark energy and dark matter, and more.

    By
  4. Materials Science

    Skyrmions open a door to next-level data storage

    Skyrmions are tiny magnetic swirls that are hard to undo and may be perfect for miniaturizing electronics.

    By
  5. Materials Science

    Superdense wood is lightweight, but strong as steel

    New superdense wood could be a more lightweight, environmentally friendly alternative to current construction materials.

    By
  6. Physics

    Laser experiment hints at weird in-between ice

    Scientists spot signs of an unusual phase of water called superionic ice.

    By
  7. Materials Science

    New textile weathers temperature shift

    Reversible textile keeps skin at a comfortable temperature with thin layers of carbon and copper.

    By
  8. Tech

    New laser emits a more stable, energy-efficient light beam

    A new type of laser could emit more stable, energy-efficient light beams than its conventional counterparts.

    By
  9. Physics

    Gravity doesn’t leak into large, hidden dimensions

    Gravitational waves from a recently observed neutron star merger offer no evidence of large, unknown dimensions.

    By
  10. Astronomy

    Universes with no weak force might still have stars and life

    An alternate universe that lacks one of the four fundamental forces might still have galaxies, stars, planets and perhaps life, a new study suggests.

    By
  11. Particle Physics

    Clumps of dark matter could be lurking undetected in our galaxy

    Dark matter, assumed to form featureless blobs, might clump together into smaller objects.

    By
  12. Tech

    Lasers trace a new way to create hovering hologram-like images

    Hovering 3-D images pave the way for futuristic displays that could be used for education or entertainment.

    By