Life's Little Mysteries

If cats were loved, why were so many sacrificed?

No, the misquote is an example of French revolutionary propaganda.

Cats have swinging "pouches" on their bellies, but that doesn't mean they're fat.

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.

Walking around the moon could be faster than we originally thought, but actually doing it would require some serious planning.

Humans have what it takes to make venom, but it may not be worth the trouble.

High-speed cameras and arrays of microphones helped researchers draw an acoustic map of hummingbirds' distinctive hum.

It's probably fine to give your child weak coffee, as long as you skip the sugar.

It could have been a fig, grapes, citron, a pomegranate or even wheat.

Coyotes originated in prairies and deserts, but are now right at home in big cities across North America. How did this naturally shy creature learn to thrive in crowded urban landscapes?

The most important thing we've communicated? That we exist.

Space junk moves at 10 times the speed of a bullet from an average gun.

What prompts this lightning-like energy in pets?

Sure, one baby's tough. But what about two or more?

The animal with the largest ears relative to body size is actually quite tiny.

It's almost impossible to argue that gasoline-powered cars are better for the environment.

Schisms within the church have led to more and more denominations over the millennia.

Desert temperatures can fluctuate greatly between day and night, due to the poor heat-retaining properties of sand and a lack of humidity.