Did dark matter arise before the Big Bang?

Few things are as mysterious as dark matter, the strange substance that appears to outnumber ordinary matter by a ratio of five to one. Now, a physicist from Johns Hopkins University has outlined a new theory that helps to explain the stuff b… Continue reading Did dark matter arise before the Big Bang?

Lab-made "Mini-Sun" sheds light on the real thing

When scientists need to learn about something, recreating it in the lab is often one of the best ways – and now that even applies to the Sun itself. Physicists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have built a mini-Sun in the lab, and use… Continue reading Lab-made "Mini-Sun" sheds light on the real thing

The March Toward a DIY Metal 3D Printer

[Hyna] has spent seven years working with electron microscopes and five years with 3D printers. Now the goal is to combine expertise from both realms into a metal 3D printer based on electron-beam melting (EBM). The concept is something of an all-in-one device that combines traits of an electron beam …read more

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Binary white dwarfs are waltzing fast enough to distort spacetime itself

Gravitational waves are usually detected as they sweep across Earth after whatever cataclysmic event created them, but now astronomers have found a likely source before the waves become detectable. Using Caltech’s Zwicky Transient Facility (Z… Continue reading Binary white dwarfs are waltzing fast enough to distort spacetime itself

CERN searches for "dark photons," light's hypothetical cousin that could unlock dark matter

CERN experiments have been unable to detect dark photons

Dark matter is a mysterious substance that seems to permeate the universe, but detecting it is tricky on account of it not interacting with regular matter very often. Scientists have a list of particles that they’re working through as possible suspects, and now that list is a little shorter. Experiments at CERN have ruled out some types of dark photons, inching us closer to finding the elusive dark matter.

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Tabletop-sized gravitational wave detector could shed light on dark matter

It can take huge equipment to detect the tiniest things, and that’s particularly true when it comes to gravitational waves. The LIGO detector uses 4-km-long (2.5-mi) arms to pick up distortions just a thousandth of the width of a proton. But … Continue reading Tabletop-sized gravitational wave detector could shed light on dark matter

Stanford study suggests dark matter is lighter and more elusive than previously thought

Although it makes up about 85 percent of all matter in the universe, dark matter is frustratingly hard to pin down. In order to figure out what it is, much of the search is about ruling out what dark matter isn’t, and now physicists at Stanfo… Continue reading Stanford study suggests dark matter is lighter and more elusive than previously thought

Silicon chip breaks "blackbody limit" to produce more electricity from heat than thought possible

Energy conservation is a no-brainer and more important than ever, but it’s not just about environmental implications. If we’re to successfully create smaller, better, more efficient technology, then the thermal energy that our gadgets waste n… Continue reading Silicon chip breaks "blackbody limit" to produce more electricity from heat than thought possible

Solar Chameleons: CERN's search for dark energy particles from the Sun

Dark energy is one theory to explain the accelerating expansion of the universe, and a new ...

One of the biggest mysteries of the universe is why its expansion seems to be speeding up. Physicists have attributed it to a strange force called dark energy, but exactly how it works is largely speculative. Hypothetical “chameleon” particles could be behind dark energy, and physicists at CERN have been searching for these particles streaming from the Sun. Now, the team has reported the first results of their search.

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