Here’s the rub with friction — scientists don’t really know how it works. Although humans have been harnessing its power since rubbing two sticks together to build the first fire, the physics of ...

Friction is a key phenomenon in applied physics, whose origin has been studied for centuries. Until now, it has been understood that mechanical wear-resistance and fluid lubrication affect friction, ...

Fast-moving nanoscale systems offer the tantalizing possibility for rapid processing of materials, energy or information 1. Frictional forces can easily dominate the motion of these systems, yet ...