The physics of squeaking sneakers
We’re all familiar with the high-pitched squeak of basketball shoes on the court during games, or tires squealing on pavement. Scientists conducted several experiments and discovered that the geometry of…
2026
Man builds electrified chessboard that shocks players for bad moves
Chess is imposing to the uninitiated. Most casual fans could spend their entire lives studying a library’s worth of chess theory, only to still be routinely humiliated by competitive players.…
New AirSnitch attack breaks Wi-Fi encryption in homes, offices, and enterprises
It’s hard to overstate the role that Wi-Fi plays in virtually every facet of life. The organization that shepherds the wireless protocol says that more than 48 billion Wi-Fi-enabled devices…
Asphalt-spraying truck fixes potholes in minutes
Driving comes with its fair share of annoyances:over-aggressive mergers, seemingly never-ending red lights, and bumper-to-bumper traffic to name a handful. But few are as rage-inducing as plopping into a gaping…
ULA isn’t making the Space Force’s GPS interference problem any easier
DENVER—The Global Positioning System is one of the few space programs that touches nearly every human life, and the stewards of the satellite navigation network are eager to populate the…
Physics discovery explains why sneakers squeak
It’s difficult to imagine watching a basketball game without the sound of sneakers squeaking across the court. The high-pitched noises are as instantly recognizable as they are inevitable—thanks to the…
Emus once faced down the Australian army—and won
In November 1932, the harsh southern sun beat down on an empty paddock in Western Australia. The soil is red and strewn with rocks. Three soldiers emerge from the haze:…
Boozy chimps fail urine test, confirm hotly debated theory
The urine of chimpanzees contains high levels of alcohol byproduct, most likely because the chimps regularly gorge themselves on fermented fruit, according to a new paper published in the journal…
Final 2025 data is in: US energy use is up as solar passes hydro
On Tuesday, the US Energy Information Administration released full-year data on how the country generated electricity in 2026. It’s a bit of a good news/bad news situation. The bad news…
Color plays an unsung role in how we enjoy concerts
A well-designed theater requires far more than simply installing a stage and seating inside of a cavernous room. The best venues are carefully constructed using a mix of materials that…