Latest stories
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Antarctica’s Blood Falls Seeps Red, Iron-Rich Brine From a Glacier
Antarctica’s Blood Falls stains Taylor Glacier red. Here’s how iron-rich brine escapes cold ice, and what new research reveals about its unusual color.
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Male Seahorses Give Birth. Yes, the Dads Are Pregnant.
Male seahorses carry eggs in a brood pouch, protect developing embryos and deliver tiny young through muscular contractions. Here is how it works.
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The Moon Is Moving Away From Earth About 1.5 Inches Every Year
The Moon drifts about 1.5 inches farther from Earth each year. NASA’s laser measurements reveal how tidal forces make our satellite slowly recede.
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Sea Otters Wrap Themselves in Kelp to Sleep Without Drifting Away
Sea otters use kelp as a natural anchor while resting. NOAA explains why they float on their backs, gather in rafts and sometimes wrap up in…
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A Fluffy Cloud Can Hold a Million Pounds of Water. Seriously.
A representative cumulus cloud can contain roughly 1.1 million pounds of water. Here is the USGS math and why the droplets do not fall at once.
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Butterflies Taste With Their Feet. Apparently Shoes Would Ruin Everything.
Butterflies can taste leaves, sweat and other surfaces with sensors on their feet. Here is how contact chemoreceptors help them find food and choose egg-laying plants.
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Honey Can Last for Years. But ‘Never Spoils’ Needs an Asterisk.
Honey can last for years, but moisture and fermentation complicate the claim that it never spoils. Here’s what the food science says.
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Koalas Have Human-Like Fingerprints. Here’s What That Means.
Koalas have fingerprint-like ridges surprisingly similar to humans’. Researchers have studied the resemblance—and the popular crime-scene story needs a caveat.
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Scotland’s National Animal Is a Unicorn. And Yes, It Has a Royal Backstory.
Scotland’s national animal is a unicorn. Here’s how a mythical beast became a royal symbol, why it wears chains, and where Scotland still displays it.
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The Eiffel Tower Gets Taller in Heat. The Famous Six-Inch Claim Has a Catch.
The Eiffel Tower expands when it gets hot, but the famous 15-centimeter claim is complicated. Here’s what the Tower’s own engineers say about height and sway.