Northwestern University scientists have made a new contribution to understanding a long-standing phenomenon called static electricity. In their most recent research, the researchers found that such ...

Static electricity was first observed in 600 BC, but researchers have struggled to explain how it is caused by rubbing. With a better understanding of the mechanisms at play, researchers potentially ...

A stream of compressed air does not look like a power source. In factories, it usually hisses through pipes, drives tools, then disappears as waste.

Researchers at RMIT University have discovered a way to create electricity from Styrofoam. Traditionally considered a major pollutant, Styrofoam is also apparently a surprising source of renewable ...

Curious Crew is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and ...

Raindrops may seem harmless as they slide down windows or trickle through gutters. But inside each drop lies a powerful secret. When water flows through certain surfaces, it creates electrical charges ...

That quick zap when you touch a doorknob or car door is actually a small burst of built-up electricity, and winter creates the perfect setup for it.