SCIENCE

'Clang, clang, clang' went the cookie tray.

The Reason Why Baking Sheets Clang in the Oven—And How to Avoid It

Metal expands, which you can’t exactly prevent—but certain baking sheets weather the storm better than others.

J. Martin and E. Olson, Northland College; from Olson et al. 2021, Scientific Reports

11 Animals You Wouldn't Expect to Glow

Sometimes the trick goes unnoticed. But at least we can use blacklights to recognize the biofluorescent beasts who lay hidden in our midst.

Watch Scientists in Iceland Cook Hot Dogs on Lava From an Active Volcano

When the long-dormant Geldingardalsgos volcano erupted in Iceland this month, scientists took the opportunity to have a lava-fueled barbecue.

Want to Improve Your Health? Listen to the Sounds of National Parks

Will taking a stroll through a national park make you feel less stressed? According to this study, the answer is probably yes.

An image of the March equinox taken by the GOES-13 satellite in 2013.

Solstice vs. Equinox: What’s the Difference?

‘Vernal equinox’ isn’t just the technical term for the first day of spring, and 'summer solstice’ means something beyond ‘first day of summer.’

Watch Albert Einstein Explain His Theory of Relativity in Historic Footage

In this historic footage, you can watch Albert Einstein describe the scientific equation that made him famous.

5 Fast Facts About the Arapaima, Florida’s Latest Potential Invasive Species

The arapaima, or ‘pirarucu’ in Brazil, is a predatory freshwater fish that breathes air, eats practically anything, and sports a bullet-proof vest.

It's not just about pelvic pain or bad periods.

6 Common Misconceptions About Endometriosis

There’s a lot of confusion about endometriosis symptoms, treatment, and other basics. We spoke to a specialist to set the record straight.

Fossilized Dinosaur Nest With Parent and Embryos Discovered in China

Fossilized dinosaur nests are rare to begin with. The combination of eggs, embryos, and a mature dinosaur in a brooding pose in this recently discovered fossil is historic.

Why Are Deserts So Hot During the Day and Cold at Night?

Deserts either want to broil you alive or force you to put on layers. It's a fascinating ecological condition with a simple explanation.

Unusual Half-Male, Half-Female Northern Cardinal Spotted in Pennsylvania

If you’re bird-watching near Warren County, Pennsylvania, keep an eye out for this beautiful rare bird.

The northern lights in northwest Canada.

Transport Yourself With This Northern Lights Livestream

An in-person aurora borealis show might be a little out of range for most of us—this northern lights livestream is the next best thing.

Tim Laman, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 4.0

20 Amazing Animals Discovered in the Last 20 Years

In the two decades since Mental Floss first hit newsstands, some pretty incredible animals have entered the world of mainstream science.

Microscopic Wasps Will Help Stamp Out a Moth Infestation at Anne Boleyn’s Ancestral Home

It’s the ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ of the insect world, featuring a cameo by Anne Boleyn’s headless ghost.

Ready Player Oink: Pigs Can Be Taught to Play Video Games

Researchers trained four pigs to move a cursor on a screen using a joystick for a food reward. The swine went full 'Pong.'

See How Many Balloons It Would Take to Lift the House from Pixar's Up

Using a computer simulation, this video visualizes the many millions of balloons that would be needed to lift the house from Pixar's 'Up' in real life.

Sea Cucumbers on One Coral Reef Drop Several Eiffel Towers’ Worth of Poop Each Year—and That’s a Good Thing

Slow clap for sea cucumbers, whose excretory achievements could help slow climate change damage to the Great Barrier Reef.

Vintage illustration of Thomas Edison and the phonograph.

11 Surprising Facts About Thomas Edison

You may know that Thomas Edison was a prolific inventor who revolutionized the electric light bulb. But have you heard about his creepy talking dolls?

New Spacecraft Named After Katherine Johnson Honors the Pioneering NASA Mathematician

A cargo craft delivering supplies to the International Space Station has been named after Katherine Johnson, the influential "human computer" who helped send the first Americans to space.

What Exactly Is White Noise?

Your favorite ASMR playlist probably isn’t true white noise—or brown noise or pink noise, for that matter.

The World's Tiniest Reptile Has Disproportionately Large Genitals

'Brookesia nana' males may be less than 1 inch long, but they make up for it by being able to strut around a locker room with enormous reproductive organs.

Sprout of Office: Scientists Taught Spinach Plants to Send Emails About Hazardous Materials in the Soil

“I hope this email finds you well during these unprecedented times.” —A spinach plant in your inbox.

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), NOAA

What Exactly Is a Nor’easter?

Nor’easters have earned their reputation for wreaking havoc on land. But what qualifies a storm as a nor’easter?

Say “Freeze!”: An Innovative High-Resolution Camera Captures the Stunning Intricacies of Snowflakes

Snowflake photography is a tricky business, so one innovative cameraman built a whole new device for it.

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