Week in Science: Quantum evidence of "negative time"

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October 4—This week, physicists find evidence of "negative time," why Appalachia flooded so badly after Hurricane Helene, and the Scientific American staff recommends their favorite science fiction books. Enjoy! --Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor

Top Stories

Evidence of 'Negative Time' Found in Quantum Physics Experiment Physicists showed that photons can seem to exit a material before entering it, revealing observational evidence of negative time Manon Bischoff; Jeanna Bryner

How Your Brain Detects Patterns without Conscious Thought Neurons in certain brain areas integrate 'what' and 'when' information to discern hidden order in events happening in real time Miryam Naddaf; Nature magazine

A One-in-10-Billion Particle Decay Hints at Hidden Physics Physicists have detected a long-sought particle process that may suggest new forces and particles exist in the universe Clara Moskowitz

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Why Appalachia Flooded So Severely from Helene's Remnants Inland flooding from tropical cyclones, even at high altitudes, is a major worry—and one that scientists don't know enough about Meghan Bartels

Will This Comet Be the Brightest of 2024? Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) could soon shine very bright in Earth's skies Phil Plait

Science-Fiction Books Scientific American's Staff Love Scientific American's staff share their favorite sci-fi books, from beloved classics to overlooked gems and our modern favorites Brianne Kane

Is Math Part of Nature or an Invention of the Mind? Mathematics communicator and drag queen Kyne Santos guides you through the ongoing debate about what math really is. Kyne Santos; Rachel Feltman; Fonda Mwangi; Madison Goldberg, contract writer; Jeffery DelViscio

Rare Diagnoses Change People's Perception of Medical Risk How experiencing an unusual health issue can alter a person's understanding of "rare" Amanda Montañez

Pickleball Physics Explained, from Balls and Paddles to Shots "Professor Pickleball" reveals the science behind the U.S.'s fastest-growing sport Mark Fischetti

How Mathematicians Wrestled with the Biggest Controversy in the Field A surprisingly simple concept shook the foundations of mathematics Manon Bischoff

The Nearsightedness Epidemic Has Become a Global Health Issue Myopia is projected to affect half of the world's population by 2050. A new report says it needs to be countered by classifying it as a disease and upping children's outdoor time Gary Stix

Hidden Playgrounds of Elephants and Gorillas Revealed in Republic of Congo Rainforest In a dense Republic of Congo rainforest, scientists have mapped a network of strangely open clearings where wild beasts go to eat and hang out Zhengyang Wang, contract writer

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