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This artist's concept shows the magnetar 1E 1547.0-5408. Observations from NASA's IXPE reveal the strongest evidence yet that the star's extreme magnetic field changes how light travels through space, supporting a long-standing prediction of quantum physics. (NASA/Pablo Garcia)

When the Universe Does the Experiment

Scientists have found the strongest evidence yet for vacuum birefringence, a key prediction of quantum electrodynamics (QED), using NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) to study the magnetar 1E 1547.0−5408. The research, published in Nature, shows that the magnetar's powerful magnetic field changes how light travels through the vacuum of space. The discovery demonstrates how extreme cosmic environments can serve as natural laboratories for testing the fundamental laws of physics.

Summer Scholars from the year 2000

Summer Scholars Retrospective

LSU computer science students

“Being Able to Contribute to Our Country’s Security Every Day Is an Amazing Feeling”

Meet four LSU students in computer science, specializing in cybersecurity and AI, who are working with national laboratories to help secure the nation.

Research News

August 6, 2026

When the Universe Does the Experiment: Scientists have found the strongest evidence yet for vacuum birefringence, a key prediction of quantum electrodynamics (QED), using NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) to study the magnetar 1E 1547.0−5408. The research, published in Nature, shows that the magnetar's powerful magnetic field changes how light travels through the vacuum of space. The discovery demonstrates how extreme cosmic environments can serve as natural laboratories for testing the fundamental laws of physics.