An important factor is the proportion between clay, sand, and silt. Very clayey soils, for example, have plenty of fine particles interlocked with each other. This allows...
Rayleigh scattering is a matter of size: when sunlight passes through our atmosphere, it encounters a whole bunch of small air molecules (mostly nitrogen and...
If fireworks shine in colors, it's primarily a story of chemistry. The principle is simple: when burned, certain substances called metallic salts release light in...
White instinctively evokes an impression of purity, hygiene, and visual tranquility. When a room has a white ceiling, it immediately feels clean and well-maintained. It's...
Marine sponges are quite special: they cannot move to escape predators, so they produce protective chemical molecules to survive. These substances, called secondary metabolites, are...
Snow contains a lot of trapped air between its flakes. It is precisely these tiny pockets of still air that make snow an excellent thermal...
In a classic battery, there are two essential parts: the positive terminal (called the cathode) and the negative terminal (called the anode). These terminals, usually...
Some materials are naturally sensitive to magnets, but not all of them, far from it! This attraction mainly depends on their ability to become small...
The eyes of dolphins are specially adapted for underwater vision. Their cornea is very thick, which facilitates focusing in an aquatic environment. And unlike us, their lens...
Plankton is like the basic snack of the oceans. These tiny microorganisms float all over the water. They serve as the main meal for a...