The Phony Physics of Star Wars Are a Blast
Those epic battle scenes in space are awesome—and physically impossible. But hey, it’s more fun this way!
A New Quantum Algorithm Speeds Up Solving a Huge Class of Problems
It’s been difficult to find important questions that quantum computers can answer faster than classical machines, but a new algorithm appears to do so for some critical optimization tasks.
Scientists Are Mapping the Bizarre, Chaotic Spacetime Inside Black Holes
By understanding the churning region near singularities, physicists hope they might be able to reconcile gravity and quantum mechanics.
Small Language Models Are the New Rage, Researchers Say
Larger models can pull off a wider variety of feats, but the reduced footprint of smaller models makes them attractive tools.
This Famous Physics Experiment Shows Why the Government Should Support ‘Useless’ Science
Basic research often pays huge dividends—but that’s not why we do it.
Scientists Are Mapping the Boundaries of What Is Knowable and Unknowable
Math and computer science researchers have long known that some questions are fundamentally unanswerable. Now physicists are exploring how physical systems put hard limits on what we can predict.
Torpedo Bats and the Physics of the Sweet Spot
Baseball season just started, and everyone’s talking about these crazy new bats. Will they change the game?
Why Adding a Full Hard Drive Can Make a Computer More Powerful
Ten years ago, researchers proved that adding full memory can theoretically aid computation. They’re just now beginning to understand the implications.
How a Cup of Tea Laid the Foundations for Modern Statistical Analysis
Scientific experiments run today are based on research practices that evolved out of a British tea-tasting experiment in the 1920s.
A Math Couple Solves a Major Group Theory Problem—After 20 Years of Work
Britta Späth has dedicated her career to proving a single, central conjecture. She’s finally succeeded, alongside her partner, Marc Cabanes.