When the Desert Blooms
Following a winter of exceptional rain, Southern California's desert wildflowers have bloomed en masse. The event is dubbed a “super bloom.”
Why Did the Amphibian Cross the Road?
Why are frogs so much more at risk of getting hit by cars in the spring time? It has to do with breeding, timing, and water.
Six Women in Science You Should Know
Six female scientists—historical and contemporary—who don’t have much name recognition but who have done important, interesting work.
A New Kind of DNA Evidence
Should familial DNA be used in forensic investigations? How it works -- and some of the potential problems with the practice.
Exploring Mexico’s Otherworldly Cave of Crystals
The Cave of Crystals is a massive cavern, filled with gigantic gypsum crystals, larger than any crystals ever before seen on Earth.
Did the Internet Kill the TV Cliffhanger?
The internet may have changed the concept of the television cliffhanger, but is it possible that knowing the ending of something increases our enjoyment?
How Did Big Pharma Get Big?
One branch of the healthcare industry that receives particular opprobrium for its high costs in America compared to other countries is pharmaceuticals.
Joseph Lister’s Antiseptic Revolution
Joseph Lister's landmark articles on antiseptic surgery in the Lancet were published 150 years ago. The revolution was not immediate.
Breaking Trail at the Iditarod, Alaska’s 1,000-Mile Dog Sled Race
Each year, Alaska hosts a 1,000-mile-long dog sled race called the Iditarod. Its founder, Joe Redington, Sr., deserves credit for preserving the sport.
How Global Warming Is Threatening Genetic Diversity
The meltwater stonefly, an insect on the leading edge of climate change, is in danger because its frigid mountain habitat is rapidly disappearing.