We find them at the beach, in every sound and light show, the miracle of wi-fi and now in the fabric of space-time itself. But what exactly is a wave?
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Articles on Physics
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What does it take to keep a bicycle upright and moving, without crashing?
Einstein, an accomplished violinist, claimed that, had he not pursued science, he would have been a musician. That’s worth reflecting on, in the wake of last week’s discovery of gravitational waves.
Going faster than the speed of sound can create some exciting effects – and it’s not just aircraft that do it.
There’s a good reason you should care about the discovery of gravitational waves, even if you don’t understand the science.
The long awaited discovery of gravitational waves has sent ripples through the scientific world. Here top experts respond to the historic announcement.
Here’s a LIGO insider’s description of how he got the news of a phenomenon that had first been theorized 100 years ago.
The detection of gravitational waves is the final confirmation of Einstein’s theory of general relativity, and opens up a new window into the cosmos.
Particle accelerators are helping to push forward the frontiers of theoretical physics but they’ve also had more impact on your everyday life than you realise.
Getting tellurium and phosphorus to form a molecule is stupidly hard and not very glamorous. Here’s why it’s worth the effort.
New elements found in the reactions of nuclear tests during World War II sparked the hunt for additions to the periodic table.
They might only last for a fraction of a second but four new elements have finally won their place in the periodic table. The hunt is now on to find even more.
As the components in electronic devices are shrinking to the nanoscale, even a single atom out of place can disrupt their function. But this also presents an opportunity to make them even better.
How Paul Dirac, a brilliant but lonely man, found something new and wonderful that had been missing his entire life: love.
After the triumph of general relativity, Albert Einstein spent the rest of his life chasing a unified theory, which eluded him right up until the end.
Physicists are working hard to unite Einstein’s theory of relativity with quantum mechanics. It’s no easy task.
Special relativity was inspired, but it took true genius to conceive of general relativity. Had Einstein not come up with it, it may have taken decades for us to figure it out.
A cubic kilometer of clear, stable ice could help physicists answer big questions about cosmic rays and neutrinos. Hardy scientists collect data via a unique telescope at the frozen bottom of the world.
This month is the centenary of the general theory of relativity. But how did we get from the absolutism of Newton to the relativity of Einstein?
On the journey to discovery with the ‘gifted mentor’ Takaaki Kajita, one of this year’s Nobel Prize winners, from some one who studied with him.
Top contributors
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Associate Professor, Philosophy of Science, The University of Melbourne
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Post Doctoral Research Associate, Centre for the Subatomic Structure of Matter, University of Adelaide
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University Distinguished Professor of Astronomy, University of Arizona
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Emeritus Professor, ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery, OzGrav, The University of Western Australia
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Physicien, Professeur des Universités, Université Paris-Saclay
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Professor of Astrophysics, University of Sydney
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Professor of Nuclear Physics, Michigan State University
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Professor of Physics, University of Lynchburg
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Senior Lecturer in Physics, University of New England
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Professor & Head, School of Science & Mathematics, Mauritius Institute of Education
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Lecturer, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology
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Professor of Quantum Physics and Quantum Technology, University of Sydney
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Professor, University of Sydney
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Lecturer, The University of Queensland
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Honorary senior lecturer, Australian National University
