Olympics 2016 – Esoteric news

August 18, 2016

The High-Speed Physics of Olympic BMX

In the BMX race, bikers start at the top of a ramp and accelerate down. Here are three physics problems you could get from just this one part of the race. The post The High-Speed Physics of Olympic BMX appeared first on WIRED.

August 15, 2016

How Do You Ensure Track Runners Go an Equal Distance? Math!

How do you make sure every runner runs the same distance in track events? Easy. You create different starting angular positions. The post How Do You Ensure Track Runners Go an Equal Distance? Math! appeared first on WIRED.

August 12, 2016

Rio’s Diving Pool: Still Finding It Too Easy to Be Green

The green water in the Rio Olympic diving pool isn't turning blue quite yet. And it smells. The post Rio's Diving Pool: Still Finding It Too Easy to Be Green appeared first on WIRED.

August 10, 2016

Why Olympic Boxers Aren’t Wearing Headgear Anymore

Headgear doesn't protect boxers from concussions. The post Why Olympic Boxers Aren’t Wearing Headgear Anymore appeared first on WIRED.

August 10, 2016

How Olympic Gymnasts Use Physics to Pull Off Those Crazy Twists

The twist is a rotational motion about an axis from head to feet. But how do you perform such a maneuver? Here are three ways. The post How Olympic Gymnasts Use Physics to Pull Off Those Crazy Twists appeared first on WIRED.

August 8, 2016

Witness the Rise of Ping Pong Player Hugo Calderano, Breakout Olympic Star

People in Rio lost their gourds for table tennis. Yes, table tennis. The post Witness the Rise of Ping Pong Player Hugo Calderano, Breakout Olympic Star appeared first on WIRED.

August 4, 2016

If You Want to Study Disease, the Olympics Are Where to Be

Epidemiologists work to prevent epidemics, but they also can’t study really epidemics without one happening. Mass gatherings like the Olympics are a learning opportunity. The post If You Want to Study Disease, the Olympics Are Where to Be appeared first on WIRED.

July 28, 2016

Olympic Drug Cops Will Scan for Genetically Modified Athletes

Nobody knows if Olympic athletes have learned to gene dope yet, but the World Anti-Doping Agency isn't taking any chances. The post Olympic Drug Cops Will Scan for Genetically Modified Athletes appeared first on WIRED.

July 15, 2016

The Mad Dash to Clean Up Rio’s Guanabara Bay Before the Games

Before several hundred sailors and windsurfers begin to compete in Rio on August 8, floating streetsweepers are trying to clean up the waters. The post The Mad Dash to Clean Up Rio's Guanabara Bay Before the Games appeared first on WIRED.

June 30, 2016

It’ll Be Really Hard to Test for Doping at the Rio Olympics

Now that Rio's anti-doping lab is suspended, Olympics organizers might have to take athletes' samples somewhere else. The post It’ll Be Really Hard to Test for Doping at the Rio Olympics appeared first on WIRED.