10 physics facts about summer
Ah, summer. It's the perfect time to doze, daze, and get dosed up on physics. Sit back in the radiant heat of a 4.5-billion-year-old sphere of searing plasma that fuses 620 million tons of hydrogen per second, and get ready for some sciency fun in the sun. We present these scientific snippets underlying some beloved aspects of the season.
10. Uranians rarely have a midsummer night's dream.
Learn more about the summer solstice
9. For best sun-bathing approaches, try calculus.
Learn more about Fibonacci numbers in sunflowers
8. Sand alone does not a sandcastle make.
Learn more about the physics of sandcastles
7. Glorious sunsets only look that way from where you are standing.
Learn more about the physics of sunsets
6. All dives are created equal. At least, they start that way.
More on the physics of bellyflops
5. Rollercoaster straps are not for the super-fast, upside-down parts.
Learn more about the physics of roller coasters
4. Campfires are even cooler than you thought.
Learn more about the physics of fire
3. Migration could be a quantum science.
Learn more about the quantum nature of bird migration
2. Insects really are just amazing.
Learn more about the physics of cicadas
1. Photosynthesis just got even more fascinating.
Learn more on the quantum nature of photosynthesis
What’s your favourite summer science factoid? Tweet it to @Perimeter with the hashtag #PhysicsOfSummer.
About PI
Perimeter Institute is the world’s largest research hub devoted to theoretical physics. The independent Institute was founded in 1999 to foster breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of our universe, from the smallest particles to the entire cosmos. Research at Perimeter is motivated by the understanding that fundamental science advances human knowledge and catalyzes innovation, and that today’s theoretical physics is tomorrow’s technology. Located in the Region of Waterloo, the not-for-profit Institute is a unique public-private endeavour, including the Governments of Ontario and Canada, that enables cutting-edge research, trains the next generation of scientific pioneers, and shares the power of physics through award-winning educational outreach and public engagement.
