Texas is massive.

If the Lone Star State were its own country, it would have the 13th highest GDP in the world. 

Over the last 20 years, Texas has become an increasingly important part of the US economy. In 1995, it made up around 6.5% of the total US GDP, and by 2014 it was over 9% (See chart).

A huge part of that growth has been attributed to Texas' bustling energy businesses.

That's why the latest dropping oil prices have rattled a few nerves. Although lower gas prices are great for the average US consumer, they could mean trouble for Texas' economy. And consequently, for the larger US economy as well.

With Texas in focus, let's take a quick look at what makes this major economy tick.

Texas wind farms could power all the homes in Utah and West Virgina.

Although Texas has the installed wind capacity of 12,755 megawatts (MW), the highest output reached was 9,674 megawatts. (A 2 megawatt turbine can provide electricity for roughly 400 homes.)

Which means that Texas produces an estimated amount of wind energy to power all the homes in West Virgina and Utah.

Texas' wind energy production was 12 times larger in 2011 than 2002.

Wind energy accounts for 76% of Texas’ renewable energy consumption, and is 10% of Texas' total energy production.

Source: American Wind Energy Association

In just 3 years, Texas' population increased by an amount equal to the current populations of Vermont and Wyoming.

In 2010 Texas' population was 25,145,561. Three years later, the population was up to 26,448,193.

Wyoming's population is 582,658 and Vermont's population is 626,630.

Source: US Census

35 North Dakotas would STILL have less businesses than Texas.

There are 2,164,852 firms in Texas.

There are 61,546 in North Dakota.

Source: US Census

Everyone knows that for the Brits, an elevator is a “lift,” an apartment is a “flat,” and those chips you’re snacking on are actually called “crisps.”

But British people also say some other really weird, confusing things.

To celebrate the launch of Business Insider's UK website, we compiled 12 British phrases that will leave Americans utterly flummoxed. You might just see these on our new site. 

1. “They lost the plot.”

When someone has “lost the plot,” it means they have lost their cool. It’s a common phrase in English football in particular, and is generally used when a player or coach gets in a fight or does a terrible job during the game. 

2. “I haven’t seen that in donkey's years.”

“Donkey’s years” translates to “a really long time,” mainly because “donkey’s ears” kind of sounded like “donkey’s years” and became a rhyming slang term.

The phrase was underscored by the belief that donkeys live a long time (which can be true) and have very long ears (definitely true).

3. “Quit your whinging!” 

When someone is “whinging,” it means they’re whining or crying. The next time your coworker is complaining about something, feel free to call him a whinger.

4. “He’s such a chav.”

This is a pejorative epithet in Britain that’s used to described a specific kind of stereotype: A working-class person who’s loud or brash and wears (usually fake) designer clothes — especially the classic Burberry check.

It’s essentially the British version of “white trash” and should be used sparingly.

5. “You’ve thrown a spanner in the works.” 

When you “put/throw a spanner in the works,” it means you’ve ruined a plan. A spanner is the word for a wrench in England, so it’s the British equivalent of “throwing a wrench in the works.”

6. “Let’s have a chin-wag.”

Though fairly self-explanatory, having a “chinwag” (sometimes "chin-wag") means that you’re having a brief chat with someone, usually associated with gossip. Just imagine a chin wagging up and down, and you’ll get the idea why.

7. “I’m chuffed to bits.”

If you’re “chuffed to bits,” it means that you’re really happy or thrilled about something. It’s also acceptable to say “chuffed” all on its own: “I’ve just scored free tickets to the Beyoncé concert, and I’m well chuffed!”

8. “That’s manky.”

Something that is “manky” is unpleasantly dirty or disgusting. Its slang usage dates back to the 1950s, and was probably a combination of "mank" (meaning mutilated or maimed), the Old French word "manqué" (to fail), and the Latin "mancus" (maimed).

You can also feel “manky” if you’re under the weather.

9. “My cat? She’s a moggy.”

A “moggy” or “moggie” refers to an alley cat or a cat without a pedigree, but is often used interchangeably as another word for “cat."  

10. “This was an absolute doddle to do.”

Something that’s a “doddle” is a task or activity that’s extremely easy. Though the origin is unknown, it dates back to the 1930s and is still common today. 

11. “You’re taking the piss.”

When you “take the piss” with someone, that means that you’re being unreasonable or taking liberties. For example, if a cashier overcharges you on something, he is taking the piss.

It can also be a stand-in phrase for when you’re mocking or teasing someone, though this is more commonly said as “taking the piss out of” someone or something. For example: “They’re always taking the piss out of John because he likes Taylor Swift.”

12. “I’ve dropped a clanger.”

When someone makes an embarrassing gaffe that upsets someone else, they’ve “dropped a clanger.” 

For example, if you offer your seat to a pregnant woman on the subway and she tells you that she’s not actually pregnant, you may have dropped a clanger.

Know of other great British idioms that we missed? Add them in the comments!

SEE ALSO: 12 Sayings Only People From California Will Understand

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Jony Ive wasn't always Jony Ive, Apple design God.

At one point, he was just a young British designer trying to get by. 

However, Ive was a precocious design talent, and from a young age, he was racking up awards for his industrial designs. 

Leander Kahney's, JONY IVE, The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products, now out in paperback, sheds new light on some of Ive's earliest works. We got permission from the book's publisher to run photos of some of that work. 

Whereas Apple products today have a certain look and feel to them, Ive's early work doesn't really have a signature to it.

This was intentional.

Kahney highlighted this quote from Paul Kunkel in a book about Apple design: "Unlike most of his generation, Ive did not see design as an occasion to exert his ego or carry out some pres ordained style or theory. Rather, he approached each project in an almost chameleon-like way, adapting himself to the product (rather than the other way around) ... for this reason, Ive's early works have no 'signature style.'"

That said, Ive's works turned heads. They were so good that Apple's design leader Bob Brunner spent years recruiting him. Eventually he landed Ive, and the rest is history. 

Here's a look at the early work, and the evolution of Jony Ive's style.

This is a sketch of concept for an electric pen that could write in different widths and patterns.

Ive made this as an intern. It is the TX2 pen, and its big feature is a ball and clip at the top designed for people to fiddle around with. Ive realized people like to fiddle with their pens, so he encouraged it in the design.

Ive won an award in the 80s for this futuristic design of the landline phone, which he called the "Orator." He won money from the British government to travel abroad as a result of this design.

Women may be underrepresented throughout the tech sector, but they're building some incredible startups.

The folks over at Product Hunt have created and curated a list of the best startups and products founded by women. VCs, entrepreneurs, and Product Hunt members have all weighed in on their favorites. 

From uBeam's innovative wireless charging technology to Hopscotch's program for teaching kids how to code, the products women are making are changing the world.

Front

Front lets you collaborate on email responses with your team without cluttering up your inbox with a confusing set of back-and-forth responses. Front also lets you work under a group email address to collaborate on composing emails.

In August, the Y Combinator alum told VentureBeat it had already raised $1.5 million of its $2.5 million funding round from a group of anonymous Silicon Valley investors. Front is led by CEO Mathilde Collin.

Mattermark

Danielle Morrill, Kevin Morrill, and Andy Sparks are the dream team behind Mattermark. Mattermark is a data platform that helps VC firms keep tabs on up-and-coming startups. Mattermark's software lets users look at information about startups based on news stories, Twitter, SEC filings, AngelList, CrunchBase, and more.

The company has raised $3.4 million in three rounds from investors including Great Oaks Venture Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. Mattermark is led by CEO Danielle Morrill.

Hopscotch

Hopscotch teaches kids how to code in a way that's fun and not intimidating. It's the first programming language that's designed for mobile, too.

Jocelyn Leavitt and Samantha John founded the company in 2011 and have received $1.2 million in two rounds of funding from MESA+, Kapor Capital, Collaborative Fund, and Resolute.vc.

Golf is a lifelong sport that takes a lot of patience, discipline, and practice. So for the pros and enthusiasts out there, we've gathered the best golf course in each state across the US.

We looked to golf experts Golf.com, Golf Digest, Golfweek, and Golf Course Gurus to ensure we picked the very best. From Mt. McKinley in Anchorage, Alaska, to the shores of Juno Beach, Florida, here is the top golf course in every state.

Google is giving Android a major facelift with its Lollipop update, but there are a bunch of other new features that make Android more useful and secure than ever. 

While many manufacturers add their own skins to Android that let you do more with your phone, Google is starting to incorporate this functionality in its stock Android software.

Here's a quick look at all the best features to expect in Android 5.0. 

Multiple User Profiles

With Android 5.0 Lollipop, you'll be able to create multiple profiles on your phone or tablet. So, if you share your tablet with members of your family, you'll be able to create a separate account for each family member. This means you can choose which apps you want to include in your specific profile. 

Google Fit

Android 5.0 Lollipop is the first version of Android to come with Google's new health platform called Google Fit. Similar to Apple's HealthKit in iOS 8, Google Fit allows you to view all sorts of stats from various health and fitness apps in one central location. 

Enhanced Face Unlock

Android phones have supported facial recognition since Android 4.0 launched in 2012. But with Lollipop, Google has taken its Face Unlock feature to a new level. The software will now be able to unlock your phone as you're reading notifications in your lock screen. In the past, Face Unlock was a separate step, just like typing in a passcode or holding your thumb over a fingerprint sensor. 

Local literature can be a surprising source of home state pride, no matter where you're from.

We found the most famous book set in each state. How many have you read? Check out the annotated map below.

Click for the full feature on the most famous book set in every state »

SEE ALSO: These Are The Books That Changed Our Lives

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Founded in 1746, Princeton University remains a vibrant community of scholarship and learning.

Students who attend this Ivy League school follow in the footsteps of Woodrow Wilson, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Eric Schmidt, Meg Whitman, Michelle Obama, Jeff Bezos, and other movers and shakers of industry.

From creating companies to scaling summits, these 16 students are changing what it means to be impressive.

Alison Bick invented a smartphone app that tests for clean water.

Class of 2015

By 2050, at least one in four people is likely to live in a country affected by chronic shortages of fresh water, according to the United Nations. The situation is more dire than ever, and Alison Bick may have the solution in the palm of her hands.

Bick, an Intel Science Talent Search finalist in 2011, holds the patent for a smartphone app that tests water for contamination — a fast, simple, low-cost, and real-time device suitable for use throughout the world. Here's how it works: The user takes a picture of water that has been exposed to fluorescent light (most commercially available cell phones can be programmed to emit the right spectrum of light from their display). Bick's app analyzes the picture and determines the water's organic and inorganic qualities, with a confidence level of 65% and 80%, respectively.

The Short Hills, New Jersey, teen first got the idea when a storm hit her town and the water being pumped into homes was potentially contaminated. Since development began, she independently patented the device and has been in talks with Veolia — a French water treatment firm — and the World Bank to commercialize and implement the invention.

Bick, a chemical and biological engineering major, plans to earn a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and split her time between academic and commercial research. 

Cason Crane is the first openly gay person to climb the Seven Summits.

Class of 2017

In the two years Cason Crane took between graduating from high school and starting at Princeton, he scaled the highest mountain on every continent (the Seven Summits), becoming the fifth-youngest person as well as the first openly gay person to do so. He used the opportunity to raise awareness of issues faced by LGBT athletes; he also raised more than $135,000 for The Trevor Project, a suicide lifeline for LGBTQ youth.

Since arriving at Princeton last fall, Crane has continued his work for The Trevor Project through the initiative he started called The Rainbow Summits Project, as well as talks around the world, including two TEDx Talks.

Another of Crane's passions is entrepreneurship — he served as the chief of staff for this year's Start @ a Startup at Princeton, a conference that brought together 250 undergraduate entrepreneurs from around the country and 30 prominent tech startups, like Dropbox, Square, and Indiegogo. Crane is responsible for managing the $300,000 budget for the event.

When he's not in class or training for Ironman triathlons, Crane is thinking about his future — either in media and communications, or in the tech world, possibly building out an idea he has for a travel-related startup.

Catherine Dennig is launching her nightlife app overseas.

Class of 2015

The summer of her sophomore year, Catherine Dennig created the nightlife app nofomo, designing and building everything from the business plan to the sales pitch to the app itself. She hired a small team, which is helping her ready the app for beta launch in Auckland, New Zealand, in the next few weeks.

The impending beta launch puts a lot on Dennig's already-full plate, which is already heaped with her senior thesis as well as responsibilities as co-president of the Princeton Social Entrepreneurship Initiative (PSEI) and undergraduate adviser on the Princeton Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee (PEAC).

Through PSEI, Dennig has been expanding the group's mission to make Princeton one of the world's top social innovation hubs. She put the focus on PSEI's 60-second Princeton Pitch contest, doubling the number of pitches as well as the prize money awarded; an iOS app that lists all of Princeton’s current entrepreneurship resources; and stronger ties to the alumni community.

Dennig was one of two undergraduate advisers chosen from a pool of more than 5,200 to serve on the PEAC. She works with faculty, staff, alumni, and graduate student advisers to help the university president implement administrative policy changes in teaching and enabling entrepreneurship on campus.

When she graduates in the spring, Dennig knows she wants to remain involved in the startup world, starting with giving nofomo her undivided attention.

Get ready for "Overwatch."

It's the first new property in 17 years for Blizzard, the highly esteemed maker of some of the bestselling games of all time, including "World Of Warcraft,""Starcraft," and "Diablo."

This time, you'll be playing as one of several superheroes, "an elite international task force charged with ending the war and restoring liberty to all nations."Based on the game's trailer, "Overwatch" features Pixar-looking superheroes with wild abilities and powers going at it with one another. Here's the noteworthy exposition from the trailer:

As the world teetered on the brink of anarchy, a new hope arose: Overwatch. Under its steadfast protection, the world recovered. And today, though its watch has ended, its soaring ideals of freedom and equality will never be forgotten.

The game won't be out until some time in 2015 (you can sign up for the beta right now), but we can't wait to dive into "Overwatch." To get an idea of the mayhem that can ensue, it's best to familiarize yourself with the heroes themselves.

Meet Tracer. She can rewind her steps (useful in case someone is chasing behind you).

This is Symmetra. She is covered in technology, which lets her create booby traps in just seconds.

Hanzo is a highly skilled, nimble archer.

New York City has over 2,000 bars, so it can be difficult to figure out which are the best places to grab a drink.

From trendy cocktail bars to local dives, we've found the 10 best bars in New York City.

People may be getting married later than ever, but that doesn't mean weddings are getting more staid.

Reuters has rounded up photos of some unusual wedding celebrations around the world, featuring couples tying the knot underwater, dangling off a cliff, and everywhere in between. 

Paige Cooperstein wrote an earlier version of this post.

Sergey Kaunov, a member of a local winter swimmers' club, carries his bride Irina Kuzmenko out of water as they celebrate their wedding on the bank of Yenisey River where the air temperature was about -22 degree Fahrenheit in the Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk.

A Thai bride and groom fly while attached to cables during a wedding ceremony just before Valentine's Day in Prachin Buri province, east of Bangkok.

Yelena Babkini and her husband wave as they ride through Gorky Park on bicycles after having been married earlier in the day in Moscow.

When it comes to high school, you don't need to pay a fortune to get a good education. There are public high schools all around the country that are preparing students for the future.

School data site Niche just released its list of the 100 best public high schools in America. Many are magnet schools, meaning they pull in qualified students from around their districts.

Niche ranks over 100,000 schools based on 27 million reviews from more than 300,000 students and parents, who rated schools in areas like academics, teachers, student culture and diversity, and resources and facilities.

25. Henry M. Gunn High School (Palo Alto, California)

Academics Grade: A+

Student Culture & Diversity Grade: A

Teachers Grade: A+

Resources & Facilities Grade: B+

One high school junior said, "The curriculum is advanced and fast-paced; most teachers are awesome, [but] the ones who aren’t still know what they’re doing."

24. Rye High School (Rye, New York)

Academics Grade: A+

Student Culture & Diversity Grade: C

Teachers Grade: A+

Resources & Facilities Grade: A

"Great choices of clubs,"said a senior. "RHS is very talented both in terms of music, theater, and arts as well as in terms of the smarts (science Olympiad, math team, JSA, etc)."

23. Saratoga High School (Saratoga, California)

Academics Grade: A+

Student Culture & Diversity Grade: B+

Teachers Grade: A+

Resources & Facilities Grade: A-

One senior said, "New facilities are constantly being built, and the school just got a new field."

More than a decade after they began their rivalry, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are once again on top of the NFL power rankings.

The Patriots crushed the Broncos in Week 9, but if we're lucky the playoff rematch will count for much more.

Elsewhere in the rankings, the Dolphins, Chiefs, and Steelers took leaps while the Chargers, Ravens, and 49ers tumbled.

1. New England Patriots (previously: 3rd)

Record: 7-2

Week 9 result: 43-21 win over Denver

One thing to know: The retooled defense played its best game of the year against Peyton Manning.

2. Denver Broncos (previously: 1st)

Record: 6-2

Week 9 result: 43-21 loss to New England

One thing to know: Wes Welker has really tailed off from where he was 12 months ago. He's averaging 35 receiving yards a game.

3. Arizona Cardinals (previously: 2nd)

Record: 7-1

Week 9 result: 28-17 win over Dallas

One thing to know: Carson Palmer only has two interceptions this year, and Arizona has the 2nd-best turnover differential in the NFL as a result.

Tired of your old job? Looking for a new environment? There are a lot of reasons to leave your home country behind in search of greener pastures, but picking where to go can be an overwhelming decision.

There are a lot of conflicting factors: job opportunities, salary considerations, quality of life, safety, and childcare are just a few. HSBC has made the decision a whole lot easier with its latest annual Expat Explorer survey. 

The survey ranks the best places to go based on experience, economics, and raising children abroad, with subcategories for each group. We've picked out the top 20 places overall. (But you can also personalize the rankings based on which factors matter to you.)

20. Belgium

Belgium ranked highly for raising children abroad, healthcare, and learning a new language.  

The country was below average for overall experience and economics categories but ranked especially low for sports and healthy diet — unsurprising when you consider the beer, chocolate, and waffles.

Belgium is also relatively free of violent crime, though muggings and pickpocketing are common in the country's larger cities.

19. Malaysia

Adventurous expats are likeliest to head to Malaysia. Forty-nine percent told HSBC that the need for "a new challenge" motivated their move.

Those who make the move seem to love it, with expats in Malaysia scoring highly for learning the local language, traveling more, and exploring Malaysia's fascinating culture. 

Malaysia tends to be very affordable, ranking highly for accommodations and local shops and markets.  

The country is only middle of the pack, however, in economic measures and raising children abroad. Education is decent but expensive, and the quality of childcare is not good.

18. Japan

Japan's stagnant economy has it ranking low in economic measures, but the country makes up for it with its exceptional healthcare, travel options, and local culture. It doesn't hurt that the food is healthy and delicious, ranking first in both diet and local food.

In addition, Japan ranks highly in raising children abroad, thanks to its high-quality, affordable education.

One expat described the people in Japan as such:

"The people here are so friendly and go out their way to help you, even if they speak limited English. I feel welcome here."

Mathematics is full of counterintuitive facts and problems that push your mind to new areas and challenge your cognitive versatility. 

The next nine facts are just a few of those puzzles; problems that have a habit of sparking arguments and debates among even some of the smartest students. 

While they may seem controversial, they're all rock solid fact. 

Several of them are paradoxes and idiosyncrasies of probability.  Others play your instincts against your logic. If you're looking for a mathematical way to impress your friends and beguile your enemies, here's a good place to start. 

Just a heads-up, these problems are a little tougher than last time. If you lose track, don't quit. 

Please send all attempts at counter-proofs as well as any miscellaneous abuse or beration to either whickey@businessinsider.com or @WaltHickey.

There are millions of apps to choose from, but the ones on my home screen matter the most. They're the apps I use every day to get stuff done.

Here's a look at my favorite apps that I think everyone should be using every day.

Tweetbot is my favorite way to check Twitter.

There's a reason why Tweetbot has the coveted spot on the bottom right corner of my screen. It's the app I use the more than any other.

Tweetbot is my favorite way to keep up with Twitter. It's much better than the official Twitter app.

Price: $4.99 (iPhone only)

Pocket lets me save stories to read later.

I'm flooded with interesting articles and links during the work day that I rarely have time to read. 

I use an app called Pocket to save them for later. Pocket lets you install an extension in your browser. When you're looking at an article you'd like to save, you just click a button to send the article to an app on your phone. It also lets you read articles offline. Pocket is perfect for catching up on news you missed.

Price: Free for iPhone and Android

Slack is how I chat with coworkers.

The editorial staff at Business Insider wouldn't be able to survive without Slack, an app that lets you chat and collaborate with colleagues. Slack is basically an old-school chat room, but it's well designed and makes it easy to share links and documents.

Price: Free for iOS, Android, and Mac

New York's rats are nasty, and there are about two million of the furry, disease-carrying creatures roaming the streets and alleys of the city.

If you call the city about a rat problem, they'll give you tips on keeping them out and tell you how to find a pest control company to poison the rodents.

But there are others out there who hunt New York's vermin, and they don't do it for pay — they do it because it's in their nature (and because their owners want to let working terriers"do what they do best").

The rat hunters of New York are known as the Ryders Alley Trencher Fed Society (R.A.T.S.). They train dogs to hunt rats and will take the canines anywhere requested to, as they say, eRATicate the pests, provided the location is safe for the dogs, away from traffic, and relatively pedestrian-free.

R.A.T.S. has been around since 1995. The name combines a reference to the notoriously rat-infested Ryder Alley in Manhattan with "trencher fed," a term that refers to hunting hounds that live with their owners and go out on group hunts. The most common dog breeds used by the group are border terriers, Norfolk terriers, fox terriers and dachshunds, all historical rat catchers.

When weather allows, the rat hunters go out as often as once a week. We've compiled some photos here from one July expedition with information from Mitch Moxley of Roads and Kingdoms, who spent a night with R.A.T.S. last year.

On the night of July 25, a man named Bill walks by dumpsters in a vacant lot near Delancey Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side. He's headed to an alley — a preferred hunting location — with his dog Paco, a Feist Terrier. Small dogs flush out the rats, while larger dogs cut off the rodents' escapes.

Bill and Paco aren't alone. They join up with Richard Reynolds, a founding member of the R.A.T.S., along with Judy and her Border Terrier Merlin. Richard is using a flashlight to look for rats in one of the dumpsters, while Judy and Merlin stand ready if any rats are flushed out.

After Reynolds' search with the flashlight comes up empty, Merlin gets knee deep in the dumpster himself. The dogs are obviously enjoying themselves on the rat hunt. The R.A.T.S. says that no dogs have been hurt since hunts started, aside from the occasional small scratch or bite on the nose — even though the most common rats they encounter are Norway Rats, which can weigh up to a pound.

Having sold more than 4.5 million books, Malcolm Gladwell is one of the most popular authors alive.

He's made a career revealing the hidden factors that affect our lives and livelihoods — for example, by unpacking the personality traits that made Steve Jobs and IKEA founder Ingvar Kampran so outrageously successful.

And like every great writer, Gladwell is a great reader.

After sifting through more than 10 years of columns and interviews with the author, here are nine of the books that have influenced him the most. 

'The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game' by Michael Lewis

Gladwell says that "Moneyball" and "Flash Boys" author Michael Lewis is "the finest storyteller of our generation." 

He considers him a role model.

"I read Lewis for the same reasons I watch Tiger Woods,"he told The New York Times. "I'll never play like that. But it's good to be reminded every now and again what genius looks like." 

For Gladwell, "The Blindside" is Lewis' best, a book that's "as close to perfect" as any work of nonfiction. 

"Supposedly about football (the title refers to the side of the field a quarterback is blind to)," he says, "it's actually an extraordinary story about love and redemption."

Buy it here >>

'Psychoanalysis: The Impossible Profession' by Janet Malcolm

Gladwell considers Janet Malcolm to be his other role model as nonfiction writer.

"I reread Malcolm's 'Psychoanalysis: The Impossible Profession' just to remind myself how nonfiction is supposed to be done," Gladwell told The Times.

He loves the confidence she writes with. As he told the Longform podcast, Malcolm writes with the confidence that the reader has no choice but to keep following along — unlike how he fights for the reader's attention with every sentence. 

"Even when she is simply sketching out the scenery, you know that something wonderful and thrilling is about to happen," Gladwell says.

Buy it here >>

'The Person and the Situation' by Richard Nisbett and Lee Ross

Gladwell says that University of Michigan psychologist Richard Nisbett "basically gave me my view of the world."

"The Person and the Situation" is the book that most affected him. 

He read it in one sitting in the summer of 1996. 

In his new forward for the book, Gladwell gave a hint as to why it's so special: 

It offers a way of re-ordering ordinary experience.

We see things that aren't there and we make predictions that we ought not to make: we privilege the "person" and we discount the influence of the "situation."

It speaks, in short, to the very broadest questions of human perception. 

Gladwell says that if you read that book, then you'll see template of the genre that his books belong to. 

Buy it here >>

Christopher Nolan's latest mind-trip "Interstellar" will be premiering in theaters across the country on Friday, Nov. 7. No doubt, the film is the strangest cinematic experience you will have had since Nolan's "Inception."

But unlike "Inception," the visually-gripping film "Interstellar" is based on real, scientific concepts like neutron stars, spinning black holes, and time dilation. And if you're not at least semi-familiar with these terms, you might end up feeling a little lost during the movie.

In the movie, a crew of space explorers embark on an extra-galactic journey through a wormhole. What awaits them on the other side is another solar system with a spinning black hole for a sun.

They must race against space and time to complete their mission. All this space travel can get a little confusing, but it relies on some basic physics principles. And if you understand these principles, then you'll spend less time guessing and more time enjoying.

Here's a brief guide to the five physics concepts you need to know in order to understand "Interstellar."

Artificial Gravity

A big problem we, as humans, face with long-term space travel is the effects of zero gravity in space. We were born on Earth and therefore our bodies are adapted to thrive under certain gravitational conditions, but when we're in space for long period of time, our muscles degrade.

This is an issue for the travelers in "Interstellar," too.

To combat this, scientists have conceived different designs of to simulate artificial gravity on spaceships. One way is to rotate the spacecraft, like in the film. The rotation creates a force, called centrifugal force, that pushes objects to the outer walls of the spacecraft. This push acts similar to how gravity would, but just in an opposite direction.

You experience this same form of artificial gravity when you're driving around a tight curve and feel like you're being pushed outward, away from the central point of the curve. For a spinning spacecraft, your wall becomes the floor on which walk.

Spinning Black Holes

Astronomers have observed, albeit indirectly, spinning black hole in our universe. No one really knows what lies at the center of a black hole, but scientists have at least a name for it: singularity.

What you need to know about spinning black holes is that they warp the space around them differently than stationary black holes.

This warping process is called frame dragging, and it affects the way a black hole will look and distort the space and, more importantly, the spacetime around it. The spinning black hole you see in the film is surprisingly scientifically accurate.

Wormholes

Wormholes — like the one the "Interstellar" crew use — are one of the only physical phenomenon in the film that don't have any observational evidence to support their existence. They are purely theoretical but an incredibly handy plot device for any science fiction story looking to traverse cosmic distances.

This is because wormholes are essentially shortcuts through space. Any object with mass will create a divot in space, meaning space can be stretched, distorted, or even folded. A wormhole is a fold in the fabric of space (and time) that connects two, otherwise extremely distant, regions in space, which enables space explorers to travel long distances over a short period of time.

The official term for a wormhole is an Einstein-Rosen bridge because they were first theorized by Albert Einstein and his colleague Nathan Rosen in 1935.

Gravitational Time Dilation

Gravitational time dilation is a real phenomenon that has been observed on Earth. It occurs because time is relative, meaning time runs at different rates for different reference frames. When you're in a strong gravitational environment time runs slower for you relative to people in a weak gravitational environment.

If you are near a black hole, like the one in the film, your gravitational reference frame, and therefore your perception of time, is different than someone standing on Earth. This is because the gravitational pull from the black hole is stronger the closer you are to it.

For you, a minute near a black hole will still last 60 seconds, but if you could look at a clock on Earth, a minute will appear to last less than 60 seconds. This means you will age more slowly than the people on Earth. And the stronger the gravitational field you're in, the more extreme the time dilation.

This plays an important role in the film when the explorers encounter a black hole at the center of another solar system.

Five-Dimensional Reality

Albert Einstein spent the last 30 years of his life working out what physicists call a unified theory— which would combine the mathematical concept of gravity with the other three fundamental forces of nature: the strong force, weak force, and electromagnetic force. He failed to find one, as have countless physicists since Einstein.

Gravity refuses to cooperate, and some physicists think that one way to solve this outstanding mystery is to treat our universe as if it actually functioned in five dimensions, instead of the four-dimensional universe Einstein developed in his theory of relativity, which couples three-dimensional space with one-dimensional time, a.k.a. spacetime.

Nolan toys with this idea that our universe has five dimensions in the film and gravity's important role in it all.

Movie Time

That wasn't too bad, right? Now it's time to test what you've learned and go see the movie. Let us know in the comments below if this post was helpful.

Here's the official movie trailer from Paramount.

SEE ALSO: 'Interstellar' Animators Made A Physics Breakthrough While Creating A Black Hole For The Movie

READ MORE: What Is The Most Powerful Thing In The Universe?

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