Do photons wear out? An astrophysicist explains light’s ability to travel vast cosmic distances without losing energy

The speed of light is the fastest anything can travel. What happens to a photon from a galaxy 25 million light years away on its journey toward Earth?

Jarred Roberts, Project Scientist, University of California, San Diego • conversation
May 20, 2025 ~6 min

Antimatter: we cracked how gravity affects it – here's what it means for our understanding of the universe

It seems there isn’t a sci-fi part if the universe in which everything is made of antimatter.

William Bertsche, Lecturer in Particle Physics, Manchester University • conversation
Sept. 27, 2023 ~7 min


Why does time change when traveling close to the speed of light? A physicist explains

Your experience of time is relative because it depends on motion – more specifically, your speed and acceleration.

Michael Lam, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Rochester Institute of Technology • conversation
March 20, 2023 ~7 min

We tested Einstein's theory of gravity on the scale of the universe – here's what we found

The theory of gravity may need to be altered.

Levon Pogosian, Professor of Physics, Simon Fraser University • conversation
Nov. 10, 2022 ~8 min

2021: a year physicists asked, 'What lies beyond the Standard Model?'

Physicists know a lot about the most fundamental properties of the universe, but they certainly don’t know everything. 2021 was a big year for physics – what was learned and what’s coming next?

Aaron McGowan, Principal Lecturer in Physics and Astronomy, Rochester Institute of Technology • conversation
Dec. 22, 2021 ~9 min

A small telescope past Saturn could solve some mysteries of the universe better than giant telescopes near Earth

Such a mission could be developed soon, allowing astrophysicists to take selfies of the solar system and use the Sun’s gravity as a lens to peer deep into space.

Michael Zemcov, Associate Professor of Physics, Rochester Institute of Technology • conversation
Nov. 1, 2021 ~9 min

Why does gravity pull us down and not up?

Gravity is something every person on Earth intuitively understands: It is what keeps you on the ground. But how come gravity pulls down, rather than pushes up? Einstein came up with the answer.

Mario Borunda, Associate Professor of Physics, Oklahoma State University • conversation
July 26, 2021 ~5 min

Warp drives: Physicists give chances of faster–than–light space travel a boost

If humanity wants to travel between stars, people are going to need to travel faster than light. New research suggests that it might be possible to build warp drives and beat the galactic speed limit.

Mario Borunda, Associate Professor of Physics, Oklahoma State University • conversation
April 23, 2021 ~8 min


Wormholes may be lurking in the universe – and new studies are proposing ways of finding them

Calculations show that wormholes should create a spectacular display of gamma rays that we could try to observe.

Andreea Font, Senior Lecturer of Astrophysics, Liverpool John Moores University • conversation
Jan. 13, 2021 ~7 min

Fragments of energy – not waves or particles – may be the fundamental building blocks of the universe

Field theory describes the universe as energy flowing along unending lines. With this perspective, it is possible to define a new fundamental building block of matter.

Larry M. Silverberg, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University • conversation
Dec. 9, 2020 ~8 min

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