Speed
Humans are fascinated with speed. How can we travel faster? First, we domesticated horses. With the invention of the train, people worried that passengers would suffocate at the blistering speed of 30 miles per hour. Of course, we know now that humans can survive much faster speeds than that. The current land speed record is over 700 miles per hour. There is one speed limit we will never break: the speed of light. This cosmic speed limit, roughly 300,000,000 metres per second, is set by the laws of physics.
What would happen to our view of far-off galaxies, if we travelled at (or near) light-speed towards them?
If a star 1000 light-years away went supernova and died, it would take us 1000 years to know - but what if we were moving towards it, at (or near) light-speed?
What science connects taekwondo and chainsaws?
Plus: how chainsaws are also connected to human babies.
What is the fastest animal in relation to body size?
Spoiler: it’s not a cheetah.
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How fast would Father Christmas have to fly to visit every child in the world?
It's no small feat to travel 160,000,000km, to visit 200 million children, in 800 million homes, in only 34 hours... Luckily Santa has magic on his side.
Why does light travel faster than sound?
Asked by: Toby Graham, Shrewsbury
What is a parsec?
Han Solo made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs did he? We think perhaps not – here’s why.
What would faster-than-light (hyperspace) travel look like?
Piece of junk or not, the Millennium Falcon looks a lot different when you engage the warp drive.
Top 10: What are the fastest rollercoasters?
A handy guide for thrill-seekers looking to choose their next amusement park destination.
Why is a rocket trajectory curved after launch?
What goes up must come down, and gravity has a big part to play in forming the beautiful parabolas followed by rockets after lift-off.
Can you save fuel by slipstreaming other vehicles?
We got a little convoy, ain't she a beautiful sight.
Head to head: Mo Farah vs Usain Bolt
Who is faster and who can run the furthest, Mo Farah or Usain Bolt? We look at the stats to find out who is the speediest runner.
What’s the slowest a plane can fly?
Aeroplanes, or airplanes if you're American, need to maintain a certain speed to allow flight.
Could we make shoes that let us walk on water?
Let go of your Christ-like water walking aspirations, skipping on top of water like a basilisk lizard would require great speed.
Does the speed of light ever change?
The more pertinent question is as to whether this affects Superman's top speed.
How it works: Skydiving without a parachute
In July 2016, 42-year-old US skydiver Luke Aikins set a new record for the highest skydive without a parachute, but how did he do it?
The thought experiment: If a lift is falling, what’s your best chance of staying alive?
An elevator accident is the stuff of nightmares and horror movies, but is it true that you can survive by jumping?
How fast does rain fall?
Rain, rain, go away.
How it works: EDS Maglev Trains
Not only are maglev trains are some of the fastest in the world but they're perfect if you need a lift...
What are the physiological effects of too much g-force?
Don't let all those Gs go to your head...
Top 10: What are the fastest fish in the world?
There are plenty of fish in the sea, but which of them is the fastest fish?
Can a yacht ever travel faster than the wind?
Perhaps it will help if we all blow really hard.
What determines the speed of an object orbiting our planet?
The speed of an object's orbit around earth depends on the object's axis - find out how here.
Craig Breedlove: who is America's king of speed?
In November 1965, an American race car driver broke not one, but two land speed records on the Utah salt flats. Here are 5 things you didn’t know about Craig Breedlove and his car, the Spirit of America.
How can the Universe expand faster than the speed of light?
If the speed of light is the fastest possible speed, why are scientists telling us the universe is expanding faster than it?