Recent Articles
Naturalness Hits a Snag with Higgs
A theoretical approach called naturalness has helped physicists understand several particle physics puzzles—but the Higgs boson’s unsuitably small mass is currently foiling this strategy. Read More »
X-Ray Lasers Film Chemical Reaction in Super-Slow Motion
Extremely brilliant, extremely short x-ray pulses let researchers film a femtosecond-resolution movie of a chemical reaction, revealing unexpected dynamics. Read More »
Building Community Among Black Physicists
At the National Society of Black Physicists conference, attendees emphasize the importance of a supportive research community. Read More »
Physics Lessons from the World of Music
Stephon Alexander draws on his background in music and his interactions with jazz performers to help him “compose” physics models in string theory. Read More »
Hints of Cosmic Birefringence?
A new analysis of the cosmic microwave background shows that its polarization may be rotated by exotic effects indicating beyond-standard-model physics. Read More »
Imperfections Lower the Simulation Cost of Quantum Computers
Classical computers can efficiently simulate the behavior of quantum computers if the quantum computer is imperfect enough. Read More »
Watching Wood Dry
Combining x-ray and MRI techniques leads to a microscopic explanation for the process by which water escapes from wood. Read More »
AI Tools Boost Simple Technologies in a Shared World
Bicycles and indoor lighting are among many everyday features that can benefit from recent advances in artificial intelligence. Read More »
The Sounds of Levitating Water Droplets
Leidenfrost drops suspended above a hot surface by a thin layer of vapor emit periodic sounds in a similar way to pipe organs. Read More »
