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Scientists observe Einstein’s gravity in the quantum world

An international team has observed a distinctive change in the quantum properties of atoms as they fell under gravity, measuring a tiny difference in quantum phase accumulated while one was falling and the other was held still. This result provides an experimental connection between quantum physics and Einstein's theory of gravity.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 2, 2026

The Gravity from Entropy theory offers new clues for reconciling gravity with the second law of thermodynamics

A new study by Queen Mary University mathematician Professor Ginestra Bianconi proposes a perspective on the deep question of how the Universe can become increasingly structured while obeying the second law of thermodynamics. The Gravity from Entropy theory suggests that gravity and spacetime may have an intrinsic thermodynamic and inf...

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalPhysical Review·DateJul 17, 2026

Capturing the cosmic ‘drift’ before a star is born

A team of researchers from Kyushu University and Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics have detected ambipolar diffusion in a prestellar core, weakening magnetic support and leading to gravitational collapse. This finding provides insight into early star formation and the creation of stellar systems like our own.

SourceKyushu University·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeObservational study·DateJul 10, 2026

Antarctica sits above Earth’s strongest “gravity hole.” Now we know how it got that way

A new study finds that Antarctica's gravity hole formed as a result of slow rock movements deep under the Earth's surface, which overlapped with major changes in the continent's climate system. The study suggests that future research could reveal how the shifting gravity may have encouraged the growth of ice sheets.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 16, 2026

Researchers create chemotaxic biomimetic liquid metallic leukocytes with versatile behavior

The researchers created a chemotaxic biomimetic liquid metallic entity that exhibits various behaviors like engulfing foreign substances and changing shape, similar to living cells. These liquid metal structures can autonomously climb slopes and move through complicated surfaces with versatility and potential for future applications.

"islands" of regularity discovered in the famously chaotic three-body problem

Astronomers have discovered patterns of regularity within the chaotic three-body problem, which is a fundamental challenge in physics. The researcher's findings suggest that certain configurations of three massive objects can lead to predictable outcomes, offering new insights into astrophysics and the behavior of black holes.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateOct 10, 2024

How special is the Milky Way Galaxy?

The SAGA Survey has found that the Milky Way Galaxy appears to be an outlier in terms of its satellite galaxies, having acquired only two large satellites recently compared to other systems. The survey also explores the mechanisms that would stop star formation in these small galaxies, finding that environmental factors play a role.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateSep 25, 2024

Precision instrument bolsters efforts to find elusive dark energy

Researchers have built the most precise experiment yet to look for gravitational anomalies caused by dark energy, using a lattice atom interferometer that can hold atoms in place for up to 70 seconds. While no deviation from predicted theory was found, the improved precision opens up possibilities for probing gravity at the quantum level.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 26, 2024

A million light years and still going

Scientists at Case Western Reserve University have discovered that the rotation curves of galaxies remain flat for millions of light years, defying expectations and challenging traditional understanding of cosmology. This finding suggests that dark matter may not exist or that alternative gravity theories could explain this phenomenon.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 17, 2024

A “cosmic glitch” in gravity

Researchers discovered a 'cosmic glitch' in the universe's gravity, explaining strange behavior on a cosmic scale. The new model modifies Einstein's general relativity, resolving inconsistencies without affecting existing uses.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics·DateMay 1, 2024

How the moon turned itself inside out

Researchers at the University of Arizona used computer simulations and spacecraft data to study the moon's geology, finding that a dense layer of titanium-rich material sank into the interior and rose on the near side. The findings suggest that the moon 'turned itself inside out' during its formation.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 8, 2024

Positronium laser cooling

Researchers successfully cooled positronium atoms to record-low temperatures of 170 K, significantly reducing their transverse velocity component. This achievement has far-reaching implications for precision spectroscopy and the study of quantum electrodynamics.

SourcePolitecnico di Milano·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 27, 2024

A new possible explanation for the Hubble tension

Researchers from Universities of Bonn and St. Andrews propose an alternative theory of gravity as the cause of the discrepancy in measured values of the Hubble-Lemaitre constant. This 'modified Newtonian dynamics' (MOND) theory predicts the existence of regions with lower matter density, which would explain the observed deviations.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 1, 2023

Wearable devices may prevent astronauts getting 'lost’ in space

Scientists have developed wearable devices that vibrate to provide orientation cues, boosting the efficacy of astronaut training and making spaceflight safer. The study found that wearing these devices improved performance and reduced crashes in simulated spaceflight conditions.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Physiology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 3, 2023

Geotechnical centrifuge modeling for simulating long-term radionuclide migration in large-scale fractured rocks

Researchers from Zhejiang University developed a new method to simulate radionuclide transport in fractured granite, using hyper-gravity experiments and 3D-printed fracture networks. This breakthrough could improve deep geological disposal methods and mitigate the risk of nuclear waste leakage.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalRock Mechanics Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 16, 2023

Stellar fountain of youth with turbulent formation history in the centre of our galaxy

A young star cluster, IRS13, has been found to be significantly younger than expected, with stars only 100,000 years old, despite being near the supermassive black hole Sgr A*. The cluster's turbulent history suggests it was 'captured' by the black hole's gravity, leading to a bow shock and increased star formation.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateOct 10, 2023