SCIENCE

Can You Put the First 25 Elements of the Periodic Table in Order?

Here’s hoping you paid attention in science class.

Roman coins from the Hoxne hoard, buried in the 5th century in Hoxne, Suffolk, UK.

Lead Pollution May Have Lowered IQs in Ancient Rome, Study Finds

The mass production of silver coins in the Roman Empire had an unintended effect: spewing so much lead into the atmosphere that it may have lowered citizens’ IQs.

MRSA bacteria bound to a neutrophil, a type of infection-fighting white blood cell.

What Is Antibiotic Resistance?

Public health officials are concerned that we could move back into a situation like that of the early 20th century, before antibiotics were discovered.

Here‘s how people are able to stay warm in igloos.

How Do Igloos Keep People Warm?

The interior of an igloo can be 40 to 60 degrees warmer than its surrounding environment.

Thank your butt for your ability to stand up straight.

6 Quick Facts About Your Butt

You can thank your butt for a number of physical actions you take every day: moving your hip and thigh during walking or running, rising from a sitting position, climbing, and even just standing upright.

Otters Are Keeping Invasive Crabs Under Control in Monterey Bay

A new study shows that hungry sea otters are keeping Monterey Bay’s green crab population in check, one bite at a time.

15 Surprising Facts About Snow

Get to know the flurries and flakes on a deeper level.

The Zavaritskii Caldera on Simushir Island, the site of a climate-altering 1831 volcanic eruption, as seen from the International Space Station.

Solved: The 200-Old Mystery Behind a Colossal Volcanic Eruption

Scientists have long suspected that a gigantic eruption was behind the strange atmospheric phenomena of 1831. Scientists have finally figured out which volcano blew its top.

13 Enlightening Facts About Body Fat

Body fat is not just something to get rid of. It plays important roles in the human body, from regulating metabolism to storing energy.

Volunteering may help you to feel more fulfilled (and shelter pups will appreciate your efforts, too).

10 Scientifically Proven Ways to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions have a habit of being broken more than any other goals. This year, arm yourself with the best methods for making your resolutions a reality.

101 Things We Learned in 2024

Let’s celebrate another year in the books with a look back at how our knowledge grew over the past 12 months.

Velvet ants aren‘t actually ants. They‘re fluffy wasps.

‘Ultra-black‘ Velvet Ant Reflects Less Than 1 Percent of Light

Meet the insect with an exoskeleton so dark it absorbs almost all light.

Absolutely the last thing you want to see in your hotel room.

Study Identifies Genetic Mutations That Make Bed Bugs Hard to Kill

The bloodsucking hitchhikers have good reason to scoff at insecticides—they’re freakishly resistant to them.

“Treat” is probably one of the more popular buttons.

Do Those Dog “Talking” Buttons Really Work?

According to viral videos on TikTok and Instagram, pet dogs are expressing their demands using button boards instead of barking. But is the communication legit?

14 Gifts That Changed the World

These gifts made a huge impact.

1 Trillion-Ton “Megaberg” Is Roaming the Ocean Once Again

The mammoth iceberg first broke off in 1986. Roughly the size of Rhode Island, A23a is on the move once more.

13 Facts About the Spinal Cord

It’s less than an inch in diameter.

Don't believe everything you've been told about lightning.

Wild Misconceptions About Weather

From the color of snow to the shape of rainbows, weather breeds a lot of misconceptions.

What‘s less frequent than northern lights? Their opposite: anti-auroras.

Rare, Black ‘Anti-Auroras‘ Spotted in Alaska

Anti-auroras are even less common than the northern lights.

The pineal gland is located in the center of the brain.

10 Facts About the Pineal Gland

René Descartes once described the pineal gland as “the principal seat of the soul.” Medical knowledge has vastly progressed since his time, though. Here’s what we know about this critical organ.

Why Does Your Body Jerk Awake As You’re Trying to Fall Asleep?

Up to 70 percent of people have experienced hypnic jerks, but they’re usually nothing to worry about.

In Outer Space, Where Does a Compass Point?

On Earth, compasses always point north—but when you’re drifting outside our planet’s magnetosphere, things get more complicated.

Why Is It So Hard to Sleep in a New Place?

Whether you’re at a hotel on a business trip or crashing at a relative’s house for the holidays, getting quality sleep on the first few nights can be a challenge. Here’s why.

(L-R) Thomas Edison, Temple Grandin, and Charles Steinmetz .

12 Scientists With Disabilities Who Made the World a Better Place

You don’t have to follow science news to be familiar with Thomas Edison or Temple Grandin, who are just two of the many innovative scientists who have experienced disabilities and viewed them as assets.