Drive Slower, Save Money on Gas. Thanks, Physics!

Planning a Fourth of July getaway? Use less gas—and cut your emissions—by easing up on the pedal.

Venezuela’s Powerful Earthquakes Were a Rare ‘Seismic Doublet’

The country was hit hard by a pair of quakes that happened in quick succession and were likely driven by stress being transferred from one part of the fault that runs through the country to another.

How Can Soccer Players Bend Their Shots in Midair?

As World Cup action kicks off, we look at the physics of the beautiful game.

A Fundamental Principle of Aeronautical Engineering Has Been Overturned

It’s long been accepted that the smoother the surface, the lower the aerodynamic drag. That turns out not always to be the case.

All the Fancy Measuring Devices Used in Science Rely on Two Stone-Age Techniques

The multifarious methods we use to gather experimental data ultimately boil down to counting or comparing.

Build a Radio Wave Detector With Balls of Aluminum Foil!

Here’s how you can hack together a radio transmitter and receiver out of stuff you have at home—and explore the weirdness of wireless.

Do Lightsaber Blades Have Mass?

On Star Wars Day, we put to rest a question that has bedeviled sci-fi nerds for years.

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.