Katie McCormick

Contributing Writer

Latest Articles

How Quantum Physicists Explained Earth’s Oscillating Weather Patterns

July 18, 2023

By treating Earth as a topological insulator — a state of quantum matter — physicists found a powerful explanation for the movements of the planet’s air and seas.

A New Experiment Casts Doubt on the Leading Theory of the Nucleus

June 12, 2023

By measuring inflated helium nuclei, physicists have challenged our best understanding of the force that binds protons and neutrons.

Strange Solar Gamma Rays Discovered at Even Higher Energies

February 27, 2023

There appear to be too many gamma rays coming from the sun. New higher-energy measurements reveal that this excess continues for a bit, then disappears — a cutoff that could help clarify what’s going on.

Asymmetry Detected in the Distribution of Galaxies

December 5, 2022

Two new studies suggest that certain tetrahedral arrangements of galaxies outnumber their mirror images, potentially reflecting details of the universe’s birth. But confirmation is needed.

Particle Physicists Puzzle Over a New Duality

August 1, 2022

A hidden link has been found between two seemingly unrelated particle collision outcomes. It’s the latest example of a mysterious web of mathematical connections between disparate theories of physics.

The Spooky Quantum Phenomenon You’ve Never Heard Of

June 22, 2022

Quantum computers may derive their power from the “magical” way that properties of particles change depending on the context.

Puzzling Quantum Scenario Appears Not to Conserve Energy

May 16, 2022

By resolving a paradox about light in a box, researchers hope to clarify the concept of energy in quantum theory.

Symmetries Reveal Clues About the Holographic Universe

January 12, 2022

Physicists have been busy exploring how our universe might emerge like a hologram out of a two-dimensional sheet. New clues have come from the symmetries found on an infinitely distant “celestial sphere.”

Gravitational Waves Should Permanently Distort Space-Time

December 8, 2021

The “gravitational memory effect” predicts that a passing gravitational wave should forever alter the structure of space-time. Physicists have linked the phenomenon to fundamental cosmic symmetries and a potential solution to the black hole information paradox.

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