All around us are elements forged in stars, from the nickel and copper in coins to the gold and silver in jewelry. Scientists ...

Deep in the heart of the matter, some numbers don't add up. For example, while protons and neutrons are made of quarks, ...

Two recent studies published in Nature and Science Advances explored quantum approaches that could improve the precision of ...

The time is nigh for nuclear clocks. In a first, scientists have used a tabletop laser to bump an atomic nucleus into a higher energy state. It’s a feat that sets scientists on a path toward creating ...

The nucleus of an atom is now the modern version of sand flowing through an hourglass. Researchers have spent 15 years trying to increase accuracy in timekeeping. The U.S. standard currently relies on ...

Nuclear and plasma physics form complementary pillars in our understanding of the fundamental forces and states of matter. Nuclear physics investigates the structure, dynamics and interactions of ...

More than 40 researchers from international institutes collaborated to develop and implement a method that enables measurements with unprecedented precision. This sets new standards for theories and ...

Russia’s nuclear brinkmanship — a reckless gamble that began with its occupation of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power ...

Today’s state-of-the-art optical clocks offer accuracy to 18 decimal places, which is roughly equivalent to measuring the ...

Atomic, molecular and optical physics lies at the intersection of quantum mechanics and electromagnetic theory, providing the fundamental framework for our understanding of matter and light.