SCIENCE

The online database covers nearly all the fossils discovered in New Zealand.

New Zealand Is the First Country to Open Its Fossil Database to the Public

New Zealand’s open-access fossil database makes it easier for scientists to collaborate.

They are several differences between the two.

Tsunami vs. Tidal Wave: What’s the Difference?

Tsunamis and tidal waves may look similar, but they differ in crucial ways.

Foot pain and sprained ankles are just a few of the common problems affecting our ill-adapted feet.

6 Downsides of Human Evolution

From back injuries to difficult childbirth, here are six annoying parts of being human that you can blame on evolution.

Vodka Is the Secret to a Perfectly Flaky Pie Crust

Nobody likes tough pie crust. Vodka can prevent the issue.

New Study Reveals the Source of the Corpse Flower’s Horrible Stench

Research (and lots of dry-heaving) has revealed why the flower reeks of weeks-old road kill.

A Neanderthal skull against a backdrop of the German valley where the first specimens of the human ancestor were found.

‘Thal Order: 11 Things You Might Not Know About Neanderthals

Often dismissed as “primitive,” our extinct relatives were surprisingly thoughtful. Some were also cannibals.

Going on “fart walks” can alleviate digestion issues.

The Science and Benefits of “Fart Walks”

“Fart walks” could be the answer to your gastrointestinal woes.

Chopping onions can be annoying, but it doesn’t have to be.

How to Cut Onions Without Crying

Here’s what you can do to avoid the sniffles while preparing dinner.

New Jupiter Images Paint a Detailed Picture of the Gas Giant

These processed images of Jupiter make the planet look like a painting.

Can You Really Get Your Tongue Stuck to a Metal Pole?

As anyone who has seen ‘A Christmas Story’ knows, licking a cold metal object can be dangerous. Here’s why you should never stick your tongue to a metal pole in winter.

Animals Might Be Drinking More Than We Thought

You’ve heard the stories of birds drunk on fermented fruit, but scientists suspect that many animals ingest alcohol on a regular basis.

A 1920 mural by paleoartist Charles Robert Knight depicting Cro-Magnon people painting on cave walls at Font-de-Gaume, France.

Neanderthal vs. Cro-Magnon: What’s the Difference?

These prehistoric members of our genus, ‘Homo,’ occupy different branches of the human family tree.

Green space Japan set to test world's first wooden satellite | REUTERS

The First Wooden Satellite Is Headed To the International Space Station

A type of wood commonly used to make Samurai sword sheaths may be the future of space exploration.

A replica of the Laetoli footprints discovered in Laetoli, Tanzania; The original footprints were dated to 3.6 million years ago.

9 Fascinating Discoveries that Changed Our Understanding of Human Evolution

Scientists have uncovered ancient fossils, prehistoric artwork, and other clues to human evolution. Here are nine of the most revealing discoveries that have changed our understanding of our early ancestors—and ourselves.

What does your research method say about you?

Hunters, Dancers, and Busybodies: New Study Examines the Three Main Internet Research Styles

Your online research method may say something about you.

Here’s the newly-discovered flea toad on top of a coin.

Recently Discovered ‘Toadlet’ Is One of Smallest Vertebrates on Earth

Researchers just described one of the tiniest frogs known to science.

Meet some of your famous family members.

10 Famous Hominin Fossils That Changed Our Thinking About Human Origins

Each of these ancient fossils, even if just a small part of a skeleton, represents an identifiable character in the story of humankind.

The endangered species faces another obstacle.

Polar Bears Are Picking Up More Pathogens as Sea Ice Shrinks

Researchers recently found that polar bears are facing higher exposure to certain bacteria and viruses.

Nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) is a common anesthetic that only requires a mask over the mouth and nose.

How Does Anesthesia Work?

Anesthesia is a complex mixture of medications that lessen pain during procedures. Different types affect the body in different ways.

DNA Identifies Medieval Man Thrown Down a Well, Confirming a Norse Saga’s Tale

According to a medieval saga, the Norwegian “Well Man” might have been used as a biological weapon.

Get a better sense of how illnesses have shaped history in these gripping reads.

12 Fascinating Books on History’s Most Notorious Diseases

Get a better sense of how illnesses have shaped history with these gripping reads about history’s most notorious diseases.

The College Majors Graduates Regret the Most (and Least)

The humanities aren't in first place.

An artist’s rendering of what Lucy may have looked like in life.

On the Origin of Lucy: How One Extraordinary Fossil Helped Alter Our View of Human Evolution

Lucy walked on her own two feet. Scientists weren’t expecting that.

8 Animals People Didn’t Think Were Real

Western scientists have doubted the existence of everything from the rhinoceros to the gorilla.