Physics Topics
Confounded by Coffee
2002 — April 6, 2011
Here's something to ponder over your next cup of joe: the Physicsof a humble bag of coffee grounds still holds surprises for scientists.
Amazing Magnetic Fluids
2002 — April 6, 2011
Astronautsonboard the International Space Stationare studying strange fluids that might one day flow in the veins of Robotsand help buildings resist earthquakes.
Floating Flame Balls
2002 — April 6, 2011
Flames do something odd in space: they form tiny almost-invisible balls that might reveal the secrets of combustion here on Earth.
Sit. Speak. Good Photon!
2002 — April 6, 2011
Researchers have trapped a laser pulse inside a glass chamber --and released it again intact. Such command of light could lead to mind-boggling new technologies.
Tick-Tock Atomic Clock
2002 — April 6, 2011
Scientists are building atomic clocks that keep time with mind-boggling precision. Such devices will help farmers, physicists, and interstellar travelers alike.
Was Einstein a Space Alien?
2005 — April 6, 2011
One hundred years ago, Albert Einstein stunned physicists with his out-of-this-world ideas.
Space-time Vortex
2005 — Sept. 20, 2011
NASA's Gravity Probe B spacecraft has gathered all the data physicists need to check a bizarre prediction of Einstein's relativity.
Picking on Einstein
2005 — April 6, 2011
By measuring the shape of space with exquisite precision, NASA's Gravity Probe B aims to confirm Einstein's theory of relativity ... or provide the first evidence against it.
A Pop Quiz for Einstein
2000 — April 6, 2011
Crystal balls rarely have anything to do with science, but soon NASA researchers will be using a set of four to examine one of the last, untested portions of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. The spheres are heading for Earth orbit on board the Gravity Probe B mission in 2002.
What's the Matter with Antimatter
2000 — April 6, 2011
Antimatter -- it may be the ultimate fuel for space travel, but right now it is fleeting, difficult to work with and measured in atoms instead of kilograms or pounds! In this two-part story we'll explore what antimatter is, and how it may be used for space propulsion.