Articles by

Rhett Allain

Space Elevators Could Totally Work—if Earth Days Were Much Shorter

Suppose you could speed up Earth’s rotation so that a day was only half as long? What...

Are Those Viral ‘Cooling Blankets’ for Real?

If you spend much time on the internet, you will see the same things pop up again...

Is Using a Stair Machine the Same as Climbing Stairs?

You can get a great workout by walking up the stairs in a tall building. The only...

The Phony Physics of Star Wars Are a Blast

I'm a huge fan of Star Wars. The first movie (no, not Episode 1) came out when...

This Famous Physics Experiment Shows Why the Government Should Support ‘Useless’ Science

It's nothing new—politicians complain about silly science projects funded by the government to get taxpayers riled up....

Torpedo Bats and the Physics of the Sweet Spot

In any sport, having the best gear can make all the difference. Swimmers want a suit with...

Can’t Wrap Your Head Around Pi? Here’s a Cool Visual to Help

Happy Pi Day! We celebrate pi on March 14 because 3-14 gives the first three digits of...

Is It Electric or Magnetic? Depends on Where You Stand

If you took introductory physics, you learned about the “fundamental forces.” It goes something like this: All...