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Physical Science
Physical science is the study of the physical world around you. Learn about everything from electricity to magnetism in this section.
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What Are Terpenes and Can They Benefit Your Health?
Terpenes are the aromatic organic compounds found in nature that give us many of our favorite fragrances. They are also known to have surprising health benefits.
What's the Difference Between Pyrite and Gold?
Don't know your fool's gold from the real deal? We'll tell you how to tell what's pyrite (aka fool's gold) and the good ol' 24 karat stuff you want.
Esters Give Your Beer That Weird, Tangy Taste You Like
There's some serious chemistry behind the flavor in your favorite brew and esters are the compounds responsible for it.
The Venn Diagram: How Overlapping Figures Can Illustrate Relationships
Venn diagrams are an easy way to simplify information and visualize relationships between concepts or sets of data.
Super Cool Science: How to Make Instant Ice at Home
Purified water will 'instantly freeze' under certain conditions, and you can even make it happen at home. Is it magic? No. It's science!
What Is the Butterfly Effect and How Do We Misunderstand It?
We may think the butterfly effect means that a small change (like the flap of a butterfly's wings) can have huge consequences (a tornado in China). But what if it means the opposite?
What Is Boyle's Law and Why Do I Already Know It?
Boyle's Law describes the relationship between pressure and the volume of a container with gas in it. As the volume of the container decreases, the pressure inside the container increases.
What Are Corresponding Angles and How Do You Find Them?
Corresponding angles are what you get when two parallel lines are crossed by a third line, creating angles that have the same relative position at each intersection. They're easy to find once you know what to look for.
Dodecahedron: The 12-sided Shape With the 12-letter Name
A dodecahedron has 12 flat faces, all shaped like pentagons. Here are 12 cool things you just may not know about them.
What's the Difference Between Ethyl Alcohol and Isopropyl Alcohol?
The two different types of alcohol are commonly used in hand sanitizer today. But does one work better than the other?
Electronegativity Is Like an Atomic Tug-of-War
Electrons are attracted to some atoms more than others. If two atoms are of equal strength, the electrons will be equally shared. If one atom is stronger, the electrons will be pulled in that atom's direction.
Scientific Notation Is Math's Version of Shorthand
How do you calculate absurdly high numbers without writing them out in numerals? You use scientific notation. We'll give you examples and show you how.
What Are the 7 Diatomic Elements?
Diatomic elements are molecules composed of only two atoms, every time, always. There are only seven of them on the entire periodic table.
Denatured Alcohol: Great for Your Camp Stove, Not Your Margarita
Denatured alcohol is useful for lots of things, but drinking definitely isn't one of them.
The Ancient Element Bismuth Is the Pink in Today's Pepto-Bismol
Bismuth is a naturally occurring element with many applications in our daily lives, but even more than that, it looks amazing when it cools!
Why Are Air-dried Towels So Stiff?
A research team has found that water acts strangely on an air-drying towel, which contributes to its signature stiffness.
Entropy: The Invisible Force That Brings Disorder to the Universe
Entropy is the disorder of a system, but that means a lot more than making a mess of a room.
5 Hugely Fun Facts About Mass (Not Weight)
Weight is the measurement of gravity's pull on an object. And it varies by location. Mass is a different beast altogether.
Could an 'X17 Particle' Hint at a Fifth Force in the Universe?
The Standard Model of physics provides a framework for the subatomic world of all energies. Could a possible newfound carrier boson expand the definition of that framework?
Can't Read Roman Numerals? We Can Teach You
And it'll take XIV minutes flat.
The Pythagorean Theorem Makes Construction and GPS Possible
The Pythagorean theorem, which explains how to calculate the longest side of a right-angled triangle, is an ancient mathematical statement that still buttresses modern-day construction, aviation and even how we navigate through traffic.
Quarks Are the Building Blocks of All Matter
Protons and neutrons, the particles that form the nuclei of atoms, are themselves made up of even smaller particles known as quarks.
Mathematicians Solve Sum-of-Three-Cubes Problem for the Number 42
Two mathematicians have solved a decades-old math problem by harnessing the power of a virtual supercomputer.
Formaldehyde Is Everywhere, But Is It Dangerous?
It's an odorless gas that's present in a variety of home products, cosmetics, car exhaust and even humans. But is it bad for us?
What's the Difference Between Covalent and Ionic Bonds?
Making chemical compounds is a lot like dating. Some ions are naturally compatible; others hook up out of desperation.
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