What is the best way to move hot air? Would it be blowing air across the heat source (ex: wood stove) or suck the air away from the heat source? [more inside]
posted by ascetic on Dec 16, 2009 - 11 answers

What kind of small toys or devices click when you rotate them forwards and backwards? Seeking mechanism or design... [more inside]
posted by pallen123 on Nov 21, 2009 - 13 answers

What is the most important scientific question of our time? [more inside]
posted by Demogorgon on Oct 12, 2009 - 44 answers

I'm looking for good quotations about science (particularly physics) and education that are suitable for the wall of a secondary school (ages 11-18) classroom. [more inside]
posted by alby on Sep 28, 2009 - 21 answers

I'm looking for a forum that hosts discussion in the field of condensed matter physics and/or materials science. I'd like a site where scientists can go to ask and answer questions, similar to Ask.Metafilter, but a general forum would be good as well. Does anyone know of such a site?
posted by Aanidaani on Aug 17, 2009 - 2 answers

How would you get through a black hole? [more inside]
posted by smoke on Aug 3, 2009 - 28 answers

How was it proved that gravitation was a function of mass? [more inside]
posted by Lorc on Jul 6, 2009 - 10 answers

What are some simple experiments that help explain complicated phenomena? [more inside]
posted by Christ, what an asshole on Jul 6, 2009 - 15 answers

Is it too late for me to get into physics? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Jun 30, 2009 - 15 answers

Does expansion of the universe decelerate orbits of planets and/or rotation of galaxies? [more inside]
posted by knave on Jun 16, 2009 - 11 answers

I'm reading Quantum: a Guide for the Perplexed and I'm enjoying the graphics, history and simplification of the math and science used to explain quantum mechanics. But I'm reasonably well versed in math and science - I took a year of college physics, linear algebra, and diff eq about ten years ago. Is there any chance of me learning to understand the equations and papers of Planck and Einstein that are the basis of QM? Are there any good books that could help walk someone like me through this stuff? Or am I stuck as a layperson unless I earn a degree in math or physics?
posted by Grundlebug on May 30, 2009 - 14 answers

Do radio waves attenuate and become noise or do they go on forever? [more inside]
posted by MrMulan on May 12, 2009 - 14 answers

ForeignTeacherFilter: I'm a secondary (11-19yrs) science teacher in the UK and want to teach in the San Francisco area from 2010 for a few years at least. Will probably have to go private at first due to accreditation process - any recommendations for schools to contact? [more inside]
posted by bullox on May 3, 2009 - 6 answers

Physics-filter: in the context of a diatribe against memorization, a physics professor of mine once mentioned that she fell in love with the discipline because all of modern physics can be derived from a few foundational equations. So, what are they? [more inside]
posted by perissodactyl on Mar 18, 2009 - 16 answers

StoryID: Alternate history where physics is based on angelology. [more inside]
posted by rwhe on Dec 31, 2008 - 8 answers

Will there be any real world, practical applications from what will be learned with the Large Hadron Collider? [more inside]
posted by zardoz on Nov 10, 2008 - 12 answers

How are the attributes of atomic and subatomic particles measured? [more inside]
posted by Citizen Premier on Sep 11, 2008 - 5 answers

Help me explain why the Large Hadron Collider doesn't spell our doom. [more inside]
posted by Navelgazer on Sep 11, 2008 - 34 answers

Two related questions about the LHC and science I don't really understand... [more inside]
posted by twine42 on Sep 10, 2008 - 27 answers

Should I try to transfer to another university? [more inside]
posted by Perpetual Seeker on Aug 3, 2008 - 30 answers

What useful technologies have been developed or are in development due to advances of knowledge in modern physics? [more inside]
posted by wigglin on Aug 3, 2008 - 16 answers

What are some topics in astronomy or cosmology that you find fascinating and mind blowing? [more inside]
posted by tomcochrane on Jul 3, 2008 - 17 answers

What books or online courses will best help me learn science and engineering? I'm especially interested in physics, astronomy, general electronics, and computer science. [more inside]
posted by dylan20 on Mar 24, 2008 - 8 answers

My cousin's four year old son is obsessed with things like quarks and infinity. He insists to his mother that infinity is the last number. She isn't so sure, and wants to know more about things like strangeness. I don't want to determine this kid's future, but it seems fun to feed his curiosity. And since my wife's babysitter was Murray Gell-Mann, the responsibility has fallen partially on my shoulders to help answer his questions. What kinds of information can you recommend that I give to his mother so that she, an attorney and not a mathematician, and her son can learn more about this information. In particular, what kinds of books, games, and projects would introduce him to other neat ideas in mathematics and physics?
posted by billtron on Feb 16, 2008 - 27 answers

ScienceFilter: Creationists, crystals, and thermodynamics. [more inside]
posted by XMLicious on Feb 6, 2008 - 19 answers

Is there a chemical explanation for the density of an element or is it simply an innate physical characteristic? [more inside]
posted by beta male on Jan 21, 2008 - 14 answers

What would happen if you could create a perfect two-way mirror into a sphere? [more inside]
posted by Lownotes on Oct 30, 2007 - 12 answers

A question about the observer-participancy phenomenon in subatomic physics. [more inside]
posted by heylight on May 30, 2007 - 17 answers

Physics: Difference between two people pulling on each end of a rope, and one person pulling on a rope tied to a tree. [more inside]
posted by voidcontext on May 18, 2007 - 35 answers

"A human is halfway in size between an atom and the known universe"... This is a paraphrased quote I have come across several times. I like it. Who said it first? How true is it in the most literal sense? And, finally, what errors arrive in postulating a universe, or an atom, which can be measured AT ALL from our singular, relativistic, perspective? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Feb 18, 2007 - 14 answers

I've read a few really good works on quantum physics and other cutting-edge sciences, and I'd like to know more. However, I'm coming at this topic from a decidedly non-scientific education. Can someone suggest a few titles?
posted by jackypaper on Dec 28, 2006 - 15 answers

Does a 'water bridge' (like the one in Magdeburg, Germany) have to be strong enough to carry both the water and the ship travelling upon it? Or, thanks to displacement, does it only need to be strong enough to carry the water? [more inside]
posted by TheOtherGuy on Oct 17, 2006 - 12 answers

What is anti-matter? [more inside]
posted by grumblebee on Sep 26, 2006 - 14 answers

Would a bag collapse if I sucked the air out of it in outer space? [more inside]
posted by TimeTravelSpeed on Sep 8, 2006 - 32 answers

Is Dark Matter the new Phlogiston? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Jun 26, 2006 - 35 answers

PhysicsFilter: The Great Racquetball-in-the-Eye Debate [more inside]
posted by frogan on May 25, 2006 - 21 answers

Are there any reasonable scientific explanations for the fact that the width of the moon as viewed from the surface of the Earth is precisely the right width to match the apparent width of the sun, and give us total eclipses? It does seem spectacularly unlikely that it turned out that way by mere chance.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken on Mar 29, 2006 - 50 answers

Is there a mathematical formula relating time and memory? [more inside]
posted by bru on Jan 31, 2006 - 16 answers

How much lower is the air pressure on the 23rd floor of a standard apartment building than at ground level? [more inside]
posted by onshi on Dec 19, 2005 - 21 answers

What is a good book for beginning physics? [more inside]
posted by lorrer on Sep 2, 2005 - 13 answers

When I was a kid, back in the '70s, our PBS stations would show physics demonstrations by a white haired old guy with an overbite. I loved everything about this guy and his demonstrations. He'd get so excited by predicted results that were observed in experiment. What is his name? Can I find these on video in any form?
posted by sydnius on Jul 18, 2005 - 8 answers

When I was in college, beer was a central part of my life. In fact, we did all sorts of interesting things with beer, besides simply drink the stuff. One particular stupid-beer-trick that a friend did frequently - but which I have never been able to exactly replicate - intrigues me. Physicists and amateur scientists, lend me your eyes: [more inside]
posted by luriete on Jun 2, 2005 - 22 answers

What would happen if you take a cube of ice, at a specific size, and fit it in an airthight glass box with the exact same dimensions, and then let it melt? [more inside]
posted by cheerleaders_to_your_funeral on Jun 2, 2005 - 29 answers

What would happen if someone were to build a tunnel or tube into space? (Description inside...) [more inside]
posted by punkbitch on Jan 20, 2005 - 10 answers

When reading a book about Newton V's Leibniz recently, it occurred to me that great advances in Science often seem to occur in tandem, ie two unrelated persons or groups often arrive at a breakthrough at roughly the same time. Is this true? Can anyone think of some other examples? Can anyone explain why this may be the case?
posted by kev23f on Nov 19, 2004 - 21 answers

ScientificIlliterateFilter: If the sun's gravity is so strong as to keep whole planets circling it in orbit (even ones million of miles away), how come light and heat (incredibly fragile things compared to planets) can escape as rays (or whatever they are)?
posted by amberglow on Nov 14, 2004 - 53 answers

Is there a limit to scientific advancement? If there is only a certain number of elements to the universe, will there reach a technology plateau? [more inside]
posted by the fire you left me on Jul 17, 2004 - 24 answers

Ok, its homework help time! You'll probably groan at me to do the work myself, but believe me, I am. I'm just a little short of time, and textbooks and Google are not helping me. I'm analysing the data collected from my Physics coursework, and realised I need to know: Is the coefficient of restitution of two particles a measure of the percentage of kinetic energy retained after a collision? Or is it the energy lost? Or something else entirely?
posted by Orange Goblin on Dec 10, 2003 - 8 answers