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PHYSICS

Chloe Effron

Why Don’t We Fall Off the Earth?

Do you know the saying “what goes up, must come down”? Here is why we don't fall off the Earth.

Vollebak

World's First Graphene Jacket Promises to Repel Bacteria and Moisture and Absorb Heat—All for $695

It acts like a radiator you can wear.

Earth as captured from near the lunar horizon by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2015.

The Science Behind Why the Earth Isn't Flat

Let's review why and how we've known for at least 2300 years that the Earth is round.

Hulton Archive, Getty Images

Marie Curie Has Been Declared the Most Influential Woman in History

The two-time Nobel Prize winner tops the BBC's list of 100.

iStock

17 Things to Know About René Descartes

Mathematician, philosopher, soldier, scientist—René Descartes was the definition of a Renaissance man.

iStock

13 Scientific Explanations for Everyday Life

The processes behind the physics of LEGOs, the chemistry of laundry, and more.

Oli Scarff, Getty Images

How a Particle Accelerator Is Helping to Unearth Long-Lost Pieces of Art

Scanning 1 square centimeter of each wallet-sized photograph took about eight hours.

Baron/Getty Images

13 Facts About Physicist Niels Bohr

He helped develop atomic bombs, but wanted nuclear science to be used for peace.

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Why Do Orchestras Tune to an A Note?

Before the 20th century, concert musicians might tune their instruments to wildly different pitches, depending on where they were playing.

iStock

Why You Should Never Leave Bottles of Water in Your Hot Car

They could actually start a fire.

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Why a Dripping Faucet Makes That Maddening 'Plink' Sound—and How to Stop It

Scientists have found a hack to help you quell the sound until the plumber comes.

Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

Stephen Hawking’s Memorial Will Beam His Words Toward the Nearest Black Hole

Though he wasn't able to go to outer space during his lifetime, his words will travel there after his death.

Carl Court, Getty Images

Is There a Limit to How Many Balls You Can Juggle?

The current record may never be broken.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

7 Giant Machines That Changed the World—And 1 That Might

From a 17-mile-long particle accelerator to a football field–sized space observatory, these machines are marvels.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

What Is a Scientific Theory?

A theory in science is very different from a theory in everyday conversation.

Farrin Abbott, SLAC/Flickr // CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

An Ancient Book Blasted with High-Powered X-Rays Reveals Text Erased Centuries Ago

The particle accelerator revs electrons to nearly the speed of light.

DESIREE MARTIN, AFP/Getty Images

Stephen Hawking's Big Ideas, Made Simple

It's the smartest way to spend two-and-a-half minutes of your day.

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How to Make a Sled Go Faster, According to Science

Can science help you sled faster? Yes, it can. And even better, everything you need is already in your house.

Paramount Home Video

Impossible Figure Skating Moves from the Movies

Hollywood has taken a few liberties on the ice—and the judges are not impressed.

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7 Science-Approved Tips for Walking Across Ice

According to a physicist, a glaciologist, and kinesiologist.

The North Face

The North Face's New Geodesic Dome Tent Will Protect You in 60 mph Wind

An essential item for the extreme camper.

Melanie Gonick, MIT

MIT Scientists Are Building Biomedical Research Labs Out of LEGO Blocks

The plastic toys are opening doors to cheaper, modular scientific tools.

MIT CSAIL, YouTube

Listen to a House Plant Play 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'

New technology from MIT can turn anything into a "visual microphone."

David Monniaux, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

The Thermodynamic Genius of the Classic Drinking Bird Toy

The kitschy desk ornament's mechanism confounded Albert Einstein.