Browsing Tag
physics
94 posts
Physicists Bridge Gap Between High- and Low-Energy Models of Atomic Nuclei
At a Glance For nearly 100 years, scientists have understood that atomic nuclei comprise protons and neutrons, composed…
The Mind-wrecking Question About Mirrors
Mirrors don’t actually flip things horizontally; instead, they reflect objects in the z-direction, giving the illusion of a…
The Principle of Least Action
A foundational principle underlies all of physics, asserting that particles and light move along paths that minimize a…
How do brains coordinate activity? From fruit flies to monkeys, we discovered this universal principle
whitehoune/Shutterstock Brandon Robert Munn, University of Sydney The brain is a marvel of efficiency, honed by thousands of…
Rising electricity demand could bring Three Mile Island and other prematurely shuttered nuclear plants back to life
Steam billows from two cooling towers serving Unit 1 of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in 2005.…
Cosmology is at a tipping point – we may be on the verge of discovering new physics
X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Infrared: (Herschel) ESA/NASA/Caltech, (Spitzer) NASA/JPL/Caltech, (WISE) NASA/JPL/Caltech; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Webb ERO Production Team; Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major,…
From Dinosaurs to Quantum Reality: A Reading Guide for Science Enthusiasts
Science is full of mysteries that challenge our understanding of the world, its origins, and even the fabric…
Is the shallow pool in Paris really slowing Olympic swimmers down? Here’s what the science says
Shane Keating, UNSW Sydney There has been plenty of rain, sweat and tears shed at the Paris Olympics…
How a futuristic material is able to change its properties from soft to rigid, and back again
Materials that can change their physical properties would be suitable for many purposes. (Shutterstock) Damiano Pasini, McGill University…
(Accidentally) Confirming Quantum Principles
In the 1920s, Otto Stern and Walther Gerlach conducted an experiment that accidentally confirmed the existence of quantum…