Physics

Chemistry

Explainer: What is a metal?

Metals can bend and pull without snapping, and conduct electricity. The reason: Their atoms tend to lose electrons to neighboring atoms.

Materials Science

Analyze This: This material for 3-D printing is made by microbes

Bacteria with tweaked genes pump out proteins that can be used in a 3-D printer. With microbes in the mix, the living ink can make drugs or suck up chemicals.

Chemistry

Could reusable ‘jelly ice’ cubes replace regular ice?

These hydrogel “jelly ice cubes” are made mostly of gelatin and water. They won’t melt, even when thawed, and may provide new food cooling options.

Chemistry

This glitter gets its color from plants, not a synthetic plastic

In the new material, tiny arrangements of cellulose reflect light in specific ways to create vibrant hues in an environmentally friendly glitter.

Humans

Snap! High-speed video captures the physics of snapping fingers

Inspired by the infamous snap of the Avengers rival Thanos, scientists set out to investigate the physics behind finger-snapping.

Physics

Explainer: Understanding electricity

Here’s what allows you to plug in and power up the devices in your life.

Chemistry

Scientists Say: Experiment

An experiment is a set of procedures to learn about the world — and an important part of the scientific process.

Animals

Here’s why ducklings swim in a row behind mom

Baby ducks save energy by surfing their mother’s waves, but only if they do it in an orderly line.

Physics

Future cars may offer personal sound zones — no earphones needed

Zones that offer each passenger personal listening are closer to reality. A new design improves performance by adapting to the conditions in your car.

Materials Science

Analyze This: Hardened wood can make sharp steak knives

Researchers treated wood to make it hard and dense. Out of it, they carved sharp knives and nails that could substitute for ones made of steel.

Materials Science

These colorful butterflies were printed with transparent ink

Clear ink creates a whole rainbow of colors when printed in precise, microscopic patterns. This phenomenon is known as structural color.

Earth

Scientists Say: Convection

Convection is a process that transfers heat through the movement of liquid or gas.