Spacetime and quantum mechanics are the pillars of our modern understanding of fundamental physics. But there are storm clouds on the horizon indicating that these principles are approximate, and must be replaced with something deeper. The union of quantum mechanics...

At a first glance, our galaxy appears to be made of stars separated by vast and empty space.  However, we now know that this space is filled with things that are more difficult to see – gas, photons and the...

The high standard of living we enjoy today is made possible by catalysts ­– behind-the-scenes agents that promote chemical reactions in the vast majority of industrial processes, including production of fertilizers, gasoline and other essential products.  But we have only...

Solar power is a clean and renewable source of energy, but it has struggled to compete with fossil fuels on cost.  Most solar cells, which absorb sunlight and produce electrical energy, are built from silicon. SLAC’s Kevin Stone is exploring...

Shortly after the birth of the universe, space was filled by a plasma that was literally red-hot. The light radiated by that plasma has traveled the vast emptiness of space for billions of years, with the expansion of the universe...

Black holes are some of the most exotic and extreme objects in the universe. Though they sound like the stuff of science fiction, they are real and much more common than you might think.  Every galaxy has a black hole...

Scientists use X-rays to produce high-resolution snapshots of viruses, proteins and other tiny structures of nature. They do this by bouncing X-rays off the object to produce a diffraction pattern, which is then used to create a high-resolution image. Interpreting...

For decades, scientists have been working to understand the building blocks of life by studying the structures of proteins and other large biological molecules.  Using clever tricks with microscopes, electrons, and X-rays, it is possible to see the precise arrangements...

The distribution of galaxies in the universe is patchy. Galaxies are bound together in clusters made of stars, hot gas and invisible dark matter.  These galaxy clusters are part of a cosmic web of filaments, nodes and empty voids that...