Quantum Physics

Imaginary numbers—the square roots of negative numbers—are an inescapable part of quantum theory, a study shows

In 1949 physicist Chien-Shiung Wu devised an experiment that documented evidence of entanglement. Her findings have been hidden in plain sight for more than 70 years

Quantum bursts of light could help examine minute chemical reactions and reveal the quantum properties of mysterious materials

New experiments can re-create the young cosmos, when it was a mash of fundamental particles, more precisely than ever before

The AdS/CFT duality conjecture suggests our universe is a hologram, enabling significant discoveries in the 25 years since it was first proposed

A lab-made black hole is beyond current technology but could be possible one day

The way we teach quantum theory conveys a spookiness that isn’t actually there

Science in meter and verse

A newly discovered interaction related to quantum entanglement between dissimilar particles opens a new window into the nuclei of atoms

A new algorithm is probably not efficient enough to crack current encryption keys—but that’s no reason for complacency, researchers say

Quantum telepathy, laser-based time crystals, a glow from empty space and an “unreal” universe—these are the most awesome (and awfully hard to understand) results from the subatomic realm we encountered in 2022

From COVID to space exploration, graphics helped tell some the year’s most important stories