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general relativity

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Fanciful illustration of galaxies with various geometric shapes at their centers.
mathematical physics

Mathematicians Find an Infinity of Possible Black Hole Shapes

By Steve Nadis
January 24, 2023
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In three-dimensional space, the surface of a black hole must be a sphere. But a new result shows that in higher dimensions, an infinite number of configurations are possible.

Illustration of the earth warping space-time, surrounded by small gears and galaxies.
Quantized Columns

How to Think About Relativity

By Sean Carroll
November 14, 2022
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Albert Einstein’s ideas about space-time aren’t exactly intuitive, and they aren’t exactly Einstein’s, either.

An illustration with a black disc in the middle evoking a black hole.
mathematical physics

At Long Last, Mathematical Proof That Black Holes Are Stable

By Steve Nadis
August 4, 2022
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The solutions to Einstein’s equations that describe a spinning black hole won’t blow up, even when poked or prodded.

Illustration of a rotating object that warps the space-time fabric around itself, as seen by eyes located in different places
general relativity

Mass and Angular Momentum, Left Ambiguous by Einstein, Get Defined

By Steve Nadis
July 13, 2022
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Surprising as it may sound, 107 years after the introduction of general relativity, the meanings of basic concepts are still being worked out.

fundamental physics

Gravitational Waves Should Permanently Distort Space-Time

By Katie McCormick
December 8, 2021
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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.

quantum physics

An Ultra-Precise Clock Links the Quantum World With Gravity

By Katie McCormick
October 25, 2021
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Time was found to flow differently between the top and bottom of a single cloud of atoms. Physicists hope that such a system will one day help them combine quantum mechanics and Einstein’s theory of gravity.

Illustration of a figure working on a laptop surrounded by flasks and liquids evaporating into discrete shapes in the air.
Quantized Columns

The Uselessness of Useful Knowledge

By Robbert Dijkgraaf
October 20, 2021
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Today’s powerful but little-understood artificial intelligence breakthroughs echo past examples of unexpected scientific progress.

A looping image of two black holes orbiting one another, with the second one smaller than the first.
mathematical physics

New Black Hole Math Closes Cosmic Blind Spot

By Steve Nadis
May 13, 2021
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A mathematical shortcut for analyzing black hole collisions works even in cases where it shouldn’t. As astronomers use it to search for new classes of hidden black holes, others wonder: Why?

An illustration of an airplane with its contrails coming out in front of it.
quantum gravity

Quantum Mischief Rewrites the Laws of Cause and Effect

By Natalie Wolchover
March 11, 2021
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Spurred on by quantum experiments that scramble the ordering of causes and their effects, some physicists are figuring out how to abandon causality altogether.


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