Kilogram Redefined. The Metric System Overhaul Is Complete
The platinum-iridium cylinder has been scrapped, and the kilogram will now be determined by the Planck constant.
Quantum Physicists Found a New, Safer Way to Navigate
GPS can be hacked, so airplanes and ships need a backup system. These quantum physicists think they have an answer.
Physicists Condemn Sexism Through ‘Particles for Justice’
At least 1,600 signatures have been submitted to a letter protesting a sexist talk given by physicist Alessandro Strumia at CERN last week.
Physicists Win Nobel Prize for Lasers That Stretch, Bend and Blow Up Molecules
A trio of laser physicists—Arthur Ashkin, Donna Strickland, and Gérard Mourou—nab the prize for their work on optical tweezers and chirped pulse amplification.
Laser-Carrying Airplanes Uncover Massive, Sprawling Maya Cities
Using lidar, archaeologists have mapped the previously unseen ruins of entire Maya cities, revealing new details of their complex civilizations.
New Microscope Shows the Quantum World in Crazy Detail
The transmission electron microscope has a new bag of tricks, revealing the properties of materials at a much higher resolution than ever before.
The Case of a Revolutionary (But Imaginary?) Superconductor
If the unconfirmed claims of a room temperature superconductor are real, this is _bonkers_.
Quantum Computing Will Create Jobs. But Which Ones?
A new bill aims to support a growing quantum industry by training a new cross-disciplinary workforce.
Why You Can’t Trust More Cryptocurrency White Papers
Crypto-developers—ironically, a community devoted to eliminating centralized authority—could use more traditional vetting structures.
Why You Can’t Trust More Cryptocurrency White Papers
Crypto-developers—ironically, a community devoted to eliminating centralized authority—could use more traditional vetting structures.