life's little mysteries
Latest about life's little mysteries
![A photograph of a sunset over the ocean with a green flash around the sun.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YmLU4pBWRQxRRX29SnwUsn-320-80.jpg)
Why is there sometimes a green flash at sunset and sunrise?
By Alice Sun published
On a clear day, sometimes a green flash appears with the sun on the horizon just after sunset or before sunrise. But why does this happen?
![This illustration shows the Milky Way, our home galaxy.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D7AzRK9mDsZnBecvdMhr5Y-320-80.jpg)
Does the Milky Way orbit anything?
By Skyler Ware published
Do galaxies, including our own Milky Way, orbit anything in the universe?
![A young girl and others stands in the aisle of a grocery store with products strewn across the floor in the aftermath of an earthquake.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PE7sFDxz3jiwRQFfAUGjm-320-80.jpg)
Why do earthquakes happen far away from plate boundaries?
By Alice Sun published
It's well known that earthquakes can rock fault-filled places like the U.S. West Coast. But why do earthquakes happen in the middle of tectonic plates?
![A view of the far side of Earth's moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u9gPxkeUuqLyprJvowAaw7-320-80.jpg)
Why can't we see the far side of the moon?
By Skyler Ware published
Spacecraft have visited and photographed the far side of the moon, but why can't we see it from Earth?
![A photograph of a woman dancing in a hall of mirrors with many reflections behind her](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sjmiu3Zs4cRVXCmC22tSLf-320-80.jpg)
Can mirrors facing each other create infinite reflections?
By Sarah Wells published
Infinite mirrors are a fun party trick, but the physics behind this phenomenon explains why it may not be true.
![a photograph of a person, dog, and cat with their hands stacked on top of each other](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yYJL6VgK62L7B6aHDKWY67-320-80.jpg)
Why do most mammals have 5 fingers?
By Katherine Irving published
The simple question of "why five" has puzzled scientists from multiple fields, and the answer still isn't entirely clear.
![Small dog sniffing big dog's butt](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u4etRxZgQ9kx8auGdz62YJ-320-80.jpg)
Why do dogs sniff each other's butts?
By Clarissa Brincat published
And like dogs, why do cats also sniff fellow felines' behinds?
![A time lapse of a falling orange cat](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xhX4VmGEotbtvfVPbLisia-320-80.jpg)
How do cats land on their feet?
By Marlowe Starling published
Cats are masters of contortion — and the laws of physics — which helps them stick the landing more times than not.
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