Popular Physics
In 2016, a star KIC 8462852 caught the world's attention due to a paper by citizen scientists who noticed its seemingly unexplainable brightness variations. The forward theory was offered - KIC 8462852 is surrounded by a Dyson sphere, a…
This study presents a comprehensive framework for uncertainty quantification (UQ) and design optimization of plasma etching in semiconductor manufacturing. The framework is demonstrated using experimental measurements of etched depth…
It would seem that the present dry economic times impose a very precise focus for science in general and physics in particular: research, possibly of applied type. However in doing so two basic pillars of a healthy future for science are…
British physicist Stephen Hawkings most important discovery was that black holes are not so black, as they possess a temperature and emit thermal radiation. In his popular science texts, Hawking offered a detailed explanation of this…
We suggest that the large-scale deployment of wind turbines on an M-dwarf planet could produce observable technosignatures. Motivated by observations of hypersonic wind velocities on WASP-127 b, we note that the atmospheres of such planets…
This paper discusses the history of Fraunhofer's puzzling discovery of the fixed lines in various spectra (most notably of the sun) and the implications of these spectral "imperfections". Moreover, the developments in spectroscopy by…
A novel non-reactive thrust principle based on controlling the angular momentum of a material body is proposed. Theoretically, it is shown that asymmetric emission/absorption of low-energy particle fluxes with spin in a direction…
Despite coffee's popularity, there are no quantitative methods to measure a chemical property of a black coffee drink in situ and relate it to a flavor experience. Here we show that cyclic voltammetry can be used in coffee without any…
Liquid nitrogen (LN2) is a long-time favorite for physics demonstrations, with a large repertoire of crowd-pleasing experiments that are cornerstones in outreach efforts. While R1 universities usually have a ready LN2 supply for their…
This paper is a continuation of a series of works, devoted to various aspects of the 1908 Tunguska event. In the late June - early July, 1908 there were various optical anomalies in the atmosphere. Early the Author already considered…
Which technologies are currently booming in power generation? The answer can clearly be seen in the trends in global electricity generation data. Analysing this data using the theory of diffusion of innovations reveals how photovoltaics and…
Public outreach in quantum science and technologies has many goals, ranging from generating interest and dampening hype to making the fascinating and complex topic more accessible. In this work, we present a play on quantum science and…
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is expected to increase interstellar object (ISO) detections from a few over the past decade to potentially one per few months, demanding a systematic classification scheme. We present the Loeb Scale, formally…
Rainbows and boat wakes may seem unrelated, but they share deep mathematical connections through ray folding, caustics, and Airy interference. This paper explores these principles, which are also relevant for explaining phenomena such as…
The paper discusses the possibility of dust particles containing living bacteria ejected from Earth, reaching Europa and landing on its surface. It is shown that, taking certain factors into account, over a period of (30-80) Myr (the…
When faced with overwhelming evidence supporting the reality of time dilation, confirmed in particular by the Hafele-Keating experiment, some anti-relativists reluctantly concede that time dilation applies to light clocks. However, they…
The energy transition is also about switching to electricity-based technologies such as heat pumps and electric mobility. They avoid heat as an intermediate step and are therefore much more efficient. This can significantly reduce the…
If our universe was born as a baby universe on the other side of the event horizon of a black hole existing in a parent universe, then the corresponding white hole at rest provides the absolute frame of reference in the universe. In this…
This paper is a continuation of a series of works, devoted to various aspects of the 1908 Tunguska event. A large number of hypotheses about its causes have been put forward already. However, so far none of them has received convincing…
Searching for extraterrestrial life and supporting human life in space are traditionally regarded as separate challenges. However, there are significant benefits to an approach that treats them as different aspects of the same essential…