Things like motion and shape should be straightforward, right? With electrons, this is never the case and what we will find is that they are even wackier than we suspect.
Like the phases of matter, there is a critical point in quantum states where stability is in flux. What implications are there for this quantum critical point?
Two advanced fields in physics may have some surprising connections that will help develop each field even further.
Mercury wasn't always the dead planet it is today. Rather, evidence suggests that volcanism and dynamic processes occurred, and it is via hollows and vents that we can see even modern activity on the nearest planet to the Sun.
Craters are a doorway into learning about the past of a planet or moon as well as what structure it takes. Here we will look at the Jezero and Lyot craters to see what lessons they can teach us about Mars.
While we have a seemingly unending list of quantum theories vying for dominance, this theory tries to get back to basics to help resolve issues better than many alternatives. But is it worth it?
Similar in concept yet different in scale, these two methods of memory development demonstrate the versatile nature of the world around us.
The brain is a giant network of neurons and dendrites, but how do the synapses within this play a role in memory? The key is long term potentiation.
Meteorites are the end result of an amazing process where energies and materials are exchanged with just blunt force impacts. But how does the process go down, and what surprises have been found in these impacts?
Finding water on the Moon was a surprise, but where it originated from may be even more shocking.
With the Integrated Information Theory, many challenges remain in a fully accountable theory. But what are these mysteries, and how can we go about resolving them?
In the early 20th Century, the arrival of Cepheid variable star measurements brought a new method for distance calculations in the Universe. From them we would either reject the "island universes" seen in the sky or reclassify them as something that would change our perception of everything...
Another of the amazing classes of supernova, these only happen to the largest stars and may clue us into new physical processes at extreme conditions.
With analysis, we can analyze windmills and how their design can be improved for better efficiency.
Are the dunes of Titan comparable to those of Earth? Sometimes the familiar isn't as it seems at first glance...or is it?
Much like the water cycle on Earth, methane helps shape the mechanics of Titan's surface. Many surprisingly similar processes occur on this large moon, yet many unexpected ones do as well.
The violent death of stars has many unexplained aspects to them, some seemingly defying what is physically possible.
Billions of years ago, they were common but nowadays primarily exist as satellites to other galaxies. What happened to them all?
Not all spacecraft need rockets to get to their destination. SpinLaunch hopes to show that another, cheaper, and surprising method exists that can open new doors to space access.
The MESSENGER spacecraft visited Mercury in the 2010s and changed how we look at this tiny planet. Here we will chronicle what the latter portion of its mission looked like.
White dwarfs may signal the end of many stars, but its certainly not the last word on their many adventures in the Universe!
These interactions help drive galactic evolution and will someday be a scenario we as a galaxy will experience.
Seeing how other planets in the Universe interact with their host stars reveals to us planetary dynamics - and may potentially reveal insights into our own home.
Pulsars are traditionally viewed as spinning neutron stars with magnetic fields that send material to the poles, sweeping out as beacons in the sky. But what if other objects mimic this behavior?
Pulsars are best-categorized by the properties that determine their spin and how that spin impacts their environment. Are they masters of their domain or reckless destructors?
Juno's mission to Jupiter has and continues to demonstrate the wonders of our solar system.
Neutron stars drive many astronomical processes that are crucial to galactic conditions changing.
Considered to almost be a sister planet to Pluto, this rather comparatively large moon challenges our understandings of planet formation and perhaps offers new insights into the Kuiper Belt as well.
While most stars exist in binary systems, several notable triple and quadruple star systems do exist. What do they tell us about the Universe?
Most stars in the Universe are a member of a binary system. Yet despite being so prevalent and seemingly commonplace, many exceptional specimens are out there. Some even seem to defy what is possible...
Many routes exist for making heavy elements, but the slow and rapid processes demonstrate how extreme conditions can lead to amazing moments.
With our very understanding of the Universe at risk, solving the issues around the Hubble Tension may require some subtle tweaks or possible complete revisions of cosmology itself.
While black hole mergers are fascinating cases of extreme physics, not all are as notable as these ones are.
One of the most fascinating exoplanet systems known so far, it has a wide range of planets that may have that precious element of the Universe: life.
Resolving the firewall paradox may be the key to quantum gravity, but how do we go about it?
Trying to spot where something is located in space requires patience and intellect. FRBs are pushing both of these to the limits.
Are these mysterious sources in the sky hyperflares? Magnetars? Blitzars? Or something even more exotic?
What causes these mysterious outbursts?
Our next-door neighbors (galactically speaking) shine in the unaltered sky. How did these remnants manage to hang around the Milky Way, and what can we learn about other galaxies from them?
The history of supermassive black hole activity and galactic mergers is rather complicated. Here we will examine the dynamics between the two.
Black hole jets are powerful outlets of destruction, yet somehow help keep the pulse of the Universe going. How is this possible?
This planetary nebula has no easy explanation for its existence, but with the help of modern astrophysics we can gain some routes to potentially explain this fascinating object in the sky.
While a black hole doesn't emit light, the material around it does as it gets heated and pulled. What do x-rays tell us about our supermassive black hole?
Learning about an object that can't be directly seen means we need to get creative in learning about it. With the help of neighboring stars, we can gain insights into our local supermassive black hole.
In our past, Earth may have been frozen over. How could this have happened, and are other such situations occurring on exoplanets across the Universe?
The materials inside brown dwarfs offer secrets of star formation and celestial evolution, and we are beginning to find out just how these failed stars are operating...
How do brown dwarfs interact with other objects? How hot or cold are they? What separates the different types? Here we will examine these questions and the surprising answers they entail.
Neurons have interesting structures on their own but gain in potential and interest as we examine their nature in the brain.
How brain cells communicate is a dance of chemistry and traffic, all occurring at the molecular level and allowing our brains to function.
While we do not have anything close to a full understanding of the mechanisms of the brain, new approaches such as this one are making strides into the unknown.
First it had to make it to Bennu, then it had to just grace its surface and fire away. How did OSIRIS-REx capture a piece of this asteroid?
Collecting material from a celestial object and bringing it back to Earth is an amazing accomplishment. Here we track the origins of one such mission that touched an asteroid...and came home.
Do hotter systems cool faster than expected? The science says maybe, depending on how you look at the situation.
Our brain has many secrets that continue to surprise us and one of them is visual masking experiments. See how our brain process information that we use without us ever knowing we received it.
Many stars across the cosmos are similar to our Sun, but how are they created?
It generates magnetic fields for celestial objects, but its deeper mechanics remain mysterious. How does the movement of material create magnetic fields?
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?
The LIGO is one of the forefront observatories in gravitational wave research, constantly waiting for an elusive detection. How did it come about?
A mysterious object with complex gearing was discovered at the bottom of the sea. Named the Anikythera Mechanism, it has rewritten the history of astronomy.
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 the rates we see today. It turns out this was a by-product of galaxy mergers, and how it was 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? Learn about primordial magnetic fields.
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. 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!
It's 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 are 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? There are 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, flare stars play a critical role in the life of the universe.
Though scientists have yet to prove the existence of ball lightning, it is worth looking into what is known (and unknown) about the phenomenon.
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 are some promising candidates.
Deciphering how the brain learns is crucial to knowing ourselves. Neuroscientists have made an amazing discovery: mirror neurons which fire through mimicry!
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 version dating back to the 1950s has gained steam 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 manner. Does this drive violate physics? Here's my opinion on the possibility of far-space travel.
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.
Do neutrinos interact with the Higgs Field? Do they break the laws of physics? Learn the real information about neutrinos.
Neutrinos come in three flavors: electron, muon, and tau neutrinos. The mechanisms behind the different types can yield many surprising facts.
Much like any organization, the brain itself is compartmentalized. Or is it...? Learn about the modular theory of the mind.
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! Learn about the Einstein-Bergson debate about 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? Read on to learn about quantum vacuum physics.
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?
Reality is a tough topic with no real consensus. What hope is there to resolve this? Read on to learn about some scientific theories of reality.
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, liquid, 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.
What is a skyrmion? Another day, another quantum phenomena to explore. Read on to learn about skyrmions and some research that confirms their existence.
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?
What is a primordial black hole? 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 it is going. Problems resolving this exist but can be answered by the Grand Unified Theory and Inflation.
Thought you understood black holes? Well, think again! Black holes can be an advanced physics topic; read on to read some research about them.
How does the brain store and transfer memories? Science may finally have an answer via the CREB protein.
Superconductor research is always pushing the boundaries. Let's see where it takes us. Read on to learn about developments in superconductor research.
What is the latest advancements in light physics?
What are the latest advancements in fluid physics?
Chaos is a natural phenomena and it makes its presense known in the solar system but perhaps in the most unusual ways....
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 wouldn't exist without physics. Let us try to uncover the physics that caused life to arise in the first place with Jeremy England's research on dissipative adaptation.
Could two of the biggest mysteries in physics be one and the same?
What started out as a challenge to quantum mechanics ended up forging an even more powerful result.
Sure, we've seen them in sci-fi movies, but what is the real physics behind wormholes?
There are neutron stars that 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.