Issues

Roger Penrose proved that black holes could and should form in the universe. The topological picture he used in that proof has become foundational to general relativity.

By tracking the orbits of stars close to the galactic center, Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez ruled out all possibilities besides a black hole.

Although less than a decade old, the technology is already shaking up research in cell biology and molecular biophysics.

The ill-understood effect is gaining momentum and opening new avenues of research. CERN’s Compact Linear Collider and other particle accelerators are contributing.

Cutting the weight of fuel tanks and continuing advances in fuel-cell technologies are key to making hydrogen competitive in aviation.

Simulating the acoustics of destroyed or altered amphitheaters, cathedrals, and other architectural sites re-creates their sonic grandeur.

Experimental studies of the underlying physics are difficult when the only sensors reporting contemporaneous data are human beings.

Recent changes in ice cover and ocean stratification have been so large that acoustic measurements made during the Cold War no longer reflect current conditions.

A general approach to analyzing audio files makes it possible to re-create the sound of ancient instruments, identify cross-cultural musical properties, and more.

Wirelessly powered and mass manufactured, the dust-sized robots can crawl, survive harsh environments, and be injected through a hypodermic needle.