Articles
Explore our collection of articles covering a wide range of topics.
How do termites build towering, air-conditioned skyscrapers out of mud?
They are tiny, blind, and use only mud, yet they construct towering, climate-controlled skyscrapers with an architectural genius we are only just beginning to understand.
Why do pinecones open and close all by themselves?
Believe it or not, every pinecone is a tiny, natural weather station that knows exactly when to open its scales or clamp shut. Discover the simple yet brilliant secret behind this forest phenomenon.
Why has a US town been continuously on fire for over sixty years?
Beneath the cracked streets of a forgotten Pennsylvania town, a subterranean fire has raged nonstop since 1962, fueled by a massive vein of coal that could keep it burning for another 250 years.
Why do some nursing homes build fake bus stops that go nowhere?
What seems like a cruel prank is actually a profound act of compassion. Discover the beautiful and heartbreaking reason these phantom bus stops provide a safe harbor for residents with dementia.
Why does a magnet fall in slow motion through a non-magnetic copper tube?
It’s a baffling trick of physics that seems to defy logic. Discover the invisible force that allows a non-magnetic copper tube to put the brakes on a falling magnet, slowing it to a mesmerizing crawl.
Why were ancient marble statues once painted in shockingly bright colors?
Those serene, white marble statues we revere are a beautiful lie; they were originally covered in a riot of garish colors for a reason that will completely change how you see the ancient world.