Seemingly random charging of identical materials depends on the carbonaceous molecules stuck to their surfaces ...

The familiar phenomenon has puzzled researchers for centuries, but experiments are finally making sense of its unruly behaviours.

When microscopic particles of sand, ash, or dust collide in the air, they often exchange a tiny electrical charge. This tiny ...

A growing body of research is shifting how scientists explain static electricity, pointing to surface contamination and contact history rather than the inherent properties of materials as the primary ...

CASCADE, Mich. — Looking for a fun activity to do at home with your kids? This science experiment is fun for all ages and teaches static electricity during the wintertime! Meteorologist Isabella ...

There’s a shocking lack of understanding of the physics underlying this commonplace phenomenon, but researchers are on the case.

If you’ve ever felt a shock after rubbing your hair with a balloon or shuffling across a carpet, you’ll know that static electricity can be a real pain. But for the scientists who study it, the pain ...

James Gibert, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Hongcheng Tao, postdoctoral researcher, observe their test apparatus as it generates an electric charge by rubbing two surfaces ...

Scientists have built the first quantum battery that can charge, store energy, and release electricity in one device.

Watch as tiny pieces of foil magically dance and float inside a bottle! This fascinating experiment demonstrates the invisible force of static electricity and shows how electrical charges can move ...