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Perhaps the most well-known equation in all of physics is Einstein’s E = mc². Does mass or energy increase, then, near the speed of light?

In the early stages of the hot Big Bang, matter and antimatter were (almost) balanced. After a brief while, matter won out. Here’s how.

Over a century after we first unlocked the secrets of the quantum universe, people find it more puzzling than ever. Can we make sense of it?

If it weren’t for the intricate rules of quantum physics, we wouldn’t have formed neutral atoms “only” ~380,000 years after the Big Bang.

Einstein’s most famous equation is E = mc², which describes the rest mass energy inherent to particles. But motion matters for energy, too.

More than any other equation in physics, E = mc² is recognizable and profound. But what do we actually learn about reality from it?

The mass that gravitates and the mass that resists motion are, somehow, the same mass. But even Einstein didn’t know why this is so.

If nature were perfectly deterministic, atoms would almost instantly all collapse. Here’s how Heisenberg uncertainty saves the atom.

Whether you run the clock forward or backward, most of us expect the laws of physics to be the same. A 2012 experiment showed otherwise.

Photons come in every wavelength you can imagine. But one particular quantum transition makes light at precisely 21 cm, and it’s magical.

The fact that our Universe’s expansion is accelerating implies that dark energy exists. But could it be even weirder than we’ve imagined?

Scientists just viewed one of the tiniest, most isolated, lowest-mass galaxies ever found with JWST. Despite all odds, it’s still growing.

Research suggests curiosity triggers parts of the brain associated with anticipation, making answers more rewarding once discovered.

Sunita Sah hopes that by redefining defiance, we can build societies that allow people to live more authentic lives.

Nurture your passions instead.

Often viewed as a purely theoretical, calculational tool only, direct observation of the Lamb Shift proved their very real existence.

In “Enough Is Enuf,” Gabe Henry traces the history of simplified spelling movements and the lessons they teach us about language.

There’s value to be found in the arguments that make you uncomfortable — especially in a culture that has trained us to avoid them.

In this excerpt from “Agents of Change,” Christina Hillsberg tells the story of Martha “Marti” Peterson, the first female case officer stationed in Soviet Moscow.

To understand others, you need to see past their fleeting emotions. You must perceive who they are as people.

Without wormholes, warp drive, or some type of new matter, energy, or physics, everyone is limited by the speed of light. Or are they?

In “The Gift of Not Belonging,” Rami Kaminski explains why group consensus may hinder the original thinkers who help advance society.

You can only create or destroy matter by creating or destroying equal amounts of antimatter. So how did we become a matter-rich Universe?

From high school through the professional ranks, physicists still take incredible lessons away from Newton’s second law.

A few physical quantities, in all laboratory experiments, are always conserved: including energy. But for the entire Universe? Not so much.

In “The Shortest History of the Dinosaurs,” Riley Black reveals the bold mammals that thrived in the Age of Reptiles.

Rich is brilliant at his job. He completes work in half the time of his coworkers. Should he have to sit at his desk just as long?

Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki discusses the dangers of cynicism and how skepticism can invigorate our relationships and communities.

Executive coach Jodi Wellman explains how to “make it to the end with no regrets.”

A great many cosmic puzzles still remain unsolved. By embracing a broad and varied approach, particle physics heads toward a bright future.