SCIENCE

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.

‘Alchemist in His Workshop’ by David Teniers the Younger, 17th century.

8 Fascinating Facts about Alchemy

There’s more to this spooky pseudo-science than simply turning lead into gold.

Quitting Smoking Is Beneficial Even in Old Age, Study Finds

Science reinforces that it’s never too late to stop smoking.

Why Scientists Are Crocheting Adorable Wool Hats for Cats

Studying chronic pain in cats just got easier thanks to these cute accessories.

'Knotty muscles' can be a real pain in the neck.

Are ‘Muscle Knots’ Actually Knots?

The nagging pain in your neck may feel tight, but it's knot what you think.

The Top 10 Scariest Video Games, According to Science

A study determined the horror titles that are most likely to get players’ hearts racing.

One of the original samples of Alexander Fleming’s penicillin mold.

Old Mold to Be Sold: Fleming’s Original Penicillin Sample Up for Auction

Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, and FDR once owned one of Fleming's penicillin mold samples. Now you can, too.

Mount Everest is slowly getting more challenging for climbers.

Mount Everest Keeps Growing—a New Study May Help Explain Why

The world’s tallest peak is experiencing an 89,000-year-long growth spurt.

If you ever freeze after hearing something go ‘bump’ in the night, you’re not alone.

Why Do We Freeze When We’re Scared?

You’ve likely heard of fight or flight, but a third reaction—to freeze—is misunderstood by many.

Watch an Octopus Boss Around Fish to Track Down Prey

A new study shows that octopuses become bosses and fish become subordinates when the two species hunt together.

The knight’s tombstone rediscovered at Jamestown.

Jamestown’s Mysterious Black Tombstone Originated in Belgium, Archaeologists Say

Scientists examined microscopic fossils in the tombstone and suggest the jet-black slab with an English knight’s insignia could have come only from one place.

Moo Deng’s cuteness is hijacking our brains.

The Science Behind the Internet’s Obsession With Moo Deng, Thailand's Celebrity Pygmy Hippo

If you experience a violent reaction to Moo Deng’s cuteness, you’re not alone.

Scientists are concerned, and you should be too

Scientists Say Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier’ Could Be Gone Within 200 Years

Scientists warn that the loss of the Thwaites Glacier could raise global sea levels by 25 inches.

Old age may precede dying, but it doesn’t directly cause it.

Do People Really Die of ‘Old Age’?

Can an octogenarian really just collapse from the wear and tear of life?

Raking leaves is annoying—and totally unnecessary.

Leave the Leaves: Why Nature Experts Say You Shouldn’t Rake Your Yard This Fall

Good news for anyone who hates raking their lawn: You don’t have to.

Little brown bats like this one are at risk from white nose syndrome.

A Bright Side for Bats: Scientists Make Progress Against White Nose Syndrome

The deadly fungus has decimated bat populations across North America. But recently, scientists have found reasons to hope their efforts to save bats are working.

A coronal mass ejection shoots out from the sun.

“Severe” Solar Storm Might Bring Northern Lights to the Deep South

Scientists just observed a powerful solar storm that could carry the northern lights over the lower 48 in the near future.

New ”Golden Lettuce” Was Engineered to Boost Nutrition

Golden lettuce isn’t just pretty—it’s good for you, too.

Being an astronaut isn’t as glamorous as you were led to believe.

10 Surprising Facts About Your Childhood Dream Jobs

In the latest episode of The List Show, we’re tackling some fun facts—and the occasional harsh truth—about the careers you imagined for yourself as a kid.

That gas stove may not be all it's cracked up to be.

Should You Replace Your Gas Stove With an Electric One? Here’s What Chefs and Scientists Say

The debate over gas vs. electric stoves is hotter than ever. But according to some professional chefs and scientists, there’s a clear frontrunner.