Browse Physics

A modified form of Lagrange’s equations of motion will make it easier to account for energy loss in a mechanical system.

Phonon lasing—coherent amplification of phonons by stimulated emission—has been achieved in a purely acoustic analog of a three-level laser scheme.

The surprisingly complex behavior of three gravitationally attracted bodies includes several previously unknown periodic orbits.

The flexibility of a DNA strand affects its activities in cells and depends on its length. Atomic-scale computer simulations begin to explain why the length matters.

Calculations show that the weight of large support structures can be dramatically reduced if their design consists of patterns that are the same at large scales as at the tiniest scales.

Combining experiment and theory, two research teams uncover new connections between the shape and the rigidity of ellipsoidal shells.

The mystery of curved folds in origami artwork is partly unraveled by a mathematical modeling of the elastic forces in a folded ring structure.

Gaskets and other seals can stop leaks even if the leak-preventing surfaces have just 42 percent of their area in contact at the microscopic scale, according to computer simulations.

Changes in plant tissue geometry with humidity explain how some species bend and turn to disperse their seeds.