Thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to change in shape, volume, and area in response to a change in temperature. It can really put a damper on how you expect things to work if you’re not expecting how the materials will react. We expect eggs to inflate and expand while being baked – that’s …
Magnets just work, right? If so, why doesn’t any piece of metal stick to the refrigerator? Now, what makes a magnet a magnet, not just a piece of metal? The answer lies in the spinning of electrons in each atom that makes up the metal. Any time electrons are in play, we also need to …
When we add cream to coffee or a bath bomb to a tub, we see beautiful swirling colours mingling in the liquids. This is a field of study called fluid dynamics, which is just as enigmatic as it is beautiful. Although it’s easy for us to see the way the way things mingle in the …
Back in 2006, the International Astronomic Union passed a resolution to adopt a new, formal definition of a “planet.” According to their standards, bodies that orbit the Sun, are spherical, do not orbit other bodies and have cleared their orbits can be deemed “planets.” It was when this ruling was made that Pluto became known …
Scuba diving is a great way to explore the ocean’s depths and witness all the wonders the undeseas world has to offer. But it can be dangerous, too, and we aren’t talking about man-eating sharks and killer jellyfish. In fact, this treat doesn’t come from the ocean’s water; it comes from inside your own body. …
Editor’s note: This post has been updated and broken links removed. Please see our policy on broken hyperlinks for more. The skies over Japan will light up with a spectacular display of shooting stars in 2019. Do we know this because scientists have studied the astronomical and atmospheric conditions? Nope. We know this because the meteor shower …
In terms of cellular phone service, 4G is all the rage. Now, it’s about to pop up in a very unexpected place: the moon. Vodafone Germany has officially teamed up with Nokia to build the first 4G network on the moon. The network will be officially built in 2019, and it is being supported by …
I used to live in the country where I could look up at night and see a dark blanket spotted with light. There were so many stars I wondered how people used to identify constellations. Then, in 1994, I received a Box of Stars (not an affiliate link) book and kit. Since then I have enjoyed making …
The next total solar eclipse is set to occur on August 21 – are you prepared to witness it? If you’re in the United States, you’re in a prime position to experience the event. This is the first time since the 13th century that an eclipse will cut across the U.S., only touching the country’s …
It may sound like something you should’ve concerned yourself with back in the 1960s, but in today’s global political climate, you can never be too prepared for the unthinkable – a nuclear bomb drop. With countries (Looking at you, North Korea) testing missiles on a fairly regular basis, it helps to be educated on what …