Jessica Meir has been floating in the ISS since 14 February 2026. Artemis II just brought back four astronauts from a historic flyby of the Moon on 10 April. Space exploration has never been more present in the news, and the questions it raises (how do you stay in orbit? why do you float in space? how do you slow down to land on the Moon?) are at the heart of middle school and high school physics curricula. In this article, we propose seven experiments that can be performed with a smartphone,...

You have probably already tried to disturb a compass by bringing a magnet close to it, but have you ever tried the same experiment with your smartphone's electronic compass? In the video below, we conducted the experiment, and the result is surprising: the smartphone's compass appears to be unaffected by the presence of a magnet. Why such behavior? As a scientist, can we trust the magnetometer data? And what are the implications for measuring magnetic fields with a smartphone? This is what we...

Discovered in 1842, the Doppler effect has established itself as an essential investigation tool in modern science. This article details five activities adapted to different learning levels, to be carried out in class, at home or outdoors, simply using a smartphone or tablet. We will also provide specific advice to optimize their implementation. These practical experiments offer a unique opportunity to grasp the concrete applications of the Doppler effect in our daily lives, as well as its...