9 Worst Math Blunders Of All Time
It's easy to doubt that the things taught in math classes are important to everyday life, but in reality, small mathematical errors have proven catastrophic.
Read MoreArchive for June 2025
Back to Archive IndexAlgebra (1)
Astronomy (8)
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9 Most Bizarre Sounds Scientists Ever Recorded From Space
It's popularly understood that no one can hear you scream in space, and yet, scientists have captured some pretty strange noises emanating from the cosmos.
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There's A Startling Number Of People Who Can't See The Milky Way Galaxy
The Milky Way galaxy is famous for the light it trails through the sky, but many people have probably never seen it. Here's the reason why that is.
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Why You Can See Stars From Earth, But Not In Some Space Photos
Looking at images of Earth from space, you might have noticed a conspicuous lack of stars, but it turns out there's a good reason for that.
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11 Mysteries About Planets In Our Solar System That Went Unsolved For Years
Given just how big space is, the solar system seems like it shouldn't be too mysterious. But there are actually plenty of questions that took years to solve.
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How Do Plants Grow In Space?
Gardening seems like the kind of thing that would only happen on Earth, not high in the sky, but plants can (and do) grow out in space. Here's how that works.
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Why Is Pluto Not A Planet Anymore?
Many people hold Pluto close in their hearts and refuse to abandon the assertion that it is a planet, although science doesn't see it that way.
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Constellations You'll Never Get To See In The Northern Hemisphere
Even though humans have been looking at the night sky for millenia, not everyone sees the same sky. Not even the constellations are same for everyone.
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8 Biggest Mysteries About Space That Scientists Can't Explain
Space is a pretty fascinating place, but it's also a very strange one. After all, there are quite a few mysteries that scientists have yet to properly explain.
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Biology (14)
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Here's Why It's Impossible For (Most) Sharks To Live In The Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are among the largest lakes in the world, but despite their size, it's highly unlikely that you'll ever encounter a shark in them.
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The 'Useless' Part Of Your Spine That's Actually Important
Many species, including humans, have vestigial organs that are thought to be useless. But this specific structure might actually be doing more than you know.
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Your Appendix May Not Be As Useless As You Think
The appendix might be known as one of the most famously useless organs, but research says that it might be undeserving of such a reputation.
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Well Actually, Dogs Aren't Totally Colorblind
It's often been said that dogs see the world in black and white, but that's not exactly the case. The truth of the matter is a bit more nuanced.
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The Difference Between A Liger Vs Tigon Explained
If you've spent any time researching big cats, you've likely come across the hybrids ligers and tigons, but what exactly sets these two cats apart?
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Will Alligators And Crocodiles Mate
It can be hard to distinguish between an alligator and a crocodile, but does that mean that they have enough in common to make crocogator babies?
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The Bodily Function That Becomes Impossible While You're Asleep
Sleep is a time of rest and relaxation, but there are actually some vital bodily functions that your body simply cannot do while you're sleeping.
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The Bodily Function Astronauts Can't Actually Do In Space
Living in outer space comes with all sorts of problems that you may not have considered, like some bodily functions just don't work the same.
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What Living Underwater Can Do To A Human Body
Mankind has spent decades exploring space and studying its effects on the body, but they're only just understanding life under the waves.
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Are Humans The Only Animal Species That Cries?
We all know what it's like to have a good cry about something, but why do humans actually cry when emotional? And do other animals do the same thing?
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Here's Why Spiders Curl Up When They Die
If you've ever had to kill a spider, you've likely noticed that all of them curl up their legs when they die, so what exactly is going on here?
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What Do Totally Blind People See? It's Not What You Think
While it might seem obvious that a person with blindness would only perceive blackness, the reality of the situation is actually more nuanced.
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Sherpas' Superhuman Ability That Makes Them So Good At Climbing Mountains
High in the Himalayas is a group of people, the Sherpa, that doesn't seem to be adversely affected by the extreme altitude, and scientists know why.
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If You've Ever Wondered Why Opossums Play Dead, Here's The Answer
America's most famous marsupial, the opossum, is renowned for its ability to escape danger by feigning death, but what's really happening here?
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Chemistry (3)
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Well Actually, Diamonds Aren't As Tough As You Think
Diamonds have a reputation as one of the hardest materials known to man, which is undoubtedly true, but they're not as tough as you think they are.
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Using Ziploc Bags Could Be Riskier Than You Think. Here's Why
Ziploc bags, whether name brand or generic, are a ubiquitous part of American kitchens, but you may want to keep your baggies out of the microwave.
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What's The Difference Between Electric Batteries Vs Regular Batteries For Cars?
As electric vehicles become more common on the roads, people are becoming more familiar with them, but few know how different their batteries are.
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Geology (2)
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Here's Why Lithium Is Such A Valuable And Expensive Metal
Lithium is at the center of a lot of current technologies, and as such, there's a considerable demand. But there are quite a few factors that go into its price.
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What Happened To Earth's Hidden Continent, Zealandia?
As far as immutable facts go, the number of continents would seem to be one of them, but is there another continent hiding in plain sight?
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Nature (31)
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If Mice Are Avoiding Your Traps, This Could Be Why
Despite how cute they are, mice aren't a pest you want in your house, partially because they're smarter than you think and can outsmart your traps.
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The Pristine Florida Beach Where Boat Tours Use One Trick To Attract Dolphins
One of Florida's most popular attractions is its resident bottle nosed dolphins, and some tour companies have found a way to guarantee you see them.
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What Are Fungus Gnats (And How Do You Get Rid Of Them)?
Nobody likes gnats and some of the worst are fungus gnats that can infest your garden and ruin your crop, but at least they're easy to get rid of.
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Here's How Often The Sahara Floods (And Why It Isn't Always A Good Thing)
The Sahara is known for being one of the driest places on Earth, but in fact, it can actually flood. Those floods aren't necessarily a good thing, though.
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Why Are Many Male Birds More Colorful Than Females?
Among the birds of the world, it is usually the males who have the brightest feathers and the females who are the most drab, but why is this so?
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Jurassic Park Lied To You About Velociraptors. Here's What They Really Looked Like
Jurassic Park undoubtedly a modern classic, but it did take some liberties with its depictions of dinosaurs, in particular the Velociraptors.
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The Myth About Daddy Longlegs You Shouldn't Believe
Daddy longlegs spiders are fairly common in the United States and are the subject of a popular myth that's probably more of a misconception.
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What Really Happens To The Ecosystem When Trees Are Cut Down
There are quite a few things that pose a threat to the ecosystem, and deforestation might be one of the worst offenders. Here's a look as to why.
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Why We're Stunned Pandas Haven't Become Extinct
The giant panda is one of the most iconic and beloved animals in the world, but honestly, it's a wonder they're still around for us to appreciate.
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Well Actually, Herbivores Will Sometimes Eat Meat
Everyone knows that herbivores only eat plants, right? Actually, that's not always the case, but who's eating the meat and why are they eating it?
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No, A Leopard And A Jaguar Aren't The Same Animal. Here's The Difference
Most people would have a hard time distinguishing a leopard from a jaguar, but they're entirely different species with unique behaviors.
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What Are Those Spiky, Round Seeds That Stick To You?
Alongside all the beauty of a hike through the woods comes the added hassle of having to remove all those spiky seeds from your clothes.
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Why We're Stunned Koalas Haven't Gone Extinct Yet
Koalas have a reputation as one of the dimmest mammals currently living, and given their preferred food source, it's a wonder they're even alive.
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Well Actually, Goldfish Don't Have Three-Second Memories
If you've ever been told you have the memory of a goldfish, you probably didn't take it kindly, but you may have actually been paid a compliment.
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How Wolves In Yellowstone Changed The Course Of Rivers
The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone has been hailed as a success by many biologists, but others claim the effects are a bit more nuanced.
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The Reason Why Bees Make Tasty Honey
Honey is unquestionably one of nature's greatest inventions, sweetening up all manner of foods, but why do bees make this sticky syrup anyway?
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The Difference Between A Tornado Watch Vs Tornado Warning Explained
Few weather phenomena pack as much power as a tornado, that's why it pays to be aware of the different levels of tornado forecasts issued by the NWS.
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The Rare Blue Bird You Can Find In Indiana's Forests Through Spring, Summer, And Fall
If you happen to be enjoying the nature in Indiana this summer, keep your eyes to the treetops to spot this striking and small rare bird.
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What If Terror Birds Never Went Extinct?
The monstrous terror bird once roamed the earth, but it didn't manage to survive into the modern day. If it did, though, the world might look quite different.
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These Theories Explain Why Squirrels Bury Some Nuts But Not Others
It's well-known that squirrels bury acorns to help them survive the winter, but how exactly do they decide on which to hoard and which to eat?
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The Largest Gorillas Ever Were From This Huge Subspecies
Among the great apes, gorillas stand out as the most massive, but there's one subspecies of gorilla in particular that is larger than all the rest.
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The Tragic Reason Why The Barbary Lion Went Extinct
The range of the Barbary lion once stretched from the shores of Morocco to the Red Sea in Egypt, but today they are all gone thanks to one species.
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What Makes Lightning Bugs Glow?
With their enchanting evening glow, fireflies are one of the most iconic aspects of suburban American life, but how does this light actually work?
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The Tragic Reason The Great Auk Went Extinct
Even though the dodo is the poster bird for human-driven extinction, the great auk stands as a better warning for the dangers of careless hunting.
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Your Dog May Be Able To Tell If Someone Hates You
If you're a dog owner, you've probably noticed that your furry companion seems to be a good judge of character, but how does your dog know this?
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The Tragic Reason Why Squirrels Run In Front Of Cars
If you have a car, you've likely had an encounter with a seemingly suicidal squirrel running in front of your car, but what drives this behavior?
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The Bizarre Parasitic Plant That Smells Like Rotting Flesh
Hidden in the jungles of Indonesia is a plant that doesn't live off of the sun, instead it gains its sustenance through parasitizing its neighbors.
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This Big Cat Isn't As Dangerous To Humans As You Might Expect
When it comes to big cats like lions or tigers, it's easy to think that all of them pose a danger to humans. But in this case, the opposite is actually true.
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Tragic Theories Why Horses Once Went Extinct In North America
Before the Spanish introduced modern horses to the New World, horses roamed wild in North America, then they disappeared, but we're not sure why.
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What If Woolly Mammoths Never Went Extinct?
Of extinct Ice Age animals, woolly mammoths are probably one of the most famous. But if they were still around, then our world would look pretty different.
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The Tragic Reason Why The Passenger Pigeon Went Extinct
At one point in the history of the U.S. one bird so dominated the skies that its flocks numbered in the tens of millions, but by 1914, it was gone.
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Physics (4)
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The Most Expensive Substance In The Universe Seemed Almost Impossible To Make
Though gold and diamonds are precious materials, they're nowhere near the most expensive thing in the universe. In fact, the numbers aren't even close.
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How Does A Rocket Steer?
When it comes to moving around, most things rely on pushing against the ground or the air or the water, so how do rockets do it in outer space?
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Why NASA Uses Half A Million Gallons Of Water During A Rocket Launch
If you've ever seen a rocket launch, you've surely noticed the massive white clouds they generate, which isn't smoke, but something more surprising.
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Here's What Your Voice Would Sound Like On Mars
Other than Earth, no other planet has been studied as much as our neighbor Mars, but despite that, we only recently discovered what it sounds like.
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Science (8)
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Here's One Big Reason Why Planes Don't Fly Over Antarctica
Airliners go just about everywhere in the world, but despite advances in air travel, there's still one place that a commercial jet won't take you.
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How Long Does It Take To Cremate A Body? It's Complicated
Cremation is a popular alternative to burial that's becoming more common, but just how long does the whole process take from start to finish?
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What Those Trails Behind Planes Really Are And What Causes Them
If you live under an air traffic corridor you've likely seen clouds behind airplanes, but are these toxic chemicals or something more benign?
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Why Don't We Eat Turkey Eggs?
Eggs are a common staple in kitchens around the world, but they're not the only egg-laying domestic bird, so how come no one eats turkey eggs?
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Why IQ Tests Have Proven Dangerous In The Wrong Hands
The well-known IQ test has a dubious legacy thanks in part to its heavy racial and ethnic biases, but some have taken it to even darker places.
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Here's How Much It Costs For One Of Elon Musk's Rockets To Launch
Getting to space isn't cheap, but SpaceX has built a reputation for getting there affordably, so how much does it cost to launch one of their rockets?
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The Hidden Danger That'll Make You Think Twice About Caving
There are few terrestrial hobbies that are as thrilling as exploring the dark recesses of a cave, but spelunking comes with some hidden dangers.
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How Scientists Predicted The Exact Year All Life On Earth Will End
You may have heard that the sun will swallow the Earth in 5 billion years, but the planet will be uninhabitable a few billion years before that.
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Technology (3)
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Here's When China Could Actually Have Flying Cars
Flying cars have been a vision of the future since the Wright brothers got off the ground, but that future appears to be just around the corner.
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Ever Wonder What Those Shark Fins On Your Car Do?
Modern cars are loaded with technological innovation that can sometimes defy explanation, for instance, what's with the shark fins on cars today?
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Here's How Tunnel Boring Machines Work (And Why They're Sometimes Buried Underground)
Tunnel boring machines have been in operation for over 200 years and they operate on the same basic principles today as they did back then.
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