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![An image of the computer simulation used to create the new quasicrystal.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tbAkV8aLJQQmeyAM7Ap7E4-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tbAkV8aLJQQmeyAM7Ap7E4-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tbAkV8aLJQQmeyAM7Ap7E4-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tbAkV8aLJQQmeyAM7Ap7E4-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tbAkV8aLJQQmeyAM7Ap7E4-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tbAkV8aLJQQmeyAM7Ap7E4-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tbAkV8aLJQQmeyAM7Ap7E4-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tbAkV8aLJQQmeyAM7Ap7E4-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Scientists just made the largest quasicrystal ever — because one of them bet it couldn't be done
By Ben Turner published
The quasicrystal, a type of non-repeating crystal once deemed impossible, was made by jiggling thousands of metal balls in a tray for over a week.
![Three objects seen by the JWST in December 2022 and identified as galaxies may actually be huge stars powered by dark matter](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j6Jb2RjZCbKbWMrbtCsNKc-320-80.png 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j6Jb2RjZCbKbWMrbtCsNKc-450-80.png 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j6Jb2RjZCbKbWMrbtCsNKc-500-80.png 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j6Jb2RjZCbKbWMrbtCsNKc-650-80.png 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j6Jb2RjZCbKbWMrbtCsNKc-840-80.png 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j6Jb2RjZCbKbWMrbtCsNKc-970-80.png 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j6Jb2RjZCbKbWMrbtCsNKc-1024-80.png 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j6Jb2RjZCbKbWMrbtCsNKc-1200-80.png 1200w)
James Webb telescope reveals 3 possible 'dark stars' — galaxy-sized objects powered by invisible dark matter
By Robert Lea published
Three early galaxies discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope could actually be titanic stars powered by a dark matter heart.
![A black and white photograph of J. Robert Oppenheimer.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gP5PXDWWuor46YdGcGiYwA-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gP5PXDWWuor46YdGcGiYwA-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gP5PXDWWuor46YdGcGiYwA-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gP5PXDWWuor46YdGcGiYwA-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gP5PXDWWuor46YdGcGiYwA-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gP5PXDWWuor46YdGcGiYwA-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gP5PXDWWuor46YdGcGiYwA-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gP5PXDWWuor46YdGcGiYwA-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
8 wild stories about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the 'father of the atomic bomb'
By Ben Turner published
From predicting the existence of black holes to being insulted by Einstein — J. Robert Oppenheimer led an intriguing life. Here are eight facts you didn't know about the father of the atomic bomb.
![A portrait of J. Robert Oppenheimer holding a pipe](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H6vCgvaMGEzZS7oYoDRfuM-320-80.png 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H6vCgvaMGEzZS7oYoDRfuM-450-80.png 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H6vCgvaMGEzZS7oYoDRfuM-500-80.png 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H6vCgvaMGEzZS7oYoDRfuM-650-80.png 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H6vCgvaMGEzZS7oYoDRfuM-840-80.png 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H6vCgvaMGEzZS7oYoDRfuM-970-80.png 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H6vCgvaMGEzZS7oYoDRfuM-1024-80.png 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H6vCgvaMGEzZS7oYoDRfuM-1200-80.png 1200w)
Who was J. Robert Oppenheimer? Biographer Kai Bird delves into the physicist's fascinating life and legacy
By Ben Turner published
Kai Bird, co-author of "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer" opens up on the physicist's life and legacy.
![Hundreds of blue numbers of various sizes on a black background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eiHmqCXcRz2p9sXFTesQy5-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eiHmqCXcRz2p9sXFTesQy5-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eiHmqCXcRz2p9sXFTesQy5-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eiHmqCXcRz2p9sXFTesQy5-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eiHmqCXcRz2p9sXFTesQy5-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eiHmqCXcRz2p9sXFTesQy5-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eiHmqCXcRz2p9sXFTesQy5-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eiHmqCXcRz2p9sXFTesQy5-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Mathematicians finally identify 'seemingly impossible' number after 32 years, thanks to supercomputers
By Harry Baker published
Researchers have calculated the "ninth Dedekind number," which belongs to an exponentially complex series of numbers that define outputs of logical functions based on different spatial dimensions.
![IceCube Neutrino Observatory sits beneath a green aurora in the icy Antarctic](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/h2p8RV6NUYVUHdBhCFcedW-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/h2p8RV6NUYVUHdBhCFcedW-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/h2p8RV6NUYVUHdBhCFcedW-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/h2p8RV6NUYVUHdBhCFcedW-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/h2p8RV6NUYVUHdBhCFcedW-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/h2p8RV6NUYVUHdBhCFcedW-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/h2p8RV6NUYVUHdBhCFcedW-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/h2p8RV6NUYVUHdBhCFcedW-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Neutrino map of the galaxy is 1st view of the Milky Way in 'anything other than light'
By Ben Turner published
Scientists at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory have used 60,000 neutrinos to create the first map of the Milky Way made with matter and not light.
![A telescope image of warped yellow starlight forming a smily face against a black background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EUyYqHTCYRzSTWHtFidZ8U-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EUyYqHTCYRzSTWHtFidZ8U-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EUyYqHTCYRzSTWHtFidZ8U-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EUyYqHTCYRzSTWHtFidZ8U-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EUyYqHTCYRzSTWHtFidZ8U-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EUyYqHTCYRzSTWHtFidZ8U-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EUyYqHTCYRzSTWHtFidZ8U-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EUyYqHTCYRzSTWHtFidZ8U-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Distortions in space-time could put Einstein's theory of relativity to the ultimate test
By Robert Lea published
Observing time distortions could show whether Einstein's theory of general relativity accounts for the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy.
![An illustration of a helium atom, with two protons and neutrons in its nucleus.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nSgtov9DjY3cRhW5mRUvoH-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nSgtov9DjY3cRhW5mRUvoH-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nSgtov9DjY3cRhW5mRUvoH-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nSgtov9DjY3cRhW5mRUvoH-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nSgtov9DjY3cRhW5mRUvoH-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nSgtov9DjY3cRhW5mRUvoH-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nSgtov9DjY3cRhW5mRUvoH-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nSgtov9DjY3cRhW5mRUvoH-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Scientists tried to solve the mystery of the helium nucleus — and ended up more confused than ever
By Anna Demming published
Helium is the simplest element in the periodic table with more than one particle in its nucleus, yet state of the art theory and experiments on it don't add up.
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