SCIENCE

Here’s What the Inside of a Tornado Looks Like

Filming the inside of a tornado is tricky for obvious reasons.

Asteroid That Wiped Out Dinosaurs Likely Came From the Outer Solar System

Chemical signatures from the Chicxulub asteroid’s impact—which caused a mass extinction on Earth 66 million years ago—match those of carbonaceous meteorites formed beyond Jupiter.

Thought microwave heat would be enough to kill all forms of bacteria? Think again.

Your Microwave Is Covered With Bacteria—Here’s What to Do About It

Microwaves can harbor radiation-resistant bacteria, according to a new study published in 'Frontiers in Microbiology.' Fortunately, these microwave cleaning hacks can help.

A replica of Paleolithic cave drawings of deer, horses, and aurochs, dating to 15,000 BCE, from Lascaux cave in France.

7 Misconceptions About the Stone Age

The Stone Age timeline encompasses a huge chunk of prehistory—and life wasn’t only about hunting and gathering.

Tollund Man on display at the Silkeborg Museum, Denmark.

A Brief History of Bog Bodies

The bodies of Iron Age Europeans are so well preserved in peat bogs that they’re sometimes mistaken for modern murder victims.

A scanning electron micrograph of ‘Mycobacterium tuberculosis’ particles (colorized red), the bacterium that causes TB.

6 of the World’s Oldest Diseases

Ailments as diverse as tooth decay and malaria have caused suffering for thousands, even millions, of years—and they’re not done with us yet.

Say hello to the world's cutest research assistant.

Sea Lions With Cameras Collect Valuable (and Adorable) Footage of the Ocean Floor

Sea lion camera crews are helping scientists map uncharted waters.

What’s the Word for When You Can’t Remember a Word?

There's a fancy term for forgetting a word—'lethologica.'

Air pollution may keep these pollinators from doing their jobs.

Air Pollution May Prevent Bees From Smelling Flowers

Air pollution is making it hard for bees to pollinate flowers.

Blue jeans can be an important forensic tool.

Jean Theory: How the FBI Has Solved Crimes Using Denim

The distinctive wear patterns on your Levi's could put you behind bars.

Climate Change Is Making Seafood Dangerous to Eat

Mercury in seafood is another growing concern thanks to global warming.

Red eyes are a hallmark of many albino creatures.

Why Do Albino Animals Have Red Eyes?

It has nothing to do with red pigment.

Dogs Can Smell Our Stress—And It's Contagious

Dog emotions are in tune with humans’—including stress.

A few yards of clear air means the difference between a tornado and a funnel cloud.

Tornado vs. Funnel Cloud: What's the Difference?

People often confuse funnel clouds with tornadoes, but they're not the same. Learn how to tell the two apart.

Rosemary Fowler (seated) receives her doctorate from Sir Paul Nurse, chancellor of the University of Bristol, at a ceremony at Darwin College, Cambridge, UK.

A 98-Year-Old Physicist Finally Got Her Ph.D., 75 Years After Her Major Discovery

Rosemary Fowler discovered a type of subatomic particle, the kaon—but left the university before earning her doctorate.

Transorbital lobotomies have now entered the chat.

10 Riveting Nonfiction Books on History’s Greatest Medical Mysteries

These gory yet fascinating reads delve into the weirdest chapters of medical history, from the dancing plague of 1518 to the bizarre saga of Typhoid Mary.

See Why Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo Is Called 'The Lightning Capital of the World'

Learn how Lake Maracaibo's electrifying climate makes it the number one hotspot for lightning storms.

These gentle giants have so much history.

New Study Sheds Light on the Greenland Shark's Record-Breaking Lifespan

Scientists are closer to understanding how Greenland sharks can survive for hundreds of years.

Tons of melting ice in Greenland and Antarctica is making Earth’s days just a teeny bit longer.

Global Warming Is Making Earth Days Longer, New Studies Show

Melting polar ice is slowing Earth’s rotation speed, extending the length of each day by a few milliseconds per century.

The San Andreas Faultline north of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles May Survive the Worst of the “Big One,” According to a New Earthquake Simulation

The nightmare scenario described in an influential 2008 study may end up being less destructive than scientists thought, but Angelenos still shouldn't get too comfortable.

Typical northern lights over Longyearbyen. The “exceptionally gigantic” polar rain aurora was even bigger.

An “Exceptionally Gigantic” Polar Rain Aurora Blanketed the Arctic Sky

The ultra-rare event puzzled scientists for more than a year—but a new study suggests that “polar rain” and a lack of solar wind caused the ginormous aurora.

How Do Astronauts Get Drinking Water on the ISS?

Astronauts spending time at the International Space Station stay hydrated with a refreshing, filtered blend of recycled shower water and pee.

Three human-like figures and a large pig are drawn on a limestone cave wall.

A 51,200-Year-Old Cave Painting Might Be the World’s Oldest Narrative Art

The drawing of three human figures with a pig was discovered in an Indonesian cave—and might be the world’s oldest art that tells a story.

Detail of a diorama of a Neanderthal mother and child at the Moravian Provincial Museum in Brno, Czech Republic.

Neanderthals Cared for a Child with Down Syndrome

A fossilized ear bone supports the idea that Neanderthals helped raise the child collectively and altruistically.

PREV NEXT