How Can Astronauts Tell How Fast They’re Going?
Weirdly, spaceships have no direct way to gauge their own speed. Luckily, we can use some physics tricks to figure it out.
One Way or Another, Most of Our Electricity Comes From Solar Power
That’s good news, since the forecast is sunshine for the next 5 billion years.
You Can Approximate Pi by Dropping Needles on the Floor
Who needs a supercomputer when you can calculate pi with a box of sewing needles?
How Can a Locomotive Pull a Long Train That’s Much Heavier?
For railroads, it’s all about managing static and kinetic friction.
Could AI Data Centers Be Moved to Outer Space?
Massive data centers for generative AI are bad for the Earth. How about launching them into orbit?
Could AI Data Centers Be Moved to Outer Space?
Massive data centers for generative AI are bad for the Earth. How about launching them into orbit?
How to Use Physics to Escape an Ice Bowl
Here are three smart tricks, based on an understanding of frictional forces, to beat a slippery slope.
Could You Use a Rowboat to Walk on the Seafloor Like Jack Sparrow?
In Pirates of the Caribbean, Jack and Will use an overturned dinghy to hold air underwater. Madness or brilliance?
How Do Astronomers Find Planets in Other Solar Systems?
Even the best telescopes can’t see exoplanets. It’s all about watching for jiggly stars, blue shifts, and transits.
How to Measure the Earth’s Radius With Legos
With just a friend, a phone, and a few Lego bricks, you can accurately measure the size of our planet.