Beyond the Crunch: Can Quantum Gravity Prevent Cosmic Collapse?
![The study demonstrates how dust density and mass distributions within an outer boundary-configured to achieve a minimum radius of [latex]L_0 = 0.2[/latex] for a mass of [latex]M = 1[/latex]-reveal the inherent limitations of any model attempting to define a boundary, much like peering into the abyss where even the most carefully constructed theories risk vanishing beyond reach.](https://arxiv.org/html/2602.10804v1/x2.png)
New research explores how modified models of gravity might allow collapsing dust clouds to ‘bounce’ instead of forming a singularity.
Science
Spin and Light in 2D Magnets
A new frontier in materials science combines magnetism and light to unlock novel optoelectronic and quantum phenomena.
Dark Matter’s Hidden Signals: Refining the Search with Atomic Physics
![The study demonstrates that deviations in the recombination coefficient [latex]\alpha_{21}[/latex] between first-principles calculations and scaled Standard Model results remain below 3% for [latex]\alpha_D \sim eq 0.3[/latex] when the matter-radiation ratio is [latex]\mathcal{R}_m = 0.1[/latex], even when exploring scenarios representing dark positronium-created by setting dark electron and proton masses equal to the Standard Model electron mass-across temperatures of [latex]T_\gamma = E_n[/latex], [latex]T_\gamma = 0.1E_n[/latex], and [latex]T_\gamma = 0.01E_n[/latex], where [latex]E_n = B_{H_D}/n^2[/latex] with [latex]n=2[/latex].](https://arxiv.org/html/2602.10197v1/x1.png)
New calculations of atomic processes within dark matter models are enabling astronomers to more precisely constrain the properties of this elusive substance.
Creating Darkness: From the Big Bang to the Lab
New research explores how the universe may have generated dark matter during its earliest moments, and seeks to replicate the process in controlled laboratory settings.
Chiral Light, Targeted Capture: Silicon Nanodisks Isolate Molecules by Handedness
Researchers have demonstrated a new method for selectively trapping and separating chiral molecules using the unique optical properties of silicon nanodisks and structured light.
Twisting to See Chirality: A New Torque-Based Sensor
Researchers have developed a novel method to directly detect the chirality of crystalline materials by measuring minute mechanical torques induced by moving energy carriers.
The Quantum Enigma: What Does the Wave Function Really Tell Us?
A new historical review traces the century-long debate over whether the wave function is a mathematical tool or a description of physical reality.
The Physics of Search: How AI is Rewriting Learning
![The analysis of search volume shifts between 2023 and 2025 reveals a growing divergence in public interest between mechanics and electromagnetism-particularly within the United States-where searches for electromagnetism-related content exhibited a positive median shift, suggesting a potential re-weighting of focus within physics-related online inquiry, even after accounting for extreme outliers such as a [latex]220\%[/latex] surge in worldwide electromagnetism searches.](https://arxiv.org/html/2602.09550v1/percentage_changes1.png)
A new analysis reveals a dramatic shift in how physics students find information, with generative AI tools rapidly replacing traditional search engines.
Unlocking the Secrets of Quantum Spin Liquids with Light
This review explores how Raman spectroscopy is used to probe the exotic properties of Kitaev quantum spin liquids and search for evidence of their elusive Majorana fermion excitations.
Shattering Symmetries: The Hunt for Lepton and Baryon Number Violation
![The search for physics beyond the Standard Model hinges on detecting processes that violate fundamental conservation laws - specifically, baryon number and lepton number - as evidenced by theoretical pathways including proton decay into a positron and pion ([latex]p \to e^{+} \pi^{0}[/latex]), oscillations between neutrons and antineutrons, and neutrinoless double-beta decay, each predicting distinct signatures of [latex]\Delta B[/latex] or [latex]\Delta L[/latex] violation.](https://arxiv.org/html/2602.09097v1/diag0vbb.png)
A comprehensive review explores the experimental efforts to detect processes that break fundamental conservation laws, with profound implications for particle physics and cosmology.