One of the key benefits of social media seems to be its ability to get people to do fairly dangerous and definitely stupid things. While not quite as foolish as eating detergent pods, a recent craze apparently involves building a pyramid out of milk crates and attempting to walk up one side and down the other. Though it’s not my bag, if you’re a fan of watching people do themselves harm, TikTok is a great resource.
What’s more interesting though, is understanding why this is so difficult. Wired spoke with engineer and former NASA researcher Nehemiah Mabry, who explained the physics, and why unsupported columns are so unstable.
Next we will look at the physics of beaning, which seem messier but a lot safer.