PHYSICS

14 Incredible Scientific Discoveries of the Decade

From the origins of our species to clues about the future of the universe, scientific discoveries achieved in the last decade transformed our understanding of our world. Here are 14 of the most momentous.

Marie Curie

Marie Curie made history with her discoveries. Here are some facts you should know about the scientist.

New British Coin Featuring a Black Hole Honors Stephen Hawking

The late theoretical physicist is gone, but not forgotten. A 50-pence coin is the latest tribute to his life and legacy.

12 Common Things Science Still Hasn't Figured Out

Experts have no real explanation for why we laugh.

Physicists Have Come Up With the 'Perfect Pizza Equation'

Buon appetito.

Two Harvard Scientists Suggest 'Oumuamua Could Be, Uh, an Alien Probe

It was the first known interstellar object to enter our solar system.

Ig Nobel Prizes Honor Self-Colonoscopies and Kidney Stone-Dislodging Roller Coasters

These were the most unusual scientific studies of the past year.

Silicon Republic, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0

Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Who Discovered Pulsars, Was Just Awarded $3 Million for Her Work—More Than 40 Years After Nobel Prize Snub

Her discovery received the Nobel prize in 1974 ... but it was her male professor who got the credit.

The Mysterious Mathematical Principle That Links Bus Systems and Chicken Eyes

Universality strikes a balance between order and randomness.

Why Jerk Drivers Who Merge at the Last Minute Are Actually More Efficient

Politeness is overrated.

Why Don’t We Fall Off the Earth?

Do you know the saying “what goes up, must come down”? Here is why we don't fall off the Earth.

World's First Graphene Jacket Promises to Repel Bacteria and Moisture and Absorb Heat—All for $695

It acts like a radiator you can wear.

Earth as captured from near the lunar horizon by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2015.

The Science Behind Why the Earth Isn't Flat

Let's review why and how we've known for at least 2300 years that the Earth is round.

Marie Curie Has Been Declared the Most Influential Woman in History

The two-time Nobel Prize winner tops the BBC's list of 100.

17 Things to Know About René Descartes

Mathematician, philosopher, soldier, scientist—René Descartes was the definition of a Renaissance man.

13 Scientific Explanations for Everyday Life

The processes behind the physics of LEGOs, the chemistry of laundry, and more.

How a Particle Accelerator Is Helping to Unearth Long-Lost Pieces of Art

Scanning 1 square centimeter of each wallet-sized photograph took about eight hours.

13 Facts About Physicist Niels Bohr

He helped develop atomic bombs, but wanted nuclear science to be used for peace.

Why Do Orchestras Tune to an A Note?

Before the 20th century, concert musicians might tune their instruments to wildly different pitches, depending on where they were playing.

Why You Should Never Leave Bottles of Water in Your Hot Car

They could actually start a fire.

Why a Dripping Faucet Makes That Maddening 'Plink' Sound—and How to Stop It

Scientists have found a hack to help you quell the sound until the plumber comes.

Stephen Hawking’s Memorial Will Beam His Words Toward the Nearest Black Hole

Though he wasn't able to go to outer space during his lifetime, his words will travel there after his death.

Is There a Limit to How Many Balls You Can Juggle?

The current record may never be broken.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

7 Giant Machines That Changed the World—And 1 That Might

From a 17-mile-long particle accelerator to a football field–sized space observatory, these machines are marvels.

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