Who's Afraid of the Dark? Alternatives to Dark Energy
Last week, we asked whether astronomers could be wrong about dark matter, the invisible stuff that seems to help hold galaxies together. Is it possible that dark matter doesn’t really exist? This week,...
View ArticleWhat's the Matter With Gravity?
Of the four fundamental forces of physics, gravity is the one you know in your bones. Gravity owns you. Try to cross a downhill street slick with ice and you slide helplessly; whatever is in control,...
View ArticleDark Matter 101
Astronomers have a pretty sweet job. They are paid to stare at the heavens and wonder. Some of their observations are pretty ordinary, but some observations are revolutionary—like the measurements of...
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Is the Standard Model as Good as it Gets?
We all dream of finding the one: dependable, motivated, and beautiful, “the one” has it all. But can the search for perfection keep us from appreciating the good thing we already have? I’m talking, of...
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How Many Dimensions Does the Universe Really Have?
An engineer, a mathematician and a physicist walk into a universe. How many dimensions do they find? The engineer whips out a protractor and straightedge. That’s easy, she says. With her instruments...
View ArticleVideo: What is Gravity Made Of?
One of the most incredible physics discoveries of the century was just made. It reveals new secrets of gravity and the birth of our universe, called “inflation.” This video takes us back to the...
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What Are Gravitons?
In a contest for the least contentious statement a person can make, “What goes up must come down” is surely a strong contender. Of the four known fundamental forces—gravity, the electromagnetic force,...
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There’s More Than One Way To Hunt For Gravitational Waves, Part 2
This is Part 2 of a two-part feature on the search for gravitational waves. Read Part 1 here. All of these techniques are exquisitely sensitive, seeking out minute changes. But gravitational waves...
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The Unbearable Lightness of Gravity
Bang on a drum and you create a disturbance. The drum’s vibrations set off a chain reaction: molecules move, air expands and is compressed, and a sound wave is born. It is straightforward to separate...
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Do We Need to Rewrite General Relativity?
General relativity, the theory of gravity Albert Einstein published 100 years ago, is one of the most successful theories we have. It has passed every experimental test; every observation from...
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