Since their first detection in 2015, gravitational waves have been hugely popular in the field of scientific research. A new research facility in Japan due to open at the end of the year promises improved sensitivity and hopefully more results. The KAGRA (Kamioka Gravitational-Wave Detector) is the first underground detector, free from the interruptions of Earthly life, and also the coldest, with the advanced mirrors cryogenically cooled to 20 Kelvin. With this newer facility, we should hopefully gain more insight into the astrophysics of exotic objects, such as neutron stars and black holes.

Crystals are abundant in our everyday lives – salt, jewels, and snow flakes are just a few example. Time is not something usually associated with a crystalline structure, but new theories have proposed time crystals, states of matter whereby patterns are repeated in terms of time rather than space. This exciting concept sheds new light on the nature of symmetry, and promises of a future of clocks more accurate than ever before.

This article explores the search for primordial black holes, and the benefits that could be felt by physics if they were discovered. Currently, Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMP’s) are the best contender for the role of dark matter, but if we could spot just a few primordial black holes then “...you just have to concede that whatever dark matter is, not all of it is made of WIMP’s.” The proof of the existence of primordial black holes hinges on the discovery of the trace of their Hawking radiation, the particles stripped from the black hole causing it to shrink and eventually evaporate. With the current technological advancements, leading researchers are hopeful of a discovery within the next 50 years.

In this article, Howgego looks at the most fundamental particle in existence – the quark. Or, more accurately, the lack of the existence of the quark. New research suggests that quarks are a illusion, created due to phenomenon observed at the quantum level which we do not fully understand. An extremely complex theory suggests that quarks can take on an infinite number of colours, as long as they have fractional spin numbers. This theory actually eradicates the need for quarks, allowing for a quantum foam to make up subatomic particles rather than quarks.

This article looks at the most fundamental thing in our universe, space-time, and why we still don't know what it actually is, or what it’s made of. The biggest problem we have yet to overcome in relation to space time is the unification of relativity and quantum theory into a quantum theory of gravity. The article also explores the exciting new possibility of not quantising gravity, but looking at it from a quantum perspective first, them letting classical mechanics arise as an approximation from the quantum model. It also looks at the consequences of quantum entanglement on a quantum space-time.

This article looks at the likelihood of our species having any intergalactic neighbours. It tackles the basics of the question of extraterrestrial life, such as the Fermi Paradox and the Drake Equation, and what is required for a planet to be habitable. It looks at the basic chemistry of life, and what we look for in potentially inhabited exoplanets. Furthermore, it considers reasons for why we haven't found extraterrestrial life yet – such as it simply doesn't exist or it is already here. The author summaries with a simple but truthful quote from Arthur C. Clarke; “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.”

Quantum mechanics is dubbed the most successful theories in physics, but this article suggests that it is in dire need of refurbishment. With so any conflicting ideas, we may need to strip the theory back to its basic components in order to make any more progress. There is a basic outline already for a new and better theory. We just have to fill in the missing pieces and ask ourselves: how much are we willing to question about our understanding of physics?

What if our universe had no beginning, and will have no end, but simply just is? This is the concept behind a bold new theory, which proposes that our universe continually evolves and changes, but has no actual start nor end. It also suggests that dark energy is the driving force of this circular universe, and that in the far future it will decay into detectable waves. The detection of primordial gravitational waves will help build a better picture of the start (or there lack of) the universe.

This article explores the good kind of crazy – the kind which will get us to the stars. Traditional mechanical rocket engines will never be powerful enough to allow for space travel, but NASA is funding outlandish ideas in the hope of finding a suitable alternative. Such ideas include the Mach effect, which uses the principal of inertia to generate thrust.

It's a simple concept with virtually impossible maths. Three bodies all mutually attracted by gravity, are extremely difficult to predict the future of. The problem was first presented by Newton, who could solve the easier two-body problem but was stumped at three. This article looks at the recent attempts to solve the problem, and while no full solution has been given, mathematicians are chipping way at the problem, at the same time revealing new areas of maths.

This article looks at the most cutting edge developments to particle accelerators, and along with it, the cutting-down of the accelerators in size. It considers the place of large experiments like the LHC at CERN and the precedent which has always held, that size matters. Some pioneering scientists, however, are working to make a table-top sized experiment which will boast 100,000 times the acceleration of the LHC, at a fraction of the size.

This article considers the end of our universe, trillions of years from now. But will it end? A radical new theory suggests that the universe wont exactly end, but will evolve into something which we currently don't have the language to describe. The theory arises from string theory, and the addition of extra dimensions which string theory requires to be plausible. The new theory suggests that the universe as we know it will end, but there will still be something, as one of the curled up dimensions of string theory could unfurl and create 4 dimensional space.

We seem to be getting the wrong answer whenever we measure the expansion of the universe. Nearby galaxies are moving apart from each other too quickly, and the latest data is not helping. Furthermore, there are two methods for measuring the universe’s expansion, and they don't agree with each other. This short piece argues that we may need to radically change the way we think about cosmology.

This short feature explores evidence of microbial life in the Dead Sea which is promising for life on extraterrestrial hostile environments similar to the Dead Sea. After drilling 430m into the sea bed, there is data to suggest that bacteria thrived in the inhospitable conditions of the past (and possibly even in the present), which would have serious implication in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Samples taken by the Apollo 11 mission from the moon shaped planetary science in the 20th century. This article discusses the impact which moon rocks have had on our understanding of the formation and evolution of the solar system, and argues that one of the main reasons for returning to the moon is to gather more of these invaluable resources from different areas of the moon. For example, the lunar highlands near the south pole of the Moon.

We still don’t really know how the Moon formed, but this article provides an entirely original explanation. The currently accepted explanation is that a large object crashed into proto-earth, splitting it in two; one part the Earth, the other part the Moon. But that does not account for the very similar compositions of the two bodies. A Synestia is a new proposition which is a cross between a planet and a disk, and explains the similar compositions. It is hypothesised that they could be a common occurrence in planet and moon formation.

This article reflects on the Landing of the Apollo 11 mission on the Moon 50 years ago. In a collection of photos and anecdotes from Neil Armstrong, this article remembers the great challenges and uncertainties facing what turned out to be arguably the greatest achievement in human history. It also talks about the importance of returning to the moon, as the US plan to do by 2024.

As the title suggests, this article considers the past, present and future of humans on the moon. It looks at the Apollo missions of the 60’s and 70’s, and the numerous preparations across all fields required for the missions to launch. It discussed all the things which had the potential to go wrong, or that did go wrong. For example, the 1202 computer alarm during the Apollo 11 moon landing. It also looks at the planned missions to moons, and the large questions surrounding the moon which are still left unanswered, such as how it formed.

Geologists are looking at the earths rock record to predict the future of climate change, this article reports. Palaeoclimatologists are concerned that Earth's last glaciers may rapidly disappear in the coming years as they did at the end of the last glacial period, as shown by the oxygen isotopes in Earth's rock record. The article also warns that “In as little as 11 years, our climate will have shifted to a state not seen for millions of years”, and that we may soon enter a climate state for which there is no rock record, thus leaving no way to predict our future.

If Santa lives at the North Pole, he will have to be moving on a regular basis! The North Pole has been behaving weirdly for the past 18 years, moving eastwards towards Siberia at an increasing rate. This article discusses the hypothesised causes of the wandering pole, which could be due to changes in the earths magnetic field, and experiments involving a 3 meter ball of liquid sodium are underway to investigate this further.

Some of the most fundamental problems in physics have still not been solved. For example, where do protons and neutrons get their mass and spin? This article explains how the complicated relationships between the quarks and gluons inside a nucleus are thought to influence the properties of a nucleon, but no one really knows how. It also discusses new experiments such as the EIC, which will smash together protons or neutrons with electrons, and hopefully reveal some of the secrets of the atom.

A surprising discovery of sophisticated animal fossils from before the Cambrian Explosion has fueled new chemical analysis of the ocean floor. Ediacaran era fossils have blurred the previously sharp boundary which eventually led to the existence of the diverse range of life on the earth today. New and innovative experiments of sea floor segments involving Ediacaran rocks have used oxygen isotopes and carbon isotopes to begin to explore when life really began to emerge.

The popular debate of the possibility of a mirror universe is the subject of this article. It discusses how the discovery of a mirror world would help to solve many fundamental problems in physics, such as why there is something rather than nothing, or a possible source of dark energy and matter. The article also considers some possible, if self-proclaimed crazy experiments which would help to confirm or deny the existence of a mirror world.

This article explores the work of Asimina Arvanitaki, the first woman to hold a professorship at the Perimeter Institute in Canada. She is known for taking abandoned theories and testing them in simple experiments. Most recently, she is working on outlandish theories which suggest a string axiverse, scrunched up in one of the extra dimensions of string theory, which allow for planet sized particles and giant axion clouds.

Our solar system's most magnificent planet Jupiter is also the most mysterious. As this article discusses, Jupiter's swirling storms, dense atmosphere and potentially habitable moons are a constant source of fascination to us. It follows the history of human study of the planet and explored the four most prominent ‘Galilean’ moons, as well as the planet's influence on the formation of the rest of the solar system. The article also reports on the most recent Juno mission, which has provided greater insight into the planet's storms, poles and structure.

Fast radio bursts (FRB’s) from across the night sky have baffled astronomers for over a decade, but a new experiment promises enlightening results. The CHIME experiment will help to identify ‘repeater’ FRB’s so that we can study them more closely. The article also looks at the possible causes of FRB’s from magnetism to black holes to aliens.

This fun article takes a look at what would happen if you somehow found yourself both pulled into a black hole and also surviving the ordeal despite being spaghettified. The article suggests possible escape routes from the black hole – such as looking for a white hole, waiting for a black hole burp, or splitting the universe – as well as working through the physics of each scenario to justify whether you could survive or not. Unfortunately, most situations end in a violation of the laws of physics or a question mark, so I would recommend you try your best not to get sucked into a black hole.

This article explores the recent attempts to unify the famously uncooperative theories of quantum mechanics and general relativity. In a new experiment, which is small enough to fit on a tabletop, physicists hope to measure gravity at Planck length scales in order to detect the interplay between the quantum realm and Einstein's relativity. The experiment will ultimately use micrometer sized gold spheres in superposition in an adaptation of Lord Cavendish’s famous experiment to weigh the Earth.

The puzzling question of the melody sung by the Aurora Borealis has been solved, according to this article. Physcoacoustic expert Unto Lain has devised a theory in which negatively charged particles rise from the ground and positively charged particles sing from the heavens by undergoing corona discharge in the presence of the aurora borealis.

This article considers the different interpretations of quantum mechanics in our understanding and a new thought experiment in which people are the lead characters, rather than a cat. It discusses the different interpretations of quantum theory and the implications of this notoriously unconventional theory of physics.

A small team of scientists are working at the South Pole on the mysteries of the CMB, this article reports. This team are looking into the ‘twisting’ of the CMB light as evidence of inflation after the big bang. They are determined to get concrete proof of inflation after announcing evidence of gravitational waves in CMB polarisation in 2014 which, upon closer inspection, turned out to be the result of intergalactic dust.

Extreme weather can be accounted for with mathematics from an unexpected area of science; quantum mechanics. Resonance in the jet stream can be modeled using the maths from the quantum waveguide which traps electrons. This leads to amplification of the Rossby waves and greater extremes of hot and cold, and more dangerous weather.

If only we were able to crack open a neutron star and take a look inside, to figure out the weirdness in there. Alas, new studies using gravitational waves will have to suffice to determine the exact conditions and physics which only appear inside neutron stars. To solve the puzzle of what it’s like inside a neutron star would “...give us a picture of matter at its barely comprehensible extremes”.

This article takes a look at the holes in the modern picture of physics. After the success of the LHC at CERN in finding the Higg’s Boson, physicists are beginning to wonder ‘What’s next?’. Eure argues that rather than building bigger, more expensive experiments, we should be looking for signs of something we have missed in the wealth of data from CERN to fill in the gaps in the jigsaw.

The ‘impossible’ quantum Hall conductance problem has been solved, and this article explores the life and work of the mind behind the proof, Spyridon Michalakis. His proof is so hard and abstract it took 10 years to be accepted, and broached complex concepts like topology. The article tracks the progress of Michalakis as he works to solve the problem, and the ultimate acceptance of the proof by the maths and physics communities.

New research brings physics to the question of our existence, something which is not frequently done. This article looks at the boundary between a group of chemicals and life, as well as the unification of matter and information to create life. Life can be described as alive from the flow of information, but at what point does that flow become a living being? The article concludes that there must be some sort of complexity threshold “somewhere between an amino acid and an amoeba”.

This article looks at the most powerful laser to ever be created, the new ELI laser facility in Romania. The laser is intended to rip apart empty space, and hopefully expose what the sea of virtual particles teaches us about dark energy, one of the most illusive topics in physics. The particles, predicted by QED, may be even more evident once the laser has been updated with more fanciful technologies, such as light-speed mirrors or crossing laser beams.

Daniel Cossins explores the future of discoveries for physics, and the people responsible for the wildest predictions in physics. The existing framework of physics is considered, including the two standard models (of particles and of forces) and string theory. The life and work of theoretical physicists is also described, as discoveries become less frequent and more expensive to prove. However, physicists are hopeful, and, in their own words, “...are happy to die without knowing the answers [themselves]”.

An exploration of the diverging evolution of Earth and our neighboring Venus. Comparing the differences in atmosphere, tectonic activity, likeliness of liquid water and likeliness of life, this article builds a picture of what we think Venus once was like and what it is like now in comparison to Earth. There is also discussion about the possible new missions to Venus in the future.

A photo essay appreciating the spectacular Very Large Telescope in Chile, without which many discoveries would still only be theories. Along with the beautiful pictures, the essay details the importance of the VLT as well as the planned upgrades and improvement to the telescope. The article showcases the brilliance of modern day engineering and the relentless pursuit of physicists for answers.

Renowned physicist Carlo Rovelli explores the possibility of white holes, which are essentially black holes in reverse. They provide the formations of an answer to what goes on in the centre of black holes, while simultaneously tackling the abstract concept of time. Rovelli even goes on to argue we may have seen white holes already, it is just that we do not recognise them yet.

The mysterious dark matter is the subject of debate in this article. Different contenders for the crown of dark matter are considered such as WIMPs, dark photons and dark Higg’s Bosons. In a mathematical context, these particles could even be crossing the boundary from a hidden universe to our own. The hunt continues for the answer to the dark matter problem in places like CERN and the Jefferson National Accelerator Facility.

This is the exploration of the imperishable particle, the sterile neutrino. It is considered to be the missing piece in the standard model, as well as a contender for dark matter. The article discusses the experiments currently running to probe the standard model, such as MINOS+, based at the FermiLab. From the results of experiments like this, we can find out more about the secret lives of particles.

This article examines the nature of constants, and their not-so-constant behavior. It considers in detail the fine structure constant which lies at the heart of QED, which appears to be changing in different parts of the universe, approximately lineally with distance from earth. It concludes that changing constants would open up entirely new planes of physics.