Charged electromagnetic particles from the solar wind interact to create sound in space.
You can also listen at radio-astronomy.net.
Tag: physics
Coronal Rain: Learning Physics with the Sun
NASA’s Heliophysics (physics of the sun) website has an excellent collection of videos that would link quite nicely with physics discussions of the physics of light (electromagnetism) and the Earth’s magnetic field (as well as the action of charged particles in a magnetic field.
They also have awesome solar videos, like this one of coronal rain.
Natural phenomena like this are great for students to analyze because they require the integration of multiple concepts to explain.
Flying Robotics
A fascinating demonstration of using modeling to maneuver flying robots (quadrocopters).
The Edges of the Universe
… observed astrophysical black holes may be Einstein–Rosen bridges, each with a new universe inside that formed simultaneously with the black hole. Accordingly, our own Universe may be the interior of a black hole existing inside another universe.
— Poplawski, 2012: Radial motion into an Einstein–Rosen bridge (pdf) in Physics Letters B.
For some reason the Big Bang theory came up during a middle-school class discussion last week; specifically, the mind-bending question of what exactly was there just before and at the beginning of the universe. We also meandered into the question about what’s at the edge of the universe — and how can the universe have an edge where time and space end.
There really aren’t any satisfactory answers to these questions, especially not for middle schoolers. But it allowed me to talk about how science is really just the best explanations for the known observations. Unsatisfactory answers to these questions are why we have the scientific method.
To throw a little more mind-bending fuel on the fire, however, I’m going to show the class the article quoted above.
It’s an interesting example of how scientists see the universe through math. And how they strive to make sense of things they can’t see or touch.
Simulating the Solar System Ripped Apart
A facinating simulation of what would happen if a Sun sized object passed through the solar system.
Nuclear vs. Chemical Energy
This curious video advocates for a new type of nuclear reactor (that runs on thorium) over traditional uranium reactors and chemical fuels. In doing so it gives a useful, but quick, explanation of how energy is produced from these sources.
Counter-intuitive Rube Goldberg
A really neat take on a Rube Goldberg machine by 2D House:
Indoor Clouds
Berndnaut Smilde generates and photographs clouds inside buildings, “He uses a fog machine and carefully adjusts the temperature and humidity to produce clouds just long enough to photograph.”