Plant of the Month: Fuchsia
Too popular for its own good? The career of a flower so powerfully beautiful, fashion would inevitably declare it over.
The Physics of Karate
A human hand has the power to split wooden planks and demolish concrete blocks. A trio of physicists investigated why this feat doesn't shatter our bones.
Why Hasn’t NASA Sent Anyone to Mars?
The Perseverance mission to Mars represents a considerable step forward for the space program. But are rovers as good as it gets?
Plant of the Month: Venus Flytrap
The carnivorous plant, native to the Carolinas, has beguiled botanists and members of the public alike since the eighteenth century.
Dry Ice Will Help Keep COVID-19 Vaccines Cold
A brief history of dry ice, aka solid carbon dioxide, shows why some coronavirus vaccines will benefit from its use.
Our Long-Running Love Affair with Pigeons
Through crazes of pigeon-fancying, these birds have been reshaped into a dizzying variety of forms.
How Yellowstone Extremophile Bacteria Helped With Covid-19 Testing
The heat-resistant enzyme from Thermus aquaticus is used in PCR testing to detect pathogens.
COVID-19 Causes Some Patients’ Immune Systems to Attack Their Own Bodies
Severe infection is linked with autoantibody production.
The Unsung Heroine of Lichenology
Elke Mackenzie’s moments of self-citation illuminate the hopes of someone who, against ease and tradition, did not wish to separate her identity from her research.
The History Behind the Roller Skating Trend
Since its invention in 1743, roller skating has been tied to Black social movements.