This year, two teams of physicists made profound progress on ideas that could bring about the next revolution in physics. Another has identified the source of a longstanding cosmic mystery.

Omololu Akin-Ojo of the East African Institute for Fundamental Research discusses his plans to invigorate theoretical physics in Africa, including by focusing on problems related to energy and water that will especially impact the continent.

Nigel Goldenfeld explains how condensed matter physics provides insights into the collective state of early life on Earth.

Vijay Balasubramanian discusses the connections he sees between physics, computer science, neuroscience and literature and the humanities.

It was a big year. Fermilab discovered possible evidence of new physics with the muon G-2 experiment. Physicists created a time crystal, a new phase of matter that appears to violate one of nature’s most cherished laws. And we got a glimpse of an enormous pair of bubbles towering over the Milky Way.

Minhyong Kim wanted to make sure he had concrete results in number theory before he admitted that his ideas were inspired by physics.

Cohl Furey explains what octonions are and what they might have to do with particle physics.

What is the deepest level of reality? In this Quanta explainer, Vijay Balasubramanian, a physicist at the University of Pennsylvania, takes us on a journey through space-time to investigate what it’s made of, why it’s failing us, and where physics can go next.