Physics
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Physics
A new kind of spiral wave embraces disorder
Newly discovered spiral wave chimera is disordered in its center.
- Tech
Electric eels provide a zap of inspiration for a new kind of power source
Battery-like devices inspired by electric eels could someday power wearable and implantable tech or soft robots.
- Astronomy
This year’s neutron star collision unlocks cosmic mysteries
A rare and long-awaited astronomical event united thousands of astronomers in a frenzy of observations.
- Quantum Physics
A quantum communications satellite proved its potential in 2017
Quantum communication through space is now possible, putting the quantum internet within closer reach.
- Physics
Some high-temperature superconductors might not be so odd after all
Unusual high-temperature superconductors might be explained by standard superconductivity theory.
- Physics
Microwaved, hard-boiled eggs can explode. But the bang isn’t the worst part.
Microwaved eggs can explode with a loud, but probably not ear-splitting, bang when pierced.
- Physics
How freezing a soap bubble turns it into a ‘snow globe’
Frigid air makes soap bubbles shimmering orbs thanks to surface tension.
- Physics
In a first, Galileo’s gravity experiment is re-created in space
A key principle of general relativity holds up in a new space-based test.
- Materials Science
New 3-D printed materials harness the power of bacteria
The three-dimensional materials contain live bacteria and could generate wound dressings or clean up pollutants.
- Physics
Collision illuminates the mysterious makeup of neutron stars
Scientists size up neutron stars using gravitational waves and light.
- Quantum Physics
‘Arrow of time’ reversed in quantum experiment
In quantum systems, heat can flow “backward,” from cold to hot.
- Materials Science
This material does weird things under pressure
A new metamaterial has a seemingly impossible property: It swells when squeezed.
