Physics
-
PhysicsGravitational waves detected yet again
For the third time in 16 months, scientists have announced detection of gravitational waves washing over the spacetime environment in which Earth resides. This seems to show that such waves may not be rare.
-
AnimalsHow a flamingo balances on one leg
Flamingos are so good at balancing on just one leg that they can snooze that way with little effort.
By Susan Milius -
PhysicsPhysics guides teen in search for which bike tire is best
Mountain bikes have lots of options, including the size of the wheels. The choice a rider makes when buying a bike can affect how fast they can go.
-
Materials ScienceTeen’s invention could help light up bikes at night
A teen researcher from Georgia has developed a light that could replace reflectors on bike wheels. Flexing tires provide all the power it needs.
By Sid Perkins -
Materials ScienceA better way to stop a bullet?
A teen researcher's tests suggest that fabric body armor might stop bullets better if it were woven using a three-fiber, triangular mesh instead of the typical two-fiber-mesh configuration.
By Sid Perkins -
PhysicsAfter 30 years, this supernova is still sharing secrets
It’s been 30 years since astronomers first witnessed the stellar explosion known as SN 1987A. Today, researchers are still learning from this cataclysmic phenomenon.
-
PhysicsWhy your shoelaces untie themselves
High-speed video shows how the combined motions of a shoe’s swinging and landing on the ground provoke shoelaces to come untied.
-
Materials ScienceNanowires made from silver are super stretchy
When silver nanowires stretch slowly, atoms on their surface can spread to heal weak spots. The discovery could lead to more flexible electronics.
By Sid Perkins -
PhysicsThese antennas turn anything into a radio station
Engineers have developed antennas that can turn ordinary objects — even posters — into radio stations.
-
ClimateCool Jobs: Head in the clouds
What do a microbiologist, an atmospheric scientist and a materials engineer have in common? They’ve all got their heads in the clouds.
By Beth Geiger -
PhysicsGetting ready for the solar eclipse
A total solar eclipse will race across the continental United States in August 2017. Scientists and the public are preparing to watch and learn.
-
TechHow to safely watch a solar eclipse
Certified safety glasses are a must for protecting your eyes when looking at the sun. Here’s how to safely enjoy a solar eclipse, like the one on August 21, 2017.