SCIENCE

Xiulin Ruan and a sample of his cooling paint.

Scientists Have Created the Whitest Paint Ever—and It Might Help Cool the Planet

The ultra-white paint can block up to 98 percent of the sun's rays. Applied on roofs, it could have a dramatic cooling effect on homes and buildings.

The Perseid meteor shower can produce 100 meteors per hour.

The 2023 Perseid Meteor Shower Will Light Up August Skies—Here’s How to See It

Observers will have a good chance at spotting a dazzling display of meteors and even fireballs during 2023's Perseid meteor shower.

Citron, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA-3.0

11 Fascinating Facts About the Frilled Shark

The eel-like shark is rarely seen by humans, but one was just found off the coast of Portugal.

Scientists who worked on the Chicago Pile-1, a component of the Manhattan Project. Leo Szilard is pictured in the middle row in the trench coat.

“I Will Have Nothing to Do with a Bomb!”: The Scientists Who Opposed the Manhattan Project

Before J. Robert Oppenheimer had a change of heart, some of his fellow scientists opposed the U.S. government’s plan to make and deploy an atomic bomb.

10 Fascinating Facts About J. Robert Oppenheimer

The enigmatic physicist at the center of Christopher Nolan's newest film may have come to regret being known as the “Father of the Atomic Bomb.”

A Little-Known Tick Trick Allows Them to 'Jump' Onto Your Skin

Ticks can't fly, but they can still defy gravity to start sucking your blood.

The massive megafauna of the Ice Age / Getty / VICTOR HABBICK VISIONS/SPL

Misconceptions About the Ice Age

In this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd thaws out a few myths about the ice age, from the idea that Earth was once frozen solid to what actually caused the mammoths’ extinction.

A neutrino has interacted with an ice molecule, producing a muon that moves at relativistic speed in the ice, leaving a trace of blue light behind it.

10 Freaky Facts About Neutrinos, the Weirdest Particles in the Universe

Trillions of neutrinos zoom through you every second. Here's what you should know about these mysterious, nearly mass-less subatomic particles.

A strong El Niño in 2016 appears like a red tongue in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

What Is El Niño, and Why Does It Have Such a Big Impact?

How can warm water in the Pacific Ocean affect the weather thousands of miles away? Everything is connected.

This August features not one, but two super moons—and the second is a blue moon.

August’s Two Super Moons Are Coming: Don't Miss the Full Sturgeon Moon and Rare Super Blue Moon in 2023

All the details for when August’s two super moons are coming, and what a giant freshwater fish has to do with it.

Plastic bags are an environmental disaster.

How Long Does It Really Take for a Plastic Bag to Decompose?

Technically, they really don't.

Rogue waves have the power to sink freighters.

10 Surprising Facts About Rogue Waves

These freak waves are rare and unpredictable—and are believed to have caused numerous shipwrecks.

A sign on the Hoover Dam warns of dangerous heat levels on September 16, 2022, in Boulder City, Nevada.

What Is a Heat Dome?

Heat domes are masses of hot air trapped within the atmosphere by high pressure. And they're becoming more common, thanks to climate change.

A new Alzheimer's drug shows promise for those in the early stages of the disease.

The FDA Has Just Given Rare Approval to a New Alzheimer's Drug, Leqembi—Here's What We Know So Far

Leqembi could slow the progression of Alzheimer's, but the side effects can be severe.

How does this image of a lotus pod make you feel?

What Is Trypophobia (And Is It Real)?

Many people report fearing clusters of holes. If you're one of them, this post is for you. But don't say we didn't warn you.

They’re the only marsupials you're likely to find north of Mexico.

13 Facts About Opossums

Opossums have a bad reputation, but they’re smarter and more beneficial to people than other woodland denizens. Discover more about these unique marsupials here.

The Scientific Reason You Should Microwave Popcorn With “This Side Up”

Microwave popcorn bags are often covered in words—here’s why you should pay attention to “This Side Up.”

Putting diesel in a gas-powered car can be an expensive mistake.

Here’s Why Confusing Diesel With Gas at the Pump Is a Problem

Depending on how much diesel you’ve poured into the tank, there’s a good to fair chance you will need a mechanic to drain your car’s fuel system.

Getting a song stuck in your head can be infuriating.

5 Ways to Get Rid of Earworms, According to Science

Got a song stuck in your head that you want to get out? For starters, try humming the theme to 'The A-Team.'

People really, really hate the word 'moist'—and researchers may have figured out why.

The Science Behind Why People Hate the Word ‘Moist’

You may think you detest the word ‘moist’ because of the way it sounds, but research indicates that that’s not the full story.

Why Do We Tilt Our Heads When Being Photographed?

It's called head canting, and the psychology of it goes beyond looking good for the 'gram.

Fear vs. Phobia: What’s the Difference?

The definition of ‘phobia’ is similar to that of ‘fear’—but there’s a big difference in the threat level.

Bee Wary: Why You Should Never Jump Into Water to Avoid a Bee Attack

Diving into a pool or lake to escape bees could result in a death worthy of a 'Final Destination' movie.

There’s a science behind all those colors.

How Do Fireworks Get Their Colors?

The chemistry behind the vibrant colors of fireworks is another reason to “ooh” and “aah” at the sky this Fourth of July.

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