Science
Discover facts about science. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Science
Sea cucumbers have bypassed the standard evolutionary route for respiration by developing a highly specialized respiratory tree that forces them to physically breathe through their own anuses.
Sea cucumbers have bypassed the standard evolutionary route for respiration by developing a highly specialized respiratory tree that forces them to physically…
Discover more
An opossum’s dead-looking defense is an involuntary response.
An opossum’s dead-looking defense is an involuntary response. Under severe threat, it can become limp or rigid, slow its breathing, and release a…
Discover more
Oregon tried to dispose of a whale with half a ton of dynamite.
Oregon tried to dispose of a whale with half a ton of dynamite. In 1970, officials near Florence expected the blast to break a stranded sperm whale into…
Discover more
A seahorse has a digestive tract, but no stomach.
A seahorse has a digestive tract, but no stomach. Instead of holding a meal in a stomach, it passes food through a comparatively simple gut. Seahorses feed…
Discover more
Behavioral experiments demonstrate that goldfish can remember specific colors, shapes, and feeding schedules for up to five months, completely debunking the three-second memory myth.
Behavioral experiments demonstrate that goldfish can remember specific colors, shapes, and feeding schedules for up to five months, completely debunking the…
Discover more
A scorpion's glow borrows energy from ultraviolet light.
A scorpion's glow borrows energy from ultraviolet light. Fluorescent substances in its outer covering absorb UV and emit some of that energy as visible…
Discover more
STACKY FOR IPHONEA bigger world.
One discovery
at a time.
Keep discovering with Stacky. Interesting facts in an app that is always within reach.
Water starts expanding before it freezes.
Water starts expanding before it freezes. Fresh water is densest at about 4°C. Cool it further and it expands, then forms still less dense ice that floats.…
Discover more
Dynamite made a dangerous liquid easier to handle by giving it a solid carrier.
Dynamite made a dangerous liquid easier to handle by giving it a solid carrier. Alfred Nobel's key development combined nitroglycerin with an absorbent…
Discover more
An owl’s eyes are shaped more like tubes than balls.
An owl’s eyes are shaped more like tubes than balls. They sit firmly in the skull, so looking far to the side requires moving the head. Neck anatomy and…
Discover more
A sloth can leave the trees and swim.
A sloth can leave the trees and swim. Sloths use their long limbs to paddle through water, with buoyancy supporting bodies that move awkwardly on land. A…
Discover more
Tardigrades, colloquially known as water bears, can survive the lethal vacuum of space, extreme radiation, and temperatures near absolute zero by entering a state of suspended animation called cryptobiosis.
Tardigrades, colloquially known as water bears, can survive the lethal vacuum of space, extreme radiation, and temperatures near absolute zero by entering a…
Discover more
Why pretzels are dipped in lye
A dip in lye changes the pretzel dough’s surface. In the oven, that alkaline coating speeds reactions between sugars and proteins, building the deep brown…
Discover more
Pull Silly Putty fast and it turns solid
Pull Silly Putty slowly and its long molecules have time to slide past one another, so it stretches. Yank it fast and those tangled chains can’t rearrange in…
Discover more
Why chilling rubber bands slows their breakdown
Cold slows the chemical changes that gradually make rubber brittle, so a rubber band kept cool can last longer. It doesn’t stop aging, and the band may feel…
Discover more
Pigeons learn which human habits lead to lunch
Pausing in a familiar spot, opening a bag, and throwing crumbs are signals a bird can learn to connect with food. Repeat the routine and the pigeons start…
Discover more
Why thick wood can survive a fire
A thick timber can char on the outside while its center stays cool enough to keep carrying weight. The charred layer slows heat and oxygen from reaching the…
Discover more
Coffee beans begin inside red coffee cherries
The “bean” is actually a seed tucked inside a fleshy coffee cherry, usually red when ripe. Processing strips away the fruit and other layers, leaving a green…
Discover more
Why Uruguayans carry thermoses everywhere
Mate is meant to be sipped and refilled, often with the same leaves, so hot water needs to be ready for the next pour. A thermos keeps it close at hand all…
Discover more
Humble potatoes actually originated in the high Andes
The potatoes in a supermarket are only a small sample of the crop's variety. In the Andes, farmers selected plants suited to different heights and growing…
Discover more
Why Liège waffles crunch
As a Liège waffle cooks, sugar pearls near the iron melt and brown, while many buried in the dough keep their shape. That leaves a crisp, caramelized outside…
Discover more
Belgian fries get their texture from two trips through the fryer
A first, gentler fry cooks the potato through; a later hotter fry crisps and colors the outside. Traditional recipes often use beef fat for flavor. The soft…
Discover more
One tapas legend starts with keeping flies out of drinks
In the story, a piece of bread or meat covers the glass and becomes a snack. Tapa means 'cover,' which makes the anecdote memorable, though the dish's origins…
Discover more
How Lebanese immigrants helped create al pastor tacos
The rotating spit keeps turning, browning the outside of the meat while the center cooks; the taquero slices off the finished outer layer. Lebanese immigrants…
Discover more
True balsamic vinegar ages in wooden barrels for decades
Traditional balsamic vinegar thickens as water slowly escapes through the wooden barrels. During aging, it is moved through a series of smaller casks, leaving…
Discover more