Articles by

Emily Conover

A predicted quasicrystal is based on the ‘einstein’ tile known as the hat

The “hat” wowed mathematicians. Now the shape is shaking up physics. In 2023, mathematicians reported that the...

Artificial intelligence helped scientists create a new type of battery 

In the hunt for new materials, scientists have traditionally relied on tinkering in the lab, guided by...

Invisible comet tails of mucus slow sinking flakes of ‘marine snow’

WASHINGTON — Tiny, sinking flakes of detritus in the ocean fall more slowly thanks to the goop...

A maverick physicist is building a case for scrapping quantum gravity

A rift runs deep through the heart of physics. The general theory of relativity, which describes gravity,...

50 years ago, astronomers challenged claims that Barnard’s star has a planet

For decades, scientists and science fiction authors have speculated about whether Barnard’s star,...

A rare, extremely energetic cosmic ray has mysterious origins

The “Oh-My-God” particle has a new companion. In 1991, physicists spotted a particle from space that crashed...

Light, not just heat, might spur water to evaporate

Green light means “go.” That might apply to evaporating water molecules too. Visible light, especially that of...

A controversial room-temperature superconductor result has now been retracted 

A stunning claim of a room-temperature superconductor that grabbed headlines has fizzled. The paper was retracted November 7 from...