Why do veins look blue?
A common misconception about blood is that it looks blue when depleted of oxygen, explaining why lighter-skinned people see blue …
How do polarized sunglasses work?
Recently we talked about some cold weather physics, so this week I’m going to get your mind off of blizzards …
How do fingerprint scanners work?
Everyday Physics is back from the holiday break, this time with a bit more complicated topic—I promise there is a …
Why are turns worse on slippery roads?
Most people know that it’s more dangerous to drive when the weather is bad—rain, snow, or ice all make roads …
How do thermometers work?
Winter has come, and it’s likely that you’ll come down with a cold sometime this season. To check for a …
What’s the loudest possible sound?
The human sense of hearing is quite remarkable—you’re able to perceive things from a quiet whisper up to a rock …
What causes the tides?
Previously we talked about what makes waves crash on the shore, and mentioned tidal waves as some of the largest …
What causes car windows to get foggy?
Winter has come, so I thought it would be nice to throw out some practical knowledge to keep you safe …
Would you freeze instantly in space?
I’m a big science fiction fan, especially for when it comes to movies. It’s pretty common to get some physics …
What makes a passing siren sound strange?
Most people have heard an ambulance or firetruck pass them by at high speed, and have been told at one …
Why isn’t the night sky full of stars?
You’ve probably heard that there are quite a lot of stars in the universe, and there is definitely a huge …
Why will melting ice caps cause the seas to rise?
Climate change is possibly the most important problem facing humanity today, so it’s critical to understand its causes and effects. …
Why is static shock worse in the winter?
There’s been a long hiatus for Everyday Physics because I was occupied writing my PhD thesis. Now that that’s complete, …
Why can you still get sunburned on a cloudy day?
Now that summer is upon those of us in the northern hemisphere, it’s a good time to talk about physics …