Articles

Sample of Niku Udon.

Japan's Most Mouthwatering Dishes Are Made of Plastic

Discover <i>sampuru</i>, the art of mind-blowingly realistic fake food

New models of ocean currents suggest that the oceanic gyres thought to collect garbage actually have "exit doors" that allow plastic to eventually wash up on the shores of North and South America.

Age of Humans

The Ocean's Great Garbage Patches Might Have Exit Doors

Garbage isn't destined to swirl in the ocean forever; new models show it eventually washes up on shore.

Gorona del Viento, a hybrid power station on El Hierro that generates energy using both wind and water, has five windmills.

Future of Energy

In the Canary Islands, Tiny El Hierro Strives for Energy Independence

A photojournalist goes behind the scenes at a hybrid power station that could help the island reach its goal to be powered entirely by renewables

What Is a Rattlesnake's Rattle Actually Made Of?

Each time rattlesnakes shed their skin, a scale remains behind which, in time, becomes the infamous rattle

An eastern wolf in Ontario's Algonquin Provincial Park.

Rare Wolf or Common Coyote? It Shouldn't Matter, But It Does

The concept of species is flawed, but it still has a huge bearing on conservation policy

A silverfish

New Research

Richer Homes Are Also Richer in Biodiversity

Scientists find that wealthier neighborhoods sport a greater diversity of bugs

Pankration scene: the pankriatiast on the right tries to gouge his opponent's eye; the umpire is about to strike him for this foul.

Summer Olympics

The Ancient History of Cheating in the Olympics

Punishment for cheating and bribery in the Olympics of Ancient Greece could include fines, public flogging and statewide bans from competition

Cauam Cardoso

Technology for the Poor Should Help, Not Hurt: An Interview With MIT's Cauam Cardoso

The PhD candidate is working on ways to systematically evaluate new technologies for the developing world

How to Visit the Florida Keys Like a NASA Aquanaut

To prepare for space, astronauts spend some time under the sea

The Amazing Rise of Parliament's First Female Member

When Nancy Astor's husband gave up his seat in British parliament, she decided to run in his place

What Does a Beer Historian Do?

The American History museum’s latest job opening made headlines. But what does the job actually entail?

Engraving of a woolly mammoth.

New Research

Solving a Mystery of Mammoth Proportions

Dwindling freshwater sealed the demise of the St. Paul woolly mammoths, and could still pose a threat today

Not always your friend.

A Neuroscientist Tells You What’s Wrong With Your Brain

Dean Burnett’s new book, Idiot Brain, explains why your mind evolved to thwart you

This artist's conception shows a dim red dwarf surrounded by three planets. To hold life at their surface, red dwarf planets must orbit close to their star, putting them in the line of fire from dangerous flares.

Think Big

Why the Universe Is Becoming More Habitable

The universe is far more welcoming to life today than it was when microbes on Earth arose—and will only grow more so

A pair of Scinax alcatraz frogs discreetly lay their eggs in a water-filled plant.

When Frogs Pull the Curtain: The Benefits of Mating in Secret

Smithsonian's new curator of frogs explains why some frogs seek privacy when they mate

Municipal solid waste (aka garbage) being burned in an incinerator; this incinerator can handle 17 tons of trash an hour.

Age of Humans

Is Sustainable Trash-Burning a Load of Rubbish?

Some experts say it lets us get away with producing more and more garbage.

Five Ways National Parks Are Embracing Technology

Cell phones and other screens don't have to detract from the park experience

Director Guillermo del Toro Shares the Monsters in His Closet With the Public

The filmmaker talks about artifacts from his collection that are featured in the LACMA's new exhibition, <i>At Home with Monsters</i>

Convicted bank robber, Patty Hearst arrest photo

How the Abduction of Patty Hearst Made Her an Icon of the 1970s Counterculture

A new book places a much-needed modern-day lens on the kidnapping that captivated the nation

Named for photographer Barry Brown, meet the newly discovered scorpionfish Scorpaenodes barrybrowni.

On a Deep Dive in a Custom-Built Submarine, a New Species of Scorpionfish Is Discovered

A Smithsonian scientist dives deep to a coral reef and finds much to discover

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