The Souls of Magnets
Lodestones are dull, lumpy, and slate-gray, but their “magnetic intelligence” made them fabulously expensive.
The Miyawaki Method: A Better Way to Build Forests?
India’s forest production company is following the tenets of the master Japanese botanist, restoring biodiversity in resource-depleted communities.
Could a Trillion Trees Really Save the Planet?
Scientists think that planting trees could reverse climate change, but planting trees isn't as simple as it sounds.
How Eco-Conscious is Your Eco-Tour?
Wildlife sighting business is booming. Here’s how to choose the tour operators that care about the animals.
The Submerged History of the Submarine
Submarines played a major role in Word War I. But the first submersible was actually used, though unsuccessfully, in the Revolutionary War.
Big Brains Are Hard to Grow
Human brains take a long time, and a lot of energy, to grow to their mature state. This may well be an evolutionary tradeoff for having such big brains.
Will AI Restore Our Sense of Wonder?
According to philosopher Max Weber, science led to humanity's disenchantment. But reaching AI Singularity might spark our sense of wonder all over again.
How Does the Body Make Vitamin D from Sunlight?
A Curious Reader asks: How exactly does exposure to sunlight cause the the human body to synthesize Vitamin D3?
Is Alcoholism a Moral Failing?
Cultural explanations for alcoholism have changed significantly throughout the years, sometimes blaming social problems, sometimes psychological.
Why Deep-Sea Creatures Get Weirdly Giant
A giant squid sighting has us wondering all over again: how on earth do deep-sea creatures get so large?