High Energy Physics and Computational Science

The quantum revolution is advancing technology, and new experimental equipment from the University of Barcelona helps students understand key quantum concepts. Quantum physics is undergoing a second revolution, poised to drive exponential advancements in computing, the internet, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and biomedicine. This surge in quantum technologies is attracting a growing number of students eager to explore subatomic concepts such as quantum entanglement and superposition, unlocking the transformative potential of quantum science. However, grasping the counterintuitive principles of quantum mechanics and understanding their impact on technological progress remain key challenges in 2025 a year UNESCO has designated as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. In response to this need, a research team from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Barcelona has developed innovative experimental equipment designed to help students engage with complex qua...

Researchers discovered rutherfordium-252, the shortest-lived superheavy nucleus, refining the “island of stability” map and advancing nuclear stability research. A collaborative team of researchers from GSI/FAIR, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and the Helmholtz Institute Mainz has advanced our understanding of the “island of stability” in superheavy nuclides. They achieved this by precisely measuring the superheavy rutherfordium-252 nucleus , now identified as the shortest-lived superheavy nucleus on record. Their findings were published in Physical Review Letters and recognized as an “Editor’s Suggestion.” The strong nuclear force binds protons and neutrons within atomic nuclei. However, the positive charge of protons generates a repulsive force, which can destabilize nuclei with an excessive number of protons. This intrinsic instability poses significant challenges in synthesizing new superheavy elements . Certain combinations of protons and neutrons , the so-called “magic numb...

Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are one of the greater mysteries facing astronomers today, rivaled only by Gravitational Waves (GWs) and Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs). Originally discovered in 2007 by American astronomer Duncan Lorimer (for whom the “Lorimer Burst“ is named), these shot, intense blasts of radio energy produce more power in a millisecond than the Sun generates in a month. In most cases, FRBs are one-off events that brightly flash and are never heard from again. But in some cases, astronomers have detected FRBs that were repeating in nature, raising more questions about what causes them. Prior to the discovery of FRBs, the most powerful bursts observed in the Milky Way were produced by neutron stars, which are visible from up to 100,000 light-years away. However, according to new research led by the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON), a newly detected FRB was a billion times more radiant than anything produced by a neutron star. What’s more, this burst was so bright ...

Researchers at Northwestern have found a way to keep quantum networks functioning despite the inherent instability of quantum links. By strategically adding links, they demonstrated that networks can be maintained with far fewer new connections than expected, offering a more efficient model for quantum communications. Quantum Networks and Entangled Photons Entangled photons have immense potential for quantum computing and communications, but they come with a significant challenge once used, they vanish. In a new study published on January 23 in Physical Review Letters, physicists at Northwestern University introduced a new approach to sustain communication in constantly changing and unpredictable quantum networks. Their research shows that by strategically rebuilding lost connections, the network can eventually reach a stable, though altered, state. Balancing Quantum Network Connections The key to maintaining a functioning quantum network lies in adding the right number of connectio...

Scientists have uncovered altermagnetism, a revolutionary third form of magnetism that bridges the strengths of ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism while introducing unique properties like time-reversal symmetry breaking. This discovery not only redefines magnetic science but also promises to revolutionize fields like superconductivity and spintronics. In a groundbreaking study, researchers at the University of Nottingham have uncovered a new class of magnetism called altermagnetism. Published in Nature, this discovery bridges the gap between two well-known types of magnetism ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism and has profound implications for the future of superconductivity, spintronics, and magnetic memory storage. By combining the best properties of its predecessors, altermagnetism offers the speed, resilience, and unique symmetry-breaking properties needed to revolutionize next-generation technologies. A New Magnetic Paradigm: Altermagnetism Explained For decades, scientists...

One of Earth’s seven quasi-moons has just got a new name: Asteroid 2004 GU9 is now known as Cardea, one of the Roman deities of doors and thresholds with a particular focus on hinges. Cardea is not a real satellite of our planet like the Moon  it is not gravitationally bound to the Earth, but it moves around the Sun in a way that makes it look like it goes around the Earth. It will continue to do so until well into the 2600s. There was a public call-out for name suggestions, and a panel of judges selected seven names. More than 10,000 people voted to select this name among the finalists, and Cardea was the winner. “Cardea was the Roman goddess of the hinge . Roman doors hung on pivot hinges. Cardea was one of at least four Roman deities who presided over doorways. The name was selected by participants in the 2024 naming contest run by the WNYC (New York public radio) RadioLab program and the IAU,” the International Astronomical Union wrote in their latest Working Group Small Bod...

Gyrating objects should be hourglass-shaped to hold a hoop steady Experiments with hula-hooping robots revealed how the hoops stay up, providing some tips for humans aiming to perfect their technique. To keep a Hula-Hoop aloft , it helps to be in shape - literally. Experiments with gyrating, hoop-slinging robots have revealed how these spinning rings stay up despite the pull of gravity.  The shape needs to have “hips” a slope that provides upward force to counteract gravity. And a “waist”  curvature like an hourglass  keeps the hoop from drifting up or down and sliding off. Inspired by performers near his home in Greenwich Village, applied mathematician Leif Ristroph of New York University began considering the physics of Hula-Hoops . Previous studies, he and colleagues realized, hadn’t explained how the hoop stays aloft. (Ristroph has a track record of tackling quirky physics questions. His group recently investigated what would happen if a lawn sprinkler sucked water i...

Prepare for an astronomical event that will leave you in awe! A brilliant comet is set to illuminate the skies over Australia, providing a breathtaking display for stargazers. This spectacular sight promises to be unforgettable, especially since it won’t return for a staggering 800,000 years. Skywatchers across the country are eagerly anticipating this rare opportunity. The comet, which will be visible to the naked eye, is projected to peak visibility in the coming days. As it streaks through the sky, residents are encouraged to find dark spots away from city lights to fully appreciate its beauty. This cosmic phenomenon marks a significant event in the world of astronomy. Experts are excited about the chance to observe the comet’s unique features, including its glowing tail and luminescent body, which are results of solar radiation heating the comet’s materials. As the comet approaches Earth , universities and observatories are gearing up to provide live updates and viewing guidance. ...

As far as supermassive black holes go, the one at the center of the Milky Way is relatively sedate. But, even in its supposed quiescent state, Sagittarius A* is prone to the occasional belch or rupture – and now, using JWST, astronomers have recorded it doing something we've never seen before. On 6 April 2024, the black hole let out a flare observed in mid-infrared wavelengths, followed by a radio flare counterpart. Although Sgr A* belches out the occasional flare, this is the first time we've captured it in mid-infrared  one of the missing pieces of the puzzle of the black hole's behavior, according to a team led by astronomer Sebastiano von Fellenberg from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany. "Sgr A*'s flare evolves and changes quickly, in a matter of hours, and not all of these changes can be seen at every wavelength," says astrophysicist Joseph Michail of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. "For over 20 years, we've know...

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) of NASA recently delivered a remarkable finding by discovering individual stars in a galaxy 6.5 billion light years away. The incredible discovery was published by the Nature Astronomy magazine , proving JWST’s potential to explore distant galaxies even while providing fresh facts on the evolution of galaxies and dark matter. Discovery of the curving of light by the cosmos: Analysis of Abell 370 The amazing thing about this discovery was where 44 different stars were magnified by the Abell 370 galaxy cluster , during which hurled gravitationally light path bending the magnification principle. The galaxy cluster fell between FRB 0605 and Earth; FRB 0605 was brought more forcefully into the front and closer to Earth. To do this by distorting everything, it had to bend time: once all the light went out as though the stars were very much closer. This was enough to create an “ Einstein Ring ,” of which one familiar to the layman is based on his theory i...

The advance holds the promise to reduce error-correction resource overhead. Quantum computing promises to solve complex problems exponentially faster than a classical computer, by using the principles of quantum mechanics to encode and manipulate information in quantum bits (qubits). Qubits are the building blocks of a quantum computer. One challenge to scaling, however, is that qubits are highly sensitive to background noise and control imperfections, which introduce errors into the quantum operations and ultimately limit the complexity and duration of a quantum algorithm. To improve the situation, MIT researchers and researchers worldwide have continually focused on improving qubit performance. In new work, using a superconducting qubit called fluxonium, MIT researchers in the Department of Physics , the Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE), and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) developed two new control techniques to achieve a world-record sin...

Rice University physicists have mathematically unveiled the possibility of paraparticles, which defy the traditional binary classification of particles into bosons and fermions. Their research, which delves into the realms of abstract algebra and condensed matter, hints at groundbreaking applications in quantum computing and information systems, suggesting an exciting, albeit speculative, future for new material properties and particle behavior. Breaking Conventional Particle Categories Since the early days of quantum mechanics, scientists have believed that all particles fall into one of two categories  bosons or fermions defined by their distinct behaviors. However, recent research by Rice University physicist Kaden Hazzard and former graduate student Zhiyuan Wang challenges this idea. Their study, published in Nature on January 8, provides a mathematical framework suggesting the potential existence of paraparticles  particles that defy the traditional classification and we...

Researchers are closing in on the potential of nuclear fusion , the process that powers the stars, as a clean and inexhaustible energy source. At the heart of this effort is the tokamak reactor design, which uses magnetic fields to confine plasma and maintain the necessary conditions for fusion. A critical challenge has been managing the plasma edge instabilities, but recent breakthroughs in understanding how energetic particles interact with these instabilities suggest promising methods for improving reactor performance. Sustainable Energy and Nuclear Fusion Developing sustainable energy sources capable of meeting global energy demand is one of today’s most pressing scientific challenges. Among the potential solutions, nuclear fusion  the process that powers the stars stands out as a clean, virtually limitless energy source. The most promising approach to fusion energy is the tokamak reactor, which uses magnetic fields to confine plasma. High plasma confinement is critical for th...