Google’s Quantum Computer Makes a Major Breakthrough in Error Correction
Google’s new chip, Willow, has achieved the exponential suppression of errors. The advance is substantial, but Willow remains far from delivering on any practical applications
The Dawn of ‘Dark Ages’ Astronomy
The universe’s light-starved early epochs, as well as the first stars and galaxies, lie beyond the reach of conventional observatories but could be revealed by a new generation of radio telescope arrays
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6 Wild Things We Learned about Earth in 2024
It’s been a fascinating year in earth science—from mysterious “dark oxygen” to an “unidentified seismic object,” here are some incredible things we’ve learned about our planet in 2024
Leaded Gasoline Tied to Uptick in Mental Health Disorders, and a Mysterious Outbreak Occurs in the DRC
A mysterious outbreak occurs in the Democratic of the Congo, and researchers find evidence that exposure to leaded gasoline was linked to increases in mental illness. Plus, we discuss orcas wearing salmon as hats.
What’s Inside Our Galaxy’s Darkest Place?
Barnard 68 is often mistaken for a hole in space, but it’s actually a dense, opaque cloud of dust—for now
Who Is Jared Isaacman, President-Elect Trump’s Pick to Lead NASA?
NASA’s presumptive next leader, billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman, already has big plans for the space agency
Lightning on Earth Knocks ‘Killer Electrons’ Loose in Orbit
High-energy electrons released by storms on Earth can threaten satellites and spacecraft
Math and Physics Can’t Prove All Truths
Physicists have described a system that requires an incomputable number to fully understand, another example of the provably unprovable puzzles of mathematics
Sunbeams and the Belt of Venus Are Delightful Twilight Sights
“Twilight rays” are but one of several viewing treats for the liminal time between day and night
Why We Probably Won’t Find Aliens Anytime Soon
Odds are that we’re not truly alone in the cosmos. But practically speaking, we might as well be
A Science Breakthrough Too Good to Be True? It Probably Isn’t
The more exciting, transformative and revolutionary a science result appears, especially if it comes out of nowhere, the more likely it is to be dead wrong. So approach science headlines with a healthy amount of skepticism and patience
Why Is the Sky Dark at Night? You Can Thank the Big Bang
Called Olbers’ paradox, the seemingly simple mystery of the sky’s darkness is something that stumped astronomers for centuries