Science
Discover facts about science. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Science
TV dinners were designed for eating in front of the screen
The tray did double duty: its sections separated the foods, and the aluminum container could be heated in an ordinary oven. Then you could take that same tray…
Discover more
Dragonflies intercept prey instead of chasing it
A dragonfly aims at the prey’s future position, then adjusts its flight to meet it there. That turns a chase into an interception, and independent control of…
Discover more
Pineapple pizza was conceptualized by a diner cook
Sam Panopoulos, a Greek-born Canadian restaurateur, added canned pineapple to pizza in 1962. It got called “Hawaiian” because that was the brand on the…
Discover more
Why porcupines can float
Air trapped among a porcupine’s quills helps keep it afloat, much like little built-in float pockets. The quills don’t row, though: its limbs do the paddling…
Discover more
Bananas grow on giant herbs
Look at the base of a banana plant and you may spot its successors already sprouting. The “trunk” is a bundle of wrapped leaves, and after it grows a bunch,…
Discover more
Why fast-food seats are so uncomfortable
Hard seats and bright lights can make diners less inclined to linger, so a restaurant may clear a table sooner and seat the next group. That matters because…
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.
Sperm whales sleep standing upright
A resting sperm whale may point its head upward and hang still in the water. When several do it together, the pod looks like a set of floating columns—until…
Discover more
Tasmanian devils store fat in their tails
A Tasmanian devil’s tail can act as a small reserve tank: the animal stores some surplus fat there. A fuller tail can signal that it has built up energy…
Discover more
Automatic pinsetters changed the business of bowling
Before machines reset the pins, workers had to clear fallen pins and put the next rack in place. Automatic equipment made that repeated job mechanical,…
Discover more
Milkshakes were once alcoholic
The early milkshake was often a shaken mix of whiskey and egg, closer to eggnog than a diner treat. Over time, the name stuck while the recipe changed into…
Discover more
How walruses sleep while floating in freezing water
A walrus can fill air pouches in its throat, giving its head extra buoyancy. That keeps its nose above the water as it naps, without constant paddling. It has…
Discover more
Golf balls fly farther with dents than when smooth
A smooth ball sheds the airflow early, leaving a large wake that acts like a parachute pulling backward. Dimples stir the air near the surface and help it…
Discover more
Cheerleading began as a men-only college tradition
College cheerleading started with male students leading the crowd’s noise at football games. The job was to get the stands shouting together; synchronized…
Discover more
Why Triceratops had those giant horns
Triceratops’ horns may have helped defend it, but they could also have advertised strength or helped attract a mate. A giant display can send a message before…
Discover more
When professional wrestling had to admit it was scripted
The admission mattered because, in some places, staged entertainment faced different rules and taxes from sports. Wrestling could be scripted and still demand…
Discover more
Why spiders eat their old webs
When an orb-weaver replaces its web, some of the old silk can end up back inside the spider. By eating parts of the web, it recovers proteins that can go into…
Discover more
Scorpions give birth to babies that ride on their backs
Newborn scorpions climb onto their mother because their bodies are still soft and vulnerable. They cling to her until their first molt, when they shed the…
Discover more
Echidnas have backward feet—and built-in back scratchers
Their front claws break into the ground, while the backward-facing hind feet help push soil away. Long claws on the back feet also groom between the spines.…
Discover more
Why female orcas stop having babies
Older female orcas may help their family by sharing knowledge instead of having more calves. Researchers think experienced females can lead relatives to food,…
Discover more
How Neanderthals made natural superglue
Neanderthals heated birch bark while limiting its contact with oxygen, producing sticky tar instead of letting the bark burn away. They used the tar to fasten…
Discover more
Why pistachios need scorching summers and freezing winters
Pistachio trees need winter chill to help coordinate bud growth and flowering, then a long, hot summer for the nuts to mature. The shells split as the nuts…
Discover more
Moths drink tears from sleeping animals
Some moths sip tears from resting animals with a straw-like mouthpart called a proboscis. They’re after sodium, a mineral that nectar may not supply easily. A…
Discover more
Pineapples grow from the ground, not trees
A pineapple plant grows a fruit from a cluster of flowers that join together. Afterward, the plant puts energy into shoots near its base, and those shoots can…
Discover more
Coffee beans are seeds hidden inside discarded fruit
A coffee “bean” is actually a seed tucked inside a small fruit called a coffee cherry. Producers remove the sweet pulp around it, then roast the seed. Your…
Discover more