physics

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

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

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

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

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

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

The current record may never be broken.

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

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

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

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

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

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

According to a physicist, a glaciologist, and kinesiologist.

An essential item for the extreme camper.

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

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

It cannot be reasoned with. It cannot be bargained with. It's coming for you.

Mental Floss spoke to ETH Zurich archivist Michael Gasser about the papers—including one letter in which Einstein calls his good friend a "frozen whale."

Fluid dynamics has never tasted so good.

We turned to mathematicians, physicists, and engineers to find out why the lights are so frustrating—and how to improve them.

Conservators used light imaging techniques to spot a tiny windmill sketch that's invisible to the naked eye.

When conventional scales don't work, they use this instead.

Let's try to wrap our heads around it.

It's a lot less scary than it feels.

The director claimed that he tested the board itself to gauge its buoyancy.

17 Things to Know About René Descartes

13 Scientific Explanations for Everyday Life

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

13 Facts About Physicist Niels Bohr

Why Do Orchestras Tune to an A Note?

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

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

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

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

How to Make a Sled Go Faster, According to Science

Impossible Figure Skating Moves from the Movies

7 Science-Approved Tips for Walking Across Ice

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

MIT Scientists Are Building Biomedical Research Labs Out of LEGO Blocks

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

Why Does My Shower Curtain Liner Attack Me?

6 Priceless Documents That Reveal Key Moments Early in Einstein's Career

Researchers Pore Over the Physics Behind the Layered Latte

Why Your Christmas Lights Always Get Tangled, According to Science

Newly Discovered 350-Year-Old Graffiti Shows Sir Isaac Newton's Obsession With Motion Started Early

The Fascinating Device Astronauts Use to Weigh Themselves in Space

What Is Infinity?

What Causes Turbulence?

20 Years Later, James Cameron Is Using Physics to Defend Jack's Death in Titanic