Why Do We Have Middle Names?

Why Do We Have Middle Names?

Our Top Reads

What's the Zone of Silence?

Aug. 15 By Kate Kershner

Audubon's 'Lights Out' Program Kills the Lights to Save the Birds

Aug. 15 By Stephanie Parker

What Is Planck's Constant, and Why Does the Universe Depend on It?

Aug. 15 By Patrick J. Kiger

What's the Difference Between Raw and JPEG Files?

What's the Difference Between Raw and JPEG Files?
How Nearest Green Taught Jack Daniel to Make Whiskey

How Nearest Green Taught Jack Daniel to Make Whiskey
What Is the Oldest Book in the World?

What Is the Oldest Book in the World?
How Often Do You Really Need to Shower?

How Often Do You Really Need to Shower?

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Can You Solve This Riddle?
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In the News

How Does the U.S. Classify Its Most Sensitive Documents?

Aug. 12 By Jeffrey Fields

7 Warning Signs of a Looming Recession

Aug. 11 By Dave Roos

The Perseid Meteor Shower Is Back. Here's What You Need to Know

Aug. 10 By Christopher Hassiotis

The Presidential Records Act Is Essential for the National Archives

Aug. 9 By Shannon Bow O'Brien

How Does Amazon Deliver Stuff So Fast?

Aug. 9 By Patrick J. Kiger

Should Everyone Get a Monkeypox Vaccine?

Aug. 5 By Maureen Ferran

'Heatflation': How High Temperatures Send Food Prices Soaring

'Heatflation': How High Temperatures Send Food Prices Soaring
Inflation Is Spiking Worldwide, Not Just In the U.S.

Inflation Is Spiking Worldwide, Not Just In the U.S.

Did You Hear?

Maine Coon Cats: Gentle Giants of the Feline World

Maine Coon Cats: Gentle Giants of the Feline World
Can Someone Stalk You Using Your Smartphone?

Can Someone Stalk You Using Your Smartphone?
Don't Mess With the Black Mamba, One of the Deadliest Snakes Alive

Don't Mess With the Black Mamba, One of the Deadliest Snakes Alive
Kicking the Bucket: The Fictional Deaths Quiz

Kicking the Bucket: The Fictional Deaths Quiz
Why Fido Follows You Everywhere, and Why That's Awesome

Why Fido Follows You Everywhere, and Why That's Awesome

Science

How Smokejumpers Work

How Smokejumpers Work
What If America Had Lost the Revolution?

What If America Had Lost the Revolution?
Should There Be a No-fly List for Unruly Airline Passengers?

Should There Be a No-fly List for Unruly Airline Passengers?
Tanzanite Is Africa's Real Blue Diamond

Tanzanite Is Africa's Real Blue Diamond

Culture

How the Seneca Falls Convention Kicked Off the U.S. Women's Rights Movement

How the Seneca Falls Convention Kicked Off the U.S. Women's Rights Movement
Tuscan Wine Windows: Charming Remnants of Ancient Social Distancing

Tuscan Wine Windows: Charming Remnants of Ancient Social Distancing
Lamia: The Female Demon Who Devoured Children in Greek Mythology

Lamia: The Female Demon Who Devoured Children in Greek Mythology
The New England Vampire Panic Was Very Real and Very Deadly

The New England Vampire Panic Was Very Real and Very Deadly

Tech

How Python Works

How Python Works
How to Protect Your Privacy Online

How to Protect Your Privacy Online
How to Split Screen on a Mac

How to Split Screen on a Mac
Companies Pay This Guy to Break Into Their Networks and Offices

Companies Pay This Guy to Break Into Their Networks and Offices

Animals

The Ancient Mayfly Briefly Lives Only to Reproduce and Die 

The Ancient Mayfly Briefly Lives Only to Reproduce and Die 
The Blue-tongued Skink Has a Heart of Gold

The Blue-tongued Skink Has a Heart of Gold
Sea Urchins Are the Edible Pincushions of the Ocean

Sea Urchins Are the Edible Pincushions of the Ocean
Why Do Dogs Have Anal Glands?

Why Do Dogs Have Anal Glands?

Editor's Picks

What's the Best Order to Binge-watch Every 'Star Wars' Movie?

What's the Best Order to Binge-watch Every 'Star Wars' Movie?
The Art and Science of Aging Beer

The Art and Science of Aging Beer
Wedding Pet Attendants Prep Your Pooch for a Pawfect Day

Wedding Pet Attendants Prep Your Pooch for a Pawfect Day

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Crime and Punishment

How Young Is Too Young to Be Arrested?

How Young Is Too Young to Be Arrested?
'The Alcatraz of the Rockies': Why No One Ever Escapes From ADX Florence

'The Alcatraz of the Rockies': Why No One Ever Escapes From ADX Florence
9 Cold Cases That Have Totally Baffled Investigators

9 Cold Cases That Have Totally Baffled Investigators

Shoes & Socks

9 Simply Stupendous Uses for One Single, Solitary Sock

9 Simply Stupendous Uses for One Single, Solitary Sock
Should You Always Take Off Your Shoes in Your Home?

Should You Always Take Off Your Shoes in Your Home?
Are Minimalist Running Shoes the Key to Fewer Injuries?

Are Minimalist Running Shoes the Key to Fewer Injuries?

What's In a Name?

5 Famous People With Seriously Long Names

5 Famous People With Seriously Long Names
How Did 'Fido' Become the Default Name for a Dog?

How Did 'Fido' Become the Default Name for a Dog?
You Can't Name Your Baby That!

You Can't Name Your Baby That!