Physics(Page 5)

Learn how physics rule the world (and everything beyond it) with explainers on Earth's geological processes, quantum and particle physics, robotics, and more.

Latest in Physics

Arctic Report: What Are the Northern Lights, Really?

Arctic Report: What Are the Northern Lights, Really? Arctic Report: What Are the Northern Lights, Really?

By Breanna Draxler

What Makes A Boomerang Come Back?

What Makes A Boomerang Come Back? What Makes A Boomerang Come Back?

By Kirstin Fawcett

We finally know what sparks the Northern Lights

We finally know what sparks the Northern Lights We finally know what sparks the Northern Lights

A side by side comparison of the star Betelgeuse in January and December of 2019. The star is was dimmer in December 2019.

We finally know why the Betelgeuse star dimmed—and it’s not what you think We finally know why the Betelgeuse star dimmed—and it’s not what you think

By Charlie Wood

A man looks through the cooling mechanism of a quantum computer.

What the heck is a quantum network? What the heck is a quantum network?

Player in pinstripes holding two baseballs

How sticky balls give major league pitchers an advantage How sticky balls give major league pitchers an advantage

By John Eric Goff / The Conversation

Exclusive: Listen To ‘Alchemy,’ Simonne Jones’ Song Made From Physics Data

Exclusive: Listen To ‘Alchemy,’ Simonne Jones’ Song Made From Physics Data Exclusive: Listen To ‘Alchemy,’ Simonne Jones’ Song Made From Physics Data

By Ryan F. Mandelbaum

In photos: a rare glimpse inside the heart of a quantum computer

In photos: a rare glimpse inside the heart of a quantum computer In photos: a rare glimpse inside the heart of a quantum computer

By Corinne Iozzio

a baseball player swings a bat

Why baseball players ‘bone’ their bats Why baseball players ‘bone’ their bats

By Popular Science Team

A half-ring vortex in a swimming pool

How To Create Vortex Rings In Your Swimming Pool How To Create Vortex Rings In Your Swimming Pool

By Dianna Cowern

The quest to build a cozier LED lightbulb

The quest to build a cozier LED lightbulb The quest to build a cozier LED lightbulb

Darth Vader weilding a lightsaber

How lightsabers went from a DIY project to culturally iconic How lightsabers went from a DIY project to culturally iconic

Photo in which the Bidens look huge

Understanding the weird Biden-Carter photo could help you take better selfies Understanding the weird Biden-Carter photo could help you take better selfies

By Stan Horaczek

muon ring at fermilab

Inside the discovery that could change particle physics Inside the discovery that could change particle physics

An exploded view of Callaway's golf balls.

Callaway designed its Supersoft golf balls to spin, but not break Callaway designed its Supersoft golf balls to spin, but not break

By Stan Horaczek

Sorry, even Mariah Carey can’t twist bottle caps off with her voice

Sorry, even Mariah Carey can’t twist bottle caps off with her voice Sorry, even Mariah Carey can’t twist bottle caps off with her voice

By Eleanor Cummins

What’s The Point Of A Quantum Computer?

What’s The Point Of A Quantum Computer? What’s The Point Of A Quantum Computer?

By Rafi Letzter

A gloved hand putting a lighter to a snowball

Why snow doesn’t melt when you set it on fire Why snow doesn’t melt when you set it on fire

By Douglas Main

Nerf's Rival blaster can shoot curved shots with small yellow balls.

Nerf’s newest blaster shoots spinning balls for dramatic curves Nerf’s newest blaster shoots spinning balls for dramatic curves

By Stan Horaczek

A lunar rainbow or moonbow stretching over the mountains at night in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

In perfect conditions, rainbows can come alive at night In perfect conditions, rainbows can come alive at night

By Purbita Saha

Boss Baby Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has one star that always rises to the top The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has one star that always rises to the top

Shipwreck on shore

How scientists keep ancient shipwrecks from crumbling into dust How scientists keep ancient shipwrecks from crumbling into dust

By Sara Kiley Watson

dark matter detector

Glimpse the gold mine where scientists are searching for dark matter Glimpse the gold mine where scientists are searching for dark matter

By Ryan Bradley

The Nobel Prize in physics honors insights on black holes—including the one in our own galaxy

The Nobel Prize in physics honors insights on black holes—including the one in our own galaxy The Nobel Prize in physics honors insights on black holes—including the one in our own galaxy

By Jessica Boddy

The finished boat hooked up to Riti's trailer

This DIY-er found a boat he liked in the PopSci archives. Then he built it. This DIY-er found a boat he liked in the PopSci archives. Then he built it.

By Popular Science Team

Baseballs sitting in a grassy field.

Hitting a baseball is the hardest skill to pull off in sports. Here’s why. Hitting a baseball is the hardest skill to pull off in sports. Here’s why.

By Eric Rynston-Lobel

bowling ball interior

The insides of pro bowling balls will make your head spin The insides of pro bowling balls will make your head spin

By Stan Horaczek

Tales from the Field illustration

What did the universe look like just after the big bang? What did the universe look like just after the big bang?

By Charlie Wood

Why are big neutron stars like Tootsie Pops? Why are big neutron stars like Tootsie Pops?

By Charlie Wood

space telescopes

Half the matter in the universe was missing. We found it hiding between galaxies. Half the matter in the universe was missing. We found it hiding between galaxies.

By Prochaska & Macquart/The Conversation

An old man at a podium reading from a book

Theoretical physicist Freeman Dyson dies at 96 Theoretical physicist Freeman Dyson dies at 96

By Sara Kiley Watson

Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers pulls his 7-foot frame into a well-balanced dunk form.

The physics behind iconic NBA slam dunks The physics behind iconic NBA slam dunks

By Jacob Feldman

Totto Renna illustration

Ranked: the loudest sounds ever measured Ranked: the loudest sounds ever measured

By Jessica Boddy

espresso being made

For better coffee, start with fewer beans For better coffee, start with fewer beans

A food scientist breaks down the thermodynamics between marshmallows and hot chocolate A food scientist breaks down the thermodynamics between marshmallows and hot chocolate

Glowing red sphere of light around a black hole in a NASA simulation

What would happen if you fell into a black hole? What would happen if you fell into a black hole?

By Maria Paula Rubiano

We really don’t know when Betelgeuse is going to explode We really don’t know when Betelgeuse is going to explode

By Rachel Feltman

A baseball sits on a pitcher's mound.

Scientists are one step closer to solving the mystery of MLB’s home run surge Scientists are one step closer to solving the mystery of MLB’s home run surge

By Lauren Theisen

There’s a chance the black hole at the center of our galaxy is actually a wormhole

There’s a chance the black hole at the center of our galaxy is actually a wormhole There’s a chance the black hole at the center of our galaxy is actually a wormhole

By Charlie Wood

A new take on creating an invisibility shield borrows from classical physics

A new take on creating an invisibility shield borrows from classical physics A new take on creating an invisibility shield borrows from classical physics

Here’s how life could thrive on a planet orbiting a black hole—and other alternative suns

Here’s how life could thrive on a planet orbiting a black hole—and other alternative suns Here’s how life could thrive on a planet orbiting a black hole—and other alternative suns

By Charlie Wood

That groundbreaking photo of a black hole has raised some mighty big questions

That groundbreaking photo of a black hole has raised some mighty big questions That groundbreaking photo of a black hole has raised some mighty big questions

By Neel V. Patel

What shape is the universe?

What shape is the universe? What shape is the universe?

By Rachel Feltman

NASCAR may be the fastest road to learning about physics

NASCAR may be the fastest road to learning about physics NASCAR may be the fastest road to learning about physics

By Christine Helms/The Conversation

Dark matter has never killed anyone, and scientists want to know why

Dark matter has never killed anyone, and scientists want to know why Dark matter has never killed anyone, and scientists want to know why

By Neel V. Patel

What’s really behind baseball’s recent home run surge

What’s really behind baseball’s recent home run surge What’s really behind baseball’s recent home run surge

By Brian J. Love and Michael L. Burns/The Conversation

How to stare at your phone all day without messing up your body

How to stare at your phone all day without messing up your body How to stare at your phone all day without messing up your body

By Eleanor Cummins

quantum teleportation illustration

Quantum teleportation is real, but it’s not what you think Quantum teleportation is real, but it’s not what you think

By Matthew R. Francis

Trek’s new bike helmet mimics your brain’s protective fluid

Trek’s new bike helmet mimics your brain’s protective fluid Trek’s new bike helmet mimics your brain’s protective fluid

By Claire Maldarelli

Gravitational waves could solve a cosmological crisis within five years—or shake physics to its core

Gravitational waves could solve a cosmological crisis within five years—or shake physics to its core Gravitational waves could solve a cosmological crisis within five years—or shake physics to its core

By Charlie Wood

The physics of throwing a perfect baseball pitch The physics of throwing a perfect baseball pitch

illustrations of two men and a woman

The physics Nobel Prize goes to high-tech lasers and honors the first woman in 55 years The physics Nobel Prize goes to high-tech lasers and honors the first woman in 55 years

By Charlie Wood

This ocean ‘invisibility cloak’ makes waves bigger and better

This ocean ‘invisibility cloak’ makes waves bigger and better This ocean ‘invisibility cloak’ makes waves bigger and better

By Charlie Wood

a girl blowing bubbles outside

Mathematicians finally found the perfect bubble blowing formula Mathematicians finally found the perfect bubble blowing formula

By Neel V. Patel

Something called ‘squeezed light’ is about to give us a closer look at cosmic goldmines

Something called ‘squeezed light’ is about to give us a closer look at cosmic goldmines Something called ‘squeezed light’ is about to give us a closer look at cosmic goldmines

By Matthew R. Francis

We may finally know where the ‘ghost particles’ that surround us come from

We may finally know where the ‘ghost particles’ that surround us come from We may finally know where the ‘ghost particles’ that surround us come from

By Neel V. Patel

world cup 2014 argentina germany

The complex physics behind bending it like a World Cup player The complex physics behind bending it like a World Cup player

How the new World Cup ball was designed to not influence the games

How the new World Cup ball was designed to not influence the games How the new World Cup ball was designed to not influence the games

We may finally know how Easter Island’s giant statues got their jaunty stone hats

We may finally know how Easter Island’s giant statues got their jaunty stone hats We may finally know how Easter Island’s giant statues got their jaunty stone hats

Does a black hole ever die?

Does a black hole ever die? Does a black hole ever die?

By Mary Beth Griggs

The universe may be a giant video game, but it certainly isn’t Pac-Man The universe may be a giant video game, but it certainly isn’t Pac-Man

It’s rude to ask a galaxy’s age. Luckily, its shape offers a clue. It’s rude to ask a galaxy’s age. Luckily, its shape offers a clue.

By Charles Q. Choi

The physics behind a baseball bat’s sweet spot The physics behind a baseball bat’s sweet spot

By Sara Chodosh

The ultimate guide to hitting a home run

The ultimate guide to hitting a home run The ultimate guide to hitting a home run

By Sara Chodosh