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![Two rivers of hot gas are siphoned onto the surface of a neutron star (the collapsed remains of a dead star) in this illustration.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XiUK6WcXF7FLKuRpGuthMc-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XiUK6WcXF7FLKuRpGuthMc-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XiUK6WcXF7FLKuRpGuthMc-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XiUK6WcXF7FLKuRpGuthMc-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XiUK6WcXF7FLKuRpGuthMc-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XiUK6WcXF7FLKuRpGuthMc-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XiUK6WcXF7FLKuRpGuthMc-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XiUK6WcXF7FLKuRpGuthMc-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Dark matter could be building up inside dead stars — with potentially explosive consequences
By Paul Sutter published
Invisible dark matter may be gathering in the ultra-dense innards of neutron stars, potentially causing them to detonate in massive explosions.
![A close of of a coconut shell on a turquoise blue backdrop.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jNxVFVxMucwAivNsGfEd9A-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jNxVFVxMucwAivNsGfEd9A-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jNxVFVxMucwAivNsGfEd9A-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jNxVFVxMucwAivNsGfEd9A-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jNxVFVxMucwAivNsGfEd9A-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jNxVFVxMucwAivNsGfEd9A-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jNxVFVxMucwAivNsGfEd9A-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jNxVFVxMucwAivNsGfEd9A-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Math's 'hairy ball theorem' shows why there's always at least one place on Earth where no wind blows
By Jack Murtagh published
Here's what the hairiest problem in math can teach us about wind, antennas and nuclear fusion.
![A yin-yang-like shape made of pink and green dots shows two particles in a state of quantum entanglement](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbtmSRkQZB5sPGPrTP4R55-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbtmSRkQZB5sPGPrTP4R55-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbtmSRkQZB5sPGPrTP4R55-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbtmSRkQZB5sPGPrTP4R55-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbtmSRkQZB5sPGPrTP4R55-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbtmSRkQZB5sPGPrTP4R55-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbtmSRkQZB5sPGPrTP4R55-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbtmSRkQZB5sPGPrTP4R55-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Quantum 'yin-yang' shows two photons being entangled in real-time
By Ben Turner published
The stunning experiment, which reconstructs the properties of entangled photons from a 2D interference pattern, could be used to design faster quantum computers.
![Currently, extreme cold is required to achieve superconductivity, as shown in this artist's concept of a magnet floating above a superconductor cooled with liquid nitrogen.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LVTZR78NS3tFqPVi9B3HmC-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LVTZR78NS3tFqPVi9B3HmC-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LVTZR78NS3tFqPVi9B3HmC-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LVTZR78NS3tFqPVi9B3HmC-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LVTZR78NS3tFqPVi9B3HmC-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LVTZR78NS3tFqPVi9B3HmC-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LVTZR78NS3tFqPVi9B3HmC-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LVTZR78NS3tFqPVi9B3HmC-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Scientists discover strange 'singularities' responsible for exotic type of superconductivity
By Ben Turner published
Superconductors that work at temperatures much higher than absolute zero have befuddled scientists since they were discovered. A new theory might be about to change that.
![An artist's impression of two black holes subject to each other's gravity.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yscm3ideeLA8cC7gb5CdAH-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yscm3ideeLA8cC7gb5CdAH-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yscm3ideeLA8cC7gb5CdAH-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yscm3ideeLA8cC7gb5CdAH-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yscm3ideeLA8cC7gb5CdAH-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yscm3ideeLA8cC7gb5CdAH-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yscm3ideeLA8cC7gb5CdAH-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yscm3ideeLA8cC7gb5CdAH-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Newly discovered black hole 'speed limit' hints at new laws of physics
By Anna Demming published
When supermassive black holes barrel toward collision, they can reach speeds of up to 1/10th the speed of light, new research suggests.
![Sound waves overlaid on an image of outer space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bd7yPsLnRzEUJjt9u6SmYc-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bd7yPsLnRzEUJjt9u6SmYc-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bd7yPsLnRzEUJjt9u6SmYc-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bd7yPsLnRzEUJjt9u6SmYc-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bd7yPsLnRzEUJjt9u6SmYc-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bd7yPsLnRzEUJjt9u6SmYc-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bd7yPsLnRzEUJjt9u6SmYc-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bd7yPsLnRzEUJjt9u6SmYc-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Turns out you can transmit sound in a vacuum, just not very far
By Harry Baker published
For the first time, researchers were able to transmit, or "tunnel," sound waves across extremely small distances between two crystals in a vacuum.
![A superconductor floats above a magnet.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8PFzEpjAS42uk2eQqVnHwj-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8PFzEpjAS42uk2eQqVnHwj-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8PFzEpjAS42uk2eQqVnHwj-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8PFzEpjAS42uk2eQqVnHwj-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8PFzEpjAS42uk2eQqVnHwj-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8PFzEpjAS42uk2eQqVnHwj-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8PFzEpjAS42uk2eQqVnHwj-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8PFzEpjAS42uk2eQqVnHwj-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
'Strange metals' used in superconductors can entangle whole seas of electrons at once, and scientists finally understand how
By Ben Turner published
Strange metals have baffled scientists since their discovery. Now, theorists have finally come up with an explanation.
![A top-down view of the equipment used in the g-2 experiment at Fermilab.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5DpsM4dTpanBqFS6yFp2Tg-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5DpsM4dTpanBqFS6yFp2Tg-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5DpsM4dTpanBqFS6yFp2Tg-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5DpsM4dTpanBqFS6yFp2Tg-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5DpsM4dTpanBqFS6yFp2Tg-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5DpsM4dTpanBqFS6yFp2Tg-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5DpsM4dTpanBqFS6yFp2Tg-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5DpsM4dTpanBqFS6yFp2Tg-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Wobbling muon experiment could reveal a 5th force of nature — if the results hold up
By Ben Turner published
The discovery of wobbling muons promises to spark a revolution in physics, but more results are needed to know for sure.
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