Surprising Science — April 16, 2014

Watch “Quantum Mechanics: Fabric of the Cosmos”

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It’s the weekend, and time to unwind with a NOVA documentary about quantum mechanics. In this instant classic released last year, theoretical physicist and string theorist Brian Greene takes you through the laws of the cosmos. He promises that, after watching this documentary, you won’t look at the world the same way.

Visit a place where the quantum laws are obvious, where the people and objects behave like tiny atoms:

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Image credit: agsandrew/Shutterstock

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

A digital rendering of a black hole with a glowing, distorted light accretion disk around its event horizon in space, set against a pitch-black background.

Hard Science

Quantum mechanics disproves an exotic type of black hole

A recent paper in the journal Physical Review Letters claims to prove that a “kugelblitz” is not possible.

Starts With A Bang

The reality of quantum fluctuations was proven back in 1947

Often viewed as a purely theoretical, calculational tool only, direct observation of the Lamb Shift proved their very real existence.

A large circular particle accelerator with several cables and machines is where engineers work inside and around the structure. The facility, dedicated to solving the muon g-2 anomaly, has platforms and specialized equipment surrounding the central structure.

Starts With A Bang

New theoretical calculation solves the “muon g-2” puzzle

A longstanding mismatch between theory and experiment motivated an exquisite muon measurement. At last, a theoretical solution has arrived.

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: Why do matter and antimatter annihilate?

From forming bound states to normal scattering, many possibilities abound for matter-antimatter interactions. So why do they annihilate?

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: Are we expanding along with the Universe?

The mutual distance between well-separated galaxies increases with time as the Universe expands. What else expands, and what doesn’t?

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