Funsize Physics

Chasing tornadoes isn't just for storm chasers! In a unique state of matter called a superfluid, tiny "tornadoes" may form. Click and learn about quantum vortices and how they and can play an important role in nanotechnology, and beyond. https://funsizephysics.com/hunting-quantum-tornadoes-x-rays/

Hunting Quantum Tornadoes with X-rays Just as storm chasers track down and study tornadoes across the Great Plains, scientists around the world chase much smaller tornadoes that appear in a unique state of matter called a superfluid. Everyday fluids have some internal friction among molecules that gives the fluid a thick or sticky quali...

Happy ! Where can you find quantum effects in your everyday life? When you're stepping on a scale!

Happy ! Take a moment with us to appreciate the historical development of Quantum physics, and the some of the researchers behind these discoveries.

Where can you find quantum effects in your everyday life? As you pull your car into the garage!

Everyday scientists are working to make computers smaller and more efficient. In this Funsize quantum research highlight, learn how researchers are using spintronics to improve semiconductor technology.

Strike Up the Band (Structure) All electronic devices store and process information by manipulating electrons. Conventional devices do this based upon the electrons' charge. Scientists are now working to develop devices that manipulate another property of electrons, called spin—a research area aptly known as spintronics. An ele...

Where can you find quantum effects in your everyday life? Whenever you travel to a new place!

This movie is animated with atoms!! Using a scanning tunneling microscope, researchers made The World's Smallest Movie by moving around real atoms.

A Boy And His Atom: The World's Smallest Movie You're about to see the movie that holds the Guinness World Records™ record for the World's Smallest Stop-Motion Film (see how it was made at http://youtu.be...

How would you take a picture of something smaller than a photon? Using a scanning tunneling microscope, of course. Today, we return to when researchers were able to image atoms (yes atoms!!) using electrons and a sharp wire tip.

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy How is a picture taken? You’re lining up your phone to take a picture of your dog. Light comes down from the sun, bounces off the dog, and into your camera lens, allowing you to take the photo. Your eyes work similarly, taking in all the light particles, known as photons, that are scattering off o...

Where can you find quantum effects in your everyday life? In the phone or computer you're reading this with!

Have you ever seen a whirl in the water as your bathtub drains? This whirl is called a vortex and this event can also happen on the nanoscale. In our first Funsize quantum research highlight, join us as we revisit the turbulent world of quantum vortices.

The Turbulent Tangle of Quantum Vortices You may know helium as the gas that can make balloons and blimps float. At the University of Maryland, scientists are using this element to study the exotic physics of quantum vortices: the tornadoes or bathtub-drain whirls of the quantum world. Unlike these large-scale events, we do not understand....

If you don't know what quantum is, you're not alone! Join Drs. Christian Binek, Dan Claes, and Peter Dowben and learn What the Heck Quantum is in the first place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weo0KllYOOs

What the Heck is a Quantum? If you've ever found yourself wondering, "What the heck is a 'quantum,' anyway?!", you are not alone. Even superstar physicist Richard Feynman once claimed, ...

Mark your calendars! This Friday, April 14th, is . We care a lot about quantum effects here at Funsize (the smaller you get, the more quantum effects matter!). To celebrate, we're spending this week looking at all things quantum, how it influences our world and yours, and the decades of research and innovation in the quantum field.