Huge If True Podcast

In the press conference heard round the world, they showed the tell-tale waveforms indicating that huge event in which two black holes merged 1.3 billion lightyears away, had created waves that passed by the LIGO detectors and were finally heard. Einstein predicted the existence of these waves in his 1915 theory of general relativity. But it took a long time for us to come up with the technology to detect them. For one, we had to invent lasers! This video discusses why this discovery is important, what it means for astronomy, and what’s next. If you can’t tell, I’m very excited.

How can light be used to cool atoms and molecules ? Lasers are known to burn things, fix eyes, and dance on powerpoint presentations. But they can also be used to cool objects to some of the coldest temperatures in the universe.

Rogue waves - enormous, spontaneous surface waves in the open ocean - were once the tall tales of sailors. They are waves that reach 2-3x taller than the largest average waves in the area, reaching heights of 75 – 100ft. With the help of a ESA satellite survey, the scientific community now accepts they happen frequently. What causes rogue waves?

Craziest eclipses in the solar system. .....

new show SoundField as they experiment with giant $100,000 speakers and aim them at your body parts looking for resonance, at oobleck, at googly eyes, and at candles to explore the physics of sound.

3D movies and TV are is increasing in popularity, but is any of it truly 3D? How true is the 3D in movie theaters? How do glassess-less 3D TVs work? Try catching a ball with one eye closed. If you find it easy, try having the ball thrown a couple of feet in front of you, or from further away. It becomes increasingly difficult when the throw is off.

The New Horizons probe reached its closest approach to Pluto on July 14, 2015 at 7:49 EST. We have received more and more detailed images and data about the dwarf planet and its largest moon, Charon. Very exciting times!

A wheel that spins forever; a bird that never quenches its thirst; a clock that never stops ticking, an endless source of free energy. These are but the dreams of inventors striving to make perpetual motion machines, machines that can work forever without any energy input. Are these machines possible without violating the laws of physics? No.

The TRAPPIST-1 exoplanet system has seven earth-like planets and is only 39 lightyears away! I am joined by Professor Adam Burgasser and Dr. Katherine Deck, both astrophysicists on the Nature paper to discuss the discovery of this planetary system.

Liquid oxygen has unusual magnetic properties. This demonstration with the MIT Technical Services Group and a crazy blowtorch demonstration on the curie point of iron share a glimpse into how different kinds of magnetism work.

Can you answer the spool riddle? Special guest Anne Wojcicki joins Physics Girl for the answer(s?!) to the hiker riddle and to hear the next riddle

How does soap change the surface tension of water? I have used my degree to make a fifth video -- for you all -- to explain this very question.

Learn how to make a wispy cloud come out of your mouth, even when it's not cold out. Like any awesome trick, physics is to thank for the mouth cloud. This simple and fun demonstration can be used to explain the cloud in a bottle experiment, and real clouds in the sky.

What happens when you drop a perfectly balanced stack of balls? And how is the result like a supernova? The classic momentum transfer demonstration, taken to the next level. A big thank you to my nephews and niece Drew, Max and Whitney for creating the trampoline footage! Thank you to the Vlogbrothers for sponsoring this video, to Kyle Kitzmiller for filming, and to Island School on Kauai for providing the balls

These 5 holiday-themed physics experiments will keep you and your family busy with science during the winter holidays! All experiments involve materials found around the house. Parental supervision advised . Flame Eraser – put out a candle by pouring CO2 over the flame! Easy-to-do experiment, and CO2 is made from household ingredients: Baking soda and vinegar. Materials: cups, baking soda, vinegar, candles, matches Resonant Straws – discover the property of resonance in a straw by creating a home-made kazoo out of nothing but a straw! Materials: straws, scissors

Quantum coin flipping is the fairest way to flip a coin over the phone. How does it work?!

Tic tacs have the strangest behavior when you bounce them on a very hard surface. What is going on?! Find out the physics.

See if you can solve the next two riddles in this video: (1) the silent round riddle (2) the broom riddle ft. Kurt Hugo Schneider!

Thanks to LIGO Hanford, Michael Landry, Amber Strunk, Sharan Banagiri and Salvatore Vitale.

Thanks to LIGO Hanford, Michael Landry, Amber Strunk, Sharan Banagiri and Salvatore Vitale.