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Articles on Physics

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The idea that the Coriolis force influences how water drains frequently appears in popular culture and urban legends. frantic00 / Shutterstock

Does the direction water rotates down the drain depend on which hemisphere you’re in? Debunking the Coriolis effect in your sink

This physical effect does explain how some massive natural phenomena like hurricanes behave. But on the scale of water in your sink – not so much.
Researchers can use mirrorlike beam splitters to put phonons, or quantum sound particles, into a state of superposition. Peter Allen via University of Chicago

How splitting sound might lead to a new kind of quantum computer

Scientists show they can create quantum superpositions of sound particles, pointing to the potential for mechanical quantum computers.
You don’t need to watch where you step when it comes to bacteria. Westend61/Getty Images

Do you crush microbes when you step on them?

You can squash small bugs by stepping on them, but can you crush even tinier microorganisms like viruses and bacteria? It turns out that you’d need to apply a lot of pressure.
ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, A. Martel

Why is the sky dark at night? The 200-year history of a question that transformed our understanding of the Universe

The darkness of the night sky seems so obvious as to need no explanation – yet it has intrigued and baffled scientists for centuries.

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