SUPERNOVA FACTORY | Eta Carina, one of the brightest and most massive stars in the galaxy, is surrounded by the Carina Nebula — and new data suggests this nebula will produce twice as many huge supernovas as previously predicted. Image via Spitzer Space Telescope.
Why we won't know when birds evolve
According to scientists, birds have been evolving in a very specific way. And it looks like, given their abilities, they'll continue to evolve. We just won't be able to see it. More »
Is this a scene from Star Wars or a real image from the ISS?
What an amazing image! The ATV-2 Johannes Kepler looks like an X-Wing fighter from Star Wars as it departs from the International Space Station. Astronaut Ron Garan posted the image on his Twitpic page, asking viewers if they thought the spacecraft looked like the fictional fighter jets of the Republic. More »
Legendary cryptids that turned out be absolutely real
When we think of cryptozoology, we usually think of Bigfoot, the Yeti, and the Loch Ness Monster, creatures that are - let's face it - probably legendary. More »
Epidemiologists reveal that black men in America have a better survival rate in prison than outside
Being in prison could save your life - depending on your racial background. A group of epidemiologists studying patterns of death among prisoners have discovered that black men in prison die at much lower rates than black men outside. More »
The search for monsters among us
When people think of cryptozoology, they often scoff at the idea of people studying Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. But the hunt for cryptids, or mystery animals, isn't just about myth chasing. More »
What color are the sash and bonnet in this painting? Wrong.
At the time this was painted, over 200 years ago, they would have been considered yellow. Colors aren't as eternal as we imagine them to be. The way our cultures perceive colors changes over time, just like everything else. More »
Galactic hyperclusters are too big for the universe
Gravity forces galaxies that are relatively close together to form clusters, which in turn form superclusters between vast stretches of cosmic void. But now there's an even bigger level of organization...and we have no idea how to explain it. More »
Your blood cells are not what they seem
Bioengineers have figured out a new way to deliver cancer-killing drugs to your body. They hide the drugs inside the skins of red blood cells. Literally. More »
A single mutant gene is responsible for 30% of all mysterious pain
In the United States alone, 20 million people suffer from peripheral neuropathy, a condition that involves nerve degeneration and sometimes extreme pain, often without any explanation. More »
Myths about the Future that Could Ruin Your Life
Nobody knows what the future will bring, but most of us think about the future all the time. Will we succeed in our goals? Will we fail? Will the world fall apart? More »
These ants use their butts to fly
Some ants crawl to where they want to go. Not this species. They fly, using no wings or sails. They have all they need to fly packed right behind them at all times. More »
Is the rise of wearable electronics finally here?
For decades I've wanted interesting, beautiful, and (sometimes) functional electronics on the most personal geographies of all, myself. When I think of "living in the future," it's what springs to mind. More »
The easiest math conjecture it took 74 years to prove
The Collatz conjecture is also known as the "3n + 1" problem. It's an easy problem to explain and check, and has been tested up into the nineteen figure range.What happened the last time the icecaps melted? More »
What happened the last time the icecaps melted?
The fact that sea levels are rising probably won't come as a huge surprise. But we now have some much-needed historical context for the melting icecaps and rising waters...and there's zero doubt that, in geological history, higher sea levels meant higher temperatures. More »