The ability to register light from distant sources in the Universe is amazing enough, but now we can measure the gravity waves from celestial events too. How did we come to this, and what do we use to make this research possible?
One of the forefront observatories in gravitational wave research, constantly waiting for an elusive detection. How did it come about?
At the bottom of the sea laid a mysterious object with complex gearing. Upon discovery, it seemed to defy a simple purpose. What we have uncovered about it rewrites the abilities of our ancestors and allows us to marvel at human achievement.
Not all stars go out the same way. With electron-capture scenarios, they in fact can point to a wider diversity of stellar implosions and it is all because of the humble electron.
In the past, some galaxies were producing stars far above rates we see today. It turns out this was a by-product of galaxy mergers, and how it sent down can reveal evolutionary details of the Universe.
With so many exoplanet candidates out there, it shouldn't be surprising that a few turned out to be false positives. How did we end up finding this out?
Where did the first magnetic fields come from, and how did they impact the evolution of the Universe?
Probing the atomic world and its workings is challenging and oftentimes a lengthy battle. Here we find one of the fields that is potentially going to reveal some new physical mechanics of the world.
Some of the most popular objects in the Universe belong to this class of object. But what are they about and how do they impact the life of the cosmos?
Stars form from gas and dust, they fuse material, and then they die in many fascinating ways . . . but some come back from the dead and are born-again!
Its clear that gravity is crucial to engineers. How about some surprises that come of unexpected moments where gravity defies assumptions?
What are some surprising ways gravity plays a role in the physical demands of athletics?
Somewhere out in the universe there could be stars that look and operate just like normal, but be made of antimatter. Could such stars actually exist?
Arguably one of the most amazing things seen in out solar system is the rings of Saturn. As we learn more about these structures, they are even more fascinating than what we can see...
Unlike our planet, Saturn's atmosphere conceals many secrets about the gas giant. But we are slowly learning what is hidden within...
Throughout the Sun, complex processes are taking place. We could go in depth about nuclear fusion, but what about the less talked about events that occur in our local star?
The inner layers of the Sun are where the mechanics of nuclear fusion and heat transfer take place, but what are the designations for each part? How do they work and relate to each other? And how does it impact us?
The outer layers of the Sun are where we can see the most action from Earth, but what are the designations for each part? How do they work and relate to each other? And how does it impact us?
How the solar system was developed is mysterious and can really only be pieced together by geological evidence and comparisons to other exoplanet systems. But when even the most basic building block is questionable in origin and function, what are we to do?
Nature continues to impress us with its myriad ways of facilitating life. One of these is the wood wide web, the complex network of fungi and plant life that shows how there is more than meets the eye.
How are compounds made in the Universe? Many different ways, thankfully, building up a deep and immersive field of nucleosynthesis for us to explore.
Though a tricky topic to discuss without going into pseudoscience, this will attempt to look at some serious inquiries into how these two fields are potentially beneficial to each other.
Sometimes physics needs to undergo a major revision. While it remains to be seen if this theory is one of those moments, the implications it offers will change how you view the world around you.
Understanding the mind-body relationship is challenging at best. Here are a few tidbits to get you thinking about how the mind is a powerful tool, one that you can potentially use in surprising ways.
The grand scale of things is made up of little processes, but what if the large directly influences these? This is the goal of causal emergence, where the big impacts the small.
The proton is simple, right? Not even close, as particle physics as uncovered that its true nature is an uncertain sea that holds its secrets closed...until now.
One of the more promising theories of consciousness, IIT potentially offers a measurable way of determining if something is conscious or not.
Though it's been over a hundred years since it happened, the Tunguska Event destroyed vast amounts of land in remote Siberia. Was it a meteor, a comet, or something else?
From proteins to potentiation, the process of making memories is quite complex but shows the wonders of how we hold onto the moments of our lives.
For years, the existence of these waves was disputed, mainly being attributed to tall tales of the sea. Modern observations and research now show there is more here than previously thought.
One of many astronomical mysteries, they represent another puzzle for us to solve.
One of the most dynamic stellar classes out there, these stars have many mysteries that are just being resolved.
It all started with a Big Bang, then led to us. How did we get all those amazing chemicals along the way?
By identifying what troubles you make for yourself and how you build up a sense of self, one can overcome their illusions and find out what happiness is really about.
Sure, we can look at a clock and see the passage of time, but what goes on in the brain itself as it notes the passing of time?
Through strange methods and concepts, one can conclude that our perception of ourselves and our reality is fundamentally not what it seems to be.
More common than once thought to be, these stars play a critical role in the life of the Universe.
Though still debated by the scientific community, it is worth looking into what is known (and unknown) about ball lightning.
With this new processing of quantum mechanics, we can possibly find the secrets of the particle as it interacts with the world.
You may have heard about the double slit experiment. Now check out the triple slit experiment, and see the surprises it has in store for us.
Arrokoth, formerly known as Ultima Thule, was the first Kuiper Belt Object visited by a probe. What did New Horizons find there?
Time travel is really weird. What if we could find ways to circumnavigate the problems it presents us with?
Volcanoes are not restricted to Earth's domain. Throughout the solar system, many other places have them, and in surprising varieties, unlike anything we have on Earth.
We see the Universe as a bunch of discrete objects interacting with each other, but maybe the relationship between us and our surroundings has even deeper levels to it. Such is the goal of the relational universe theory, conceptualizing how we see the world in an entirely new way.
No hard evidence is out there for their existence, but if gravitons are real then the ramifications for the fields of modern physics would be glorious
The smaller we go down in scale, the more surprising facts about the world are uncovered. This is no different in the field of nano-optics, where not everything is as it seems.
Continuing in a rich vein of tradition, the quantum eraser thought experiment puts causality on trial...and the verdict may surprise you!
Can effect precede cause, rewriting history in the process? Does it show causality to be a fiction? Such troubling thoughts arise when confronted with the quantum delayed choice experiment.
If found, quantum gravity would likely be the biggest finding of the century, tying together two seemingly incompatible fields of science. Here, we will take a look at some promising candidates and see where they take us.
Deciphering how the brain learns is crucial to knowing ourselves. Through neuroscience, we have found an amazing surprise: neurons which fire through mimicry! These are the mirror neurons, and their true nature is still clouded in mystery.
Imagine a material with no overarching repetitive pattern to it, yet it follows a rule for formation that seems to defy physics. Such is the mysterious nature of the quasicrystal.
The main forces of physics involve gravity, light, as well as the strong and weak nuclear forces. But is there a fifth one remaining to be seen?
Many subsets of quantum mechanics offer different interpretations of reality. One dates back from nearly the beginning of the field and is gaining steam in recent years, in the form of Bohmian Mechanics.
How much do you know about karma? Karma can have many associations with it that can cause confusion. In this article, I will talk about a few different ones that may enlighten you as to what it could mean for you.
Galileo had many sources of inspiration, and many of them came at this critical juncture in science history.
Galileo's contributions to physics mainly arose from some surprising medieval sources...
Much is made of Galileo's work, but look at some of the surprising origins...
New Horizons shocked us when it uncovered an extensive atmosphere on Pluto. What have we learned since then?
When New Horizons flew by Pluto, it found evidence for flowing liquids on Pluto. What is going on here?
Yes, Pluto has mountains, but they are unlike their counterparts on Earth...
Surely you have heard of them all, right? Sometimes though, there are new ones hidden within old ones...
Amazing technological textiles have been a science fiction trope for years. But now, it is entering reality with some surprising applications. Read on for the latest news in electronic clothing.
New propulsion methods are needed if we are to explore outer space in a timely (and cost-effective) manner. But does this drive violate physics? Read on for my opinion on whether or not far-space travel is possible.
Some mistakes carry more weight than others. But in physics, even a small level of imprecision can change the picture completely...
While a likely hypothetical star class, it does have advantages to the stellar models we predict should be true.
While a challenging field to get into, phenomenology may offer some insights into the mysterious realm of consciousness.
Short answer: maybe. Long answer: well, it's complicated. . .
Flavors imply taste and satisfaction. Well, neutrinos are hardly either of those, but the mechanisms behind the different types can yield many surprising facts. What is a neutrino, and what are their flavors?
Much like any organization, the brain itself is compartmentalized. Or is it...?
Such a common experience, and yet so many surprising facts about it may bring a ringing clarity to your knowledge of physics.
How can little beads of liquids lead to so many fascinating routes?
Some practitioners of the mental habits of yoga claim to perform some amazing physical feats. What does science have to say about that?
Chirality is a fundamental property of particle physics. It's all about the symmetry, people.
Science versus philosophy, and at stake is our fundamental understanding of time!
Who wouldn't want more tools to help us handle the stress of our lives? Well, science has an answer that relies only on you...
They seem to form no pattern except frustration on our part as we undo them. But as it turns out, there is more here than you may realize. Follow the string, if you will...
Getting something from nothing is the dream of perpetual machine enthusiasts. Have we finally cracked the code?
Finding any alternate approaches to dealing with depression can lead to an endless search. So why not start, but from within?
Metal, metal, metal...It surrounds you everyday in some form or another. What could possibly be exciting research at the frontiers of the field?
Energy from matter isn't a 100% efficient process, but scientists are working hard on getting as close as possible, with new and novel methods.
The future is quantum. So how will our ability to message and transmit data be impacted by it? This article describes how the science of quantum mechanics will alter and enhance our communication systems.
In studying transforming surfaces, we find some surprising applications.
Membranes are versatile and yet rarely appreciated materials. How are we improving them?
How have recent developments in material sciences led to stronger stuff?
Quantum computers are the future, but they are incredibly challenging right now. What are we doing to resolve the quantum memory component?
Quantum entanglement is a tricky topic. Experimentation can help clarify a few things, so check out some examples.
You may be very surprised to learn how physics affects things we experience every day. I know I was.
Technology is getting smaller and smaller. So how are changes with nanowires making macroscopic impacts?
Besides a catchy song, it's a deep and exciting topic of astrophysical phenomena. It could also be the key to resolving several mysteries of science. Let's dive in!
Ice is a magical material. Seriously, it is the underpinning of many basic functions on Earth. But are there extremes that defy our conventional thoughts? Read on for three amazing facts about ice.
Quasiparticles? Spin Waves? What is going on here?
It is a tough topic with no real consensus. What hope is there to resolve this?
As we gain deeper understanding of quantum systems, technology will also improve because of it. SQUIDs are but one example of this fascinating field.
Dark energy is stumping astronomers and attempts to rectify it are numerous. What does this idea bring to the table?
Planets have the capacity to capture space objects using gravity. Here is a unique population of such objects around Jupiter, and their secrets may help reveal our origins.
We may be on the threshold of some serious answers to how physics is all connected. But first, we need to do some testing and find out our viable options.
What does machine learning and evolution have in common? More than you may realize...
Solid, liguid, gas, and plasma, right? Well...
Besides their aesthetic beauty, crystals offer much to the world and in surprising ways.
Man has taken many inspirations for soaring the skies, but nature has held some secrets that we are only now uncovering...
The most common element in the Universe has more forms than you may realize...
Paper cranes and little boats are the easy parts of origami. Wait until you see the surprising connections it and kirigami have to physics!
Is our reality so beautiful as to be made of math?
Carbon is a pretty amazing material that as you will see is offering some amazing changes to technology.
Another day, another quantum phenomena to explore.
Taking complicated topics like quantum mechanics and molecular biology sounds daunting at best. What headway can we make on this?
Dark energy is by no means an accepted hypothesis. Lots of evidence is present but so are some conflicts. Here we take a look and see what the trouble is with dark energy.
Humans love patterns, but what if there is a sneaky one across the whole Universe?
We trust that scientific facts are true everywhere, but what if they aren't? Is it possible that the so-called "universal" laws of physics are anything but? Read on for my explanation.
Another day, another celestial X-ray mystery . . .
Learning about black holes? There's so much we don't know. Could they be atoms? What else could they be? In another attempt at understanding black holes, we have to travel down an unlikely path...
Physics is beautiful. Another day, another particle physics mystery to unwrap. Let's see what beauty hadrons reveal about the universe!
Studying astronomy? You'll need to know about the Yarkovsky and YORP effects. Read on for my full explanation of these hidden forces and their consequences in astronomy.
The key to the sub-atomic world, yet so misunderstood. Let's rectify that!
That beautiful moon has more going on than meets the eye. Explore some hidden mysteries that you didn't know you knew!
Making enough electricity for our needs is getting tricky. What alternative methods are there?
Space is a mysterious place. What hidden facets are there that remain unsolved yet rarely talked about?
Savior of dark matter or a conceptual dead end?
Ever evolving and ever fascinating, here are some new pieces of solar tech and how they work.
In the vein of other X Prizes, the goal was to push the known boundaries. Who was the winner?
In the search for dark matter, many different possibilities exist. One of these is axions, and their potential is real.
Understanding the structure of the Universe seems impossible. But through clever science and surprising math, a pattern emerges: The Cosmic Web.
At the heart of cosmology is how the Universe started and where is it going, but problems resolving this exist. Those can be answered by the Grand Unified Theory and Inflation.
Thought you understood black holes? Well, think again!
Superconductor research is always pushing the boundaries. Let's see where it takes us...
How does the brain store and transfer memories? Science may finally have an answer via the CREB protein.
What is the latest advancements in light physics?
Chaos is a natural phenomena and it makes its presense known in the solar system but perhaps in the most unusual ways....
What are the latest advancements in fluid physics?
Without this tool, understanding our cosmos wouldn't be possible. How did the discipline get its start?
Have you heard of "fractals"? What are they? Have you seen them? How do they work? Have we discovered every fractal? Read on for the answers to these questions and many more. Everything you need to know about fractals is in this article!
Life would not exist without physics. Many have heard of the amino acid experiment done to show how the building blocks of life began, but let us go even deeper and see if we can uncover the physics which cause life to arise in the first place.
What started out as a challenge to quantum mechanics ended up forging an even more powerful result.
Could two of the biggest mysteries in Physics be one and the same?
Sure, we've seen them in sci-fi movies, but what is the real physics behind wormholes?
There are neutron stars which excite us. Then there are pulsars, which take neutron stars to the next level. What comes after that? Magnetars. This and more extreme neutron star questions are tackled here.
Particle physics is full of surprises, but to discover a location of tranquility in a storm of instability is amazing. Yet that is exactly what the island of stability is.
Everyone should be constantly concerned with battery life. What advancements are being made to improve this field?
In every theory, certain tools are indispensable. Chaos theory is no different, and without phase portraits or phase space, we would be dead in the water.
Every scientific road needs applications. Chaos is no different, and some led to further insights into the discipline. Here are a few of them . . .
Complicated? Yes. Possible to understand? For sure. Surprising results? Of course! The road to chaos is mapped here.
Calculus! We all love it, but who were the early pioneers that led the fight over indivisibles, a cornerstone for this topic?
We all love a good stellar mystery, and Tabby's Star is proving to be a great one. What possibilities exist for its strange behavior?
Like all important fields of study, Calculus had its growing pains. Here is the journey to the foundations of that amazing field.
None of us will make it to another star system. But that doesn't mean we can't see what one looks like. Starshot is that chance.
So many different versions to consider. Will you be the one to come up with a new solution?
Imaginary time—sounds made up, doesn't it? But in reality, it could be a missing key to physics. This article will attempt to answer an elusive question in science: What is imaginary time?
Seeing other stars up close? Is it possible? Indeed! Come and see what was once science fiction but may now be possible with resolved images and pictures of other stars.
New celestial objects in the solar system are always intriguing. What are these new classifications and their implications for us?
Black holes are engines of destruction unlike anything we are familiar with. One of their specialties is a tidal disruption event, and here we will delve into the mechanics of it.
Another one? Yes, a brand new field of study into how certain stars end their life.
While we don't know if they exist, the physics of tachyons would bring much excitement to science. But what are they?
Black holes are eternal, right? Nope, and the reason why is shocking: quantum mechanics!
Much happens here, and at a fast pace. Take a look at what you are missing!
Can such a thing happen? Many people in the past think so...
What started as a simple thought experiment grew to be so much more...
Why is the sky dark at night if stars are everywhere? Read on to find out the surprising answer!
Cosmological mysteries are numerous, incredible in size, and the possible explanations for them are just as bountiful. Let's explore the supervoid, one of those mysteries, and see what it could be...
Scientists have their own way to talk about black holes. Want to expand your ability to do just that? Read on to find out how . . .
Galileo, the great prototype for all scientists, made many discoveries in physics and astronomy. But whose work did he directly build off of?
Often a headache, time paradoxes are hard to fully delve into. Lets try and take a look at a few of them and see what we can learn from them.
How do we measure the distance to far away objects? That's tough talk for sure, and the history behind the theories involved are just as interesting.
Could the moon have its own moon? It sounds crazy, but it might just be true. Have you ever seen the moon's moon? How big is it? Read on, and you may be surprised by what you find.
Have you heard of Zeno's paradox? There are actually several paradoxes. Ready for some ancient thought experiments? Think you can handle any mental puzzle? You might be surprised. The solutions are not as easy as they seem!
Another astronomical mystery without an easy solution. Did astronomers find an unknown planet in the 1830s?
Already a complicated subject, black holes get even weirder when viewed through the lens of string theory. Read on for some odd possibilities for what black holes really are.
The Inquisition was a dark time in human history. One of its victims was Galileo, the famous astronomer. What led to his trial and conviction?
Galileo was an accomplished man and the prototype scientist. But along the way, he got into a lot of verbal jousts and here we will dig deeper into the best ones he partook.
Astronomy is full of historical examples of mysterious objects that have been seen even if they weren't really there. Did Lassell actually spot the rings of Neptune?
Galileo not only spotted new objects in the sky but also laid the groundwork for advancements in physics. What were they?
Galileo's findings in astronomy shook the world. What did he see?
Many objects have been seen in the sky that were found to be nonexistent. Here is one that was well-documented but alas, was something else...
The methods implemented by the ancient Greek people to find the circumference of the Earth were simply amazing, especially when you see how accurate they were.
Like many aspects of particle physics, electrons offer their own unique problems. Here is a sampling of some of the most interesting ones.
Captain Kirk had one last adventure after the Nexus. What happened that changes our view of his final mission? Read on to find out how he accomplished this feat.
Captain Kirk goes through an amazing journey in The Star To Every Wandering, not just physically but emotionally as well. Let us take a look at what new revelations we find out about Kirk.
Such a small difference can make a huge impact on physics. The neutron has done that, and a resolution to this problem isn't going to be easy to find.
Through this trilogy that celebrated the 40th anniversary of Star Trek, we looked at the inner psyche of Spock in a brand new light. Here we will examine him and how he was after the loss of Kirk.
In the first review of this novel, we saw Spock lose his control and reject his humanity. Here we will explore how he regained it with a little bit of help from an old friend and the impact it had.
A time of turmoil in the solar system, much evidence is found for its lasting impact. Here we examine that and see what conclusions we can reach.
Well before the rigors of science took hold in the world, people have come up with some creative ideas for our solar system. Let us explore a few of those now.
With an amazing trilogy to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Star Trek, breaking it up to examine its revelations is difficult. Let us take a look at what happened to McCoy in our timeline...
The start of the 40th anniversary of Star Trek provided us with an inside look at McCoy, a man who we find led two extraordinary lives. Here are some inside moments into the alternate life of McCoy.
Astrophysics has provided us with countless wonders in the Universe. Here is the next one though, and detecting one will prove to be more than a challenge. Read on to learn what a Thorne Zytkow object is.
Like the chicken or the egg debate, this has two sides that are determined they are right. Here is the evidence we have, and no easy answers are to be found.
Before New Horizons, little was known about Pluto's moons. Now, we are witnessing a complex picture forming around them that will intrigue for years to come.
The matter around you is composed of atoms, but if we delve deeper, we can find subatomic parts made of quarks and gluons. But they don't work according to our current understanding of physics.
Talking about the early Universe is a difficult proposition, with so many competing factors we have to take into account. Then throw in inflation, black holes, and holograms, and we got complexity.
X-rays are a great tool for science, and so are lasers. So combine them and what do you got? Some awesome physics.
Finding the age of the Universe is like completing a puzzle without knowing the big picture. We have many clues, but sometimes pieces can be misleading...
Known for centuries, these mysterious particles are just now beginning to shed their secrets.
This little moon of Saturn is proving to be a fascinating place . . . for life?
Einstein has been verified time and time again. Want another test or two? Then let us push it to the extreme just like Gravity Probe A and B did.
Mercury is not only the first planet in the solar system but the least understood terrestrial planet. That all changed with the arrival of MESSENGER, and the secrets it uncovered are mysterious.
Many probes have visited our closest neighbor so many times. But so rarely has a duo been utilized for such precise measurements. Read on to see what Ebb and Flow uncovered underneath the moon.
An awfully subjective topic, but take a look and see if you find something you never knew existed. Our solar system has plenty to look at.
Another recent development in astronomy, though this one is full of mystery. What are these bursts, and what implications do they raise?
Despite what you may have been told, we can see around a black hole if the conditions are right. Based on what we find there, we may have to rewrite the books on relativity.
Often in science, background workers put in the true efforts that other take credit for. Here is an axample of such an individual.
Some require little science while others are pushing boundaries. Here is a sampling of all the different methods we know.