PhysicsCentral Features

Mysteries of the Glass Transition

2013-05-21 14:29:45

Why do certain liquids transition into glass? There's no easy answer.

Backyard Roller Coaster Physics

2013-05-14 14:07:18

Learn about centripetal force with a bucket of water

Cloaking Earthquakes

2013-05-09 12:44:38

Scientists aim to "hide" buildings from seismic waves

Cracked Windshield Physics

2013-05-06 13:48:35

The number of cracks in glass reveal the strength of projectile impacts

Floating Ping-Pong Balls

2013-04-30 11:36:40

Floating ping-pong balls can teach us how airplanes stay aloft

Physics of the Bed of Nails

2013-04-29 14:50:52

How do people lie on a bed of nails without leaving a mark?

Paris Through a Water Drop

2013-04-25 14:12:48

A water drop magnifies a view of Paris, shedding new light on the city

Fluorescent Mice

2013-04-22 12:00:52

Fluorescent proteins can help scientists detect cancer behavior in mice.

Overflowing Surface Tension

2013-04-16 11:09:20

How does water rise above a full glass without spilling?

The Cyborg Scientist

2013-04-09 14:09:49

Blurring the lines between man and machine with electronic implants

Martian Wind

2013-04-04 14:39:54

See the Curiosity rover's parachute flapping in the wind on Mars

Air Matters

2013-04-02 12:04:39

You can detect the tiny mass of air with materials from around the house

Battle for Star Birth

2013-04-01 13:36:37

Nascent stars and gigantic dust pillars collide

Palladium Films Up Close

2013-03-26 14:51:20

A colorful mosaic of nano-scale grains on a super thin film

New York City Language Map

2013-03-25 14:26:42

A Twitter analysis reveals New York's ethnic neighborhoods

Free Fall

2013-03-19 08:42:07

Create a weightless environment here on Earth

Pluto's Moons

2013-03-14 14:21:32

Pluto's known family of moons may have just increased

"Living" Crystal Colonies

2013-03-12 11:16:15

These inanimate crystals form colonies under UV-light, like bacteria

Radioactive Uranium Marbles

2013-03-08 14:55:34

These marbles glow neon under blacklight, but they're safe

Make it Rain

2013-03-05 11:37:00

Create your own indoor rainstorm

Dark Energy Camera Galaxy Close-up

2013-03-04 13:51:40

One of the Dark Energy Camera's first images

Dragon Launch 2

2013-03-01 14:14:36

A glimpse at the SpaceX spacecraft before a mission

How to Do a Handstand with Physics

2013-02-28 13:32:20

Physics can help you master this move

Detecting Schizophrenia with Magnetic Fields

2013-02-26 11:45:00

Using physics to detect the brain disorder earlier

Backlit Saturn

2013-02-25 14:31:45

The Cassini spacecraft captured this beautiful image of Saturn

Interview with Astronaut Don Pettit

2013-02-22 14:23:00

We talk to Don about scary moments in space, immigrating to Mars, human spaceflight and more.

Inside a Plasma Physics Lab

2013-02-21 15:02:24

A glimpse into plasma physics and fusion research at MIT

Floating Rice Friction

2013-02-19 11:56:54

Make a bottle of rice "float" with this friction demo

Chocolate Physics

2013-02-14 14:42:22

Take a closer look at chocolatey treats

Below Absolute Zero: Negative Temperatures Explained

2013-02-12 09:53:38

What does it mean?

Supersonic Ping Pong Bazooka

2013-02-08 14:45:39

Engineers create a ping pong gun that breaks the sound barrier

Jupiter's Little Red Spot

2013-02-07 11:00:49

On its way to Pluto, New Horizons caught a glimpse of Jupiter's smaller blemish

Colorful Oobleck Fun

2013-02-05 11:25:37

Make your own non-Newtonian fluid in this demo

Hornet X-Ray

2013-02-01 14:17:00

Special x-rays give detailed images of small biological samples

Shattering Science and Glass Physics

2013-01-29 08:05:00

Scientists try to strike a balance with glass

Mars at Night

2013-01-28 13:42:29

Curiosity snaps some nighttime pictures from the red planet

Science on the Silver Screen

2013-01-25 06:44:00

Scientists break down the science in popular films

Create Your Own Rainbow

2013-01-22 11:07:04

Learn about refraction in the kitchen

Niobium Caterpillar

2013-01-17 14:32:10

A tiny crystal structure mimics a neon caterpillar

Bullet Proof: Absorbing Micro-Bullets

2013-01-15 11:44:00

Bullet-proof material absorbs bullets and reseals itself

Ocean Current Cyclones

2013-01-14 14:31:58

Simulation of ocean currents reveals cyclone dynamics

Mixing Physics: Rayleigh-Taylor Instabilities

2013-01-10 13:44:56

Fluid dynamics behind beautiful video of mixing patterns

Science of a Shipwreck: Costa Concordia

2013-01-08 13:44:45

Largest salvage effort ever presents unique engineering challenges

Underground Neutrino Detector

2013-01-07 12:24:24

A detector once searched for exotic physics 6,800 feet underground

Perihelion and Eccentricity

2013-01-03 11:56:34

Learn about the Earth's farthest point from the sun with a lesson in eccentricity

New Year's Eve Ball Drop

2012-12-28 01:00:00

The physics behind the iconic celebration

Solstice Lunar Eclipse

2012-12-24 01:00:00

In 2010, a lunar eclipse coincided with the winter solstice

Ultrasound Gas Bubbles

2012-12-20 01:00:00

Ultrasound energizes gas bubbles, causing intense pressure and heat

Could This Be the Next Robotic Skin?

2012-12-18 14:43:00

Ladybug hairs inspire sensitive, flexible electronic sensors

Mayan Ruins Seen From Space

2012-12-13 09:09:00

Satellites uncovered ancient Mayan ruins with remote sensing