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Do Oranges Make Your Lips Itch? Here's the Reason Why

If eating fresh fruit makes your mouth tingle, you might have this little-known (but very treatable) condition.

Why Rabbits Are Growing Scary ‘Tentacle’ Warts on Their Heads in Colorado

The Surprising Reason Behind Slimy Deli Meat (and Whether It’s Safe to Eat)

Why Isn’t 100 Percent Humidity Always Rain?

7 Retro Toys From the Atomic Age

From a dollhouse with a nuclear bunker to an atomic energy lab with real uranium, some of these toys from the ‘50s and ‘60s have us scratching our heads.
Kaeli Conforti|

It’s Official: Astronomers Confirm the Universe’s Oldest Black Hole

In a galaxy far, far, far away, astronomers have found the oldest black hole in the universe, thought to have formed less than 500 million years after the Big Bang. 
Tim Brinkhof|

Why Does Driving With a Car’s Rear Windows Down Hurt Your Ears?

Cracking your car’s rear window can be a highly unpleasant experience—and physics is to blame.
Sam Hindman|

Environment

How the Return of Wolves to Yellowstone Helped Aspen Trees Thrive

A new study shows that reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone sparked a massive comeback for aspen saplings.
CaLea Johnson|

Radioactive Wasp Nests Discovered Near Cold War-Era Nuclear Storage Site

A shocking discovery was made at a nuclear facility: wasp nests contaminated with radiation.
CaLea Johnson|

Hammer Time: Scientists Have Figured Out Why Hammerheads Love Eating Other Sharks

A hammerhead spends a lot of time and energy trying to binge-eat other big sharks. Here's why it pays off.
Jake Rossen|

The States Losing the Most Land to Wildfires, Mapped

Hoping to escape the threat of wildfires? You might want to move to one of these small and relatively cold states (but not New Jersey).
Nick Keppler|

20 Greenest Cities Around the World, According to Locals

Time Out surveyed 18,500 people around the world to find the greenest cities—here’s who topped the list.
CaLea Johnson|

Which Invasive Species Are Near You? Find Out With This Interactive Map

EDDMapS’s database has more than 9 million records of invasive species. See which ones hit close to home.
Ellen Gutoskey|

What Are Those Weird Sleeves on California Gas Pumps?

They haven’t been mandated by the EPA since 2012, but California has kept them around.
Marla Mackoul|

15 Unbelievable Weather Records You Didn’t Know Existed

Presented by GEICO.
Editorial Staff|

Health

How Does Blood Pressure Work?

You can’t actually feel your blood pressure, but it’s one of the body’s most important indicators of cardiovascular health. Here’s the lowdown on how blood pressure works—and what it means for your overall wellness.
Jordan Rosenfeld|

Why Sunscreen Can Leave a White Cast—and How to Avoid It

Here‘s what to do if you‘re struggling with the dreaded white cast caused by sunscreen.
CaLea Johnson|

25 Worst U.S. Cities for Allergy Sufferers

If you suffer from allergies, here are the worst—and the best—places to be.
Ellen Gutoskey|

Space

13 Surprising Facts About ‘Apollo 13’

'Apollo 13'—the dramatization of the 1970 space program crisis that kept the world on its seat—was the third highest-grossing film of 1995, and remains one of the most faithful depictions of NASA operations ever put on film.

The Right Way to Pronounce ‘Uranus,’ According to Experts

Who Has Jurisdiction for Crimes Committed in Space?

9 Museums Where You Can Spend the Night

Medicine

Can You Guess How These 10 Diseases Were Treated in the 1700s?

In the late 1740s, the theologian John Wesley published ‘Primitive Physick, or, An Easy and Natural Method of Curing Most Diseases.’ Can you guess what treatments he recommended?
mentalfloss .com|

Does Peeing on a Jellyfish Sting Actually Help?

When it comes to jellyfish stings, urine is often cited as an effective remedy. But does it really work as a first-aid treatment?
Matt Soniak|

11 Bizarre Items Sold by Sears in 1902

Some of the products offered up for sale in the catalogue were downright dangerous.
Laura Steadham Smith|

What to Know About the Invasive Asian Needle Ants Spreading Across the U.S.

Asian needle ants may look small, but their stings are no joke.
CaLea Johnson|

Climate Change

Penguin Poop: The Latest Tool to Fight Climate Change

Ammonia from the birds’ guano can mix with other gases and form clouds, potentially cooling Earth’s surface and preserving Antarctic ice, a new study suggests.
Nick Keppler|

Sea Pigs, Sea Spiders, and More Bizarre Creatures Collected Off Antarctica

Researchers witness strange sea animals, including poisonous sea pigs and hand-sized sea spiders, while sailing to the Denman Glacier.
CaLea Johnson|

Indian’s Thar Desert Is Getting Greener, Thanks to Human Activity

Thanks to increased accessibility to water and energy, the Thar Desert is now the most populated desert on Earth.
CaLea Johnson|

Fiji Is Asking Tourists to ‘Give Back’ 1 Hour of Their Vacation

The island nation is inviting travelers to donate some of their vacation to support local communities and environmental efforts.
CaLea Johnson|

Weather

11 Powerful Facts About Thunderstorms

Storms are used to set an ominous tone in spooky stories, even as they bring much-needed relief to parched fields or distressed humans on a hot day.
Dennis Mersereau|

Fireflies Are Surging This Summer, in a Rare Win for the Insects

Firefly populations have been declining, but there may be light at the end of the tunnel for the glowing bugs.
CaLea Johnson|

Do Sun Shades Actually Keep Cars Cool During Summer?

Do sun shades really help reduce the interior temperatures of cars during the summer months, or is it just part of how companies sell them to shoppers?
Rudie Obias|

Math

How Accurate Are Punxsutawney Phil’s Groundhog Day Weather Predictions?

The stats indicate that practice doesn’t always make perfect when it comes to mid-sized meteorological rodents.

The Most Popular Pie Recipes by State, Mapped

10 Fascinating Facts About Katherine Johnson

The College Majors Graduates Regret the Most (and Least)

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