The Physics of Breaking, a New Olympic Sport
The 2024 Olympics in Paris debuted a new sport: breaking (also known as breakdancing, but don't call it that). Here are three moves that appear to defy the laws of physics, and how they work.
What Happens to Your Body During a Speed Eating Competition?
Competitive eaters train to stretch their stomachs far beyond normal limits, allowing them to consume massive amounts of food in minutes. But this extreme practice takes a toll on the body. Here’s how they do it - and what happens inside their bodies.
Who is the Mystery Man Buried Under Notre Dame?
A mysterious coffin found beneath the damaged floor of Notre Dame is full of unexpected discoveries. The lead sarcophagus appears to have been moved and there are no identifying markers. Who is the John Doe buried inside? Follow scientists on a forensic journey as they collect enamel from the teeth and a few grams of bone to try to discover the identity of the mystery man buried under Notre Dame.
Lost Tombs of Notre Dame Preview
After the Notre Dame fire in 2019, two mysterious coffins were found buried beneath its floor. Where did they come from and who was inside? Follow scientists and historians as they investigate what their stories reveal about this iconic cathedral.
Flight Turbulence Is Actually Getting Worse
The culprit is a lesser-known kind of turbulence that’s been increasing since 1979. So how does it work, and what’s causing the rise?
Building Stuff: Change It! Preview
Humans have been altering Earth’s environment for thousands of years. And now, from electric planes to artificial noses, engineers are inventing new ways to preserve our planet.
The $8 Billion Overhaul of LaGuardia Airport: Engineering a New Era
The redevelopment of LaGuardia was nothing short of remarkable: almost every aspect of the airport was renovated while flights were still coming and going, and architects took special care to future-proof their work through innovative and forward-thinking designs. Over the course of 8 years, engineers rebuilt Terminals B&C, constructed two massive pedestrian walkways, and made key improvements.
Extreme Airport Engineering Preview
In New York City, a team of elite engineers and construction workers are on a mission to build the ultimate airport. Follow their ups and downs as they race to build a new, world-class LaGuardia on the site of one of America’s busiest aviation hubs.
What Happens to Your Checked Bag at the Airport?
Have you ever wondered what happens to your checked bag at an airport? At LaGuardia Airport, their new, state-of-the-art tracking system was designed to process 40 million bags a year— up to 6,000 bags every hour. Discover how this ingenious system works.
Building Stuff: Reach It! Preview
Born to explore, we’re constantly inventing new ways to go beyond our comfort zones. From deep sea subs to next-gen space habitats, see how engineers are building the tools humans need to go where we’ve never gone before.
Creating a Robotic Double Dutch Machine
Double Dutch is a jump rope game that requires two people spinning ropes in opposite directions and at least one person to jump. Engineers Tahira Reid Smith and Sky Leilani are building a machine that would allow a single person to play whenever they wanted.
Building Stuff: Boost It! Preview
How are leading innovators supercharging our natural abilities? From slingshots that can throw rockets into space to the latest in artificial sight, see how engineers are amplifying the human body’s powers.
Decoding the Universe: Quantum Preview
When we look at the world at the tiniest scales, things get very weird. Take a wild ride through the quantum world, from the discoveries that reveal its strange rules to the amazing technologies it unlocks – with more powerful possibilities to come.
How Atomic Clocks Keep Perfect Time
Modern timekeeping relies on the accuracy of atomic clocks, which revolutionized timekeeping by using the quantum behavior of atoms to measure time. Discover how these incredibly precise clocks work, and how they ensure global synchronization in everything from GPS to scientific research.
The Most Baffling Idea in Physics, Explained
Quantum entanglement is one of the strangest and most fascinating phenomena in physics. Even Einstein didn’t believe it - he called it “spooky action at a distance” - but science has proven it true. Here’s a simple explanation of the most baffling concept in physics.
Sir Arthur C. Clarke's Vision of the Computer-Dominated Future
Sir Arthur C. Clarke was a British science-fiction author who co-wrote the screenplay for 2001: A Space Odyssey.
How Medieval Armorers Made Knights Bulletproof
A select few suits of armor were crafted with secret techniques that made them stronger than others, possibly even bulletproof. Historians and ballistics experts reconstructed the amor of an elite knight and tested its strength by shooting it with a musket.
How Do Hurricanes Form?
Scientists predict that our increasingly warmer atmosphere and oceans will feed these hurricanes — we may not see more of them that we used to, but the ones we do see are likely to get more and more intense.
Could Mars Have a Ring Around It One Day?
Phobos, one of Mars' moons, has an uncertain origin, but its surface grooves show that tidal forces are pulling it apart. In time, Mars' gravity will shatter it entirely, creating a ring of debris around the planet.
Cameras Capture Earthbound Meteorite
In 2021, cameras recorded the fall of the Winchcombe meteorite, allowing scientists to trace its cosmic origin.
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