Why Are There Seven Days in a Week?
The number seven is not especially well-suited to coincide with the solar year.
Latest in Science
Buyers Should Beware of Organic Labels on Nonfood Products
Product labels offer valuable information to consumers, but manufacturers can misuse them to increase profits. This is particularly true for the USDA's organic label.
Winter Solstice: The Astronomy of Christmas
From the Neolithic to present times, the amount of sunlight we see in a day has had a profound impact on human culture.
Can Astronomy Explain the Biblical Star of Bethlehem?
What was the celestial body the three wise men followed 2,000 years ago?
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Is Not in Danger of Disappearing
Reports of its death are greatly exaggerated, or at least premature.
Why Americans Are So Obsessed with Pumpkin Spice Everything
The anticipation for pumpkin spice’s annual return can be explained by a psychological theory called “reactance.”
The Science of Fright: Why We Love to Be Scared
Whether we love or hate to experience fear, it’s hard to deny that we certainly revere it – devoting an entire holiday to the celebration of fear.
Can We Really Know What Animals Are Thinking?
Despite having considerable evidence animals think, we are in the awkward position of being unable to say precisely what they think.
Have Scientists Finally Killed Off the Loch Ness Monster?
Science being science, we can never say with total confidence that there is no Loch Ness Monster.
Why Do People Believe in Curses?
Endorsement of curses may stem from the desire to make sense of the world, to ascribe meaning to chaos.
Evolution Doesn’t Proceed in a Straight Line – So Why Draw It That Way?
Evolution doesn’t follow a preordained, straight path, yet in images from museum displays to editorial cartoons, evolution is depicted as a linear progression from primitive to advanced.
Large-Scale Study Bolsters Notion That Genetics Contribute to Sexual Orientation
The findings do not identify a “gay gene” but contribute to a body of research suggesting myriad genes likely contribute to sexuality.
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Was a Florida Man Arrested for Tranquilizing and Raping Alligators in the Everglades?
Drugging up and performing sex acts on dangerous reptiles is probably not an advisable means for getting one's kicks.
Did Pelosi Use $15,000 Worth of Pens to Sign Articles of Impeachment?
The tradition of using multiple pens to sign important legislation, and then giving those pens to the people involved, has been practiced by politicians for decades.
Will Aaron Hernandez’s Family Receive $15 Million from the NFL?
Aaron Hernandez's conviction could be vacated under the obscure legal doctrine of abatement ab initio, but that won't necessarily entitle his family to millions of dollars.
Is the EPA Allowing for the Approval of New Asbestos-Containing Products?
The Environmental Protection Agency will be allowing for potential new uses of asbestos, while limiting the scope of studies that assess its risk.
Was Rapper YNW Melly Stabbed to Death in Prison?
Rumors of the rapper's demise spread in December 2019 after posts on "prank" news websites.