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 ...

To put it simply, static electricity is the small buildup of electrical charge on the surface of an object. It occurs when materials rub against each other and the friction often comes with a transfer ...

We've all tussled with a skirt that wouldn't stop wrapping around our backside and legs (revealing every bump and bulge!) or a shirt that delivers the shock of one's life or even that hat that makes ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Static in clothes is caused by friction between fabrics, which creates an electric charge, especially in colder seasons due to low humidity. Preventing static can be achieved by using fabric softeners ...

There is nothing more frustrating than finding a sock stuck to your pants leg thanks to static cling. Or the fear of "sparks" tingling your skin every time you pull on your sweater. The colder, drier ...

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 ...