The SciencesJuly 7, 2017
LHC Physicists Unveil a Charming New Particle
The discovery could offer fresh insight into how fundamental forces bind together subatomic particles
Stories by Lee Billings
Lee Billings is a science journalist specializing in astronomy, physics, planetary science, and spaceflight and is senior desk editor for physical science at Scientific American. He is author of a critically acclaimed book, Five Billion Years of Solitude: The Search for Life Among the Stars, which in 2014 won a Science Communication Award from the American Institute of Physics. In addition to his work for Scientific American, Billings’s writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, Wired, New Scientist, Popular Science and many other publications. Billings joined Scientific American in 2014 and previously worked as a staff editor at SEED magazine. He holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Minnesota.
Quantum ComputingJune 15, 2017
China Shatters “Spooky Action at a Distance” Record, Preps for Quantum Internet
Results from the Micius satellite test quantum entanglement, pointing the way toward hackproof global communications
AstrophysicsJune 1, 2017
LIGO’s Latest Black-Hole Merger Confirms Einstein, Challenges Astrophysics
New results from the gravitational wave observatory hint that black holes move in mysterious ways
Space & PhysicsMay 26, 2017
Who Will Build the World’s First Commercial Space Station?
A start-up aims to add new construction to the International Space Station to prep for a private sector orbital outpost
The SciencesMay 13, 2017
An Alternate History of the Atomic Age
Scientist and author Gregory Benford discusses his latest book, The Berlin Project
The SciencesMay 11, 2017
How to Make Molecular Movies: Scientist Thomas Allison Explains
The winner of the 2017 Discovery Prize discusses his work watching electrons moving through molecules
Space & PhysicsMay 3, 2017
Watch Live Today: What Does a Black Hole Collision Sound Like? [Video]
Physicist and author Janna Levin will present a free live Webcast tonight at 7 P.M. Eastern time about merging black holes and gravitational waves
Space & PhysicsApril 20, 2017
Interstellar Projectiles Zoom around Us at Blistering Speeds
Hypervelocity stars, and the black holes that launch them, whip through space at millions of miles per hour.
Space & PhysicsApril 19, 2017
Newfound Super-Earth Boosts Search for Alien Life
Planet LHS 1140 b orbits a dim red dwarf star just 40 light-years away, making it a prime target for life-finding telescopes
Space & PhysicsApril 13, 2017
Food on Enceladus, Old Faithful on Europa Strengthen Case for Finding Alien Life
Scientists find molecular hydrogen and liquid-water geysers on ocean-bearing moons in the outer solar system
Space & PhysicsApril 13, 2017
Ink-Drop Supernovae and Quantum Love Triangles [Video]
Short films about exploding stars and subatomic particles top the list of prizewinners from the annual Quantum Shorts contest
Space & PhysicsApril 3, 2017
Electric Sand: How Titan's Dunes Got Their Weird Shapes
Bizarre “plastic” dunes made sticky by static cling may cover the surface of Saturn's largest moon—and could threaten future missions there
Space & PhysicsMarch 31, 2017
The 10 Weirdest Things in the Solar System
Pierogi moons, rubber duckie comets and spewing ice balls: We have some very strange neighbors among the myriad planets, moons and objects that circle our sun.
Climate ChangeMarch 13, 2017
Q&A: Kim Stanley Robinson Explains How He Flooded Manhattan
His new book, New York 2140, explores the interplay of climate change and global finance on a warmer, wetter future world
Space & PhysicsMarch 1, 2017
Watch Live Today: The James Webb Space Telescope Will Spark a New Era in Astronomy [Video]
Astronomer Amber Straughn will present a free live Webcast tonight at 7 P.M. Eastern time about NASA’s revolutionary space observatory
Space & PhysicsFebruary 22, 2017
A Tasty Trove of Exoplanets at TRAPPIST-1
A baker’s half-dozen of Earth-size worlds is orbiting a (relatively) nearby star—and some could be habitable
Space & PhysicsFebruary 22, 2017
Nearby Star Hosts 7 Earth-Size Planets
Astronomers say at least three of the worlds may be habitable, and could be studied for signs of life within a decade
Space & PhysicsFebruary 17, 2017
Europa Mission Heralds Sea Change in the Search for Alien Life [Video]
Jupiter’s ocean-bearing moon is the next frontier in NASA’s hunt for extraterrestrials
Space & PhysicsFebruary 17, 2017
Planet Formation out of Black Hole Belches
New studies suggest lonely planets flying through intergalactic space were formed by star-destroying supermassive black holes.
Space & PhysicsFebruary 4, 2017
150-Year Journey to Alpha Centauri Proposed [Video]
Humanity possesses the means to place probes into orbit around nearby stars. But do we have the patience?
Space & PhysicsJanuary 17, 2017
Is It Time to Give Up on Dark Matter?
There is still good reason to think undiscovered fundamental particles act as gravitational glue for galaxies.
Space & PhysicsJanuary 13, 2017
A Breakthrough in the Search for Alpha Centauri's Planets
A new public-private partnership is supercharging the race to image habitable exoplanets
Space & PhysicsJanuary 6, 2017
Newfound Source of Mysterious Cosmic Bursts Poses Deeper Enigmas
Despite a breakthrough discovery by radio astronomers, the decade-long puzzle of elusive “fast radio bursts” is far from being solved
CultureJanuary 1, 2017
Brain Beauty: The Art of Neuroscience
Book recommendations from Scientific American