Worth A Look Features

Four Color Theorem Intro

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

Have you ever wondered how many colors are necessary to make a map? Four Color Theorem Intro can help you figure it out! - To learn more see this page by Ivars Peterson.

Physicists determine air gives liquids their splash

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

What happens when a droplet of liquid lands on a solid surface? What determines the way it splashes? How does what happens depends on the kind of gas and the pressure? - To find out see Physicists determine air gives liquids their splash. - And to learn how a raindrop splashes before it hits the ground, visit this New Scientist page.

Tsunami

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

Remember the 2004 Sumatra tsunami? Take a look at this Wikipedia photo. - Visit Tsunami to learn the basic science of these waves, how they are produced, and what role NOAA plays in predicting them and minimizing their damage. - To learn more, see this NOAA video on its method to forecast tsunamis.

soapbubbledk

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

Visit the colorful and well-illustrated soapbubbledk to learn about soap bubbles and films. - You'll find out why bubbles don't grow bigger and bigger, how bubbles can float, and how to attract a soapbubble with a balloon. - Photos show the interesting soap films you can make on a wire frame, or even inside a bubble.

Sand Dunes: A Phenomenon Of Wind

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

Sand dunes are formed by wind in arid regions with a lot of sand on the surface. To learn more, see Sand Dunes: A Phenomenon Of Wind. - To find out how dunes are classified, see pattern indicators and also sand dunes.

Faster than Sound

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EST

Visit Nova's Faster than Sound to find out how Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947 in the Bell X-1. You'll find recollection from the X-1's pilots and one of the X-1's designers, and learn about the historical background as well. In the Speed Machines section, you can find out about speed records in the air, on land, and on water.

Death Star: A Bad Day In the Milky Way

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EST

Another possible fate for especially massive stars is to explode in a hypernova, causing a gamma-ray burst. To learn about the effect a gamma-ray burst would have on Earth, check out Death Star: A Bad Day In the Milky Way.

Amazing Plasmas

Sun, 16 May 2010 00:00:00 EST

Plasmas aren’t common on Earth (besides fire, lightning, and the aurora borealis), but plasma makes up most of the matter in the universe. Read about space plasmas at Amazing Plasmas. For just a few images of plasma in space, see this space plasma photo gallery and these APOD images of our Sun and the Cat’s Eye Nebula.

Hess proposes sea-floor spreading

Sat, 01 May 2010 00:00:00 EST

See Hess proposes sea-floor spreading for the story of how Harry Hess proposed seafloor spreading. In addition, you can visit the USGS' Understanding Plate Motions to see how the mid-Atlantic ridge goes right through Iceland.

LCROSS Impact Data Indicates Water on Moon

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST

You may recall last October when NASA, according to popular news media, “bombed the moon.” In fact, scientists sent a rocket to impact the Moon’s surface in order to produce a plume of debris. A spacecraft flew through the impact debris to collect data, which was sent to Earth for analysis. Check out the LCROSS Mission Overview website for more details and videos of the event. After analyzing the impact materials using spectroscopy, scientists think they have detected water on the moon. For the full article, see LCROSS Impact Data Indicates Water on Moon.

Physics in Action: Fusion Machines

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST

Visit Physics Central's Physics in Action: Fusion Machines to learn more about the effort to harness fusion reactions in the sun to produce electrical energy. For a cautionary note, see this New Scientist article.

Atmospheric Dry Spell Eases Global Warming

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

This article from NPR offers insight into a few factors affecting global temperatures. For more on how changing temperatures might affect you, see these pages on stronger hurricanes (NOVA) and the nor’easters (NOAA).

SETI Institute

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

To find out how radio telescopes are used in the search for life in the universe, visit SETI Institute. To learn how you can participate, check out SETI@home.

What is a "fictitious force"?

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

To learn more about fictitious forces, see What is a "fictitious force"? and, for more detail, this Physics Classroom tutorial , especially the animations. (This feature was updated on June 21, 2010)

How Buildings Respond to Earthquakes

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

If you live in an area prone to earthquakes, you may want to check out How Buildings Respond to Earthquakes. Learn how building materials are equipped (or not equipped) to deal with physical forces from an engineering point of view. For more information on earthquakes and how they can affect you, see this former Physics to Go feature, Faultline.

2000 years of magnetism in 40 minutes

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

Check out 2000 years of magnetism in 40 minutes for an overview of magnetism with an eye toward the history. The lecture is a quick read and includes pictures of magnetism demonstrations.

LaserFest

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

LaserFest is the year-long celebration of the laser, marking the fiftieth anniversary of its invention. Check out LaserFest to learn more about the event. To learn about the development of the laser, read these articles from Bell Labs and SPIE, and also see this LaserFest timeline.

Quasars and Active Galaxies

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST

Explore galaxies further by learning about the strange ones: - Quasars, or quasi-stellar objects, are not stars as the name suggests. Learn about these distant sources of bright light here. - Active galaxies are thought to be powered by black holes at their centers. Find out more at Introductory Astronomy: Active Galaxies. - Colliding galaxies offer insight into our Milky Way Galaxy’s future. See this APOD on the crashing Antennae Galaxies, and check out this simulation of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies colliding in the cosmologically near future.

The Army's Remote-Controlled Beetle

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST

Instead of building artificial insects, some researchers are trying to control living insects using cybernetic implants. Read The Army's Remote-Controlled Beetle and Cyborg Moth Gets a New Radio to learn about the research and possible applications. Also, be sure to see this article with a video of the cyborg beetle in flight.

Breaking Glass with Sound

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

You don’t have to be an opera singer to break a glass with sound. Watch Breaking Glass with Sound from MIT TechTV, and be sure to watch the strobe light camera imagery at the end. For more sound demonstration videos, see this Physics Demonstration Video page from Wake Forest University.

Basic Nuclear Science Information

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

There are two types of nuclear reactions: fission and fusion. Fission is used in nuclear power plants; fusion is the reaction process powering the sun. Learn about these processes and more at Basic Nuclear Science Information.

X Rays: Another Form of Light

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

X-ray astronomy helps astronomers see a complete picture of the universe. Find out more at X Rays: Another Form of Light, and explore the mission of the Chandra X-ray Observatory with this activity. To learn more about the x-ray sky, watch the High-Energy Groovy Movie. (Be patient--it's a slow download.)

Cloaking and Invisibility: Fact and Fiction

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

We might not have to steal Star Trek cloaking technology from the Romulans after all. Cloaking and Invisibility: Fact and Fiction , from a research group at Duke University, outlines our current understanding of the technology and their research efforts, examining cloaking technology in science fiction along the way. For more on the physics of invisibility cloaks, see this article from PhysOrg.com.

The Physics of Sandcastles

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST

Here's a practical application for the physics of sand—learn how you can make the ultimate sandcastle at Sandcastle Physics Revealed and The Physics of Sandcastles.

Benjamin Franklin and Electrostatics

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST

Benjamin Franklin’s work with electricity was not limited to flying a kite in the middle of a storm. Find out what else he did to contribute to our knowledge of electricity at this page from Tufts University, which includes his writings and experiments.