SARS came and went -- which seems like a real glass-is-half-full potential outcome for the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. Unfortunately, there's a small pile of reasons why it's unlikely that we'll see the same miraculous contagion disappearing act this time around.
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"Small and kind of cute" doesn't necessarily mean "small and kind of cute and harmless," as any Peter Dinklage fan knows. Add "kind of cute, for something boneless" and it doesn't change. Case in point: the blue-ringed octopus. Small, and kind of cute, but astonishingly deadly.
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If you were one of the thousands who watched the SpaceX launch, you might have noticed that the feed came from Florida. A lot of space shuttles and rockets take off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, and there's a reason for it. But no, it isn't because astronauts get to enjoy the fun and sun.
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Between overwhelmed aunts, the folks at your church, and coworkers who won't stop pumping in the break room, there's a good chance you know somebody perpetually pregnant. Now, researchers have found a marsupial that double-bunks its pregnancies like it's running a shady hostel in its womb.
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The humble cicada begins its life as an egg, so small as to be imperceptible to all but the most astute. Then, like fossil fuels and the Uruk-hai, they emerge from the firmament and make everyone's life hell.
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Some people might tell you that once they hit Earth, meteorites go to live on a farm with other meteorites, where they can run through the fields together and chase rabbits. Some people would be wrong.
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Anything that happens in a bathroom on Earth is a little more problematic in space, but they've got that figured out, too. For instance, how many of us keep a scale in the bathroom?
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Imagine a world without cell phones. It's hard for most people, since cell phones are so ingrained into everyday life. However, if you lived in Green Bank, West Virginia, you wouldn't be able to text anyone, let alone take social media photos.
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Play a game long enough and eventually, you'll find yourself seeing it everywhere, or seeing changes in your body. This is particularly true for games involving patterns, like Tetris, where colored objects fit together like a puzzle. This phenomenon even has a name: the "Tetris effect."
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If worse comes to worst, if it all goes south, and you're waaaaay up there in space, what specifically goes down? What do you do with a dead body?
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Researchers have found as many as 130 viruses carried by bats. But the bats don't get sick. Why not?
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How is it that tales of overwhelming (or not-so-overwhelming) woe seem to hijack the human brain so reliably?
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Given the same access to, say, strength-building tools and exercise, how strong will an average woman be?
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Isn't a coma basically just being asleep? How bad can a coma really be? Well, a coma is a horrific condition in so many ways that you've probably never imagined. That being said, a coma is far from a simple state of being. Here's what happens to your body when you're in a coma.
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For the first time in nearly a decade, astronauts were set to take off from American soil as a joint venture between NASA and SpaceX prepared to slip the surly bonds of Earth. Then, at just T-17 minutes, the mission was scrubbed. Here's why.
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As children, we heard stories about the North Star. These weren't just stories, the North Star - Polaris - is actually a very important star for humanity.
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Most dream experiences don't feel like the dreamer is in control. Lucid dreaming offers a different experience.
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One person's pet snake (fetchingly referred to as "Rocky the Boa") is another person's nightmare, and someone's beloved, hairless Xoloitzcuintli might strike another as the world's weirdest dog. So what counts as weird — especially, with cats? It's all relative.
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Stars, those mesmerizing points of light in the night sky, have fascinated human beings since forever.
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Teleportation. No commute to the office, just step into the chamber and push the button and POW you're at your cash register at Quick Stop Groceries, just in time for your shift. That'd be really cool. But does it actually exist?
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The human beard is a weird line in the sand, biologically speaking. What is the scientific reason behind the beard? Researchers may have an explanation.
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If a snake tries to give you the kiss of death, there are steps you should take to minimize the damage.
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The human body may be a wonderland, but it's also capable to do all sorts of things that will potentially cause trouble in the cold void of space. Take sneezing, for instance.
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If ever you find yourself getting attacked by a swarm of bees, here's the short answer -- you ought to run.
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Nearly everything involved currently with space travel involves pots and pots of money. Space suits are no exception.
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An average of only 10 alligator attacks occur in the U.S. per year -- but it's a more exciting prospective nightmare than realizing you're locked into an upside down mortgage. What do you do when Florida's biome decides to turn you into a Peter Pan villain?
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Most people see airplane food and think of slop. Airlines try their best, but unless you're in the most expensive airline seat, airplane food often brings joyless dining experiences. There's a reason for that, and part of the blame lies with the traveler.
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