Physics
- Space
Scientists Say: Observable universe
No light will ever reach Earth from beyond this distant horizon of space.
- Space
Do multiple universes exist?
Some branches of physics hint that our universe is just one of many in a vast “multiverse.”
- Physics
Scientists Say: Entropy
To understand the universe, we must look to entropy — the chaos engine of the cosmos.
- Tech
Backyard leafhoppers inspire next-generation cloaking tech
Engineers are borrowing this insect’s trick, an "invisibility cloak" of anti-reflective spheres. It could lead to new clean energy tech or military gear.
- Tech
This Band Aid-like device could let you ‘feel’ the virtual world
Using a grid of tiny, fast-moving dots, this device realistically renders virtual textures by mimicking the feel of real-world objects.
- Tech
Scientists Say: Technofossil
Experts predict that the durability of modern, human-made materials will give rise to a radical new form of fossil.
- Space
Supermassive black holes might trace back to huge, ancient stars
Hefty stars might have collapsed into “intermediate mass” black holes — the building blocks of supermassive ones, a teen’s research suggests.
- Physics
Physics explains why sneakers squeak on the basketball court
We’re hearing a shoe’s sole wrinkling in bursts that repeat thousands of times each second.
- Physics
Scientists Say: Discharge
In physics, this release of energy can rebalance electrical charges. In biology, such a release might cool you down on a hot day.
- Physics
Could a Star Wars lightsaber work?
The main problem with real-world lightsabers is that they would pass through each other. This means no intergalactic duels between Jedis and Siths.
- Animals
Intricate silk helps net-casting spiders trap prey in webs
Rufous net-casting spiders can adjust the stiffness and stretchiness of their webs thanks to looping strands of silk.
- Physics
Why do objects shatter the same way? Math solves the mystery
When objects shatter, the pieces come in many sizes. This simple theory now explains why the fragment size distribution is almost always the same.
