Electrostatics

In this post, we will look at laser launch systems, how they would look like and perform, and how they might be applied to reach orbit and beyond. The advantages of laser launch 140GHz is microwave. A typical rocket engine does two things: deliver propellant and heat it up using an energy source. In a chemical-fuel rocket, the propellant is combustible and is burned in a combustion chamber. The resulting heat and…

Sticky moon dust slowed down Apollo astronauts. Will a new experiment fix this problem?

Although Einstein is a legendary figure in science for a large number of reasons — E = mc², the photoelectric effect, and the notion that the speed of light is a constant for everyone — his most…

For more than three decades, Michael Levin has challenged many long-standing tenets of what defines cognition and consciousness—and he shows no signs of stopping.

The Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 improved my breathing inside my home and helped clear my room from wildfire smoke late last year.

Invisibly to us, insects and other tiny creatures use static electricity to travel, avoid predators, collect pollen, and more. New experiments explore how evolution may have influenced this phenomenon.

In-ear monitors are the best audio accessory for truly personal, truly personalized listening that's intimate, exacting, and engrossing.

Whether protecting crops from diseases and pests or sanitizing contaminated surfaces, the ability to spray protective chemicals over important resources is

Diabetes, a widespread condition affecting approximately 13% of American adults, is often accompanied by complications such as impaired wound healing. If left unchecked, this can lead to severe outcomes, including the need for amputation.

Science ideas are everywhere. Some of the greatest discoveries have come from tinkering and toying with new concepts and ideas. NASA astronaut Don Pettit is

Science ideas are everywhere. Some of the greatest discoveries have come from tinkering and toying with new concepts and ideas. NASA astronaut Don Pettit is no stranger to inventing and discovering. During his previous missions, Pettit has contributed to advancements for human space exploration aboard the International Space Station resulting in several published scientific papers and breakthroughs.

Frank Close tells us about the history of particle physics, and what it means that charge in our universe's matter is so closely balanced.

Thanks to human ingenuity and zero gravity, we reap important benefits from science in space. Consider smart phones with built-in navigation systems and cameras.

In a study published in the journal National Science Review, a material synthesized by Dr. Shen Yu was used to introduce hydroperoxide into the synthesis system of titanium silicates.

Defeating dust may be a small concern for most people on Earth, but for astronauts and spacecraft destined for the moon or Mars, it is a significant hazard that must be mitigated. That's why researchers at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida are seeking innovative ways to use Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) technology.

Researchers at the Austrian university TU Wien have developed a novel transistor technology known as Reconfigurable Field Effect Transistors (RFET). Traditional transistors are designed to perform predetermined...

Ars Technica's guide to keyboards: Mechanical, membrane, and buckling springs.

If you're not feeling particularly happy with the limited amount of storage on your PlayStation 5, you can always add an additional internal SSD. Here's how.

Researchers are studying data from a recent suborbital flight test to better understand lunar regolith, or moon dust, and its potentially damaging effects as NASA prepares to send astronauts back to the lunar surface under the Artemis campaign. The experiment, developed jointly by NASA and the University of Central Florida, sheds light on how these abrasive dust grains interact with astronauts, their spacesuits,…

Though Saturn's unusual-looking "cup handle" features were first noted by Galileo in 1610, it would be another 45 years before they were described by Christiaan Huygens as a disk surrounding Saturn. Subsequently, ground-based telescopes could only distinguish four unique concentric rings, labeled A, B, C, and D.