Physics
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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Physics
Left in the cold
An optical trap lets atoms in but not out, and it can be used to study matter at ultracold temperatures.
- Physics
Galaxy Zoo’s blue mystery (part I)
A Dutch science teacher found a novel celestial object that had eluded the notice of astronomers.
By Janet Raloff - Materials Science
Family Snaps in Peril
Digital photography appears to be far more ephemeral than camera sales people have led us to believe.
By Janet Raloff - Physics
Life’s code in soap
The mathematics of soapy water yields some clues to the origin of the genetic code.
- Physics
Suction hunters
Scientists reveal new details on how extendable jaws help fish capture prey.
- Climate
Science academies call for climate action
Thirteen national academies of science today called on world leaders to “to limit the threat of climate change.” Read more in the current Science & the Public blog by Janet Raloff.
By Janet Raloff - Chemistry
Small, But Super
These 'atoms' can't leap tall buildings in a single bound, but they have special powers.
- Agriculture
Green Living, Chinese-Style
Chinese is developing eco-cities to take their citizens straight from the agricultural to the ecological age.
By Janet Raloff - Chemistry
Kavli Awardees Named
Norwegian Academy awards three novel and hefty prizes to three teams of scientists.
By Janet Raloff - Physics
Tight deadline
Light behaves like waves or particles, but it doesn’t know what it will do in advance.
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- Astronomy
When Worlds Collide
Parallel universes aren’t supposed to be observable, but a cosmic crash might leave a visible sign of their existence.
By Diana Steele