This Is the Lightest Paint in the World
An energy-saving coating needs no pigments, and it keeps the surface beneath it 30 degrees cooler.
Pi Is Hiding Everywhere
For Pi Day, let’s track down the surprising spots where this mathematical constant turns up, from the quantum world to the everyday one.
How Quantum Physicists ‘Flipped Time’ (and Didn’t)
In 2022, two teams made photons act as if time were simultaneously flowing in both directions, which could point to a way to boost quantum devices.
Russia Is Powering Up a Giant Laser to Test Its Nuclear Weapons
To check that atomic weapons work, scientists run simulations of explosions using high-energy lasers—and Russia is building the strongest one of all.
Russia Is Powering Up a Giant Laser to Test Its Nuclear Weapons
To check that atomic weapons work, scientists run simulations of explosions using high-energy lasers—and Russia is building the strongest one of all.
Mathematicians Roll the Dice and Get Rock-Paper-Scissors
Researchers have uncovered a surprising wealth of “intransitive” patterns in randomly chosen dice.
The Physics Principle That Inspired Modern AI Art
Diffusion models generate incredible images by learning to reverse the process that, among other things, causes ink to spread through water.
The Secret to Bruce Lee’s Superhuman One-Inch Punch
Martial arts moves can seem magical, but maybe they just display a mastery of physics.
What Would Earth’s Temperature Be Like Without an Atmosphere?
If you want to know what the cloud of gas that surrounds the planet is really doing for us, you have to see what the world would be like without it.