First observations of a “quantum tug” help unravel the weirdness of water

It makes up more than half of the human body and covers around 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, but there is still a lot we don’t understand about water. By using cutting-edge tools to study microscopic jets of the liquid, scientists have spotted wat… Continue reading First observations of a “quantum tug” help unravel the weirdness of water

Never-before-detected gravitational waves hint at dark matter

A new type of gravitational wave detector running in Western Australia has recorded two rare events that might be signals of dark matter or primordial black holes. These high-frequency gravitational waves are beyond the range of most detectors and have… Continue reading Never-before-detected gravitational waves hint at dark matter

2D quantum crystal sensor could hunt for dark matter particles

Dark matter should be all around us, but the stuff is frustratingly elusive. Now physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new sensor that could help us detect certain hypothetical dark matter particles, u… Continue reading 2D quantum crystal sensor could hunt for dark matter particles

Putting a gravitational wave detector on the Moon could find new physics

It’s tricky business detecting gravitational waves – these ripples in the very fabric of spacetime are often drowned out by background vibrations from earthquakes, traffic and other human activity. Now a pair of astrophysicists has proposed a new locat… Continue reading Putting a gravitational wave detector on the Moon could find new physics

Gravitational wave trifecta completed as black holes eat neutron stars

Detecting gravitational waves from collisions between two black holes or two neutron stars is becoming almost mundane, but now astronomers have detected the final piece of the trifecta – a black hole swallowing a neutron star. Two separate events rolle… Continue reading Gravitational wave trifecta completed as black holes eat neutron stars