How a Mistaken Translation Created a Famous Myth
Picture two dragons circling above two very different worlds. One twists through clouds, summons rain and symbolizes authority, vitality and good fortune. The other... Read more.
The City That Runs on Geothermal Heat Like a Giant Kettle
Beneath Reykjavík’s streets lies an energy system shaped by the same geological forces that built Iceland’s volcanoes, lava fields, and hot springs. Naturally... Read more.
Why Some Volcanoes Make Blue Lava (And What It Really Is)
Photographs of electric-blue flames spilling down the rocky walls of Indonesia’s Kawah Ijen crater look almost too strange to be real. They are frequently described... Read more.
Why the World’s Most Isolated Island Has a Mystery Disease
Remote Island Science Far out in the Southern Ocean, a steep-sided volcanic island rises from cold, restless water and disappears beneath glaciers, clouds, and fog.... Read more.
How an Elephant Can Hear Thunder from Miles Away
How Elephants Hear Thunder From Miles Away A storm may still be beyond the horizon when its deepest rumbles begin moving through the atmosphere and vibrating the... Read more.
Why the Earth Has a Second, Hidden Magnetic Field Reversal Story
Earth’s Magnetic Field Reversals Explained Beneath our feet, a vast ocean of electrically conducting liquid metal is constantly moving. That motion helps generate... Read more.
The Secret Code Hidden in Medieval Cathedral Windows
Hidden Meanings in Medieval Cathedral Windows Enter a medieval cathedral on a bright day and the stone interior can seem to dissolve into color. Reds, blues, greens,... Read more.
Why the Dead Sea Isn’t Actually Dead
An extreme lake with a living story At first glance, the Dead Sea appears to deserve its dramatic name. Its intensely salty water supports no fish, aquatic plants,... Read more.
How Ancient Greeks Built a “Robot” Theater with Water Power
Ancient Greek Automata: How Mechanics, Water, and Theater Created Early Machine Spectacles Picture a crowd gathered in the ancient Mediterranean as doors open by... Read more.
The Strange Reason Some Birds Sleep While Flying
High above the ocean, a great frigatebird may appear fully alert as it circles inside a rising column of air. Its wings remain extended, its body follows the curve... Read more.