Archaeological evidence now supports the idea that the city of Troy was not only larger and more important than previously realized, but that it also may have been able to withstand a ten year siege, just as Homer reported in the Iliad. Was the war really about the kidnapping of Helen? Or might it have been about the city’s overwhelming power? Read to find out.
It’s easy enough for most of us to identify different types of intelligence in human beings. After all, we’re human, and we know a lot about our own kind. But have you ever wondered how people identify types of intelligence in animals? Check out this summary of ways that we identify and evaluate intelligence in the non-human world.
In this article, we take a look at some of the reasons why people need to step away from their computers and head outside.
With advances in digital and microscopic imagery, a new film entitled “Mysteries of the Unseen World” is showing viewers everyday items from perspectives their eyes would never allow them to see. Watch this interview with Louie Schwartzberg, the film’s director, to learn more.
People often refuse to see facts that disprove a common belief. This excerpt from the book You Are Now Less Dumb by David McRaney examines why we stick to easily-disproved ideas and how we can get smarter about what we see and think.
A family of six spent two days stranded in the freezing Nevada wilderness. Read this article to learn how they survived their ordeal.
Alec Smith, age 17, risked his own life to save a child from a dangerous river. He received the Carnegie Medal for his heroism.
Every year, thousands of people die from the flu. However, the methods used to make flu vaccines are slow. Read this article to find out about the researchers who are on a quest to find new, faster ways to make vaccines.
Trees that seem to reach out to sting you? A plant that poisons milk and killed Abraham Lincoln’s mother? A bean used in assassinations? Check out this list of plants we should fear, some of which may live in our very own homes!
Journeying through South America, Alexander von Humboldt sought nothing less than “the unity of nature.”
Researchers have discovered that our brains are much better at remembering positive events than negative ones. How does optimism play a role in survival? Read this article to find out more.
Does America’s energy future depend on fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, or alternative energy, such as solar and wind power? According to author Michael Levi, Americans should embrace both forms of energy. Read this article to find out how Americans can find common ground on this important issue.
Nature not only has the power to stir human emotions—it also has the power to kill us. This website details the dangers hidden in a beautiful river and how to avoid them.
The world is packed with scary animals. Luckily, most live a long, long way away. Check out this top ten list of frightening animals, including explanations of why they’re scary. You’ll recognize some of them, but others may be quite a surprise.
We’ve all heard the analogy of the frog that allows itself to be boiled to death because it doesn’t notice the gradual change of temperature in the pot. People often cite this story to show the danger of overlooking a gradual change—but of course, it’s completely false. A noted science writer explains the truth.
Lions and tigers and bears—and cougars, leopards, cheetahs, chimpanzees, lemurs, anacondas, and pythons—are sometimes kept as pets. How wise is it for people to keep dangerous exotic animals? Visit this site to learn the Humane Society’s opinion and arguments about whether anyone should keep an exotic pet.
We may be the only species that produces poetry, but animals communicate, too! Watch this video to learn how orcas, also known as killer whales, communicate with humans and each other.
The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami severely damaged Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Read this article about how local residents are planting sunflowers not only to help absorb radiation leaked from the damaged reactors but also to bring hope to local residents.
Changes that happen in nature can be a source of surprising art. In this article, Anna Norris discusses how microbiology and visual design merge to create a new art form.
Is it time to drop that controller, switch off that television, and head outdoors? This article reports the results of a scientific study of whether exposure to natural settings improves cognition. Perhaps the American Romantics were right about the effects of nature on imagination and thought. Read to find out.
