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We tend to think of Albert Einstein has a highfalutin theoretical physics guru, but the physicist also worked on much more everyday tasks...like developing an energy-efficient refrigerator. Allow Jennifer Ouellette from Cocktail Party Physics to explain. More »
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The Higgs boson is the missing particle that would complete the standard model of particle physics, but so far we've found little to even suggest it actually exists. But a new finding might just have come from a decaying Higgs. More »
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Gravity is usually the arch-nemesis of quantum mechanics, stubbornly refusing to play nice with the forces governing the interactions of subatomic particles. Now we've discovered a rare instance where gravity actually assists quantum interactions, which just might help unify physics. More »
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Behold the basic physics of the wet dog shake, as explored by Andrew Dickerson, Grant Mills, Jay Bauman, Young-Hui Chang, David Hu of the Georgia Institute of Technology. More »
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String theorists and particle physicists possess skills that also come in handy when playing poker, as it's a game rife with probabilities and grueling mental calculations. Here, Jennifer Oulette of Cocktail Party Physics talks physicists who are also card sharks. More »
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We're pretty much certain that dark matter exists, but we're still working to nail down precisely what dark matter is. One leading candidate, known as the WIMP, might be trapped inside the Sun, sucking heat away and altering fusion reactions. More »
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The strength of the electromagnetic interaction, one of physics's most fundamental constants, is actually very slowly changing, and has different values in different parts of the universe. This amazing find could help us find a grand unified theory of physics. More »
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When it comes to undesired noises, silencing guns is the same thing as silencing incessant yammerers. It all comes down to dealing with hot gas. More »
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Why do strands of spaghetti so rarely snap into only two pieces? Take a look at the solution to a mystery that, no fooling, baffled famed physicist Richard Feynman. More »
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Parachutes are designed to create as much drag as possible. So why do parachutes have holes in them? More »
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You'd think a totally smooth surface would be better at flying through the air with the least amount of wind resistance. So why do golf balls have all those little indentations? So they can use the air against itself. More »
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Find out what a sonic boom is, and how you can create it in the privacy of your own household. More »
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A leading candidate for room temperature superconductors is the copper compound cuprate, but no one knew how cuprates facilitated superconductivity...until some brave souls looked inside a black hole and broke out the string theory to explain how they work. More »
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A new theory explains the accelerating universe without invoking mysterious, unseen dark energy to account for the expansion. But it also gets rid of singularities, an unchanging speed of light...and the most famous astrophysical phenomenon of all, the Big Bang. More »
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White holes are basically black holes in reverse: They eject all the matter sucked into a black hole. We've never observed one, and most astrophysicists suspect they don't exist - all because they're not the exact opposite of black holes. More »
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The uncertainty principle is at the foundation of quantum mechanics: You can measure a particle's position or its velocity, but not both. Now it seems that quantum computer memory could let us violate this rule. More »
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There's a simple way to measure the speed of sound. It's low tech and unimpressive, but you get to blast an air horn. How many times can you say that you're using one for science and not sheer obnoxiousness? More »
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The current explanation of the universe's origins relies on clumsy assumptions and can't explain most subatomic particles. A small tweak to general relativity solves these problems - and seemingly proves the universe must have come from a black hole elsewhere. More »
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A working knowledge of surface tension allows you to shove a skewer through a balloon without popping it and a pencil through a plastic bag full of water without spilling. Make your nieces and nephews think you're cool. More »
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Water is clear. The sky is blue. So why are clouds white? And if regular clouds are white, why are rain clouds gray? More »
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Scientists can now use optical tweezers, optical traps, and optical levitation to conduct delicate experiments. Optical. More »
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"Gravitational telescopes" let scientists observe fluctuations in spacetime itself. They are, in a word, crazystupidamazing. More »
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Charybdis was a maiden-turned-giant whirlpool in "The Odyssey" who sucked ships down to their deaths. Sounds tragically unscientific, but this ancient Greek epic got one thing right - how vortex physics work. More »
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Fluttering is usually reserved for fans, flags, and Nicolas Cage's coats during action movies. Under the right conditions, though, it's good for more than just window-dressing. Find out how flutter can be a force of nature.... More »
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Hey dead-eye, having trouble spearfishing? Find out why you'll almost never catch a fish by aiming directly for it. More »
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Yesterday we discussed why the sky was blue during the day. Today we'll cover Olbers' Paradox, and why the sky turns black in the wee hours. More »
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Here's everything you ever wanted to know about antimatter, but were afraid to ask. Or most of the things you kind of wondered about antimatter but didn't give that much of a crap about. Whichever. More »
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A must-read entry for all future dictators. Take a look at the meaning of "enriching uranium," why it's necessary, and some of the processes used to do it. More »
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High altitudes are closer to the sun, which means that they should be slightly warmer. Furthermore, the moisture from clouds should keep these altitudes at an even temperature. So why do airplanes need heating systems and mountain climbers get frozen? More »
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There are any number of jokes to be made here. All of them are inappropriate. Suffice it to say that white holes are a possible product of black holes, and they might show us what other universes look like. More »
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It makes no sense to pay an optometrist for things like precisely-made lenses and glaucoma checks when most those things could be taken care of by getting some novelty frames, index cards, and thumb tacks. More »
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We're all thinking of the movie. It can't be helped. Just look at the picture once; then we'll move on to the meteorological phenomenon and pretend that the movie never happened. Except for the song. Love that song. More »
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Or, more precisely, the Big Bang is being televised. Find out what station to turn to in order to see the last vestiges of the glorious birth off all that is or ever will be. When Lost isn't on. More »
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Water vapor, pressure, temperature and seeding are what it takes to make a cloud. Use a two-liter soda bottle, some warm water, a match, and some hand strength to become a rainmaker. It's all in the wrist. More »
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Sun dogs, or parhelia, are little back-up suns that appear on either side of the sun. They are the Pips to the sun's Gladys, the Lion and the Witch to the sun's Wardrobe, and they look way cooler than rainbows. More »
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Seriously though - don't x-ray yourself with sticky-tape. You can, and we'll tell you how. But seriously gang, don't. More »
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The Chandrasekhar Limit lets astronomers know which stars will end with a bang, and which stars will end with a whimper. More »
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Can your microwave oven really measure the speed of light? Yes, it can be done. And since many of the suggested experiments also involve chocolate, it will be done. Oh yes, it will be done. More »
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There are some theories, and yes, they are all disturbing. More »
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Acoustic levitation is some day going to be used to brush the dust off machinery on Mars. Learn why sound can lift objects off the ground and see an acoustic levitation chamber in action. More »
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