SCIENCE

A baby crocodile made for a scientific milestone.

Scientists Marvel at the First ‘Virgin Birth’ Documented in a Crocodile

The baby croc was the product of a mother who has spent her entire life in captivity.

Use these handy tips to get pronouns right.

Why It Can be Hard to Get Pronouns Right, According to Linguistics

A pronoun slip can be embarrassing, especially if you pride yourself on being generally good at using the language people have asked you to use. Why do pronoun slips happen, and why do we seem to mess up pronouns more than names or other gendered words?

How to Spot Poison Oak

Poison ivy isn’t the only thing that can give you a nasty rash.

8 Granular Facts About Sand

Every summer at the beach, sand becomes an essential ingredient in the recipe for fun. But what the heck is it?

Do DIY Air Purifiers Really Work to Combat Wildfire Smoke, COVID, and Other Pollutants?

Can your MacGyver air scrubber do the work of a purifier costing hundreds of dollars? Science says yes.

8 Historical Methods of Detecting Pregnancy

Before home pregnancy tests, the most reliable test was just to wait and see. But people still wanted to know as early as possible whether they were harboring a tiny human.

Why Are Peaches Fuzzy?

Whether you enjoy the velvety skin on peaches or peel it off, you may wonder why they developed fuzz in the first place.

Yes, Your Dog Is Very Much Willing to Eat You If You Die

While it’s certainly true that dogs are generally kind spirits, that won’t dissuade them from using you as a charcuterie board upon your death.

Canadian wildfires have covered New York City in a dull amber pall.

4 Ways to Stay Safe When Wildfire Smoke Causes Poor Air Quality

Canadian wildfires have caused air quality alerts to go into effect across the U.S. Here’s how to stay safe.

These books altered history in ways big and small.

46 Books that Changed the World

Here, in no particular order, are just a few of history’s most influential tomes—and how they made humanity look at things in a new light.

A strawberry moon rising over the Manhattan skyline.

Venus and a Strawberry Moon Will Brighten Skies This Weekend

June's strawberry moon will be accompanied by an extra-bright Venus this Saturday.

A photograph on display at the Bradbury Science Museum at Los Alamos National Laboratory shows the first thermonuclear test on October 31, 1952.

9 Explosive Facts About the Manhattan Project

America’s greatest physicists assembled under the Manhattan Project to create the deadliest weapon the world had ever seen—an atomic bomb.

🎇 New mud volcano discovered in Norwegian waters

Watch a Newly-Discovered Mud Volcano Erupt Underwater

Scientists recently recorded an underwater mud volcano—the second discovered in Norwegian waters.

The Interesting Etymologies of 71 Everyday Words

Here’s (at least) one interesting way station each of these common words made on its journey to the present day, whether it’s an analysis of the Latin roots, a hypothesis about a proto-Indo-European origin, or a pivotal change in meaning.

Never forget the last names of Henry VIII's wives or the order of the planets with these mnemonic sentences.

13 Mnemonic Sentences To Boost Your General Knowledge

“A Big Secret Conceals Her Past” will help you remember the names (and order) of Henry VIII's wives.

These facts will have you making this face.

15 Facts You’ll Wish You Had Never Learned

We can’t promise you’ll ever feel the same way about pasta, pools, or your own face.

Swimming is an all-body workout—bladder included.

The Reason Swimming Makes You Need to Pee

Going for a dip? You'll probably have a wee bit of trouble. Here's why.

This Blue Marble Earth montage shows many stunning details of our home planet.

8 Amazing Facts About Earth

Our planet is spinning more than 1000 mph at the equator while simultaneously zipping through space at 67,000 mph.

Why Does Sand Stick to Everything?

Everything except volleyball players, we mean.

During this penumbral lunar eclipse, visible in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2017, Earth's main shadow did not cover the moon.

Catch the Shadowy Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Coming in May

About a third of all lunar eclipses only ever hit the “partially illuminated” shadow of the Earth's penumbra. Here's how to see it happen this May.

Anglerfish Mating Is Horrific—and Here’s How It Works

If you thought modern-day dating was rough, just wait until you find out how these deep-sea dwellers get it on.

10 Fascinating Facts About Corpse Flowers

The rare, giant plant is equal parts fascinating and foul.

Three tornadoes on the ground at the same time near Dodge City, Kansas, on May 24, 2016.

12 Powerful Facts About Tornadoes

A 2011 tornado threw a 36-ton railcar 400 feet. Here's what you need to know about these super-powered storms.

Barnum Brown changed paleontology and pop culture forever by discovering Tyrannosaurus rex.

How Barnum Brown Discovered ‘T. rex’ and Became History’s Greatest Fossil Hunter

Like his most famous discovery, fossil hunter Barnum Brown was larger than life.

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