Without the force called friction, cars would skid off the roadway, humans couldn't stride down the sidewalk, and objects would tumble off your kitchen counter and onto the floor. Even so, how ...

Chemists and physicists shed light on a crucial aspect of friction: how things begin to slide. Using fluorescence microscopy and dedicated fluorescent molecules, they are able to pinpoint how and when ...

I've been thinking a lot about the role of friction lately -- or perhaps more importantly, the lack thereof -- in media design. Generally speaking, the user experience design of our most successful ...

This simple apple ramp STEM challenge is a brilliant, hands-on way to learn about the effect of gradient on speed and ...

The friction on a graphene surface can be dynamically tuned using external electric fields, according to researchers. The friction on a graphene surface can be dynamically tuned using external ...

More countries are prioritizing national security over scientific discovery Why can't we all just get along... for the good of science? New research suggests countries prioritizing national security ...

With mild temperatures and ample snow, much of Alaska is now primed for cross-country skiing. It’s a sport for all ages, made possible by friction. According to Samuel Colbeck, a retired geophysicist ...

As man voyages farther toward the stars, and faster across the face of his own earth, the instruments by which he steers become vastly more important. And on planes or ships or spacecraft, the heart ...