Bioluminescence (light produced by biological organisms) can be entrancing. The soft glow of fireflies at night is a common sight in places around the world, but not all cases of bioluminescence are so peaceful. Although the firefly uses its glow for communication and finding sexual partners, bioluminescence isn’t always an invitation. Sometimes, it is used

These days, smartphones and the Internet seem to have more negative connotations than positive. People blame the former for the death of conversation and both for actual deaths when selfies go awry, to name a mere few examples. However, this was not the intention when these things were first created. The purpose of smartphones and

Researchers are inquisitive creatures. They leave no stone unturned. Especially the weird ones. In recent times, studies were sprung on volunteers and the unsuspecting alike. Tests to determine their neuroticism, honesty, and appreciation of bad jokes were borderline strange. The answers even more so. They also threw the common cold at cancer, considered chocolate’s extinction,

Between 1984 and 1988, the young men of Kansas City, Missouri, and the surrounding area lived in the grip of fear. The fear was the result of a string of ghastly murders, almost all of which involved torture of the most barbarous kind. Until 1988, nobody knew that the root cause of this horror was

In eighth-century England, criminals could escape the death penalty by retreating to churches and paying a fine. In the years leading up to the Reformation, however, the principle of sanctuary declined, and church sanctuaries were officially abolished in 1540.[1] Although religious institutions are no longer legal sanctuaries, they continue to operate as powerful symbols in

Humanity’s opinion on sex is nearly unanimously favorable. Just about everyone likes talking about it, doing it, watching other people do it on the Internet, and pretty much everything else involving sex—and for good reason, too; it’s awesome! Despite being such a prominent part of our lives, though, sex remains a poorly understood function of

Deserts are typically portrayed as empty wastelands. Although their surface does not have a lot to offer, there is plenty to discover underneath. Archeologists have been digging up fossils in deserts for decades—especially the Sahara Desert, the biggest hot desert in the world. Scattered across the globe, fossils are traces of organisms from a past

Weeping is not just about ruining a good tissue. Researchers have found that crying could serve an important evolutionary purpose, that tears send chemical signals to other people, and that the salty globules can generate electricity. Then there are the mysteries, like why some people cry more on planes while others cry when they pee.

A very large percentage of the population has to be able to cook at least a little bit to survive. Since humans tend to be a proud lot, we’re all often pretty convinced of our own ideas and our own ways of doing things. Of course, other people are just as sure of their methods.

If the rest of the week has got you down, maybe this list can cheer you up a little. Here are some inspiring and positive tales to lift your spirits. If you like weird and wacky, try the offbeat list as well. Quite a few inspiring tales of rescue this week involve children, puppies, stranded

Cities and towns are essential to our lives. As centers of trade, community, and art, they are the places where exciting things happen and progress is made. Whole civilizations have been driven by powerful cities like Rome, London, and Paris. But sometimes, cities fall afoul of Mother Nature. Cities can survive most natural disasters, but