CULTURE Archives

CULTURE

Why Does Your Stomach Drop on a Roller Coaster?

Roller coasters are enduringly popular, but they’re clearly not for everyone. Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie who travels from one amusement park to another in search of ever-greater thrills or a reluctant roller coaster-er who spends all your time in line with second thoughts, you’ve surely experienced it: that brief moment during the ride when […]

How Do Mirrors Work?

We’re so accustomed to using mirrors, whether we’re checking our hair before heading out the door or catching our reflection in a store window, that we usually take them for granted. It’s not until you stop and really think about mirrors that they can start to feel like magic. For example, try taking a sheet […]

SCIENCE
How Does a Black Box Survive a Plane Crash?

In the aftermath of a plane crash, investigators typically comb through debris for answers. Much like a jigsaw puzzle, they use their findings to piece together a clearer picture of what went wrong and, importantly, how to prevent it from happening again. Among the most useful tools during these investigations is a flight recorder, also […]

ENGINEERING
What’s Holding Your Skeleton Together?

“What’s holding my bones together?” sounds like something a curious toddler would ask — and that you just don’t know how to answer. Muscles? Joints? It’s a good question! Think about it: Every time you take a step, reach for a cup of coffee, or turn your head to look out the window, more than […]

HEALTH
Why Doesn’t Stainless Steel Rust?

Leaving a garden tool out in the rain seems like a simple oversight until you need to use it and find how quickly ordinary steel can turn orange and flaky. Meanwhile, the stainless steel spoon in your kitchen drawer, the sink in your bathroom, and even the metal on city skyscrapers can stay shiny for […]

SCIENCE