Science & Tech
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first humans to walk on the moon in July 1969, here’s a look at a few individuals who came so close to getting to go into space…but then didn’t. Lance Bass Only a handful of civilians — meaning […]
Oh honey, “hive” got a feeling you’re going to love reading these news stories about bees. It’s very much your beeswax. Bee Listening About a year ago, a couple living in a house in Granada, in southern Spain, noticed bees in their yard, and were bothered by a low buzzing sound…which got gradually louder. As […]
College isn’t all math classes, science labs, and lectures about Medieval English literature. There are also these strange — and very real — courses offered by colleges and universities. The Amazing World of Bubbles This course at the prestigious scientific institute Caltech does involve blowing bubbles, but it’s more about exploring the complex physics behind […]
They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and these women invented something so important, they’re now regarded as the “mother” of their respective field. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there, both literal and metaphorical. The Mother of Wi-Fi Hedy Lamar was one of the most glamorous and successful actresses of […]
Didn’t we just celebrate Earth Day? Well, now it’s time for that other April holiday about green things that grow: Arbor Day. The appreciation of trees in America, and all their benefits both biological and eye-pleasing, long pre-dates the 20th century’s environmentalism movement. It all goes back to Julius Sterling Morton, who, after earning his […]
No bones about it — the human skeleton is a fascinating thing. Longest bone Longest bone in the body: The femur, or thigh bone. It’s also the strongest, able to withstand more pressure than concrete. It’s so tough that it’s one of the most seldom broken bones in the body. Smallest bone Smallest bone in […]
Here’s your rundown on all the mind-bogglingly cool, amazing — and strange — stuff the scientists have been up to lately. AARON THE RIPPER Jack the Ripper is one of history’s most notorious murderers, perhaps in part because his shocking crimes on the streets of London in the 1800s remained unsolved. But in March 2019, […]
It’s springtime, when there’s only one thing on everyone’s minds: allergies, and how they make you miserable with the sneezing, sore throat, and eyes glued shut. It’s all because of tiny little particles of pollen flying around the air. Here’s everything you need to know about spring’s tiniest menace. First use of the word The […]
Human are odd creatures. Here are some of history’s greatest mass hysterias. Biting nuns! According to reports in 18th century German medical texts, a nun at a convent in the area spontaneously started to chase and bite all the other nuns around her. As news of the very specific attacks spread, nuns at other German convents were observed […]
Wild news from the wild kingdom. GORILLAS IN THE MIDST OF CHEATING The Gorilla Game Lab is a joint project of England’s University of Bristol and the Bristol Zoological Society. Both organizations aim to both develop and study the cognitive abilities of gorillas, and they do it by giving the primates puzzles to solve. One […]
Uncle John knows pretty much everything—and if he doesn’t, he heads his massive research library, or puts one of his many associates on the case. So go ahead: In the comments below, ask Uncle John anything. Why can’t we remember (or even notice) the moment we fall asleep? It happens every single night. One moment, […]
It’s so close to Valentine’s Day, so we thought we’d talk about the real inspiration behind the symbol of the holiday. Where is it? Put your hand on your heart like you’re saying the Pledge of Allegiance. (We’ll wait.) Did you cross your right hand all the way over to the left side of your […]
Not too many other animals besides humans can talk, which leads to a very special affinity between people and parrots…and all those other clever, crafty, chatty tropical birds. Here are some recent news stories about some parrots that got themselves (and people) into trouble. Parrot Busts Drunk Driver While driving home from a Mexico City […]
When it’s not quite clear outside, but there aren’t fluffy, white clouds floating around either, then there’s some kind of presence hanging low in the sky that prevents you from seeing too far away. It’s either fog, mist or haze. Here’s how to tell them apart. What is mist? If there’s precipitation that falls at […]
It’s common knowledge that most people are right-handed, and that most people have brown eyes, and most people have type-O blood. So just how rare (or common) is it to not possess those traits? Eye Color The most common eye colors: brown, then blue, then hazel. Green eyes are relatively rare: only about 2 percent […]
It seems like there’s always a “must have” gadget that everybody’s clamoring to get. These are some examples of that hype…except that after their were touted and promoted, they never actually hit stores. The Phantom In 2003, a company called Infinium Labs touted a video game system called (what would turn out to be ironically) […]
We’re sure your dog is a very good boy (or very good girl), but you might not know that pooch as well as you think you do. Myth: Dogs are colorblind, meaning they see the world in black, white, and shades of grey. Truth: They don’t experience as full of a spectrum of colors as […]
That’s no understatement — for the 2.3 billion people around the world who don’t have access to sanitation, a new kind of loo could save countless lives. Flush toilets aren’t everywhere Flush toilets are commonplace in the U.S. and Europe, but for large swaths of the developing world, the technology is yet to land. Many […]
