Scientists at Northwestern University may have figured out why walking on carpet in your socks, petting your furry friend, or rubbing a balloon on your hair creates static electricity. In a new study, ...

MINNEAPOLIS — When someone touches something and gets shocked, it's awkward and a bit painful. What causes static electricity? And what actually happens when you get shocked? Visitors of the ...

Northwestern University scientists have made a new contribution to understanding a long-standing phenomenon called static electricity. In their most recent research, the researchers found that such ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Static in clothes is caused by friction between fabrics, which creates an electric charge, especially in colder seasons due to low ...

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Have you gotten shocked while touching a doorknob or a metal surface recently? First Alert Meteorologist Nate Morris explains what causes static electricity and why it’s more common ...

Static electricity was first observed in 600 B.C., but researchers have struggled to explain how rubbing causes it. In 2019, researchers discovered nanosized surface deformations at play. The same ...

Zaps of static electricity are commonplace in everyday life. But can static electricity give enough of a jolt to start a fire? Static electricity is the result of an imbalance between negative and ...

Winter is right around the corner and you'll likely start noticing the subtle pop when opening the car door or walking across carpet with socks on. In this week's 'Science with Sarah,' we're learning ...

Winter brings drier air inside and outside our homes, even in typically humid Southern areas. With less humidity comes static electricity and clothes that cling to your body. You may think the ...

Static electricity is everywhere, especially in your house. “Everyone has experienced that unexpected shock when folding laundry or touching a metal object in their home,” says John Bell, an ...