The physical world follows rules that look strange at small scales and surprisingly orderly at large ones. These curations cover quantum mechanics, the revisions to classical physics, entropy and the direction of time, and how plate tectonics and the ocean form one connected Earth system.
The fundamentals of physics is the scientific study of matter, its basic parts, how it moves and behaves through space and time, and energy and force. What changes when modern physics revises our understanding of reality, and how can we make sense of those changes? The lessons trace how ideas about the physical world develop across scales and theories.
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics, describes how matter and light behave, typically at and below the scale of atoms, and its behaviors have often been described as counterintuitive. This path helps readers understand the theory in everyday terms and explores how it describes the behavior of matter and light.
Thermodynamics is the branch of physics that deals with heat, work, temperature, and how they relate to energy, entropy, and the physical properties of matter and radiation. It developed from efforts to improve early steam engines, particularly through the work of French physicist Sadi Carnot (1824). These lessons explore entropy, heat transfer, equilibrium, and the limits of physical processes.
Oceanography is the scientific study of the ocean, including its physics, chemistry, biology, and geology. This path helps readers understand what ocean research can reveal about the ocean and its connections with Earth. It moves from the foundations of oceanography to themes in ocean circulation, regional change, and the ocean's relationship with the atmosphere.
Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that Earth's lithosphere consists of large plates that have moved slowly for billions of years, with their relative motion shaping the boundaries where they meet. The lessons answer how plate motion works and what processes accompany it. They connect the forces moving plates with the patterns and activity found at their boundaries.
Curiate turns what you are curious about into a short path — a quick lesson on an article, something to watch, and a book to go deep on. Free to browse.
