The speed of light is a fundamental constant, approximately 299,792,458 meters per second. It's the same for all observers and hasn't changed measurably over billions of years. Nothing can travel ...

James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name. He specializes in history, space, strange science, and anything out of the ordinary.View full profile James is a ...

Here, a calcite crystal is struck with a laser operating at 445 nanometers, fluorescing and displaying properties of birefringence. Unlike the standard picture of light breaking into individual ...

Light is faster than anything else in the known universe, though its speed can change depending on what it's passing through. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate ...

The biggest issue you'd face is reaching that speed in the first place. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. In science fiction, ...

In 1676, by studying the motion of Jupiter's moon Io, Danish astronomer Ole Rømer calculated that light travels at a finite speed. Two years later, building on data gathered by Rømer, Dutch ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Back in 2018, astronomers examining the ruins of two collided ...

The principle of relativity, as initially described by Galileo, posits that the laws of physics remain consistent regardless of an observer's relative motion. Einstein's special relativity ...

I'll be honest: I didn't know that an iPhone was able to do a lidar scan. (The iPhone 12 Pro, 13 Pro, and iPad Pro can all do it.) When I found out that my phone could, I became obsessed with scanning ...

Chris Impey receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the Hearst Foundation. Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, ...

Michael Lam does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their ...