life's little mysteries

Lead aprons were designed to protect reproductive organs from radiation. But are they actually necessary?

All species experience the bodily changes of puberty, but the social lessons that define the shift from childhood to adulthood are more nuanced.

If a cat kneads on your lap, it's likely because it feels safe around you. But why do they knead in the first place?

Crabby bodies are so evolutionarily favorable, they've evolved at least five different times. So why does this process, known as carcinization, keep happening?

Is the longest-lasting civilization China, ancient Egypt or Mesopotamia? Here's a look at the evidence for each of these enduring cultures.

The Greek writer Plutarch proposed this question: If a ship's planks are replaced over time due to wear and tear until none of the original pieces remain, is it still the same ship?

The chemicals that make food spicy don't target taste receptors, but rather temperature receptors in the tongue.

What it's like to skydive through a cloud depends in part on the type of cloud, but regardless, you'll likely end up cold and wet.

Artificial lights can be deadly to the insects that fly around them, so why do these critters do it?

Snakes have anatomy that helps them hear, you just can't see it when they slither by.