Early explorers drove flags into the ground to claim territories. But no one bothered to float a flag in the oceans. For the most part, we peaceably shared the oceans until we realized what valuable goods could be found in their dark and murky depths.
Many people fantasize about being able to soar through the sky, but we're not aerodynamic creatures. Could human flight be possible with recent technological developments in personal jet packs?
Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of permanent disability. More than half of all strokes could be prevented. Are you at risk?
People are bad drivers. But as the DARPA Urban Challenge proves, sometimes cars are, too. Why does a department of the U.S. government conduct an annual race for fully robotic cars?
What's a full moon without the howl of a wolf echoing in the background? Are wolves really howling at the moon or just talking among themselves?
You might think that cell phones dealt a deathblow to landline phones. But concerns about cell phone security and coverage may prevent landlines from disappearing just yet.
The Freemasons is a secret organization that began in the 1700s and is still in existence today. Who are the Freemasons? And what do they do in their secret meetings?
Your appliances use electricity all day, whether you're there or not. Some manufacturers are helping consumers out by making their electronics more efficient.
The Diamond synchrotron is a massive facility that houses a beam of light 10 billion times brighter than the sun. But is that all it does?
Have you ever seen a baby with a tail? How about a whale with legs? Believe it or not, these things happen. They're called atavisms, and they might help us figure out evolution.
Why does the combination of orange juice and toothpaste have to taste so awful? Why can't your sense of taste resolve the problem?
Sword swallowing has all the hallmarks of a magic trick -- it looks both impossible and dangerous. But even though there's a trick to it, it's not magic, and it's extremely dangerous.
More than 250,000 homes have been destroyed and 2 million people have been left homeless by the worst flooding India has seen in 50 years. What other countries have experienced devastating floods, and was there really a great flood?
Scientists have figured out how to transform ordinary pancreatic cells into the rarer type that produce insulin, which is essential for preventing diabetes. What are the symptoms of diabetes? And how do you treat the disease?
Suffering from exhaustion, the Dalai Lama has canceled two scheduled international trips and instead will undergo medical tests. Why is the Dalai Lama such a recognized figure in the world today?
While tropical storm Gustav pummels Haiti, forecasters are predicting it could regain hurricane status before it reaches Cuba. What does that mean for those residents in its path?
A communication failure at an FAA facility caused numerous flight delays around the United States on Tuesday. What damage could have been done to the planes in the air?
A hospital in San Francisco is warning 960 new mothers that they and their newborns may have been exposed to tuberculosis. Is that the worst epidemic they could be exposed to?
International Waters
Jet Packs
Strokes
DARPA
Howl at the Moon
Landline Phones
Freemasons
Efficient Electronics
Synchrotron
Atavisms
OJ & Toothpaste
Sword Swallowing
Great Flood
Diabetes
Dalai Lama
Hurricanes
FAA
Worst Epidemics
