Every time you switch on a light or charge a phone, electricity begins a journey that often stretches hundreds of kilometres.

The small motorboat anchors in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay. Shrieks of wintering birds assault the vessel’s five crew members, all clad in bright orange flotation suits. One of the crew slowly ...

Over the millennia, the phenomenon known as electricity has meant different things to different people. In ancient societies, electricity—or more specifically lightning—was inspiration for some of the ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. To the uninitiated, electricity might seem like a sort of hidden ...

Static electricity often just seems like an everyday annoyance when a wool sweater crackles as you pull it off, or when a doorknob delivers an unexpected zap. Regardless, the phenomenon is much more ...

FROM THE PINNACLE OF SPOOKY SEASON. YES, ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER IS HELPING EVERYONE GET INTO THE HALLOWEEN SPIRIT ALL MONTH LONG. WESH TWO MARQUISE MEDA BRINGS US TO THE SCIENCE OF IT. WHAT’S ...

Modern technologies, including wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal systems, fuel cell technology, and alternative energy systems, are at the core of finding new ways to harness energy without ...

When the wind blows on Mars, electricity crackles through the air. For the first time, scientists have detected electricity in the Red Planet’s atmosphere. A microphone on NASA’s Perseverance rover ...

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in ...