Looking for similarities across complex systems Jörn Dunkel uses the “common language” of math to bridge disparate phenomena, from an embryo’s wrinkles to the twist of spaghetti. June 28, 2021 Read full story →
Ultralight material withstands supersonic microparticle impacts The new carbon-based material could be a basis for lighter, tougher alternatives to Kevlar and steel. June 24, 2021 Read full story →
Physicists bring human-scale object to near standstill, reaching a quantum state The results open possibilities for studying gravity’s effects on relatively large objects in quantum states. June 18, 2021 Read full story →
MIT study compares the four largest internet meganetworks With thousands of satellites, each network could beam down tens of terabits per second, filling gaps left by land-based services. June 10, 2021 Read full story →
CHIME telescope detects more than 500 mysterious fast radio bursts in its first year of operation Observations quadruple the number of known radio bursts and reveal two types: one-offs and repeaters. June 9, 2021 Read full story →
Ozone-depleting chemicals may spend less time in the atmosphere than previously thought New results point to unexpected, illegal production of several CFCs in recent years. May 18, 2021 Read full story →
Supermassive black holes devour gas just like their petite counterparts Regardless of size, all black holes experience similar accretion cycles, a new study finds. May 17, 2021 Read full story →
Physicists find a novel way to switch antiferromagnetism on and off The findings could lead to faster, more secure memory storage, in the form of antiferromagnetic bits. May 6, 2021 Read full story →
Cave deposits show surprising shift in permafrost over the last 400,000 years Study finds Earth’s frozen surfaces became less susceptible to thawing, potentially locking in more carbon than expected. April 28, 2021 Read full story →
Synthetic gelatin-like material mimics lobster underbelly’s stretch and strength The membrane’s structure could provide a blueprint for robust artificial tissues. April 23, 2021 Read full story →
Fast-spinning black holes narrow the search for dark matter particles Certain ultralight bosons would be expected to put the brakes on black holes, but new results show no such slowdown. April 14, 2021 Read full story →
Study reveals uncertainty in how much carbon the ocean absorbs over time Climate projections could be off by five years, researchers find. April 5, 2021 Read full story →
Physicists flip particle accelerator setup to gain a clearer view of atomic nuclei Shooting beams of ions at proton clouds may help researchers map the inner workings of neutron stars. March 29, 2021 Read full story →
MIT engineers make filters from tree branches to purify drinking water Prototypes tested in India show promise as a low-cost, natural filtration option. March 25, 2021 Read full story →
Measuring the invisible Particle physicist Lindley Winslow seeks the universe’s smallest particles for answers to its biggest questions. March 24, 2021 Read full story →