Quantum theory and Einstein's theory of general relativity are two of the greatest successes in modern physics. Each works ...

Forgetting feels like a failure of attention, but physics treats it as a fundamental process with a measurable price. At the ...

Abstract The theory of quantum states over time extends the density operator formalism into the temporal domain, providing a unified treatment of ...

Using ultracold atoms and laser light, researchers recreated the behavior of a Josephson junction—an essential component of ...

Physicists have transformed a decades-old technique for simplifying quantum equations into a reusable, user-friendly "conversion table" that works on a laptop and returns results within hours. When ...

Ultracold atoms have successfully mimicked a fundamental quantum effect normally found in electronic circuits.

More than 200 years ago, Count Rumford showed that heat isn’t a mysterious substance but something you can generate endlessly ...

An experiment with ultracold atoms reveals that a strongly driven quantum system doesn’t always heat up as expected. In daily ...

We’re celebrating 180 years of Scientific American. Explore our legacy of discovery and look ahead to the future. This year is the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, according to ...

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. In the fall of 2022, a Princeton University graduate student named Carolina Figueiredo stumbled onto a massive coincidence. She ...

Physicists have struggled to understand the nature of time since the field began. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Time may not be ...