Physics
Zeeman Effect: Core Concepts of Quantum Interactions
Quick fact
The Zeeman effect was discovered by Pieter Zeeman in 1896 and later earned him a Nobel Prize; it provided the first direct evidence that electrons in atoms have quantized magnetic properties.
Why this is interesting
If you shine light through a gas in a magnetic field, the bright lines in its spectrum can unexpectedly multiply—splitting into three or more. What invisible forces cause this, and what does it reveal about the atom's innermost structure?