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Natalie Wolchover

Columnist

Latest Articles

In a Grain, a Glimpse of the Cosmos

June 13, 2014

When scientists traced a museum rock back to its origins, they uncovered mysteries about the early solar system.

Physicists Prove Surprising Rule of Threes

May 27, 2014

Three groups of experimentalists have independently observed a strange state of matter that forms from three particles of any type and at any scale, from practically infinitesimal to infinite.

Forging a Qubit to Rule Them All

May 15, 2014

A scientist at Bell Labs has started construction of a topological qubit, which could be the building block of a robust, scalable quantum computer.

Decoding the Secrets of Superconductivity

April 30, 2014

Experimentalists have pinpointed the microscopic structure of waves inside high-temperature superconductors, which could be the key to understanding the complex materials.

Time’s Arrow Traced to Quantum Source

April 16, 2014

A new theory explains the seemingly irreversible arrow of time while yielding insights into entropy, quantum computers, black holes, and the past-future divide.

Possible Echo of Big Bang Detected

March 17, 2014

Scientists report the possible discovery of primordial gravitational waves, ripples in space-time that carry a record of how the universe began.

Betting on the Future of Quantum Gravity

March 14, 2014

New calculations suggest physicists may someday discover a fundamental theory of gravity, but it could require a radical new perspective on the universe.

Case for Dark Matter Signal Strengthens

March 3, 2014

A new analysis strengthens the case that gamma rays emanating from the center of the Milky Way come from dark matter particles known as WIMPs.

Big Bang Secrets Swirling in a Fluid Universe

February 12, 2014

With a new approach that treats the universe as a fluid, cosmologists plan to tease out the fine details of the Big Bang from its behavior and evolution.