A mysterious fire has been burning under this Pennsylvania town for over 50...
In 1962, an underground fire started in the coal-mining town of Centralia, Pennsylvania. That fire is still burning 53 years later. Produced by Elaine Seward. Written by Sam Kean. Executive Produced by...
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Scientists have discovered a new super material that can withstand...
A new substance, unlike any on Earth, could have one of the highest melting points we've ever seen, theoretically withstanding temperatures of more than 7,460 degrees Fahrenheit.To put that into...
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Chemistry explains why grilling meat makes it taste so good
Humidity is rising and thermometers are creeping into the triple digits — all signs that summer is here.Between pool parties and delicious cold brews, millions of people are firing up their grills and...
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Chemistry explains why cold brew coffee tastes better than hot
Smooth and sweet versus floral and acidic: Any coffee aficionado can note the distinctive taste profiles that distinguish cold brew coffee from a hot cup of conventionally-brewed java.Both beverages...
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There's a scientific reason why everyone's obsessed with cold brew coffee
Smooth and sweet versus floral and acidic: Any coffee aficionado can note the distinctive taste profiles that distinguish cold brew coffee from a hot cup of conventionally-brewed java.Both beverages...
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City grime may be more dangerous than anyone realized
City dwellers, take note. New research suggests that the grime and muck coating our statues, sidewalks, and windows isn't just harmlessly sitting there.When urban grime is zapped by sunlight, it may...
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This cloud-like, futuristic material has been sneaking its way into your life...
Aerogel is about as perfect a contradiction as you could imagine.It holds the record as the lightest solid ever created, yet is durable enough to support the weight of a car or survive the vacuum of...
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There's a hidden danger lurking in a city's muck
City dwellers, take note. New research suggests that the grime and muck coating our statues, sidewalks, and windows isn't just harmlessly sitting there.When urban grime is zapped by sunlight, it may...
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I drank a tea rumored to make you feel high and hallucinate — and it's 100%...
Outside of the Pacific, kava tea is a bit of a mystery.But the plant is often used in native countries as part of religious and cultural ceremonies, and those familiar with the drink recreationally...
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Here's why coffee gets stale if it sits out for too long
Here's a mistake I'm embarrassed to admit; and one that I make far too often. Immediately after waking up, I get very excited for coffee so I brew a giant batch.But then I realize halfway through that...
View ArticleThis chemical compound is so volatile that just touching it with a feather...
Take a look at what happens when you brush nitrogen triiodide with a feather.The mere brush of a feather on nitrogen triiodide will result in a rapid and dramatic explosion. But why is this substance...
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A Miss America contestant performed a science experiment as her talent, and...
Even if you don't watch a lot of beauty pageants, you can probably guess that when Miss Vermont took the stage in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on September 10 during the Miss America preliminary rounds...
View ArticleThese are the most absurd academic studies this year
The 25th Ig Nobel Awards recognized some of the year's most bizarre, trivial or unusual discoveries in the fields of biology, economics, and mathematics. If you've ever wondered if a chicken can walk...
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Edward Snowden has one big regret about dropping out of high school
It may come as a surprise that infamous whistle-blower and fugitive Edward Snowden never finished high school.Instead, he went straight to community college, completed a master's program in computer...
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Scientists are figuring out what makes human corpses smell like 'death'
When natural disasters strike, first aid workers are tasked with an especially morbid mission: to find and remove dead bodies.They have to sift through the rubble of toppled buildings and charred...
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These are the scientists who could win a Nobel Prize
Few honors attract as much excitement in the world of science as the Nobel Prizes.Each year, media company Thomson Reuters releases its annual list of the researchers it thinks are most likely to win...
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Here's why some pint glasses have grooves lasered onto the bottom of the cup
Commercial brewers put a ton of time and research into ensuring that their packaged beers taste as if they were just poured from the tap.But the design of a pint glasses has a lot to do with how good a...
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Here's why there's a weird plastic ball in a can of Guinness
Have you ever noticed the clink-clank of a tiny object rattling around the inside of an empty Guinness bottle or can?That little gadget is called a "widget," and you should be thankful for it. It's...
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Here's an easy way to tell if you're drinking beer from a dirty glass
The pub at the end of my block has a lot going for it. It boasts a huge variety of craft beers, a beautiful patio, and a killer Monday night trivia.But every time I order a fancy brew at a great bar...
View ArticleHere's what happens to your cat's brain on catnip
Catnip has been compared to marijuana and LSD, but is it really anything like these drugs? We took on the science of catnip to see what it's really doing to your cat's brain. Video produced by Grace...
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