The Space Shuttle Challenger Exploded 30 Years Ago
Even at the White House, they watched it first on TV. When the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 30 years ago—on Jan. 28, 1986—and killed the …
Why Interstellar Travel Has Suddenly Become a Realistic Goal
It takes a bold person to declare that interstellar travel is now within our grasp. Physicist Stephen Hawking has shown that he is just that, …
Why This Summer Is So Hot—And Why the Future Will Be So Much Hotter
A massive heat wave stretching from sea to shining sea is hitting the U.S. this week, promising temperatures well above 100°F in large swaths of …
New Tarantula Species Named After Johnny Cash
A new species of tarantula discovered near Folsom State Prison in California has fittingly been named for the country singer Johnny Cash, who memorialized the …
What Would You Do If You Could Enhance Your Brain?
Modern science can enhance your alertness, athletic performance, sex drive, health—and even your mind. “Cognitive enhancement” drugs, also known as “smart pills” can boost attention …
How to Keep Companies Honest About Fighting Climate Change
Going green is the latest corporate trend—but it can be tough to separate the companies that are actually making major environmental commitments from those that …
This Is What Polonium-210 Does to the Body
A judge in the United Kingdom confirmed Thursday that former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko, who died in London in 2006, was killed by a fatal …
How Rwanda Turned a Toxic Menace Into a Source of Power
Lake Kivu, straddling the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, offers a landscape of extraordinary beauty, framed by towering volcanoes and lush …
These Fish Species Are Most Vulnerable to Climate Change
Scallop and salmon are among the species of fish most vulnerable to the warming of ocean waters due to climate change, according to new research. …
Arctic Winter Sea Ice Hits a Record Low Amid Higher Temperatures
A record warm winter drove sea ice in the Arctic to a record winter low, according to a new government report. The sea ice over …