Physics
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Science & Society
Physics greats of the 20th century mixed science and public service
New biographies highlight Enrico Fermi’s and Richard Garwin’s contributions to science and society.
- Quantum Physics
Readers amazed by Amasia
Quantum spookiness, shifting landmasses and more in reader feedback.
- Chemistry
New, greener catalysts are built for speed
Researchers are designing catalysts to move chemical reactions without using precious metals, or at least using less of them.
- Physics
Sound waves could take a tsunami down a few notches
A tsunami’s ferocious force could be taken down a few notches with a pair of counter waves.
- Astronomy
Supernova spotted shortly after explosion
Early observations of exploding star could indicate that stars become unstable as they near death.
- Materials Science
Germanium computer chips gain ground on silicon — again
Having pushed silicon to its limit, engineers are turning back to germanium.
- Physics
Smashing gold ions creates most swirly fluid ever
Collisions of gold ions create a fluid with more vorticity than any other known.
- Astronomy
When a nearby star goes supernova, scientists will be ready
Scientists hope to detect neutrinos and gravitational waves from a nearby supernova.
- Cosmology
New data fuel debate on universe’s expansion rate
Quasar observations add to discrepancy in measurements of the universe’s expansion speed.
- Astronomy
Five gamma-ray blazars set new distance record
Intensely bright galaxies are the farthest blazars ever detected in gamma rays.
- Physics
Physicists seek neutron lifetime’s secret
Updated experiments hope to resolve neutron lifetime discrepancy.
- Physics
Possible sign of dark matter shows up again
Excess of X-rays could indicate decaying sterile neutrinos.
