Physics

  1. Quantum Physics

    Shor’s code-breaking algorithm inspired reflections on quantum information

    Twenty years ago, physicists met in Santa Fe to explore the ramifications of quantum information.

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  2. Physics

    Laser kicks molecules into fastest ever spin

    The powerful kick of a laser has spun molecules faster than they’ve ever been spun before: 10 trillion rotations per second, or 600 trillion RPM.

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  3. Quantum Physics

    Excitons’ motions captured in images

    Scientists have observed how quasiparticles called excitons move.

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  4. Quantum Physics

    Quantum experts discuss the measurement problem: A transcript from 1994

    A fairly complete transcript of a discussion about quantum physics on May 19, 1994, the last day of a workshop in Santa Fe, N.M., evolves into a more general discussion of the interpretation of quantum mechanics and the quantum measurement problem.

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  5. Particle Physics

    Exotic particle packs a foursome of quarks

    Tetraquarks could help physicists understand the universe’s first generations of matter.

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  6. Cosmology

    Galaxy’s gamma-ray glow may expose dark matter

    An excess of gamma rays at the center of the Milky Way could be a signature of dark matter.

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  7. Quantum Physics

    Robert Redford film foretold Shor’s quantum computing bombshell

    Twenty years ago, Peter Shor showed how quantum computers could break secret codes, turning the movie Sneakers from fiction to fact.

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  8. Quantum Physics

    Small step taken for quantum communication

    A single atom can change the state of a photon, which may help build quantum networks.

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  9. Physics

    Meet Big Bird, highest-energy neutrino ever detected

    Big Bird, the neutrino, struck the Antarctic ice with a record 2 million billion electron volts of energy.

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  10. Genetics

    Feedback

    Readers ask about Neandertal genes and electricity-generating spores and react to a fusion milestone.

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  11. Quantum Physics

    U.S. marches to tick of new clock

    The atomic clock NIST-F2 has launched as the country’s official civilian time and frequency standard.

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  12. Materials Science

    Oyster shells could inspire improved armor

    Making tiny indentations in windowpane oyster shells has revealed some processes that could inspire better armor.

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