![](https://www.snexplores.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/e_conover-214x214.jpg)
Emily Conover
Physics, Senior Writer, Science News
Physics writer Emily Conover loves physics for its ability to reveal the secret rules about how stuff works, from tiny atoms to the vast cosmos. Before becoming a science journalist, she studied physics at the University of Chicago. There, she investigated the weird ways of tiny particles called neutrinos. She has previously written for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Science Magazine and the American Physical Society. She is a two-time winner of the D.C. Science Writers’ Association Newsbrief award.
![](https://www.snexplores.org/wp-content/themes/sciencenews-sns-child/client/src/images/cta-module-sm@2x.png)
All Stories by Emily Conover
- Planets
Physics Nobel rewards discoveries on cosmic evolution and exoplanets
This trio of scientists helped figure out the makeup of our universe. Two of them also identified the first known exoplanet orbiting a sunlike star.
- Chemistry
Chemists have created a ring-shaped form of carbon
A ring-shaped carbon molecule takes its place among buckyballs, carbon nanotubes and other odd forms of the element.
- Physics
This idea would turn the Earth into a giant space telescope
One astronomer has a bold solution to getting around the high cost of building big telescopes.
- Space
The Milky Way is shaped like a curvy potato chip
Our galaxy’s got curves. You can see them in a chart of thousands of stars called Cepheids.
- Physics
This device turns the kilogram’s new definition into a real mass
A new suitcase-sized device will be able to measure small masses — around 10 grams — with surprising accuracy.
- Physics
Black holes might have a temperature
Physicists made a mock black hole in their lab. They used it to show the real, celestial black holes have a slight temperature.
- Physics
Dying stars can make gold as they collapse into black holes
There are spinning stars in space. Some of them collapse into black holes. Along the way, they may generate a lot of heavy elements — including gold.
- Physics
Here’s the first picture of a black hole
The Event Horizon Telescope imaged the supermassive beast lying some 55 million light-years away in a galaxy called M87.
- Physics
A short history of black holes
From dreaming up black holes to snapping the first picture of one, the history of black holes has had many twists and turns.
- Animals
This spider slingshots itself at extreme speeds to catch prey
By winding up its web like a slingshot, this spider achieves an acceleration rate far faster than a cheetah’s.
- Physics
Scientists now know why microwaved grapes make plasma fireballs
Grapes trap microwave energy that bounces back and forth within the fruit. Until boom — a plasma!
- Physics
Thunderstorms hold stunningly high voltage
By studying particles called muons, scientists found that the electric potential inside a thunderstorm may be 10 times higher than previously thought.