OCW
Why magnets stumped scientists for so long
In the 1920s, physicists still had many unanswered questions about magnetism. While they knew that every electron and proton have invisible, magnetic fields that radiate out in closed loops from one end to the other, they wondered: what determines the direction of these magnetic fields? And if every..
TED
A cosmologist's guide to the end of the universe
How does studying the end of time change your perspective of life on Earth? Cosmologist and TED Fellow Katie Mack joins designer and podcaster Debbie Millman to talk about the story of the cosmos — from the Big Bang's ancient light still glowing across the universe to the five ways it might a..
TED
The physics behind Einstein’s most famous equation
Ever since Einstein published his Special Theory of Relativity, one equation has been the bane of humans hoping to explore the stars: E=mc². In addition to informing our understanding of gravity, space, and time, this formula implies that traveling at or beyond light speed is impossible. Why is tha..
TED
Are we alone in the universe? We're close to finding out
Astrophysicist Lisa Kaltenegger explores the thrilling possibility of discovering life beyond Earth, highlighting how cutting-edge technology like the James Webb Space Telescope lets us analyze distant planets for signs of life in unprecedented detail. Could examining these
TED
Have we reached the limit of computer power?
Moore’s Law states that every 1 to 2 years the number of transistors that can fit on a given size computer chip will double. Thanks to this law, chips have gotten smaller, faster, more efficient, and cheaper. But today, there are four key problems that trip up this trend, potentially ending Moore..
TED
How did the Milky Way get its shape?
Thirteen billion years ago, the gas and dust particles that eventually became our Milky Way were whizzing around in every direction. Despite the wild motion of its parts, the galaxy as a whole was rotating about an axis. So why did the Milky Way, like most galaxies, become flat, and not spherical li..
TED
