Quantum Physics

Nuclear clocks could shatter timekeeping records. Now physicists are learning how to build one

Quantum physics’ oddities seem less surprising if you stop thinking of atoms as tennis balls, and instead more like waves pushing through water

A colorful quirk of quantum optics could lead to significant advances in quantum communication and computing

Quantum algorithms can find their way out of mazes exponentially faster than classical ones, at the cost of forgetting the paths they took

Physicist John Cardy and his colleague just won the 2024 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. We spoke with Cardy about conformal field theory, 2D black holes and coffee filters

A trio of scientists who developed the combination drug Trikafta are among the winners of five major awards in life sciences, physics and mathematics

A pilot program for high schoolers offers a blueprint in getting students involved in cutting-edge particle physics research

Do try this at home

By treating Earth as a topological insulator—a state of quantum matter—physicists found a powerful explanation for the twisting movements of the planet’s air and seas

Physicists are on an ever urgent quest to find a fuller understanding of what makes the cosmos tick, which they call a theory of everything

A new type of chemistry performed at very cold temperatures on very small particles enables quick, precise reactions

Experts weigh in on the most shocking, paradigm-shifting and delightful findings in the history of physics