Physicists at the Large Hadron Collider accidentally turned lead into gold while trying to recreate the Big Bang. Researchers working on the “Alice” experiment at Cern, Switzerland, have produced a rare precious metal as they try to recreate conditions from shortly after the universe began. Medieval alchemists had tried to turn lead into gold for … Read more
Primordial black holes (PBHs) are a very special type of black hole, thought to have formed from dense pockets of subatomic matter in the seconds after the Big Bang – and a new study reports what may be the first direct time. That may take years to prove, but the prospect is exciting. Black holes … Read more
From scaling to error correction, many problems still need to be solved before a working quantum computer can be built, but researchers continue to find the necessary solutions. Quantum computers can be used to solve complex problems that are impossible for the most conventional computer. But building a working quantum computer is, of course, not … Read more
Isosurface of the Dyson orbital, taken from Piccinelli, Samuele, et al., “Exploring paths towards quantum chemistry: the case of a molecule with a half-Möbius topology,” arXiv, 9 March 2026. arXiv:2603.08696 A recent paper in the journal Science announced the discovery of a truly new and surprising substance that could have a major impact on our … Read more
Credit: POSTECH University, South Korea. Water is the most common liquid on Earth, yet it almost defies the laws of thermodynamics. Every known liquid contracts and thickens when cooled. Water does the opposite. As you cool water after it freezes, it shrinks considerably, which is why ice floats easily in ponds, lakes, and oceans. Now, … Read more
For more than two decades, textbooks and science fairs have been telling the same story that the universe is not only expanding, but accelerating. Now a new wave of data is quietly shaking up that picture and giving new life to a mysterious ending called the Big Crunch, where everything in the universe finally collapses … Read more
This article contains affiliate links; if you click on such a link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission. Scientists Have Established a 300-Year-Old Law of Physics© Marc Mateos – Getty Images “Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may receive commissions or other income from these links.” Here’s what you’ll learn by reading this story: … Read more
In a surprising study that could revolutionize fluid mechanics, researchers at Drexel University have shown that under certain conditions, a simple liquid can behave like a solid and fracture. Study, published in Physical Examination Lettersshows that viscous liquids can burst suddenly when stretched with sufficient force. This finding suggests that viscosity, or a liquid’s resistance … Read more
“Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may receive commissions or other income from these links.” Here’s what you’ll learn by reading this story: Today, scientists do not find “laws” but rather perfect theories, they always know that there is more to learn. A new study shows why the centuries-old “laws” need to be changed, as the 300-year-old … Read more
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you want an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Do multiverses exist? If so, what do they look like? How do you get there without wasting time? – Emily, age 9, Pune, Maharashtra, India The concept of multiverse – … Read more