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.
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?
Two Titanic Structures Hidden Deep Within the Earth Have Altered the Magnetic Field for Millions of Years
A team of geologists found for the first time evidence linking regions of low seismic velocity and the shape of the Earth’s magnetic field.
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.