It is hard to remember that a lot of high tech research went on well before the arrival of electronic computers, lasers, and all the other things that used to be amazing but are now commonplace.

James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name. He specializes in history, space, strange science, and anything out of the ordinary.View full profile James is a ...

The speed of light is a fundamental constant, approximately 299,792,458 meters per second. It's the same for all observers and hasn't changed measurably over billions of years. Nothing can travel ...

For centuries, scientists have tried to measure the speed of light directly and failed every single time. Light moves so fast ...

Light is faster than anything else in the known universe, though its speed can change depending on what it's passing through. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate ...

In 1887, one of the most important experiments in the history of physics took place. American scientists Michelson and Morley failed to measure the speed of Earth by comparing the speed of light in ...

The motion of any object is relative. On Earth we tend to ignore that, because the vast background of the ground gives us a seemingly fixed and absolute frame of reference. Sitting comfortably at our ...

Many measurements start with sensors, be they temperature, strain, light, position, or other physical properties. Accurately measuring the distance to and speed of an object has challenges relating to ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Back in 2018, astronomers examining the ruins of two collided ...

I'll be honest: I didn't know that an iPhone was able to do a lidar scan. (The iPhone 12 Pro, 13 Pro, and iPad Pro can all do it.) When I found out that my phone could, I became obsessed with scanning ...

Imagine you’re in a car driving across the country watching the landscape. A tree in the distance gets closer to your car, passes right by you, then moves off again in the distance behind you. Of ...

No matter how fast you move, the light will always catch you. Nowadays we take the speed of light for granted. It's a fundamental constant of the universe: light simply travels at the speed it does ...