A Puzzling Quantum Scenario Appears to Violate a Law of Physics
By resolving a paradox about light in a box, researchers hope to clarify the concept of energy in quantum theory.
How Realistic Is the Celestial Navigation in Moon Knight?
You can definitely use the stars as your guide. But let’s check whether a scene from the Disney+ live action series would work in the real world.
Could Anyone Do Luke’s Plank Flip From ‘Return of the Jedi’?
Let’s calculate whether the lightsaber-catching, Sarlacc-pit-avoiding maneuver can be done by mere mortals or requires help from the Force.
An Antimatter Experiment Shows Surprises Near Absolute Zero
An experiment conducted on hybrid matter-antimatter atoms has defied researchers’ expectations.
A Newly Measured Particle Could Break Known Physics
A new analysis of W bosons suggests these particles are significantly heavier than predicted by the standard model of particle physics.
What Actually Happens If You Shoot a Ball at a Newton’s Cradle?
In a recent video, the Slo Mo Guys fired at the clicky-clacky desk toy with a superhigh-speed ball. It looks pretty cool—and the physics are even cooler.
Why Bigger Things Don’t Always Fall Faster
Is there really a difference in what happens if you tip over something large versus something small?
Is There an Optimal Driving Speed that Saves Gas—and Money?
Gasoline prices are over $4 a gallon at the pump. If you want to save some cash on your commute, maybe you need to slow down.
Math’s ‘Oldest Problem Ever’ Gets a New Answer
A new proof significantly strengthens a decades-old result about the ubiquity of ways to represent whole numbers as sums of fractions.