Energy
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PhysicsScientists Say: Voltage
Voltage is a measure of how much electricity is available to power devices.
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PhysicsExplainer: Understanding electricity
Here’s what allows you to plug in and power up the devices in your life.
By Trisha Muro -
MicrobesGenes point to how some bacteria can gobble up electricity
A new study shows how some microbes absorb and release electrons — a trait that may point to new fuels or ways to store energy.
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BrainScientists Say: Haptic
Haptic is an adjective used to describe things related to our sense of touch.
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PhysicsScientists Say: Mass
Mass shows how much an object resists speeding up or slowing down when force is applied — a measure of how much matter is in it.
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ChemistryNew glue offers to turn any small walking robot into Spider-Man
To climb walls, robot feet need to alternately stick and let go. A novel adhesive can do that. Its stickiness is controlled by electric fields.
By Shi En Kim -
PhysicsRaindrops on alien worlds will obey Earth-like rules
Their size will be similar no matter what they’re made of or on which planet they fall, a new analysis finds.
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PhysicsGetting cozy with a science experiment
Items you use in your home can inspire a scientific experiment.
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PhysicsScientists Say: Radiation
Radiation is the motion of energy through space as waves or particles.
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PhysicsScientists Say: Piezoelectric
Piezoelectric materials produce an electric voltage when they are bent or squished. This can let us harvest electricity from movement.
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ChemistryBye-bye batteries? Power a phone with fabric or a beacon with sound
New piezoelectric systems produce electricity in unusual ways, such as when a certain nylon bends or underwater ceramics vibrate.
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PhysicsResearchers reveal the secret to the perfect football throw
The tip of a spiraling football follows the ball’s path. If you know a thing or two about gyroscopes, this is not what you’d expect.