physics
How the brain’s left hemisphere “mesmerizes” us into misunderstanding reality
If we are wreaking havoc on ourselves and the world, it is because we have become mesmerized by a mechanistic, reductionist way of thinking.
Do Olympic bobsled and luge athletes actually do anything?
The big-picture physics is simple – let gravity do its job.
How to understand Einstein’s equation for general relativity
Mathematically, it is a monster, but we can understand it in plain English.
What is light? The limits and limitlessness of imagination
Philosophers and scientists spent millennia arguing about the nature of light. It turned out to be stranger than anyone imagined.
Quasars: how to feed a supermassive black hole
A new model addresses a longstanding problem: where do quasars get the fuel they need to outshine entire galaxies?
New research solves the mystery of magnetic moon rocks brought back on Apollo
Surrounding Earth is a powerful magnetic field created by swirling liquid iron in the planet’s core. Earth’s magnetic field may be nearly as old as the Earth itself – and […]
What is static electricity? We may finally have an answer
This everyday electrical phenomenon had no widely accepted scientific explanation — perhaps, until now.
Light from other side of black hole shows Einstein is right (again)
For the first time, light that comes from behind a black hole has been spotted.
What do Olympic gymnasts and star-forming clouds have in common?
When Olympic athletes perform dazzling feats of athletic prowess, they are using the same principles of physics that gave birth to stars and planets.
Earth’s solid metal inner core is growing more on one side than the other
The eastern inner core located beneath Indonesia's Banda Sea is growing faster than the western side beneath Brazil.
“Acoustic tweezers” use sound waves to levitate bits of matter
The non-contact technique could someday be used to lift much heavier objects — maybe even humans.
Why information is central to physics and the universe itself
Information may not seem like something physical, yet it has become a central concern for physicists. A wonderful new book explores the importance of the "dataome" for the physical, biological, and human worlds.
Can quantum physics explain consciousness?
A theoretical physicist returns to Penrose and Hameroff's theory of "quantum consciousness."
MIT researchers probe why antimatter violates the fundamental symmetry of physics
If the laws of physics are symmetrical as we think they are, then the Big Bang should have created matter and antimatter in the same amount.
Could a pill that lowers our body temperature make us live longer?
Theoretical physicist Geoffrey West explains the science behind a unique hypothesis.
Discovery of new type of supernova explains ancient mystery
Astronomers find a third type of supernova and explain a mystery from 1054 AD.
Study finds new ways of detecting dark matter in black holes
A new study proposes that Hawking radiation could be used to find dark matter in places like primordial black holes.
Stephen Hawking’s black hole theory proved right
New study analyzes gravitational waves to confirm the late Stephen Hawking's black hole area theorem.
Galactic wind from early universe detected
Researchers discovered a galactic wind from a supermassive black hole that sheds light on the evolution of galaxies.
What happened before the Big Bang?
Asking science to determine what happened before time began is like asking, "Who were you before you were born?"
Is human consciousness creating reality?
Is the physical universe independent from us, or is it created by our minds, as suggested by scientist Robert Lanza?
Mystery of the gigantic Oort cloud from deep space explained
Astronomers possibly solve the mystery of how the enormous Oort cloud, with over 100 billion comet-like objects, was formed.
Is the universe infinite?
Determining if the universe is infinite pushes the limits of our knowledge.
Scientists find dark matter “bridges” that may reveal future of our galaxy
A new AI-generated map of dark matter shows previously undiscovered filamentary structures connecting galaxies.
Supermoon, lunar eclipse, red blood moon — and they’re happening all at once
The eclipse season is starting with a bang.
Researchers design an engine that uses information as fuel
A thought experiment from 1867 leads scientists to design a groundbreaking information engine.
Physicists push limits of Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
New studies stretch the boundaries of physics, achieving quantum entanglement in larger systems.
Scientists test how to deflect asteroids with nuclear blasts
A study looks at how to use nuclear detonations to prevent asteroids from hitting Earth.