Ripples in Spacetime: The Discovery of Gravitational Waves
LIGO confirmed gravitational waves, vibrations in the fabric of spacetime resulting from some of the most violent events in the universe, therefore providing a fresh avenue for cosmic observation. This essay guides you through the enormous discovery of these waves, my analysis of how this knowledge felt like listening to the pulse of history. We ...
Read MoreThe Weird World of Non-Newtonian Fluids
Non-Newtonian fluids defy the traditional rules of viscosity, changing their flow behavior under stress. From the fun of running across a pool filled with cornstarch and water to the science behind how these fluids can become solid under impact, this article dives into their quirky properties. A hands-on experiment at a science fair where I ...
Read MoreWave-Particle Duality: The Dual Nature of Light and Matter
At the core of quantum physics, wave-particle duality shows light and matter as displaying both wave-like and particle-like characteristics. This page walks you through historical tests like the double-slit experiment, which powerfully demonstrate this idea. This idea became concrete for me via personal investigations with light using prisms and diffraction gratings at home. We will ...
Read MorePlasma: The Fourth State of Matter and Its Cosmic Significance
Found in stars, lightning, and even fluorescent lights, plasma—often known as the fourth state of matter—is the most ubiquitous condition in the universe. From fusion research to plasma TVs, this page investigates the characteristics of plasma, its production techniques, and uses. My interest about this vivid state of matter was piqued during a display with ...
Read MoreNeutrinos: The Ghost Particles of the Universe
Among the most plentiful particles in the universe, neutrinos are also quite elusive and travel through matter virtually undetectably. This page clarifies these ghost particles, showing how our knowledge of physics has evolved from solar activities to supernova explosions. Visiting an underground neutrino detector let me see the scope of research required to find these ...
Read MoreIn Search of the Elusive Magnetic Monopoles
Theoretically, magnetic monopoles are particles with only one magnetic pole—north or south—that, should be found, would transform physics. The search for these particles—which have been proposed but never definitively seen—is investigated in this article. My discussion with a physicist building the Large Hadron Collider helped me to understand the thrill and uncertainty surrounding this pursuit. ...
Read MoreTime Dilation: A Journey Through Einstein’s Relativity
Key idea from Einstein’s theory of relativity, time dilation proposes time can run at different rates for different observers. This page explores how strong gravitational fields or fast speeds might produce this amazing effect. My obsession with time travel stories drove me to investigate actual cases, such as GPS satellites, where time dilation needs to ...
Read MoreSuperconductivity: The Path to Zero Resistance
Superconductivity is the phenomena whereby, at low temperature below a certain temperature some materials conduct electricity with zero resistance. From its invention in 1911 to current uses in MRI scanners, maglev trains, and even lossless power grids, this page chronicles the history. A tour of a physics research center exposed me to the cryogenic settings ...
Read MoreUnseen Forces: The Quest to Understand Dark Matter
Though it makes around 27% of the cosmos invisible, dark matter affects cosmic gravity and remains one of the biggest riddle in physics. From gravitational lensing to galactic rotation curves, this page travels across the evidence of its existence. One night at an observatory, where astronomers discussed how dark matter forms the universe, my interest ...
Read MoreQuantum Entanglement: The Spooky Action Explained
Albert Einstein famously termed spooky action at a distance, quantum entanglement is the phenomena whereby particles are instantaneously linked over great distances. This paper questions our knowledge of physics by investigating the enigmatic realm in which entangled particles can possibly interact faster than light. I became fascinated with how this could transform sectors from cryptography ...
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