physics

Answering the question that won me the Ig Nobel prize: Are cats liquid?

By Marc-Antoine Fardin, The Conversation

A liquid is traditionally defined as a material that adapts its shape to fit a container. Under certain conditions, cats seem to fit this definition.

2017 Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded to ‘cool’ 3D pictures of bioarchitecture

By Nsikan Akpan

Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson have won the 2017 Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing a way to image biomolecules at cold temperatures.

WATCH: Total eclipse crosses the continental U.S.

By Nsikan Akpan

For those unable to visit a spot on the 3,000-mile-long, 70-mile-wide path of totality, you’re in luck. In partnership with NOVA, NewsHour will be streaming the solar eclipse event all afternoon.

5 things you should remember as you prepare for the great solar eclipse

By Nsikan Akpan, Julia Griffin

If you plan to join the 5,000-year-old tradition of eclipse watching next Monday, here are five things you need to remember.

This ancient asteroid family reveals clues about the birth of the solar system

By Roni Dengler

An international team has tipped the debate on the origins of the solar system with the discovery of one of the oldest known asteroid families.

These stairs recycle your energy so they’re easier to climb

By Roni Dengler

Researchers at Georgia Tech and Emory University have built energy-recycling stairs that store a user’s energy during descent and return energy to the user during ascent.

Glass spheres forged by volcanic lightning offer clues about eruptions

By Dave Berndtson

Scientists have developed a new way to analyze volcanic eruptions -- with lightning -- that is cost effective, relatively simple and safe.

The science behind why your shoelace knot is doomed to fail

By Nsikan Akpan

Fret no longer children of planet Earth, as new research has figured out the physics behind why shoelace knots fail and why some shoelaces are more prone to the mistake.

An ‘Earth-sized’ telescope takes aim at the first-ever image of a black hole

By Joshua Barajas

For years, actual images of black holes have remained elusive. The Event Horizon Telescope might be changing that as you read these words.

This Pi Day, use math to beat your friends at classic toy games

By Kristin Hugo

On this most circular of pi days, we present three classic toys -- hula hoops, yo-yo's and Connect Four -- and explore their mechanics with mathematicians and physicists.