A Hexagonal Layer Finds Its Fit by Twisting on a Quasicrystal
A hexagonal colloid layer twists on a decagonal quasicrystal, creating stripe-like distortions that could make friction direction-dependent.
Unexpected result
The Black Hole’s Famous Ring Hides a More Elusive Signal
The M87 black hole’s glowing ring is not a direct picture of its horizon. Researchers are searching its finer light patterns for gravity’s hidden signature.
A Drying Drop Sorts Clay Nanotubes Into Layers of Order
A heated droplet sorted polydisperse clay nanotubes into layers, revealing a route to aligned coatings—and a fluid-physics mystery.
Alien Lightning Can Rewrite the Chemical Clues We Use to Find Life
Alien lightning may erase ozone clues—or create misleading ones. Lab experiments and climate models show why each planet needs context.
A Tiny Sulfur Signal Revealed Sunlit Chemistry on a Hot Giant
JWST spotted sulfur dioxide on the hot exoplanet WASP-39b, revealing how starlight and winds can reshape an alien atmosphere.
DART’s Asteroid Strike Worked Because the Target Threw Debris Back
DART shortened Dimorphos’s orbit by 33 minutes. The asteroid’s escaping debris supplied a surprising extra push.