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Science of the Winter Olympics

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Photo of pair of Olympic ice dancers overlaid with lines and angles Video

Olympic Movement & Robotic Design

How control systems engineering is laying the groundwork for the design of more "athletic" robots
Driver in bobsled with USA on front Video

Building Faster & Safer Bobsleds

Engineers explain the challenges associated with making sleds faster and tracks safer
Close up photo of crystals of snow Video

Science of Snow

How snow is formed and how it reacts
Figure skater mid-rotation Video

Physics of Figure Skating

Maintaining good balance, or stability, is basic to everything a skater does
man skiing downhill on a mono-ski Video

Stability in Alpine Skiing

Advanced materials and engineering help reduce unwanted vibration for skiers
Skiier changing direction near a gate Video

Injury & Recovery

Help athletes recover faster
Three speed skaters, one with hand on ice Video

Science of Ice

The science that makes ice slippery
Skier in the air Video

Physics of Slopestyle Skiing

Following the laws of physics and rotational motion
Speed skater wearing competition suit Video

Engineering Competition Suits

Competition suits help improve athlete performance by reducing friction and improving aerodynamics
Snowboarder in the air with the moon in the background Video

Shaun White & Engineering the Half Pipe

How engineers design the half pipe so that snowboarder Shaun White can get more air time
Speed skater leans into a turn on the ice Video

Blade Runners

Speed skating is all about force and movement
Olympic medalist John Shuster demonstrates curling with the rock Video

Science Friction

The friction that makes it all work
Snowboarder catching air Video

Science of Snowboarding

An experiment that could help snowboarders
Ski jumper with mountains in background Video

Air Lift

A sport that combines ski jumping with cross-country skiing
Downhill skier Video

Downhill Science

The physics of this downhill thrill ride
Close up of athletes in a bobsled Video

Banking on Speed

The United States' four-man bobsled team won gold
a hockey helmet Video

Safety gear

Athletes rely on protective gear to keep them safe
Figure skater on the ice Video

Figuring Out Figure Skating

A scientific principle that can increase rotation
Photo of ice skates Video

The Science of Skates

How innovations in boot and blade design help skaters perform better
A pair of skis Video

Science of Skis

The skis that are bound to an athlete's feet
a graph Video

Mathletes

The Queen of Sciences
Male and female skaters performing on the ice Video

Olympic Motion

A chance to marvel at the physical abilities of these world-class athletes
Two athletes in competition suits Video

Competition Suits

Science and technology continue to improve athletes suits
A hockey player on the ice making a slapshot Video

Slapshot Physics

Hockey is more than just a physical game
Athlete and trainer in the gym Video

Internal Athlete

Incredible endurance for these cross-country skiers
Skier doing an aerial maneuver Video

Aerial Physics

Twisting techniques to help complex jumps in the air
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