Imagine you are sitting in a big symphony hall, and you’re listening to an orchestra play for the first time. The orchestra is performing a Violin Concerto by Beethoven. As the soloist runs her hands ...

In October 1984 I arrived at Oxford University, trailing a large steamer trunk containing a couple of changes of clothing and about five dozen textbooks. I had a freshly minted bachelor’s degree in ...

Two USC researchers used string field theory to try to validate quantum mechanics. Photo/astrophysics.pro In the search for one unified theory that explains all phenomena in the observable universe, ...

String theory, simultaneously one of the most promising and controversial ideas in modern physics, may be more capable of helping probe the inner workings of subatomic particles than was previously ...

A stunning new video of guitar strings vibrating has emerged on social media, providing a fascinating new look at the magic of slow motion filming and digital manipulation. Videoed in slow motion, ...

How precisely does an acoustic guitar or violin produce its sweet sound? There is a simple, centuries-old way to literally "see" the vibrational patterns that cause the guitar to resonate and produce ...

What's the physical mechanism behind the distinctive sound of a banjo? David Politzer — probably better known for his work on quantum chromodynamics than his passion for banjos — may not be the first ...

A string is driven by a function generator that is attached to an oscillator. By adjusting the frequency of the oscillation, the string can be used to demonstrate standing waves. A strobe light is ...