Science

Drinking Up to Eight Cups of Coffee a Day Could Help You Live Longer

Time to brew another pot.

20 Obvious Things Confirmed by Science

Brace yourself. These are shocking developments.

Want to Chat with Your Colleagues? Don't Work in an Open Office

When companies got rid of cubicles, workers stopped talking to each other and started emailing instead.

13 Scientific Explanations for Everyday Life

The processes behind the physics of LEGOs, the chemistry of laundry, and more.

5 Scientific Tips for Getting Back to Sleep After You’ve Woken Up in the Middle of the Night

Unfortunately for you, reading this article on your phone in the dark won’t help, so make sure to arm yourself with these tips before you hit the sack.

10 'Udderly' Fascinating Facts About Cows

Cows dot fields and pastures across many countries. Chew the cud over these 10 facts about bovines.

Courtesy of Kari Kaunisto/Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku

This Super-Stinger Wasp Was Just Discovered in the Amazon

It paralyzes its victims before depositing eggs inside them so they can burst like a bomb later. What a charmer.

How a Particle Accelerator Is Helping to Unearth Long-Lost Pieces of Art

Scanning 1 square centimeter of each wallet-sized photograph took about eight hours.

By Napoleon Sarony - postcard (radiographics.rsna.org), Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

10 Electrifying Facts About Nikola Tesla

His work is finally being recognized, and the compelling details of his personal life keep interest in him alive.

Good News, Dog Parents: You Can Teach Puppies as Well as Their Canine Moms Can

Encouraging news for anyone trying to housebreak a puppy.

At What Point is a Human Considered Officially Dead?

You can be pronounced or declared dead, but only a few people can do the former.

13 Facts About Physicist Niels Bohr

He helped develop atomic bombs, but wanted nuclear science to be used for peace.

The Tricks Toxic Animals Use to Avoid Poisoning Themselves

Some snakes build up immunity to their own venom.

10 Mind-Boggling Psychiatric Treatments

If you're timid about diving onto a psychiatrist's couch, remember: It could be worse. Like getting-a-hole-drilled-into-your-skull worse.

Why Your Brain Sometimes Hears Sounds That Don't Exist

Hearing is all about perception.

Fredifortakeoff, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0

These Images Can Alter Your Vision For Months

It's called the McCollough effect.

Banana Panic! Is the Fruit Really on the Brink of Extinction?

In short: yes and no.

Popcorn Might Be the Cheap, Biodegradable Robot Power Source of the Future

All you need is heat to make it work.

A spider exhibiting ballooning behavior.

Spiders Can Fly Through the Air Using the Earth's Electric Field

It could explain how spiders can take to the skies even on windless days.

How Does Blood Pressure Work?

Your doctor may tell you that your BP is “120 over 80.” You may very well not know what that means.

Illustration by Mental Floss. Images: iStock

13 Facts About Vertigo

It's very different from dizziness.

New Study Says We Could Be Alone in the Universe

Not everyone agrees.

Most People Consistently Visit 25 Different Places in Their Daily Lives

If you begin frequenting a new place, you probably stop going to another, keeping your total number of haunts constant.

This Startup's Simple Chemical Process Could Break Down the Plastics We Can't Recycle

It even works on plastics that have been contaminated by food.