A stamp depicted the first earthling in space, Laika, a dog.

Laika: The First Earthling in Space

The first Earthling was Laika, a Russian mongrel found on the streets of Moscow.
A brine shrimp looking towards the camera

Sea Monkeys Make the Ocean Go ‘Round

Turns out ocean currents might be created by…sea monkeys? Seriously.
operation argus

Declassifying Operation Argus

Operation Argus marked the first time the earth’s magnetic field was visualized experimentally. 
A leopard crouched where a vehicle left tracks

Indian Leopards Living High on the Dog

Unbeknownst to unsuspecting residents, a large number of leopards are prowling the fields and backyards of populated agricultural lands in India. 
Stuffed Passenger Pigeon atop a wooden perch

Passengers Long Gone

Martha, last of the passenger pigeons. 
Mohawk Mesolite, a crystalized mineral spray.

2014 is the International Year of Crystallography

UNESCO has declared 2014 to be the International Year of Crystallography.
A close-up of a cell fossil

The Mystery of Megasphaera

When did animals first come into being? It might have been millions of years earlier than we thought.
Fossilized bone of Psittacosaurus liujiatunensis

Recession Lessons from an Ancient Fossil Bed

In a 120-million-year-old rock in Northeast China, paleontologists made a remarkable find.
Illustration from 1411 depicting Moses standing between two individuals laying down and covered with boils

Infection Control 600 Years Before the CDC

Modern health authorities combating the Ebola virus in West Africa might look to medieval infection control for inspiration.