Physics
8 Incredible Scientific Discoveries in 2020
This was a bumper year for breakthroughs in every scientific field, including astronomy and physics.
What Causes a Ring Around the Moon? Halo Spotted in Skies Around the U.S.
"This halo around the moon is insane," one Twitter user wrote.
The Universe Will End With a Black Dwarf Supernova
The last ever explosions will be silent fireworks that take place long after everything else in the universe has died, a study has found.
Neutrinos That Sparked Parallel Universe Claims May Have Simple Explanation
Researchers say the anomalies recorded in Antarctica may be the result of cosmic rays being reflected back after hitting subsurface features.
Fascinating Slow-Motion Video of Single Molecules Captured by Scientists
The technique could have significant implications for researchers investigating the world at the nanosocale.
'Ring of Fire' Galaxy from 11 Billion Years Ago Discovered
R5519 is thought to have formed through a collision with a "victim" galaxy about three billion years after the Big Bang.
Part of Earth's Magnetic Field Getting Weaker, Scientists Say
The weakening of the magnetic field is being observed by the European Space Agency's Swarm satellite constellation.
Here's What Pop Culture Says About Parallel Universes Amid NASA Headlines
The idea of multiple universes has yet to be proven.
CERN Creating 'Stripped-down' Ventilator for COVID-19 Patients
"We want to deploy our resources and competences to contribute to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic," CERN Director-General Fabiola Gianotti said.
Gamma Ray Experiment on Extinct Volcano Suggests Speed of Light Is Constant
Researchers were looking to see if part of the Standard Model of physics would hold up under extreme conditions.
Rare Copy of Isaac Newton's Masterwork Discovered on French Island
The work was famously described by Albert Einstein as "perhaps the greatest intellectual stride that it has ever been granted to any man to make."
Unusual White Dwarf Star With Never-before-seen Features Discovered
The star appears to have formed by the merging of two smaller white dwarfs.
'Beautiful Physics' of Sand Dune Migration Discovered
Researchers found sand dunes interact and repel one another to move across the landscape.
World's Fastest Spinning Object Created by Scientists
"It's always exciting to set a world record," Tongcang Li from Purdue University said.
Huge Black Hole 'That Shouldn't Exist in Our Galaxy' Discovered
Researchers in China found a star 15,000 light years away orbiting a "dark companion" that defies theories of stellar evolution.
Key to Finding Wormholes is Looking for 'Deviations' in the Orbit of Stars
This has not stopped physicists attempting to work out how you would spot one if they did—because while there is no proof they do exist, they are at least theoretically possible.
Nobel Prize Winner Says 'It's Crazy' to Think Humans Will Relocate
Mayor's co-laureate, Didier Queloz agreed, telling Newsweek, "It's time to stop dreaming and confront reality, and for our human society to carry our effort and act to ensure that a future exists and that maybe, one day, we will be able to journey among the stars."
Nobel Prize-Winning Astronomer Says We Will Likely Find Aliens in 30 Years
"I can't believe we are the only living entity in the universe," Didier Queloz said
NASA Visualization Reveals How a Black Hole Warps Its Surroundings
"Simulations and movies like these really help us visualize what Einstein meant when he said that gravity warps the fabric of space and time," the creator of the images said.
Scientists Store and Release Mechanical Waves With No Energy Loss in Study
The development could have implications for a broad range of fields.
Alternative to Einstein's Gravity Could Explain How Galaxies Form
Einstein's general theory of relativity beautifully describes the nature of gravity and its effect on large objects in the universe. However, there are alternative explanations.
Scientists Uncover Mysterious High-Radiation Phenomenon in Thunderclouds
Around 30 years ago, researchers first detected gamma-ray emissions inside storms that are now associated with lightning. But what is the nature of the relationship between the two phenomena?
Rocket Scientist: How We Could Move Earth to save It from Climate Change
There are several ways we could alter Earth's orbit so it is in a spot further away from the Sun.
Scientists Have Reversed Time in a Quantum Computer
To an outside observer, the quantum system appears to go from a complex state to a simple one.
Time Travel is Possible—But There's a Catch
This new model does not require any negative mass exotic material and offers a very simple design.
Scientists Melt Gold at Room Temperature
The normal melting point of gold is 1,947 degrees Fahrenheit.
Stephen Hawking Says Time Travel Could Be Possible
We cannot build a time machine today, but could we in the future?
LHC Scientists Might Have Found a Strange New Particle
If this particle really exists, then it is not just outside the standard model but outside it in a way that nobody anticipated.
This Strange Form of Ice Grows at More than 1,000 MPH
Ice VII does not occur naturally on the Earth's surface, although scientists have been able to produce it in the lab.
World's Fastest Camera Can See Light Moving in Slo-Mo
The camera's abilities could have numerous beneficial applications in a host of fields, ranging from biomedicine to materials science.