physics – Page 4 – Esoteric news

March 19, 2017

A ‘Digital Alchemist’ Unravels the Mysteries of Complexity

Computational physicist Sharon Glotzer is uncovering the rules by which complex collective phenomena emerge from simple building blocks. The post A 'Digital Alchemist' Unravels the Mysteries of Complexity appeared first on WIRED.

March 11, 2017

A Radical Vision of the Universe Returns to Electrify Physics

A decades-old method called the "bootstrap" is enabling new discoveries about the geometry underlying all quantum theories. The post A Radical Vision of the Universe Returns to Electrify Physics appeared first on WIRED.

March 7, 2017

How Can These Cops Run Up a Wall on a Pole? Physics!

In this crazy video, two guys use a long pole to help another guy up a wall. Here's the physics that makes this work. The post How Can These Cops Run Up a Wall on a Pole? Physics! appeared first on WIRED.

March 3, 2017

Let’s Do the Physics Of Knocking an Asteroid Into the Sun

In the show The Expanse, people try using a spaceship to direct an asteroid into the sun. Would this even work? The post Let's Do the Physics Of Knocking an Asteroid Into the Sun appeared first on WIRED.

February 24, 2017

Inside the Extreme Machine That Mimics Bombs and Black Holes

Machines like Z are the only way—short of exploding a weapon or sojourning inside the sun—to measure how matter behaves in extreme environments. The post Inside the Extreme Machine That Mimics Bombs and Black Holes appeared first on WIRED.

February 20, 2017

Flying at Light Speed Is Pretty Much Impossible—Unless You’re Han Solo

In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Han needs crazy fast reaction time to get inside the Starkiller shields without crashing into the planet. The post Flying at Light Speed Is Pretty Much Impossible—Unless You're Han Solo appeared first on WIRED.

February 13, 2017

Physicists Teach AI to Identify Exotic States of Matter

Physicists taught a computer how to look for superconductivity and topological states of matter. The post Physicists Teach AI to Identify Exotic States of Matter appeared first on WIRED.

February 11, 2017

How Life (and Death) Spring From Disorder

As simple systems show signs of life, scientists are arguing about whether this apparent complexity is all a consequence of thermodynamics. The post How Life (and Death) Spring From Disorder appeared first on WIRED.

February 10, 2017

How Much Energy Does Iron Fist Pack Into His Superpowered Punch?

In the latest trailer for the Netflix show <em>Iron Fist</em>, we get to see the superhero's power punch. Here is an estimate of its energy and power. The post How Much Energy Does Iron Fist Pack Into His Superpowered Punch? appeared first on WIRED.

February 1, 2017

Spill-Proof Cups Aren’t Magic. They’re Physics!

There is a popular mug that doesn't spill. Here's how it might work, along with an estimate of the maximum tipping force to knock it over. The post Spill-Proof Cups Aren't Magic. They're Physics! appeared first on WIRED.