Physics on ZME Science

The Story of Hugh Everett III: The Father of the "Multiverse' and Parallel Worlds

Meet the brilliant mathematician who gave us the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Emmy Noether: the woman who developed one of the most beautiful theorems in physics

Emmy Noether revolutionized our understanding of the universe by linking the concept of symmetry to the fundamental laws that conserve quantities like energy and momentum.

The Magnus effect: the physical principle feared by goalkeepers

Kicking a ball and making sure it spins and deflects from the original path requires practice. But what's the physics behind it?

The loudest sound in mankind's history

Krakatoa is believed to be the loudest sound produced on the surface of the planet -- in human history, that is.

The Plum Pudding Model: how a flawed idea was instrumental in our understanding of the atom

The tale of how an old British cake influenced leading physicists.

What, really, is the speed of sound?

Unlike the speed of light, this one isn't constant.

Who really discovered electricity?

Spoiler: It wasn't Ben Franklin.

The different types of electromagnetic radiation: from radio waves to gamma rays, according to experts

All of them are light -- but not quite.

What's the difference between nuclear fission and fusion

Despite having some things common, the two can be considered polar opposites.

What is the Electron Cloud Model: this is how electrons inside an atom really behave

From the ancient Greeks to quantum mechanics, the model of the atom has gone through many iterations.

10 Years of the Higgs Boson: how this particle is still unlocking new physics

A decade after the discovery of the Higgs boson this ellusive particle is still delivering important science.

Nothing to talk about: the many mysteries of vacuums

A vacuum is not exactly empty in quantum mechanics terms. It is also a headache for physicists.

What color is a mirror? It's not a trick question

Mirrors aren't 'silver' or 'colorless'.

What does the universe sound like? The eerie world of cosmic sonification

The sonification of astronomical data provides a new way to experience the cosmos.

What is Plasma -- the most common state of matter found in the universe

Cats may or may not be liquid, but researchers are more certain about other states of matter: namely, plasma.

The 'Tsar Bomba': the most powerful nuclear weapon ever made

The nuclear device was so powerful, it was too big to use effectively.

What is a Faraday cage and how does it work?

It prevents the entry or escape of electromagnetic fields

The color purple is unlike all others, in a physical sense

The 'royal color' does indeed stand apart from the rest.

What is Mass-Energy Equivalence (E=mc^2): the most famous formula in science

The mass-energy equivalence is the crown jewel of special relativity, explaining the phenomena that power the stars, our homes, and humanity's most destructive acts.

What is Special Relativity: A Guide to Spacetime, Time Dilation and Length Contraction

Einstein's theory of special relativity would revolutionise the field of physics upon its introduction. This is the first part of the ZME Science guide to that revolutionary theory.

Why is the ocean blue?

It's all due to the physics of the scattering of light.

Examples of electricity in nature

Electricity is quite busy in the natural world.

Time Travel Without the Paradoxes

Join ZME Science in its carefully non-copyright infringing time machine with your sidekick ‘Marty’ to see if time travel paradoxes can be escaped.

Quantum Teleportation: Separating Science Fact from Science Fiction

Quantum teleportation may take its name from its fictional counterpart, but aside from that, it shares few commonalities. Despite this, by forming the basis of future quantum technologies, it is no less exciting.

What is viscosity: through thick and thin

Some fluids don't really like going with the flow.

What is the neutrino: a hauntingly significant particle

Neutrinos interact so weakly with matter and yet, are of vital importance in the processes that govern the Universe. This is the story of the ghost particle that haunts modern physics.

What is entropy, and why is it always increasing?

Room's a mess again? It's physics's fault.

What is temperature and what does it truly measure?

Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in an object.

Certainly Uncertain: What's Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle

Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle is more than a mathematical quirk, a handy guiding principle, or the inspiration for some really nerdy t-shirts. It is intrinsic to nature, weaved into the fabric of all matter. Together we take a trip to ZME labs to use some everyday objects to demonstrate how nature tells us “you can’t have it all.”

What is Superposition? Schrödinger's Cat Experiment Explained

The tale of physics’ most famous cat is one that is familiar to many, but what is the inside story of the feline so demanding it requires its own Universe, and how does it illustrate the 'weirdness' of the quantum world?

What is the vacuum of space?

Nature hates a vaccuum -- so why do we have one?

What are the different types of energy

Don't let your boss find out, but in a physical sense, energy is defined as the ability to do work.

Why is snow white?

...because it can't get a tan.

How many dimensions are there?

According to String Theorists, there are at least 10 dimensions. But there could be as many as 26.

Why does electricity hum -- and why is it a B flat in the US, and a G in Europe?

Who knew sound and current can intertwine so much?

What exactly is a photon? Definition, properties, facts

Let's shine some light on the matter.

What sound is (and why it can topple buildings)

How it forms, how we hear it, and what it can do.

How to slow down light until it stops

In vacuum, light always travels at a constant speed of 299,792,458 metres per second. Nothing can travel faster than this constant c, as denoted by physicists. These two postulates are basic building blocks of modern physics and were first announced more than a hundred years ago by Albert Einstein. Yet, there are ingenious ways to slow light to the point of trapping it in a dead stop. Prepare for some weirdness.

How does an eraser work?

When you rub an eraser across a pencil mark, the abrasives in the eraser gently scratch the surface fibers of the paper to loosen the graphite particles.

What makes things coloured - the physics behind it

Have you ever wondered where do colours come from?

How fire burns in zero gravity

In space, of course, you can't have any fires because there isn't any oxidizer (i.e. oxygen) to sustain the combustion process. Inside a spacecraft or in the International Space Station, however, things are a bit different. Inside you have the same air mixture as on Earth, but because gravity is millions of times smaller an open flame behaves significantly different.

The Oh-My-God-Particle

The Oh-My-God particle was an ultra-high-energy cosmic ray (most likely a proton) detected on the evening of 15 October 1991 over Dugway Proving Ground, in Utah. The particle was 20 million times more energetic than the highest energy measured in radiation emitted by an extragalactic object – in other words, this subatomic particle had the energy of […]

The real color of water is blue -- here's why

While relatively small quantities of water appear to be colorless, water's tint becomes bluer and bluer as its thickness increases.