The Physics Behind Tesla’s Flying Roadster

To understand how Elon’s new car hops, glides, and sticks upside down, we need to talk about friction and force.

The Leap Second Is No More

The metric might not mean much to laypeople, but leap seconds have been a source of contention in the timekeeping community for years. Now, they’re dead.

Cat-Like Whiskers Help Tiny Drones Fly in the Dark

Researchers took lessons from nocturnal animals to help rescue drones overcome a key challenge: flying in the dark.

Elusive ‘Geoneutrinos’ Are Building a New Map of Earth’s Volatile Interior

A global network of detectors are reporting some of the most substantial measurements yet of neutrinos created deep underground by the radioactive elements that power our planet’s tectonic activity.

Solving Math’s Greatest Problems Was an Art Form. Then Came AI

Mathematics has been one of humanity’s most creative endeavors, akin to painting and poetry. Now, mathematicians are trying to save it from the brute force of AI.

With a Better Understanding of Physics, We Could Predict Volcanic Eruptions

“There’s no reason we can’t think that, at some point in the future, we can have volcano forecasts that are like weather forecasts.”

‘I’m Really Terrified’: A Mathematician Grapples With AI’s Recent Breakthroughs

Steven Strogatz coauthored a book about how math is moving beyond human understanding. He spoke with WIRED about the seismic impact artificial intelligence has had on his life’s work.

Two of the Universe's Great Mysteries May Have Their Own Dimension

Dark energy might be getting weaker. Scientists are wondering if interactions with dark matter in a “dark dimension” may be responsible.

Scientists Have Found the Most Convincing Evidence Yet of a Dark Matter Particle

An underground detector recorded a strange interaction pointing to a particle with some properties that signify dark matter. The detection is small but promising.

Is It Even Possible to Understand Quantum Mechanics?

Common sense is of no help in studying reality at the atomic scale.

Transistors Changed Everything. Here’s How They Work

How a tiny little electronic switch sparked the computer revolution.

Squeeze More Juice Out of Your Dead Batteries—Using Physics

How the joule thief circuit “steals” energy from seemingly depleted power cells.

Microsoft’s Quantum Chief Doesn’t Care That Scientists Don’t Believe His Results

Zulfi Alam thinks his team doesn’t need to “prove” they engineered a new state of matter in their bid to reinvent computing. Science would disagree.

What Is Entropy, Really?

Never mind the “heat death of the universe.” Entropy is just a bridge between two levels of reality.

Drive Slower, Save Money on Gas. Thanks, Physics!

Planning a Fourth of July getaway? Use less gas—and cut your emissions—by easing up on the pedal.

Venezuela’s Powerful Earthquakes Were a Rare ‘Seismic Doublet’

The country was hit hard by a pair of quakes that happened in quick succession and were likely driven by stress being transferred from one part of the fault that runs through the country to another.

How Can Soccer Players Bend Their Shots in Midair?

As World Cup action kicks off, we look at the physics of the beautiful game.

A Fundamental Principle of Aeronautical Engineering Has Been Overturned

It’s long been accepted that the smoother the surface, the lower the aerodynamic drag. That turns out not always to be the case.

All the Fancy Measuring Devices Used in Science Rely on Two Stone-Age Techniques

The many methods we use to gather data ultimately boil down to either counting or comparing.

Build a Radio Wave Detector With Balls of Aluminum Foil!

Here’s how you can hack together a radio transmitter and receiver out of stuff you have at home—and explore the weirdness of wireless.

A Physicist Who Thinks in Poetry from the Cosmic Edge

In her second pop-science book, theoretical cosmologist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein returns to her celestial and cultural roots.

Do Lightsaber Blades Have Mass?

On Star Wars Day, we put to rest a question that has bedeviled sci-fi nerds for years.

The ‘Lonely Runner’ Problem Only Appears Simple

Take a group of runners circling a track at unique, constant paces. Answering the question of how many will always end up running alone, no matter their speed, has vexed mathematicians for decades.

How Can Astronauts Tell How Fast They’re Going?

Weirdly, spaceships have no direct way to gauge their own speed. Luckily, we can use some physics tricks to figure it out.