Energy

Earth

Newfound ‘dunes’ is among weirdest of northern lights

There’s a new aurora dubbed the 'dunes.' It’s weird and joins the ranks of black auroras, STEVE and other odd natural light shows.

Physics

There’s science to making great fried rice

Scientists report finding the physics that seems to explain how chefs can quickly fry rice over a hot flame without burning the food.

Physics

How to temporarily ‘fossilize’ a soap bubble

Here’s how to freeze a soap bubble in midair. Warning: The environment needs to be frosty, and even then it can take a certain amount of trial and error.

Materials Science

Here’s how to hide some objects from heat-sensing cameras

A special coating that conceals temperature information from heat-detecting cameras might someday be used as a privacy shield.

Materials Science

Self-powered surface may evaluate table-tennis play

Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology built a 'smart' surface on which to play table tennis. It can track the location, speed and direction of the ball.

Physics

Glass beads help scientists puzzle out how baby planets grow

Researchers have mimicked the first stages of planet formation in the lab. All they needed were glass beads and a catapult.

Materials Science

The future of crystal-based solar energy just got brighter

Researchers have upped the efficiency of layered solar cells that could be printed or painted onto surfaces. Now they are working to make them more rugged.

Chemistry

Explainer: What are acids and bases?

These chemistry terms tell us if a molecule is more likely to give up a proton or pick up a new one.

Climate

Explainer: Where fossil fuels come from

Despite one oil company famously using an Apatosaurus as its logo, oil, gas and coal don’t come from dinosaurs. They do, however, come from a long time ago.

Animals

Analyze This: Electric eels’ zaps are more powerful than a TASER

Shocking! A biologist reached his hand into a fish tank and let an electric eel zap him. It let him measure precisely how strong a current it could unleash to defend itself.

Physics

Explainer: Quantum is the world of the super small

The word quantum often gets misused. What does it mean? Think small. Really, really small.

Physics

Disabilities don’t stop these experts in science and tech

People with disabilities are as varied as the careers some of them pursue in science, technology, engineering and math.