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A hundred years ago, a physicist tried to convince the world the universe is expanding -- through math alone

He thought Einstein was wrong in one regard -- and he was right.

The Vampire Deer are real -- and they're horrifyingly cute

Don't believe the act, they're just adorable.

What is prosopagnosia: the rare medical condition that makes Brad Pitt (and many others) forget faces

Not all people you've met who don't recognize your face are jerks. Believe it or not, some have a genuine medical condition.

Exploring Baikal: The world's deepest and oldest lake

Lake Baikal is one of nature's most prized jewels, but it needs our protection to keep on shining bright.

What is Tiangong: China's space station that wants to rival the ISS

China only launched its first crewed flight in 2003. Now it has a permanent space station and plans to build an outpost on the moon in the next decade.

How geological periods got their names

From the god of Hell to mountains in Poland, geological eras have quite diverse inspiration behind their names.

What are Dwarf Galaxies?

Although they can contain billions of stars, dwarf galaxies are nevertheless just a fraction of the size of Milky Way.

The important difference between precision and accuracy

Thought the two meant the same thing? Think again.

The effect turning our cities into heat islands

The images are pretty, but the effects can be very ugly.

Birds are using plastic plants for their nests, and it's the most Anthropocene thing ever

Man-made materials are slowly taking over the natural world.

Wood Wide Web: The secret, ancient internet of plants

You'll never look at a forest the same way.

What were hieroglyphs, the Egyptian words of the gods, and what did they mean?

One of the world's most famous scripts is also one of its most mysterious.

Storm Recipe: How Cyclones, Typhoons and Hurricanes Are Formed

Storms can get extremely intense -- and climate change is only making them worse.

What are wasps good for? These underdogs of pollination are more than just a nuisance

Wasps aren't really as bad as they say. Well, they are -- but they can also be useful! Just ask figs.

Digging the Groundhogs? Celebrating one of nature's most able engineers

Groundhogs are often hated by farmers and home gardeners for the damage they can cause -- but perhaps we could look at them with new eyes.

Magnapinna Squid: the alien-looking 'ghost squid' that lives in the deep oceans

The bigfin squid (or magnapinna squid) is a wonderfully bizarre creature that we're just starting to understand.

The scent of infection: Why agarwood is the most expensive wood in the world

Agarwood, one of the most sought-after incense scents in the world, is the result of a mold infection.

The Minnesota Moose -- a cultural icon under threat

For centuries, populations depended on this animal.

The Pistol Shrimp: The Fastest Gun in the Sea

This shrimp has superpowers.

Will NASA rename the James Webb Space Telescope? The 'Lavender Scare' controversy explained

In the excitement, it’s easy to forget the James Webb Space Telescope’s namesake has been the subject of controversy.

The False Killer Whale: it's not even a whale, but very real, and very interesting

From stealing fish to interspecies homosexual relationships, this species does some weird things.

These photos of adorable Baikal seals above and beneath the water will cleanse the depressing news cycle

It's a beautiful world that's normally hidden from our eyes.

The story of how plastic was invented, and how it's turned into a big problem

Plastic was not invented by a supervillain, but unfortunately now we are turning plastic into an evil force that can destroy our planet.

The big, nasty conspiracy theories of our time

There are people who can convince you that you are living in a parallel universe created by CERN and ruled by secret societies.

Is the Law of Attraction real or just bogus? We need to have a talk

The Law of Attraction has been described as a fundamental universal law akin to gravity. But that's just wrong.

Abel Laureate Dennis Sullivan wants you to look at math differently -- and stay interested

Everything revolves around one or two things: space and numbers.

Omens of death: what is the Black Shuck?

Black Dogs, such as the Shuck, have been an important motif of English folklore for centuries.

Designer babies may be coming soon. Here's why this matters

There's more than one way to "design" babies. Should we be worried?

What are hormones -- everything you need to know

The term hormone comes from the ancient-Greek word for "impetus," showing the power they have to activate or inhibit the cells and organs in our body.

Meet the Orchid Mantis. No, this is not a flower

It looks like an entire flower, and its evolutionary history is a story in itself.

10 Years of the Higgs Boson: how this particle is still unlocking new physics

A decade after the discovery of the Higgs boson this ellusive particle is still delivering important science.

The deep, long-lasting, and sometimes bizarre symbolism of the Eye of Horus

To this day, it's one of the most important symbols from the ancient world.

The Mariana Trench: To the bottom of the Earth

An otherworldly place, right here on our planet.

Peatlands help protect us from climate change. But if we don't, they'll turn on us

Moor, bog, fen, mire, swamp or pocosins, whatever you may call it, are all peatland – also known as wetlands, with a twist.

What the science says about abortion rights

Safe and accessible reproductive health is backed by science and doctors. Reducing women's rights doesn't help.

From Buzzing to Dozing: How Bees Sleep and Rest

They absolutely need (and deserve) their sleep.

Meet the Corpse Flower that steals genes and produces heat to attract flies

When we think of flowers, we tend to think of nice colors, a pleasant fragrance, and maybe some green lushy leaves. But in the deep, thick forests of Southeast Asia, there’s a different type of flower: a colossal bloom, larger than any flower you’ve seen, and stinkier than anything you could imagine.   Rafflesia arnoldii is […]

Here's how you know if your home security camera has been hacked

Devices inside modern homes are becoming increasingly interconnected, but the downside is a hacker can now spy on your more easily than ever before.

What would happen if the moon actually disappeared?

The moon isn't just a pretty face.

How many oceans are there in the world

Since 2021, a new ocean has been added by cartographers, bringing the tally to five grand oceanic basins.

Science shows what type of flirting works best

To master the art of flirting, it helps to study the science.

Can planets orbit multiple star systems like in Star Wars?

Planets in binary, tetranary, octonary systems. Are they possible?

Holy Cow! What is Causing Cosmic Explosions More Powerful Than Supernovas?

Four years ago astronomers discovered an unusual and powerful cosmic blast they nicknamed "the Cow." The mystery of what caused it and similar Fast Blue Optical Transients is still unsolved.

Eliminating toys from fast food menus is an easy way to tackle food waste and childhood obesity 

Something as innocuous as a Happy Meal toy could have important consequences.

What is synesthesia: Hearing sounds and tasting shapes

What does this article taste like?

Black Hole Singularity: The Structure of a Black Hole

A journey through black holes from their violent exterior, light trapping event horizon, to a region where the laws of physics cease to apply.

Five Turning Points in the Evolution of Wine

Contrary to popular belief, the evolution of wine precedes agriculture and the domestication of grapes. The genesis of wine may even predate our species. Over the millennia, humans have radically transformed viticulture from a happy accident to a scientifically precise art form and global industry. At the same time, the juice of fermented fruits shaped […]

Why does bottled water have an expiration date?

It might seem pointless, but it’s not the water that spoils.

Brutalist architecture and its unusual, raw appeal

Few architectural styles are as polarizing and controversial as brutalism.

Nothing to talk about: the many mysteries of vacuums

A vacuum is not exactly empty in quantum mechanics terms. It is also a headache for physicists.

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