Matthew Francis

New experimental techniques map out wave properties only known previously from theory.

Filament is just like we’d predicted, except for a bad case of gas.

First spectrum of ball lightning shows it shares chemistry with soil.

Was spotted at 3:47am EST this morning.

The best way to simulate them is by using ultracold atoms.

Titanium obeys theory, iron and nickel are rebels.

Researchers use quasars to kill off the last of the quantum hidden variables.

Gravitational magnification allowed measurement of black hole spin.

A perplexing asymmetry in relic radiation may point to new physics.

Behavior of electrons in topological superconductors emulates supersymmetry.

Similar systems are forerunners to supernovae.

Gravitational lensing may have made a white dwarf supernova 30 times too bright.

We know dark matter exists, but new research aims to pinpoint its exact location.

What if the most popular hypothesis is wrong? Plenty of fringier theories exist.

Armageddon is a bad model for saving Earth, but nukes might still be useful.

Merger or extra matter? Two papers come to opposite conclusions.

First unambiguous observation of the cosmic neutrino background.

There should be particles made entirely of gluons, but we don’t know how to find them.

Biomimicry looks to living organisms to create the future of sustainable engineering.

From the archives: In which the author travels to South Dakota to visit a gold mine—housing LUX.