How do atoms form? A physicist explains where the atoms that make up everything around come from

Almost everything on Earth is made up of atoms, but where do these fundamental building blocks come from?

Stephen L. Levy, Associate Professor of Physics and Applied Physics and Astronomy, Binghamton University, State University of New York • conversation
June 23, 2025 • ~8 min

Asteroids in the solar system could contain undiscovered, superheavy elements

Scientists have been searching Earth’s surface for superheavy elements too difficult to make in the lab, but now, many are looking to the skies instead.

Johann Rafelski, Professor of Physics, University of Arizona • conversation
Oct. 27, 2023 • ~8 min

What do molecules look like?

A physicist explains how atoms arrange themselves into molecules – and how scientists are able to image these tiny bits of matter that make up everything around you.

Christine Helms, Associate Professor of Physics, University of Richmond • conversation
July 11, 2022 • ~7 min

Nuclear isomers were discovered 100 years ago, and physicists are still unraveling their mysteries

Nuclear isomers are rare versions of elements with properties that mystified physicists when first discovered. Isomers are now used in medicine and astronomy, and researchers are set to discover thousands more of them.

Dennis Mücher, Associate Professor of Nuclear Physics, University of Guelph • conversation
May 24, 2022 • ~9 min

A decade of science and trillions of collisions show the W boson is more massive than expected - a physicist on the team explains what it means for the Standard Model

A decadelong experiment produced the most accurate measurement yet of the mass of W bosons. These particles are responsible for the weak force, and the result is more evidence for undiscovered physics.

John Conway, Professor of Physics, University of California, Davis • conversation
April 14, 2022 • ~9 min

Half the matter in the universe was missing – we found it hiding in the cosmos

Cosmologists had only been able to find half the matter that should exist in the universe. With the discovery of a new astronomical phenomenon and new telescopes, researchers just found the rest.

Jean-Pierre Macquart, Associate Professor of Astrophysics, Curtin University • conversation
May 27, 2020 • ~11 min

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