Physics
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Health & MedicineSix foot social-distancing will not always be enough for COVID-19
To avoid COVID-19, keeping a 6-foot social distance is a good rule of thumb. But for plenty of instances, that might not be nearly far enough.
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ChemistryBatteries should not burst into flames
Because lithium-ion batteries power modern life, they need to store a lot of energy. Now scientists are focusing on making them safer.
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MathLack of diversity in his field has troubled this mathematician
As a kid, Edray Goins didn’t like math. But he fell in love with the subject in college and is now training the next generation of minority mathematicians.
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PhysicsScientists Say: Photon
This word describes light as a particle. A photon is the tiniest possible bit of electromagnetic radiation.
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Health & MedicineNew ultrasound treatment kills off cancer cells
Low-frequency ultrasound destroys cancer cells while leaving most healthy cells intact.
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Materials ScienceSilk can be molded into strong medical implants
Freeze-dried and powdered silk has a long shelf life. It also is cheap to ship and can be molded into sturdy medical implants.
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PhysicsTry This: Walking on water with science
Water striders walk on water. How do they do it? They spread out. This experiment will show you how it works.
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PhysicsSoap bubbles’ ‘pop’ reveals the physics of the bursts
A bubble’s pop is a quiet, high-pitched noise. This can reveal the forces that occur during the bubble’s demise.
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ChemistryConverting trash to valuable graphene in a flash
Flash heating of carbon-rich wastes creates graphene, which has many commercial uses.
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PhysicsExplainer: Understanding waves and wavelengths
A wave is a disturbance that moves energy from one place to another. Only energy — not matter — is transferred as a wave moves.
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PhysicsThere’s science to making great fried rice
Scientists report finding the physics that seems to explain how chefs can quickly fry rice over a hot flame without burning the food.
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AnimalsAnalyze This: Shimmering colors may help beetles hide
Delve into data showing how brilliant colors that shift as a viewer — or predator — moves may help iridescent insects blend in.