Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility (NIF) is the hottest place on Earth for the briefest of moments during an experiment. Now, it can be one of the brightest places ...

Scientists have for the first time observed how atoms in magnesium oxide morph and melt under ultra-harsh conditions, providing new insights into this key mineral within Earth's mantle that is known ...

The properties of dense helium (He) — which happens to be a principal constituent of giant gas planets like Jupiter — at thermodynamic conditions between those of condensed matter and high-temperature ...

Radiative shocks are a class of shock waves in which the transport and deposition of radiation play a central role in modulating the shock’s structure and dynamics. These phenomena are not only ...

Researchers have developed a method that could one day be used to build roads on the moon. The novel approach, described in a proof-of-concept study published in the journal Scientific Reports, would ...

According to the laboratory, the primary purpose of the laser experiment was to simulate the fusion reaction found inside a nuclear weapon in order to ascertain the reliability of the US nuclear ...

The latest dark matter experiment kicks off this week, as physicists aim to identify the universe's most enigmatic particles. Reading time 2 minutes Long tubes, strong magnets, and bright lasers. Is ...

Dozens of times over the last decade NASA scientists have launched laser beams at a reflector the size of a paperback novel about 240,000 miles (385,000 kilometers) away from Earth. They announced ...

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A new experiment has demonstrated something that sounds physically impossible – light itself casting a shadow. It turns out that if you manipulate a laser just right, then hit it side-on with another ...

For the first time ever, scientists received a signal after sending laser beams from Earth to a reflector on NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter around the moon. The successful signal was received ...