SCIENCE

Don't believe everything you've been told about lightning.

Wild Misconceptions About Weather

From the color of snow to the shape of rainbows, weather breeds a lot of misconceptions.

What‘s less frequent than northern lights? Their opposite: anti-auroras.

Rare, Black ‘Anti-Auroras‘ Spotted in Alaska

Anti-auroras are even less common than the northern lights.

The pineal gland is located in the center of the brain.

10 Facts About the Pineal Gland

René Descartes once described the pineal gland as “the principal seat of the soul.” Medical knowledge has vastly progressed since his time, though. Here’s what we know about this critical organ.

Why Does Your Body Jerk Awake As You’re Trying to Fall Asleep?

Up to 70 percent of people have experienced hypnic jerks, but they’re usually nothing to worry about.

In Outer Space, Where Does a Compass Point?

On Earth, compasses always point north—but when you’re drifting outside our planet’s magnetosphere, things get more complicated.

Why Is It So Hard to Sleep in a New Place?

Whether you’re at a hotel on a business trip or crashing at a relative’s house for the holidays, getting quality sleep on the first few nights can be a challenge. Here’s why.

(L-R) Thomas Edison, Temple Grandin, and Charles Steinmetz .

12 Scientists With Disabilities Who Made the World a Better Place

You don’t have to follow science news to be familiar with Thomas Edison or Temple Grandin, who are just two of the many innovative scientists who have experienced disabilities and viewed them as assets.

Our closest evolutionary cousin, the chimpanzee.

7 Misconceptions About Evolution

‘Survival of the fittest’ is Darwin 101. But did you know that Charles Darwin didn’t actually coin that phrase? Let’s explore some common myths and misconceptions about evolution.

The squirting cucumber can blast its seeds dozens of feet from the parent plant. The stem and fruit of the plant have been colored green in this image.

Solved: The Mystery of the Squirting Cucumber’s Powerful Projection

The little gourd can shoot its seeds nearly 40 feet via "ballistic dispersal”—but until now, the mechanism behind the plant’s power and proliferation was poorly understood.

Super-thin pasta has medical usefulness.

The World’s Thinnest Spaghetti Could Have Surprising Medical Applications

It's 200 times thinner than human hair, and you won't find it at Olive Garden anytime soon.

The online database covers nearly all the fossils discovered in New Zealand.

New Zealand Is the First Country to Open Its Fossil Database to the Public

New Zealand’s open-access fossil database makes it easier for scientists to collaborate.

They are several differences between the two.

Tsunami vs. Tidal Wave: What’s the Difference?

Tsunamis and tidal waves may look similar, but they differ in crucial ways.

Foot pain and sprained ankles are just a few of the common problems affecting our ill-adapted feet.

6 Downsides of Human Evolution

From back injuries to difficult childbirth, here are six annoying parts of being human that you can blame on evolution.

Vodka Is the Secret to a Perfectly Flaky Pie Crust

Nobody likes tough pie crust. Vodka can prevent the issue.

New Study Reveals the Source of the Corpse Flower’s Horrible Stench

Research (and lots of dry-heaving) has revealed why the flower reeks of weeks-old road kill.

A Neanderthal skull against a backdrop of the German valley where the first specimens of the human ancestor were found.

‘Thal Order: 11 Things You Might Not Know About Neanderthals

Often dismissed as “primitive,” our extinct relatives were surprisingly thoughtful. Some were also cannibals.

Going on “fart walks” can alleviate digestion issues.

The Science and Benefits of “Fart Walks”

“Fart walks” could be the answer to your gastrointestinal woes.

Chopping onions can be annoying, but it doesn’t have to be.

How to Cut Onions Without Crying

Here’s what you can do to avoid the sniffles while preparing dinner.

New Jupiter Images Paint a Detailed Picture of the Gas Giant

These processed images of Jupiter make the planet look like a painting.

Can You Really Get Your Tongue Stuck to a Metal Pole?

As anyone who has seen ‘A Christmas Story’ knows, licking a cold metal object can be dangerous. Here’s why you should never stick your tongue to a metal pole in winter.

Animals Might Be Drinking More Than We Thought

You’ve heard the stories of birds drunk on fermented fruit, but scientists suspect that many animals ingest alcohol on a regular basis.

A 1920 mural by paleoartist Charles Robert Knight depicting Cro-Magnon people painting on cave walls at Font-de-Gaume, France.

Neanderthal vs. Cro-Magnon: What’s the Difference?

These prehistoric members of our genus, ‘Homo,’ occupy different branches of the human family tree.

Green space Japan set to test world's first wooden satellite | REUTERS

The First Wooden Satellite Is Headed To the International Space Station

A type of wood commonly used to make Samurai sword sheaths may be the future of space exploration.

A replica of the Laetoli footprints discovered in Laetoli, Tanzania; The original footprints were dated to 3.6 million years ago.

9 Fascinating Discoveries that Changed Our Understanding of Human Evolution

Scientists have uncovered ancient fossils, prehistoric artwork, and other clues to human evolution. Here are nine of the most revealing discoveries that have changed our understanding of our early ancestors—and ourselves.