SCIENCE

This one‘s a juvenile female, according to the Marine Megafauna Foundation.

Newly Identified Manta Ray Species Can Grow as Big as a Van

The newly identified Atlantic manta ray is officially a distinct species.

A massive thunderstorm turns the sky dark over a field in Sweden.

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.

Digital blood pressure monitors allow people to check their systolic and diastolic numbers at home.

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.

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.

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.

11 of the Biggest Earthquakes in History

From a surprise temblor in the Mississippi Valley to colossal ruptures and tsunamis around the Pacific Ring of Fire, these are some of the biggest earthquakes in modern times.

Did Einstein Really Say That?

The Nobel Prize-winning physicist often commented on science, the universe, and humanity. But which deep thoughts are really his?

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.

How Your Android Phone Can Alert You to Earthquakes Before You Feel Them

Every second counts when it comes to earthquakes, and Android‘s AEA system is changing how people prepare for one of nature’s most unpredictable disasters.

This unsupervised child is getting a taste of long-term neurological damage.

The Reason You Shouldn’t Drink From Your Garden Hose

Tempting though it may be, sipping from a hose is inviting a whole lot of health problems.

Is it there for aesthetic value or something more?

Why Do Electrical Plugs Have Holes in the Prongs?

The original reason electrical plugs had holes isn’t the reason they still have holes these days. Discover the history behind their evolution here.

7-Eleven convenience stores will soon be getting many deliveries from autonomous robots.

7-Eleven’s New Delivery Robots Are Using Public Transportation in China

A growing trend in automation is reshaping how everyday items reach store shelves in Shenzhen, China.

Surprising Partnership Between Ocelots and Opossums Captured By Trail Cameras

Scientists in the Amazon have discovered a rare and puzzling bond between ocelots and opossums—two species typically seen as predator and prey.

Get the facts straight about your favorite AI chatbots.

5 Misconceptions About AI

If you’ve ever caught yourself sympathizing with ChatGPT, you may have fallen for one of these common misconceptions about AI.

A vehicle makes its way through flooded streets during a recent storm.

What’s Really in Floodwater—and Why It’s More Dangerous Than You Think

With flooding on the rise across the U.S., understanding what’s in the water is critical to protecting yourself and your loved ones.

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?

Surfers are used to getting mouthfuls of saltwater.

Why Are Oceans Salty?

The salt in the ocean comes from two main sources: rocks on land and vents at the bottom of the sea.

Killer whales are intelligent creatures, and scientists have recently discovered a new behavior among the species.

Orca Whales Seen Giving Each Other Exfoliating Kelp “Massages”

New research suggests orcas may be using kelp to connect with each other and even exfoliate.

Mapped: The States With the Most Tornadoes

One state had the lion’s share of tornadoes between 2020 and 2024—but a different state sustained the most monetary damage.

The mushroom cloud forms seconds after the Trinity atomic bomb test on July 16, 1945.

10 Explosive Facts About the Trinity Nuclear Test

Eighty years after the first atomic bomb was detonated in New Mexico, we’re still feeling the political and scientific shockwaves.

15 of the World’s Funkiest Fungi

There's a big wide world beyond common molds and mushrooms—and some of it is very strange.

Biologists have created a marine animal database, from the smallest to the largest known species.

Biologists Launch Most Comprehensive Database of Marine Animal Body Sizes to Date

Scientists have made the first comprehensive marine wildlife size database to help scientists better understand ocean ecosystems.

The Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre is like something out of a dream.

Australia’s Lake Eyre Turns Pink After Flooding for the Fourth Time in 160 Years

Australia’s largest salt lake, Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, is currently a rare and stunning waterscape.

Prettier to look at than they are to actually swim with.

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?