SCIENCE

Who cut the cheese? Hard to say in a cabin this packed.

Yes, People Fart More on Planes—Here’s Why

There’s a scientific explanation for why folks fart more on airplanes, but it doesn’t make it any less aggravating.

Guthman 2025's 3rd Place Winner: Dinosaur Choir: Adult Corythosaurus

What Did Dinosaurs Sound Like? This 3D-Printed Fossil Instrument Gives You an Idea

Did dinosaurs really roar? Artists Courtney Brow and Cezary Gajewski challenge this idea with 3D-printed skulls that bring prehistoric sounds to life.

How Do Cats Purr?

We know cats purr for a variety of reasons. But the actual mechanics of how they make their signature sound remains unclear.

Scientists have captured little chirps from rig sharks (also known as ‘lemon fish‘ and ‘spotted dogfish,‘ according to the NIWA).

Listen to a Shark ‘Chirp’ in First-of-Its-Kind Audio Recording

For the first time, researchers have documented a shark producing sound.

They like screens under certain circumstances.

Do Dogs Enjoy Movies?

Videos of dogs watching the animated film “Flow” have gone viral recently, and science backs up the adorable phenomenon.

11 Space Facts That Will Change Your Perspective

If the sun were the size of a basketball, the Earth would be no larger than a pinhead.

If you’ve ever sent DNA to 23andMe, you may want to delete your data.

Sent DNA to 23andMe? Here’s How to Delete Your Data

With 23andMe filing for bankruptcy on March 23, your genetic information might be vulnerable. Here’s how to delete it.

Brave Octopus Filmed Hitchhiking on a 10-Foot Shark

A Maori octopus was spotted clinging to a shortfin mako shark, leaving scientists puzzled.

The addictive ’80s game might also have psychological benefits.

What Is the Tetris Effect?

Anyone who has ever played ‘Tetris’ knows how addictive the ’80s video game can be. Scientists say the Tetris Effect may even have psychological benefits for people coping with PTSD.

A new device might make it easier for you to have a green thumb.

New Device Could Allow Your Houseplants to Communicate When They’re Stressed

Researchers have created a sensor that monitors plant stress, which could one day be a game-changer for anyone with a black thumb.

He‘s cute and smart: This gray seal took part in the new study.

Why Deep-Diving Seals Don’t Drown

Scientists at the University of St. Andrews found that seals can detect blood oxygen levels, allowing them to plan dives and avoid drowning.

More people use American Sign Language than you may think.

This Smart Ring Translates Sign Language in Real Time

Cornell’s SpellRing could change the ASL translation game.

5 Fast Facts About the Spring Equinox

Wondering when the first day of spring is in 2025? Here’s everything you need to know about the vernal equinox.

10 Times Animals Changed History

History is teeming with unlikely heroes—these ones just happen to have feathers and fur.

What Happens If You Shoot a Gun in Space?

Space shootouts are possible. The Soviets proved it.

Learn Amazing Facts About Women Scientists With Kari Byron

The former MythBusters host and co-founder of the National STEM Festival tells us what emerging tech she thinks kids today won’t be able to live without—and what we can expect from the podcast she’s launching with fellow MythBuster Tory Belleci.

Astronauts Piers J. Sellers (left) and David A. Wolf in the midst of a pre-breathe exercise in preparation for a spacewalk.

How Do Astronauts Breathe in Space?

Engineers have had to come up with some interesting ways to generate oxygen for astronauts in the vacuum of space.

Deer Hunter Stumbles Upon Mammoth Tusk on Texas Ranch

A colossal mammoth tusk was uncovered in West Texas, marking an unexpected fossil find.

The Milky Way over Monument Valley in Arizona.

10 Astonishing Things You Should Know About the Milky Way

The Milky Way is one of the biggest in the observable universe: Even if you traveled at the speed of light, it would take 100,000 years to go from one end of our home galaxy to the other.

The Phony Disease That Helped Researchers Identify Bach’s (Purported) Body

Johann Sebastian Bach was buried in an unmarked grave in 1750. Nearly two centuries later, a doctor identified the composer’s bones from skeletal evidence of “organist’s disease.”

The ‘school fossil boulder’ originating from Dunn Creek Mining Area, Callide, Queensland.

66 Dinosaur Footprints Discovered on Rock Gifted to an Australian High School Decades Ago

A rock slab displayed at Biloela State High School contains some of the most densely packed dinosaur footprints ever discovered in Australia.

Room temperature is a frame of reference.

What Exactly Is ‘Room Temperature’?

Misunderstanding room temperature can have some surprisingly serious consequences.

In space, it isn’t just number one and done.

To Boldly Go: The Science Behind Pooping in Space

Coming up with a practical way of replicating the earthbound poop experience took many years, many engineers, and a whole lot of ingenuity.

This is a scene you might recognize from every police procedural ever.

How Do Two-Way Mirrors Work?

And how you can tell a two-way mirror from a standard one.