Archive

Illustration of the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly

01/12/22

The second quantum revolution

Inventions like the transistor and laser changed the world. What changes will the second quantum revolution bring?

01/11/22

Playing by the quantum rules

Uncertainty, entanglement, spooky action: On the quantum scale, the universe doesn’t work the way you might expect.

01/11/22

Looking at a new quantum revolution

This month, Symmetry presents a series of articles on the past, present and future of quantum research—and its many connections to particle physics, astrophysics and computing.

Illustration of similar dark matter particles interacting

01/04/22

Theorists imagine a different kind of dark matter

Physicists are revisiting what they previously assumed about how dark matter interacts with itself.

Illustration demonstrating identical swimmers with different masses

12/07/21

Are leptons all alike?

Building experimental evidence suggests that the electron, muon and tau may feel different forces.

11/30/21

Physics books of 2021

Explore 10 new works related to particle physics and astrophysics, plus a bonus book on math.

Illustration: mentee wondering about a map, mentors offering pieces of maps

11/23/21

How to be a better mentor (and mentee)

Building a fulfilling mentor-mentee relationship requires agency and investment from both parties.

11/16/21

Catherine Heymans shines as Astronomer Royal for Scotland

Heymans, the first woman to be appointed to the role, hopes to give kids and others the chance to appreciate the stars.

11/09/21

The problem-solver: Cosmic inflation

Just over 40 years ago, a new theory about the early universe provided a way to tackle multiple cosmological conundrums at once.

Conceptual illustration of birds and fish

11/02/21

From physics to fisheries

Students in the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program hope to use skills they developed at Fermilab to benefit Indigenous communities.

A MicroBooNE electron neutrino event showing an electron shower and a proton track.

10/27/21

MicroBooNE experiment’s first results show no hint of a sterile neutrino

Four complementary analyses by Fermilab’s MicroBooNE show no signs of a theorized fourth kind of neutrino.

Photo of the BICEP3 telescope at the South Pole

10/26/21

BICEP3 tightens the bounds on cosmic inflation

A new analysis of the South Pole-based telescope’s observations has all but ruled out several popular models of inflation.

Illustration: Telescopes in space, telescopes on the ground

10/19/21

Eyes on the sky

There’s no one best way to build a telescope.

Illustration of hot, warm, and cold dark matter particle marble run

10/12/21

Is dark matter cold, warm or hot?

The answer has to do with dark matter’s role in shaping the cosmos.

Illustration showing runners behind a pattern representing magnet quenches

10/05/21

How to train your magnet

New accelerator magnets are undergoing a rigorous training program to prepare them for the extreme conditions inside the upgraded Large Hadron Collider.

Illustration of a lab where scientists are surrounded by computers and writing equations on a chalkboard

09/28/21

The coevolution of particle physics and computing

Over time, particle physics and astrophysics and computing have built upon one another’s successes. That coevolution continues today.