Rock samples from the lunar surface are important tools for scientists studying how old the Moon is. AP Photo/NASA Francis Nimmo, University of California, Santa Cruz A physicist, a chemist and a mathematician walk into a bar. It sounds like the start of a bad joke, but in my case, it was the start of […]
Frame Stock Footage / Shutterstock Sam McKee, Manchester Metropolitan University Could humans expand out beyond their homeworld and establish settlements on the planet Mars? The idea of settling the red planet has been around for decades. However, it has been seen by sceptics as a delusion at best and mere bluster at worst. Mars might […]
Ah, Mexican Coke—the elixir of authenticity, the nectar of nostalgia, the beverage that makes us say, “It just tastes better, okay?” For decades, people have been willing to fork over extra cash for the glass-bottled “real deal,” supposedly sweetened with pure cane sugar rather than that nefarious high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). But what if I […]
Ever caught yourself—or your kid—sounding like you’ve just stepped off a flight from another hemisphere after binge-watching a show? In this episode of Otherwords, Erica Brozovsky, Ph.D., explores how TV can sprinkle a little linguistic magic (or chaos?) into our speech. Some parents are concerned (or thrilled?) that their kids might be developing an Australian […]
Move over, T-1000—there’s a new liquid metal in town, and it’s way more charming. Meet galinstan, the room-temperature cousin of mercury that’s non-toxic, shiny, and apparently ready for a maze challenge. In this fun experiment, a blob of galinstan gets chemically animated and starts moving like it’s actually alive. The question is: can this metallic […]
The universe is full of stars, galaxies and planets − it’s expanding every day. NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Wisconsin via AP Nicole Granucci, Quinnipiac University Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected]. What is the universe expanding into if […]
Mold growths are common in homes, and unless the damage is widespread, they usually aren’t harmful. AP Photo/Matt Rourke Nicholas Money, Miami University Mold growth in your home can be unsettling. Blackened spots and dusty patches on the walls are signs that something is amiss, but it is important to distinguish between mold growth that […]
Evolution, the process of change, governs life on Earth − and potentially different forms of life in other places. Just_Super/E+ via Getty Images Chris Impey, University of Arizona We have only one example of biology forming in the universe – life on Earth. But what if life can form in other ways? How do you […]
Weather shapes our decisions every day, from whether to carry an umbrella to planning for extreme events like hurricanes. But forecasting the future isn’t easy. Weather is chaotic by nature, and even the best models come with uncertainties, especially beyond a few days. GenCast, Google’s latest AI-powered weather model, offers a groundbreaking solution. Unlike traditional […]
Are black holes really the universe’s ultimate enigma, or is there something even stranger out there? Enter gravastars—the “evil twin” of black holes and a cosmic riddle that could redefine our understanding of reality. Imagine a cosmic soap bubble: a thin, unbreakable shell forged in the furnace of a collapsing star, trapping pure energy in […]