Why Airliners Don’t Provide Emergency Parachutes
Why aren’t airliners equipped with parachutes? That question is answered on this Moment of Science. Ever wonder why commercial airplanes aren’t equipped with parachutes? One problem is that most...
View ArticleFloating Clouds
Clouds form when warm, moist air rises to a greater altitude, causing it to expand and cool. Eventually, water vapor in the cooled air condenses into the droplets that form clouds.
View ArticleThe Moon and its Orbit
You can see this more easily by imagining what would happen if the earth were flat. The moon would still travel in a horizontal line above the ground; but because it's also falling, it would come...
View ArticleA Stationary Satellite, part 2
Learn about stationary satellites on this Moment of Science.
View ArticleHaul Me Up or Haul You Down?
We've been imagining that we're sitting in a geostationary satellite. That's a satellite that orbits the equator at the same speed and direction as the earth turns. That means it's always over the same...
View ArticleChinook Crazy
Legend has it that when warm, dry Chinook winds race down the eastern slopes of the Rockies, people on the plains start acting a little crazy. Or, maybe they were just trying to figure out why that...
View ArticlePopping Ears on a Train
When a train enters a tunnel, it compresses the air in front of it like a piston. Unlike outside air, air in a tunnel can't be simply pushed aside--the tunnel walls are in the way.
View ArticleWhy Doesn’t the Moon Fall Down?
Contrary to what fairy tales tell us, there is nothing holding the moon up in the sky. So why doesn't it fall down? Find out on this Moment of Science.
View ArticleWhy Does Altitude Cause Headache?
Mountain climbers face many dangers as they brave the cold winds of the peaks they climb. But the most serious thing they face is all in their heads--literally.
View ArticleHow High Does a Fly Fly?
Flies will travel upwards of 6,000 feet to deliver maximum annoyance.
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