Grades 9-12 - Physical Science

  • Running short of copper, phosphorus, rare elements

    We need elements. Without phosphorus fertilizer, millions would starve. A shortage of copper means a shortage of electricity. And we’re importing more than 95% of the “rare-earth” elements needed for LCDs, cell phones and green energy. Is this smart?


    Thursday, September 11th, 2008
  • Electric eye learns from animal eye!

    Lenses cannot project a perfect image on the flat back of a camera, so images are distorted at the edges. A revolutionary camera solves this problem by curving the light detector.


    Thursday, August 7th, 2008
  • Laser: The invention that just won’t quit!

    Lasers read and write CDs and DVDs, form the heart of fiber-optics, and are being used in climate prediction, chemical identification, high-tech manufacturing, even the battle against influenza.


    Thursday, July 17th, 2008
  • Dig the latest top tech tricks

    What you can’t see can still interest you. Archeologists use radar, magnetic, electrical gizmos to see through the ground, find places to dig.


    Thursday, June 5th, 2008
  • The sounds of sax

    New study shows that controlling throat shape helps pro players hit the high notes that elude amateurs.


    Thursday, February 7th, 2008
  • Big ideas from the smallest world

    New snowflake generator reveals nature’s design principles; anti-reflective coating is nearly perfect, and so is mother-of-pearl inside an abalone. Dive into the nitty gritty of the itty bitty!


    Thursday, January 31st, 2008
  • It’s snow-time! Dig into our all-flake, no fake feature!

    Frosty questions: Are some snowflakes identical? How do flakes form, and how does weather affect their shape? How does ice in the atmosphere affect weather and climate? And where does the jet stream fit in this picture?


    Thursday, December 27th, 2007
  • Carbon Storage: A Low-Carb Solution to Global Warming?

    Could carbon storage help control warming? The oil industry already injects CO2 into deep rocks. Is it possible to capture CO2 from coal plants, and pump it deep underground?


    Thursday, March 22nd, 2007
  • Blast Protection: The Granular Solution

    As missiles get faster, the Navy can’t continue to rely on dumb armor. What can ship designers learn from dirt and beanbags?


    Thursday, December 28th, 2006
  • Science Meets Sports
    Science Meets Sports

    The Why Files looks at kinesiology, sports medicine, psychology and some ancient Olympic history, brought to life.


    Thursday, January 26th, 2006


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