Many planets could have atmospheres rich in helium, study finds
For centuries, no one knew if we were alone in the universe—or if there were even other planets like ours.
Astronomy
Nov 22, 2022
0
497
University of Chicago
Electrons zip along quantum highways in new material
Researchers at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) have discovered a new material, MnBi6Te10, which can be used to create quantum highways along which electrons can move. These electron ...
Nanophysics
Nov 9, 2022
0
1205
Scientists discover material that can be made like a plastic but conducts like a metal
Scientists with the University of Chicago have discovered a way to create a material that can be made like a plastic, but conducts electricity more like a metal.
Polymers
Oct 26, 2022
4
6872
Engineering robust and scalable molecular qubits
The concept of "symmetry" is essential to fundamental physics: a crucial element in everything from subatomic particles to macroscopic crystals. Accordingly, a lack of symmetry—or asymmetry—can drastically affect the ...
Quantum Physics
Sep 28, 2022
0
509
Surprise finding suggests 'water worlds' are more common than we thought
Water is the one thing all life on Earth needs, and the cycle of rain to river to ocean to rain is an essential part of what keeps our planet's climate stable and hospitable. When scientists talk about where to search for ...
Astronomy
Sep 8, 2022
1
260
Black hole collisions could help us measure how fast the universe is expanding
A black hole is usually where information goes to disappear—but scientists may have found a trick to use its last moments to tell us about the history of the universe.
Astronomy
Aug 16, 2022
2
932
New fossil shows four-legged fishapod that returned to the water while Tiktaalik ventured onto land
A meme has been circulating online during the pandemic featuring Tiktaalik roseae, the iconic, four-legged "fishapod" that first made the transition from water to land 375 million years ago. Most variations show Tiktaalik ...
Evolution
Jul 20, 2022
1
521
Scientists invent 'quantum flute' that can make particles of light move together
University of Chicago physicists have invented a "quantum flute" that, like the Pied Piper, can coerce particles of light to move together in a way that's never been seen before.
Quantum Physics
Jul 6, 2022
0
4013
Algorithm predicts crime a week in advance, but reveals bias in police response
Advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence have sparked interest from governments that would like to use these tools for predictive policing to deter crime. Early efforts at crime prediction have been controversial, ...
Social Sciences
Jun 30, 2022
4
1349
Scientists release first analysis of rocks plucked from speeding asteroid
After a six-year journey, a plucky spacecraft called Hayabusa2 zinged back into Earth's atmosphere in late 2020 and landed deep in the Australian outback. When researchers from the Japanese space agency JAXA opened it, they ...
Planetary Sciences
Jun 9, 2022
3
762
