In their ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of quantum possibilities, physicists in Arts & Sciences at Washington ...

Chemists identify a single molecule that naturally tiles in nonrepeating patterns, which could help build materials with novel electronic properties.

WashU physicists shine a microwave laser into a chunk of diamond to create a time quasicrystal, a new phase of matter that repeats precise patterns in time and space.

In the illustration: A tesseract (a four-dimensional cube) and the “shadow” it casts on a plane—the quasicrystal discovered by Shechtman. According to Prof. Bartal, “The fact that a quasicrystal is a ...

Topological defects, a cornerstone in both quantum and classical physics, represent disruptions in an ordered system that are remarkably resistant to external disturbances. These defects ...

Sub-wavelength optics is the study of light on a spatial scale smaller than its wavelength. Conventionally, the minimum length scale on which a beam of light can operate is equal to half its ...

A mysterious isotope shift in ytterbium led scientists on a journey of discovery, revealing secrets about the structure of atomic nuclei. While hopes of a new dark force remain unproven, the findings ...

Scientists and journalists share a core belief in questioning, observing and verifying to reach the truth. Science News reports on crucial research and discovery across science disciplines. We ...