SCIENCE

Rotavirus—from the Latin rota, for "wheel"—is named for the wheel-like appearance of its particles.

How Coronavirus and 31 Other Infectious Diseases and Viruses Got Their Names

‘Coronavirus’ is named for how it looks under a microscope, but that’s not the only way to name a virus or disease.

YouTube's Physics Girl snuffs out a candle with carbon dioxide.

20 Boredom-Busting Science Experiments You Can Do at Home, Courtesy of YouTube’s Physics Girl

From spinning eggs to DIY slime, these at-home science experiments help you stay busy and learn a few things, too.

If LEGO bricks can survive children, they can survive anything.

A LEGO Brick Could Survive In the Ocean for Up to 1300 Years

LEGO bricks have always been durable, but new research in the UK indicates they might actually be able to survive the harshest of conditions.

Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong left the first footprint on the Moon on July 20, 1969.

Are Any of the Scientific Instruments Left on the Moon By the Apollo Astronauts Still Functional?

The retroreflectors left as part of the Apollo Lunar Ranging Experiment are still fully functional, though their reflective efficiency has diminished over the years.

5 People Who Were Amazingly Productive In Quarantine

It's not a myth: William Shakespeare really did write 'King Lear' during the plague. From Edvard Munch to Isaac Newton, here are a few more people who made the most of being isolated.

Why the Size and Shape of Your Coffee Cup Matter, According to Science

Cappuccino is often served in a larger, wider mug, while espresso comes in a short, narrow mug. But even avid coffee drinkers may not know why.

9 Ancient Objects That Have Had DNA Tests

From fossilized feces to antediluvian rodent nests, ancient objects are getting their DNA analyzed for clues about the past.

Can Farts Spread Disease?

A couple of long-suffering scientists from Australia donated their time—and their gas—to figuring out whether farts can spread disease.

The wacky Kaikaia gaga is fashionably just designed to be rad.

This New Insect Species Was Named After Lady Gaga for Its 'Wacky Fashion Sense'

There are a million reasons why we should be paying more attention to treehoppers, entomology student Brendan Morris says.

Unique Teardrop Star Discovered by NASA Satellite

The star recently spotted 1500 light-years from Earth is shaped like a teardrop and pulsates on one side, making it a celestial anamoly.

Stegosaurus Tracks Discovered on Scotland’s Isle of Skye

The stegosaurus footprints discovered on Scotland's Isle of Skye indicate the island could have been home to a bustling dinosaur population 170 million years ago.

Coronavirus precautions have led to questions over methods of isolation.

Isolation vs. Quarantine: What's the Difference?

Viral outbreaks often necessitate patient isolation or quarantine. But what separates each separation?

The skull of Oculudentavis khaungraae preserved in 99-million-year-old amber.

Tiny, Bird-Like Skull Found in Amber Could Belong to the Mesozoic Era's Smallest Known Dinosaur

Scientists discovered the skull of a bird-like dinosaur. More than 100 tiny teeth line the jaws of the skull, suggesting that this dinosaur was small but deadly (to insects).

This bag features many prominent women scientists.

Celebrate Trailblazing Women in Science With This Tote Bag

This bag is decorated with the faces of pioneers like Ada Lovelace, Sally Ride, and many more scientists who paved the way for others.

A still from The Mars Generation (2017).

10 of the Best Space Documentaries You Can Stream Right Now

Explore black holes, hang out with robots, and get to know the team behind the Apollo missions with these space documentaries on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Disney+.

To some people with asthma, these albuterol inhalers are literal life-savers.

The FDA Has Approved the First Generic Albuterol Inhaler for Asthma

At last, people with asthma will be able to buy potentially life-saving medicine without breaking the bank.

There's a Second Moon—a Mini-Moon—in Earth's Orbit

Earth's second moon, a "mini-moon" dubbed 2020 CD3, is about the size of a small car and may have been trapped in our planet's orbit for years.

An alpine newt glows green after being exposed to blue light.

It’s Easy Being Green: Most Amphibians Are Biofluorescent, Study Finds

After being bathed in blue light, salamanders, frogs, and other amphibians glowed a brilliant green. There's more to these critters than meets the eye.

If scientists can't develop a vaccine for a new virus quickly enough, an epidemic can turn into a pandemic.

Pandemic vs. Epidemic: What’s the Difference?

Definitions of 'pandemic' and 'epidemic' differ, but it’s not always clear which one best describes a disease outbreak like the new coronavirus.

Fat Bats Might Be Resistant to Deadly White-Nose Syndrome

Good news: chubby little brown bats might be genetically resistant to white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that’s killed more than 5.5 million bats since it was first documented in 2006.

How to See Venus and the Moon Share a ‘Kiss’ in a Rare Astronomical Event This Week

On Thursday, Venus and the moon will appear to nearly touch in the night sky after sunset. Here's what you should know about the spectacle.

Katherine Johnson, the NASA Legend Who Inspired 'Hidden Figures,' Dies at Age 101

Katherine Johnson—the mathematician known for calculating the equations that sent the first astronauts to the moon and breaking barriers in the civil rights era, as seen in 'Hidden Figures'—died the morning of Monday, February 24, 2020 NASA has announced.

Drone image above the H.M.S. Erebus shipwreck.

More Than 350 Franklin Expedition Artifacts Retrieved from Shipwreck of HMS Erebus

A pair of epaulets, a pencil case, and a glass decanter were found at the Arctic shipwreck, which continues to reveal clues to the fate of the doomed 19th century expedition.

This woman's tooth pain is actually helping her avoid further damage.

The Reason Our Teeth Are So Sensitive to Pain

If your tooth enamel is worn down, the path is clear for your sensitive tooth to feel pain like no other.

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