IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects

Tau neutrinos are notoriously difficult to spot in detectors like IceCube. But researchers have managed to isolate 7 candidates.

Doug Cowen, Professor of Physics and Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Penn State • conversation
today ~8 min

Peter Higgs’ famous particle discovery is now at the heart of strategies to unlock the secrets of the universe

The US, Europe and China are all planning particle colliders that would study the Higgs boson.

Martin Bauer, Associate Professor of Physics, Durham University • conversation
April 19, 2024 ~8 min


Peter Higgs was one of the greats of particle physics. He transformed what we know about the building blocks of the universe

During a walk in the Scottish Highlands, one of the greats of particle physics had the idea of a lifetime

Harald Fox, Senior Lecturer of Particle Physics, Lancaster University • conversation
April 11, 2024 ~5 min

Dali hit Key Bridge with the force of 66 heavy trucks at highway speed

A civil engineer lays out the physics behind Dali’s crash into the Francis Scott Key Bridge pier.

Amanda Bao, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management and Safety, Rochester Institute of Technology • conversation
April 8, 2024 ~5 min

How long before quantum computers can benefit society? That’s Google’s US$5 million question

Quantum computing has huge promise from a technical perspective, but the practical benefits are less clear.

Adam Lowe, Lecturer, School of Computer Science and Digital Technologies, Aston University • conversation
March 26, 2024 ~7 min

How do airplanes fly? An aerospace engineer explains the physics of flight

People have been flying airplanes for well over a century. Engineers know how to balance all the forces at play, but still aren’t exactly sure how some of the physics of flight actually works.

Craig Merrett, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Clarkson University • conversation
March 18, 2024 ~8 min

Low-level blasts from heavy weapons can cause traumatic brain injury − 2 engineers explain the physics of invisible cell death

The people manning the guns are also at risk of injury from the force of the weapon.

Christian Franck, Bjorn Borgen Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Center for Traumatic Brain Injury, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison • conversation
Feb. 28, 2024 ~6 min

We designed wormlike, limbless robots that navigate obstacle courses − they could be used for search and rescue one day

Robots often have a hard time navigating through debris, but robots designed based on worms and snakes could move around obstacles faster, thanks to an idea called mechanical intelligence.

Christopher Pierce, Postdoctoral Scholar in Robotics, Georgia Institute of Technology • conversation
Feb. 14, 2024 ~8 min


How can I get ice off my car? An engineer who studies airborne particles shares some quick and easy techniques

When you’re running late in the winter, you don’t want to have to spend time scraping frost off your windshield. Try some expert-recommended techniques instead.

Suresh Dhaniyala, Bayard D. Clarkson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Clarkson University • conversation
Feb. 2, 2024 ~5 min

Tiny water-walking bugs provide scientists with insights on how microplastics are pushed underwater

Microplastic pollution is a growing problem − one lab is looking at tiny insects as inspiration for how these pollutants might move through water.

Andrew Dickerson, Assistant Professor of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee • conversation
Jan. 22, 2024 ~5 min

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