The Past
Ancient physics: How Democritus predicted the atom
Democritus also did not believe in free will but was still known as the "laughing philosopher."
Did Earth eat the protoplanet it crashed into long ago?
A new study makes a compelling case for the origin of unexplained masses of underground rock causing changes to the Earth's magnetic field.
Lightning may have provided a key mineral for early life on Earth
How do you get usable phosphorus into a system? A new study suggests lightning can do the trick.
42,000 years ago Earth experienced “end of days” with mass extinctions
A reversal in Earth's magnetic field 42,000 years ago triggered climate catastrophes and mass extinctions. Can the field flip again?
Study reveals a “boring” era when Earth was flat, with no mountains
A study of europium crystals shows the planet was mostly flat during its middle ages.
10 pieces of wisdom from Roman emperors
Even tyrants and despots offer wisdom worth heeding.
Ornamental dinosaur frills seem to have evolved thanks to sexual selection
While other factors exist, sexual prowess appears to have helped determine the role of Protoceratops frills.
New animation shows a billion years of continental drift
A new model of plate tectonics offers a chance to look back a billion years with new found accuracy.
Talking with your hands alters the perception of your words
A new study found that words are more accurately heard when accompanied by hand gestures.
A 62-year-old Russian mystery (and conspiracy theory) has been solved
Some mysteries take generations to unfold.
What early US presidents looked like, according to AI-generated images
"Deepfakes" and "cheap fakes" are becoming strikingly convincing — even ones generated on freely available apps.
Bitcoin and blockchain 101: Why the future will be decentralized
A crash course in the history of money, the birth of Bitcoin, and blockchain technology.
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A brand-new blue may be the most eye-popping blue yet
Meet a spectacular new blue—the first inorganic new blue in some time.