Science story
The life of the first person to circumnavigate the world by sea
In 1522, humans completed the first circumnavigation of the world by sea.
Sail
Browse ScienceInfo articles and explainers related to Sail.
Topic archive
Articles about Sail
70 published items.
New technology
Ship equipped with foldable solar panel sails
The Captain Arctic cruise ship has five large sails 35m high, covered with 2,000m2 of solar panels to help exploit clean energy.
Space science
Solar sails help spacecraft reach Mars in 26 days
A team of scientists simulated a trip to Mars and interstellar space using a solar sail made from aerographite with impressive results.
Space science
Solar sails help spacecraft fly without fuel
NASA is testing a sail system that uses solar energy to propel spacecraft through space.
Oceanography
The fastest swimming fish in the ocean: Competing with the 'speed king' of the steppe
What really sets this fish apart is its numerous fins arranged precisely along the body.
History
History of famous Japanese desserts
Legend has it that a group of Portuguese monks were sailing to Macao when their ship ran into bad weather and they landed in Nagasaki, Japan instead.
Space science
China successfully opened the sail to recover missiles in orbit
Chinese scientists successfully opened the towing sail to bring one of the recently launched Long March 2 rockets out of orbit, helping to reduce space junk.
Space science
Solar sail 'bends' light to fly in space
Researchers are developing a new solar sail design that helps spacecraft navigate through space without fuel.
Alien
Decipher the existence of aliens based on their technology
Exploring the universe and searching for extraterrestrial life has always been the desire of modern science and people, but so far everything seems to have not worked ou…
New technology
The first 'flying boat' model runs on hydrogen fuel cells
This year's World Cup international sailing competition will see the first flying boat run on hydrogen energy with a speed of 92.6 km/h.
Science Events
China launches world's largest electric yacht
The world's largest electric yacht has just made its first voyage after sailing from the port of Yichang in Hubei province and back from the upper Yangtze River, China.
Space science
NASA is about to launch the smallest asteroid research ship
The NEA Scout spacecraft with solar sail technology will 'visit' the small asteroid with a bus, less than 18m in diameter.
Space science
Plan to launch spaceship chasing asteroid
Experts plan to launch a ship using solar sail technology as early as 2028 to fly to study the asteroid 'Oumuamua.
New technology
Stunned with technology that can help us get from New York to Los Angeles in just... 1 second
There is still a long way to go, but surely this technology could one day allow us to get from New York to Los Angeles in under a second.
Archeology
Unexpectedly discovered boat 'stitching' 2,000 years old underground
The wooden boat is 5 meters long, 1.7 meters wide, has a sail and is made using ancient stitching techniques.