Rhett Allain
WIRED
Hammond, LA, United States
Contact Rhett
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Past articles by Rhett:
The Physics of Wile E. Coyote’s 10 Billion-Volt Electromagnet
The famous cartoon schemer has an ingenious plan to lure Bugs Bunny out of his hole—and it involves a giant magnet and an iron carrot. → Read More
No, Covid-19 Vaccines Won't Make You Magnetic. Here's Why
No matter how many videos you’ve seen of people sticking spoons to their faces, that’s just not how magnets work. → Read More
No, Covid-19 Vaccines Won't Make You Magnetic. Here's Why
No matter how many videos you’ve seen of people sticking spoons to their faces, that’s just not how magnets work. → Read More
You Need to Weigh Some Water. All You’ve Got Is a Paper Clip
OK, so you might need a couple other supplies, but your best option is to do what MacGyver would do: Turn it into a scale. → Read More
Can Hamburger Buns Save Your Pipes from Freezing?
Water expands when it freezes, and that’s bad for plumbing. Insulation—any insulation—is better than nothing. → Read More
Let’s Unpack the Pendulum Rocket Fallacy
And explore how it relates to Iron Man’s flight strategy. → Read More
Formulas or Code? It’s All Numbers When It Comes to Physics
People say that computational methods are a separate branch of science, but that’s not really true. → Read More
Hey Students! Here's How to Deal With School in a Pandemic
Obviously this situation sucks for everyone, but I have a few tips to help you make the most of a bad situation. (Also, don't cheat.) → Read More
Science Fairs Are Canceled. Maybe That’s Just as Well
It’s time to reconsider these earnest events—and find ways for kids to experience the joyous, collaborative nature of real scientific discovery. → Read More
Build Your Own Pinhole Videocam!
Explore the bouncy behavior of light beams by constructing a high-tech camera obscura. → Read More
‘Common Sense’ Is No Substitute for Science in a Pandemic
The scientific method isn't perfect, but it's better than the alternative when lives are at stake. → Read More
Can You Calculate Pi by Drawing a Circle?
Take the Pi Day challenge: How many decimal places can you nail with this method? → Read More
How Long Could the World Run on Geothermal Power?
If everyone went 100 percent geothermal today, Earth’s store of thermal energy would still outlive the sun. → Read More
How Many Water Bottles Could a Filling Station Save?
Or, how long would it take to fill a swimming pool from a water fountain? Let's have fun with numbers! → Read More
Mandalorian vs. TIE Fighter: Who Would Win?
If a spaceship is moving at 262 miles per hour, will a bounty hunter with a grappling hook survive the acceleration? → Read More
How to Make a Tree With Fractals
A physicist dilates on the delights of nature’s intricate geometry. → Read More
The Expanse Is Sci-Fi Like TV Has Never Seen
The series embraces the true weirdness of life off planet, says showrunner Naren Shankar, making space itself a character in the drama. → Read More
How the Mandalorian Might See Through Walls
Mando's sci-fi ability isn't as far-fetched as you think. → Read More
Measurements Are Often Full of Lies—and That's OK
Does a balance measure mass or weight? This common question reveals a core confusion about lab instruments: It's not always obvious what they measure. → Read More
Can We Plant 20 Million Trees for 2020? The Math Says Yes
How much land will the #TeamTrees plan require? A science prof roughs it to assess the feasibility. → Read More