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  1. Physics

    Magnetic snap gives ions extra pop

    Magnetic fields pump heat into ions when field lines of opposite orientation snap and reconnect.

    By Peter Weiss
  2. Physics

    Groovy ’70s sound keeps X rays tight

    Cast aside as a way to reproduce music, LP phonograph records reveal another, unsuspected talent that scientists plan to exploit-focusing X rays.

    By Peter Weiss
  3. Math

    Whirling to a chaotic finale

    A black hole paired with another body can succumb to chaos when they orbit each other, making it more difficult to detect gravitational waves produced by such objects.

    By Ivars Peterson
  4. Math

    Traffic woes of the single driver

    At moderate traffic volumes, a single car moving at randomly fluctuating speeds can cause traffic jams in its wake.