Mercury against a black sky

Where in the Solar System is Vulcan?

A hypothetical Planet Vulcan was the best explanation for strange astrological phenomena—until Einstein, that is. 
American Eel

For the Endangered American Eel, A Long, Slippery Road to Recovery

The endangered American eel, once abundant along the U.S. East Coast, is critically important in keeping rivers ecologically sound.
Black and white drawings of Neanderthals and other early men

Neanderthals Were Smarter Than You Think

Neanderthals, suggest recent studies, had complex societies and even some culture.
An updated periodic chart divided into a cube bookcase

What’s in a Name (Of An Element)?

Chemists recently announced the names of four newly discovered elements. Naming elements is serious business, and not without controversy.
Cecil the Lion

No, Trophy Hunting Won’t Protect Wildlife

Killing wildlife to save it isn't a viable strategy. We can create diverse, self-sustaining ecosystems without trophy hunting.
Black and white illustration of three dung beetles surrounding a mound

The Amazingly Complex World of Insect Navigation

Dung beetles, ants, and other insects navigate in mysterious ways.
Trumpeter swan

Climate Change’s Winners?

Climate change may be helping some species thrive. But as evidenced by cephalopods and swans, where one species wins, another loses.
Dr. Walter Edmondson, doctor known for his participation in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, taking a blood test from an unidentified patient

The Lasting Fallout of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study

A recent paper provides evidence that the Tuskegee Syphilis Study reduced the life expectancy of African-American men.
Bacon in a cast iron pan

The Reason You Don’t Have to Grocery Shop Every Day

Food preservatives are a major part of how we live now. But who invented them?
Male bronze-winged jacana

A Father’s Day Shout Out to Animal Dads

This Father's Day, consider some of the busiest, quirkiest, and hardest working dads around—animal dads like the the jacana, Darwin's frog, and seahorse.