A Fundamental Principle of Aeronautical Engineering Has Been Overturned
It's long been accepted that the smoother the surface, the lower the aerodynamic drag. That turns out not always to be the case.
All the Fancy Measuring Devices Used in Science Rely on Two Stone-Age Techniques
The multifarious methods we use to gather experimental data ultimately boil down to counting or comparing.
Build a Radio Wave Detector With Balls of Aluminum Foil!
Here’s how you can hack together a radio transmitter and receiver out of stuff you have at home—and explore the weirdness of wireless.
Do Lightsaber Blades Have Mass?
On Star Wars Day, we put to rest a question that has bedeviled sci-fi nerds for years.
The ‘Lonely Runner’ Problem Only Appears Simple
Take a group of runners circling a track at unique, constant paces. Answering the question of how many will always end up running alone, no matter their speed, has vexed mathematicians for decades.
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.
A Quantum Leap for the Turing Award
Charles Bennett and Gilles Brassard pioneered quantum information theory. Now they’ve been awarded the highest honor in computer science.
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.