Charles Darwin and His Correspondents: A Lifetime of Letters
An epistolary network was critical for Darwin’s work, allowing him to obtain new information while sparking fresh ideas in his correspondents’ minds.
A Brief Guide to Birdwatching in the Age of Dinosaurs
Archaeopteryx and Hesperornis should be on the lists of any dino bird watcher.
NASA’s Search for Life on Mars
It’s a rocky road for its rovers, a long slog for scientists—and back on Earth, a battle of the budget.
Beware the Volcanoes of Alaska (and Elsewhere)
The 43 BCE eruption of Alaska’s Okmok volcano created the (cold) climate context for the fall of the Roman Republic and the birth of the Roman Empire.
“Spaghettification”: How Black Holes Stretch Objects into Oblivion
Want to avoid getting “spaghettified” by a black hole? Steer clear of the smaller ones.
The Ocean Vents Where Life on Earth Likely Began
In a recent paper, biologists outlined a three-part hypothesis for how all life as we know it began.
Total Solar Eclipse, 2024 Edition
A total solar eclipse crosses North America on Monday, April 8. Be prepared!
Dragon Swallows the Sun: Predicting Eclipses in China
China had a long history of astronomy before the arrival of Europeans, but the politics of absolute rule led to the eventual embrace of Western methods.
How Astronomers Write History
Scientists’ approach to dating past eclipses changed when they stopped treating classical texts as authoritative records.