Science at the 2018 Winter Olympics
Discover the physics of snowboarding, curling and skating, get inside the minds of athletes, and explore all things Olympics
Winter Olympics: Could Plastic “Ice” Help Overcome Bias toward Colder Countries?
Bobsled, luge and skeleton tracks lined with plastic rather than ice could make those sports more accessible worldwide
Olympic Clothing Designers Try to Beat the Cold with Technology
With electric self-warming jackets and new insulated fabrics, Team USA hopes to overcome record-setting chills
Why Culture Clashes at the Olympics Matter
Differences in language and customs will inevitably lead to miscommunications and misunderstandings among the athletes
Coaching Can Make or Break an Olympic Athlete
Competitors at the most elite level require more than technical support
Go Figure: Why Olympic Ice Skaters Don't Fall Flat on Their Faces
The athletes’ brains get rewired with practice to counteract reflexes and execute complex routines
Going for the Gaunt: How Low Can an Athlete's Body Fat Go?
Olympic competitors such as Apolo Ohno are down near the 2 percent body-fat range. How do they get so lean, and is it wise to do so?
Leg and Head Injuries Are Frequent at the Olympics
Athletes are injured frequently—badminton players more so than ski jumpers
No Guts, No Glory? The Fear and Attraction of Risky Winter Sports
The one time I went flying off the side of a mountain on skis, I certainly didn’t mean to. Before I hit the ground, there was a surprising amount of time for reflection—and more on the long painful schlep down to the ambulance...
No One Wins Gold for Practicing the Most
A new study suggests there are limits to the “10,000-hour rule” and how far practice and hard work can take an athlete
Olympic Big Air Snowboarders Use Physics to Their Advantage
The PyeongChang Winter Games will debut big air snowboarding, where athletes who master the laws of physics will be most likely to medal and avoid injury
Olympic Gold May Depend on the Brain's Reward Chemical
A new study reveals that dopamine may help propel athletes into elite mode
The Scientific American Guide to Cheating in the Olympics
It’s harder than ever to dope your way to glory—but some athletes will probably get away with it anyway
The Olympic Motto, Cellular Memories and the Epigenetic Effects of Doping
Performance-enhancing substances such as steroids can still have an effect after athletes stop using them
Why Do Curling Stones Curl?
Curling at the highest level requires careful calculations and a little finesse with physics.
