Sound waves

Multimode sensing transforms WGM resonators, enabling high-resolution optical detection

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Whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) resonators have long fascinated scientists and engineers with their ability to concentrate and manipulate light in minute circular paths, akin to the way whispering galleries focus sound waves. This unique property has led to their utilization in various sensing applications, from detecting chemical signatures to monitoring single molecules. However, their widespread adoption has … Read more

Revolutionizing cosmic distance measurements with red giant acoustic fingerprints

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Imagine measuring the ever-expanding universe with a ruler that constantly stretches. That’s the challenge cosmologists face when determining the Hubble constant (H0), a value reflecting the universe’s expansion rate and ultimately its age and size. Conflicting H0 measurements derived from various objects highlight the need for better cosmic distance measurement tools. Enter red giant stars, … Read more

Luminiferous aether

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Luminiferous aether, once proposed as the medium through which light waves propagate, represents a fascinating chapter in the history of physics. Despite being a prominent concept in the 19th century, subsequent scientific advancements have revealed its conceptual limitations and ultimately led to its dismissal. Exploring the origins, development, and eventual demise of the luminiferous aether … Read more

New method detects ultra-low frequency gravitational waves

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A team of physicists has developed a method to detect gravity waves with such low frequencies that they could unlock the secrets behind the early phases of mergers between supermassive black holes, the heaviest objects in the universe. The method can detect gravitational waves that oscillate just once every thousand years, 100 times slower than … Read more

DES collaboration measures BAO scale at early epoch with unprecedented accuracy

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We now have a standard model of cosmology, the current version of the Big Bang theory. Although it has proved very successful, its consequences are staggering. We know only 5% of the content of the universe, which is normal matter. The remaining 95% is made up of two exotic entities that have never been produced … Read more