Physics

An artist's illustration of a black hole "ringing"

Space

"Ringing" black hole proves Einstein right yet again

Astronomers have studied the ringing tones of a newly-created black hole for the first time, proving Einstein right once again.

A composite image showing galaxies in optical light, x-ray emissions in pink and invisible mass – or dark matter – in blue.

Physics

Superheavy gravitino proposed as dark matter candidate

Although it outnumbers regular matter by a ratio of five to one, dark matter is frustratingly elusive, and efforts to hunt down different types of candidate particles have revealed no direct trace. Now, researchers from Max Planck have proposed a new hypothetical particle that might be behind dark matter – the superheavy gravitino – and outlined just how we might find them.

UK researchers have conducted experiments to test a dark energy hypothesis and found no trace of the mysterious force.

Physics

Dark energy experiment fails to feel the force

The universe is believed to be expanding at an accelerating rate, thanks to a mysterious force dubbed dark energy. But how exactly does this force work?

An artist's rendition of a black hole beginning to devour a neutron star

Space

Gravitational waves point to a black hole swallowing a neutron star

Astronomers have detected a gravitational wave signal that appears to be caused by a black hole swallowing a neutron star. Aside from being an incredible cosmic cataclysm to witness, this detection is important for another reason: it may be the final point in the gravitational wave trifecta.

A new theory suggests that dark matter originated before the Big Bang

Physics

Did dark matter arise before the Big Bang?

Few things are as mysterious as dark matter. Now, a physicist from Johns Hopkins University has outlined a new theory that helps to explain the stuff but at the same time makes it seem even more bizarre. According to the study, dark matter may have originated before the Big Bang.

The artificial Sun, known as the Big Red Ball

Space

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 used it to probe the secrets of the real thing.

A Northwestern University team has unveiled plans to build a functioning gravitational wave detector small enough to fit on a tabletop

Physics

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

The LIGO detector uses 4-km-long (2.5-mi) arms. But now, a Northwestern University team is aiming to build a gravitational wave detector small enough to fit on a tabletop, which could detect signals the larger facilities miss.

A simulation of the dark matter structure around the Milky Way galaxy – ironically, the brighter spots indicate more dark matter

Physics

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

Physicists at Stanford and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have narrowed down the search for dark matter. Using observations of galaxies orbiting the Milky Way, the team found that dark matter is likely lighter than previously thought – and interacts even less with normal matter.

University of Utah mechanical engineering associate professor Mathieu Francoeur has discovered a way to produce more electricity from heat than thought possible with his Near-Field Radiative Heat Transfer Device

Electronics

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

Heat loss is wasted energy. If we're to successfully create smaller, more efficient technology, then the thermal energy that our gadgets waste needs to be put to better use. This new device, which works at the nanoscale where the theoretical "blackbody limit" falls apart, could be the answer.

Dark energy is one theory to explain the accelerating expansion of the universe, and a new CERN study has looked for a candidate particle for the force

Physics

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

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.

The researchers conducted the experiments in the DIII-D tokamak in San Diego

Energy

Nuclear fusion plasma could be stabilized against large eruptions – by causing lots of small ones

Nuclear fusion could be an essentially unlimited energy source, but large eruptions in the plasma can damage reactors. But now physicists have found a way to prevent those large eruptions, by triggering lots of small ones through the injection of tiny pellets of beryllium.

Middle schoolers can experiment with electromagnetism, thermodynamics, kinetics and kinematics courtesy of the Arduino Science Kit Physics Lab

Children

Arduino and Google get middle schoolers kitted out for science

Open source hardware and software company Arduino has teamed up with Google to develop and launch the Arduino Science Kit Physics Lab. Designed for students aged 11 to 14, the kit helps kids experiment with forces, motion, magnetism and conductivity.