SCIENCE

It's easy to make a case for The Nile as the longest river in the world, but measuring a river isn't that easy.

What Is the Longest River in the World?

It’s an issue so complicated that river length isn't even considered a useful measure anymore.

It's not so your plugs look like they have eyes.

Why Do Electrical Plugs Have Holes in the Prongs?

The original reason electrical plugs had holes isn’t the same reason they have holes these days.

8 Facts About Pioneering Astronomer Caroline Herschel

Caroline Herschel was the first woman to discover a comet—and now there's a crater on the moon named after her.

Pheromone Traps Could Eradicate Murder Hornets With the Lure of Sex

A new study is proposing an innovative way to eradicate invasive murder hornets: literal thirst traps laced with pheromones.

See What the Inside of a Volcano Looks Like, Courtesy of Some Unlucky Drones

Two unlucky drones were sacrificed to capture this incredible footage from inside an active volcano's crater.

Study Suggests That Some Sharks Sleep—And They Keep Their Eyes Open When They Do

A new study suggests that some sharks do sleep, even though they appear to be wide-awake when they're catching up on theirs Zs.

What’s the Smallest Bone in the Body?

The smallest bone in your body is one of a set of three whose collective name literally means ‘small bones.’

Missing: One Box of Human Heads

The human heads were being taken back to headquarters after being used for a medical training session.

Ewww Alert: Your Kitchen Sponge Can Harbor More Kinds of Bacteria Than an Actual Petri Dish

According to a new study, your kitchen sponge is capable of harboring more bacterial diversity than a laboratory petri dish.

DCWater transforms poop into fertilizer with the help of microbes.

5 Surprising Uses for Recycled Poop

People usually want plenty of distance between themselves and their poop, but some engineers argue that all that waste is going to waste.

An osprey flies while carrying a fish in its talons.

11 Facts About Ospreys

Ospreys were once threatened by hunting and pesticides, but these birds of prey made a dramatic comeback.

A trap-jaw ant queen, prepared to smell like dessert if she's murdered.

Surprise! Some Ants Smell Like Chocolate

Trap-jaw ants have more tricks up their figurative sleeves than just trap jaws. And odorous house ants aren’t called that for nothing.

Intestinal Worms Just Helped Researchers Identify an Ancient Roman Chamber Pot

Roughly 1500 years ago, someone in Sicily suffered from intestinal worms. Here’s why researchers are excited about that.

The Windshield Phenomenon: Why You See Fewer Bugs Splattering Cars Today

You may be grateful that your car's windshield is cleaner than it used to be, but the lack of bugs on the road isn't something to celebrate.

5 Real-Life Zombies

While I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for the dead to rise from their graves, there are still plenty of zombies roaming the Earth.

Looking at Instagrams of Food Makes Eating Less Enjoyable

It’s time to put down the phone and look away from Instagram: Researchers found that people who look at pictures of food are less likely to enjoy the next meal they eat.

The Real-Life Neuroscience Behind Zombies

Most of the zombies you see on television and in movies moan and groan, and pull and tear, and lumber and shuffle, and remain highly focused on finding braiiinns to eat. But why do zombies act the way they do? They suffer from Consciousness Deficit Hypoac

A Rare East Coast Tsunami

Meet the Sea Slug With the Disposable Penis

Fans of '90s alternative music may recall King Missile's big single, "Detachable Penis." While the song may have been silly, it turns out than in the animal world, the idea isn't all that bizarre—at least not to the sea slug Chromodoris reticulata.

Why Do Snow Piles Take Forever to Melt?

It's warm, sunny, and nearly spring. Giant piles of nasty, filthy snow are still lining your streets. What gives?

6 Early Theories About the Origin of Language

By the Numbers: The Billions of Animals Killed by Cats

For the First Time Ever, Scientists Witnessed—and Recorded—Orcas Stalking and Killing a Blue Whale

New video evidence shows that orcas are capable of hunting and killing blue whales—the largest animals on Earth.

Yes, there are world records for lightning.

A Massive, 477-Mile Long Lightning Bolt Just Obliterated All Previous Records

The most metal of all weather events occurred in 2020, when a lightning bolt lit up the sky for nearly 500 miles.

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