MS-PS4-2
Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.
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PhysicsFamous physics cat now alive, dead and in two boxes at once
Splitting Erwin Schrödinger’s famous — and fictitious — cat between two boxes brings scientists one step closer to building quantum computers from microwaves.
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EarthCool Jobs: Getting to know volcanoes
It’s too hot to explore the insides of a volcano. These scientists examine their lava, their low-frequency rumblings and their ‘vog’.
By Ilima Loomis -
BrainHeaded to a concert this summer? Pack earplugs
Wearing earplugs at concerts and other loud events may prevent hearing loss and permanent ear damage, a new study suggests.
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BrainExplainer: When loud becomes dangerous
Many people don’t realize that sounds — even those of the music they love — can prove harmful when they get too loud.
By Janet Raloff -
Materials ScienceHow to make window ‘glass’ from wood
Scientists have come up with a way to make wood transparent. The new material could be used in everything from windows to packaging.
By Sid Perkins -
SpaceHurricane at this galaxy’s center is wicked fast
The gale-force winds around one quasar whip by at almost 200 million kilometers per hour. That’s 625,000 times faster than the strongest hurricanes on Earth.
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Materials ScienceSunlight + gold = steaming water (no boiling needed)
Nano-gold is the new black, at least when it comes to absorbing heat. When tiny gold particles get together, they become energy super-absorbers — turning them black.
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ComputingFeeling objects that aren’t there
A new technology uses high-frequency sound waves to create virtual objects you can feel. Its uses include better video games and safer driving.
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PhysicsGravity waves detected at last!
Albert Einstein predicted gravitational waves 100 years ago. Now scientists have detected them coming from the collision of two black holes.
By Andrew Grant -
PhysicsExplainer: What are gravitational waves?
Albert Einstein had predicted that large catastrophes, like colliding black holes, should produce tiny ripples in the fabric of space. In 2016, scientists reported finally detecting them
By Christopher Crockett and Andrew Grant -
PhysicsHow to catch a gravity wave
Physicists have just announced finding gravity waves. The phenomenon was predicted a century ago by Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Here’s what it took to detect the waves.
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EarthBubbles may have sheltered Earth’s early life
For Earth’s earliest inhabitants, a bubble on the beach would have been the next best thing to a safety blanket.
By Meghan Rosen