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How many tectonic plates does Earth have?The number varies from a dozen to almost 100 — and most of these don't even appear on official maps.
geology -
Why are animals so colorful?Neon green, ultraviolet, rainbows — the variety of colors animals can make seem endless. Here's why they make this profusion of color.
animals -
What is the most colorful animal on Earth?Neon green, ultraviolet, rainbows — the variety of colors animals can make seem endless.
animals -
Baby Moby Dick? Rare white humpback whale calf filmed off AustraliaThe latest footage follows two other sightings of all-white, newborn humpback calves — but experts aren't convinced these whales are albino like the famous Migaloo.
whales -
What is the biggest spider in the world?From spiders the size of dinner plates, to others with inch-long fangs, these mythically-large arachnids roam the earth.
spiders-arachnids -
Viral video of deer eating a snake isn't as weird as you might thinkDeer are known to behead chicks and chew on their legs and wings. They have also been observed gnawing on bones from decomposing human corpses.
land-mammals -
What's the difference between race and ethnicity?Race and ethnicity are terms that are sometimes used sloppily, almost interchangeably. But race and ethnicity are not the same thing.
genetics -
Which animals are most likely to survive climate change?What animal species will survive projected future droughts, rising temperatures and habitat loss?
climate-change -
Are Dogs Really Smiling at Us?Is this expression really a smile?
dogs -
Do animals grieve?Elephants gather round their dead, dogs go into decline and chimpanzees stop eating when their companions die. Is this grief, as humans know it?
primates -
What's the biggest group of animals ever recorded on Earth?For these gregarious animals, 'alone time' is a fantasy.
animals -
How did doctors perform surgery before modern anesthesia?The history of anesthesia in surgery was grisly, painful and occasionally very dubious.
surgery -
Which animals sing?It's often assumed that birds are the only animals that sing. But these other divas of the animal kingdom prove otherwise.
primates -
What's the chattiest animal?Some animals lead quiet lives, while others prefer constant chatter. Why do some animals vocalize more than others, and what are they saying?
primates -
Do animals hug each other?Comfort, consolation and conflict avoidance are just some of the reasons animals embrace.
primates -
Was Manhattan really sold for $24 worth of beads and trinkets?In 1626, native people purportedly sold Manhattan to the Dutch for a pittance. But there are problems with this story that we shouldn't overlook.
human-behavior -
How do we turn oil into plastic?Here's how crude oil becomes plastic.
chemistry -
What's the first species humans drove to extinction?Which species died out first because of humans?
extinct-species -
What would happen to Earth if humans went extinct?Lacking human oversight, glitches in oil refineries and nuclear plants could lead to fires, nuclear explosions and fallout.
planet-earth -
What could drive humans to extinction?Pandemics, climate change, artificial intelligence: these are just some of the wide-ranging threats to humanity's survival. But they all have one factor in common...
artificial-intelligence -
Why was whaling so big in the 19th century?For centuries, we plundered the ocean's depths, hauling up whales by the thousands. But what was the purpose of this dangerous and destructive industry?
human-behavior -
Why Do We Have Fingerprints?human-behavior -
How Many Calories Can the Brain Burn by Thinking?Our brains are ravenous, guzzling up to a quarter of the body's energy. So thinking really hard should be an easy way to burn more calories — right?
neuroscience -
Why do pigeons bob their heads?Head-bobbing might make pigeons look ridiculous, but there's a practical purpose behind this very strange display.
birds
