Recent Articles
Surprising Colors with Scotch Tape
A physicist’s do-it-yourself art project makes vibrant images with a pair of polarizers and carefully placed layers of transparent tape. Read More »
Breakthrough Prize for the Physics of Quantum Information…and of Cells
This year’s Breakthrough Prize in fundamental physics went to four pioneers of quantum information science. Physics also had a stake in the Breakthrough Prize for life sciences. Read More »
Going Beyond Fermi’s Golden Rule
Researchers have calculated the likelihood that a quantum state will decay when its evolution is inhibited by a dearth of final states. Read More »
Shining Light on Electron Microscopy
A new method that uses laser light to both generate and shape electron beams could improve the resolution of electron microscopy. Read More »
Wind Farms Perform Under Pressure
Simulations show that negative wind shear can reduce the power output of wind farms. Read More »
Optimizing Flow Speed is Essential for the Gut
Fluid dynamics simulations suggest that the varying flow speed inside the small intestine maximizes nutrient absorption while minimizing excess bacteria. Read More »
New Qubit Enters the Quantum-Computer Arena
A new type of superconducting qubit could solve a “crowding” problem that hinders the development of superconducting quantum computers with large numbers of qubits. Read More »
Information as Thermodynamic Fuel
A “filtering” algorithm allows information engines to perform efficiently even when they are subjected to high noise. Read More »
Plant-Based Strategy for Harvesting Light
A new photodetector design borrows its light-gathering architecture from plants, offering a potential path to more efficient solar cells. Read More »
