What's the Difference Between a Nautical Mile and a Mile?

What's the Difference Between a Nautical Mile and a Mile?

Our Top Reads

How Much Does It Cost to Build a House in the U.S.?

June 27 By Dave Roos

Does the Bunyip Really Haunt the Australian Wetlands?

June 27 By Mark Mancini

What Makes Decade Volcanoes So Hazardous?

June 26 By Jesslyn Shields

Why Astronomers Love the Atacama Desert

Why Astronomers Love the Atacama Desert
Who Does — and Doesn't — Get Featured on Blue Highway Exit Signs?

Who Does — and Doesn't — Get Featured on Blue Highway Exit Signs?
Why North Sentinel Island Is Barred to All Visitors

Why North Sentinel Island Is Barred to All Visitors
June Bugs Are a Nuisance for People, Manna for Other Animals

June Bugs Are a Nuisance for People, Manna for Other Animals

Try Our Crosswords, Riddles and Puzzles!

Can You Solve This Riddle?

Can You Solve This Riddle?
Play Our Crossword!

Play Our Crossword!
Can You Solve This Riddle?

Can You Solve This Riddle?

In the News

River-bottom Bones: The Strange World of Underwater Fossil Hunting

June 9 By Mark Mancini

Can't Read Roman Numerals? We Can Teach You

June 9 By Alia Hoyt

Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers Risk All to Save Lives

June 9 By Patrick J. Kiger

Delightful Daffodils Are Super Easy to Grow. Here's How

June 9 By Wendy Bowman

The Fungi Amongi Are the Great Decomposers

June 9 By Jesslyn Shields

Could 'Early' Dark Energy Explain the Mystery of the Universe's Expansion?

June 9 By Patrick J. Kiger

Here's Where to Find the Cleanest Air in the World

Here's Where to Find the Cleanest Air in the World
Regrets, We’ve Had a Few — But Why?

Regrets, We’ve Had a Few — But Why?

Did You Hear?

Should You Turn Your AC Up When You're Not Home?

Should You Turn Your AC Up When You're Not Home?
The Quest to Fix the Grocery Store Tomato

The Quest to Fix the Grocery Store Tomato
The Byford Dolphin Accident: How 5 Deep-Sea Divers Met Grisly Deaths

The Byford Dolphin Accident: How 5 Deep-Sea Divers Met Grisly Deaths
Makemake: The Dwarf Planet Named for an Easter Island Fertility God

Makemake: The Dwarf Planet Named for an Easter Island Fertility God
Exploring Jovian Planets, the Titans of Our Solar System

Exploring Jovian Planets, the Titans of Our Solar System

Science

NYC ClimateClock Counts Down Deadline to Climate Doomsday

NYC ClimateClock Counts Down Deadline to Climate Doomsday
Is the Mystery of Namibia's Fairy Circles Finally Solved?

Is the Mystery of Namibia's Fairy Circles Finally Solved?
How Long Does It Take to Get to Mars?

How Long Does It Take to Get to Mars?
Green or Blue? The Best Turquoise Is More Valuable Than Diamonds

Green or Blue? The Best Turquoise Is More Valuable Than Diamonds

Culture

How Dreadlocks Work

How Dreadlocks Work
Dionysus Was the Greek God With a Dual Personality

Dionysus Was the Greek God With a Dual Personality
Was There a Real Paul Bunyan?

Was There a Real Paul Bunyan?
Top 10 Countries the U.S. Owes Money To

Top 10 Countries the U.S. Owes Money To

Animals

A Zorse Is a Horse, of Course, But It's Also a Zebra

A Zorse Is a Horse, of Course, But It's Also a Zebra
Hammerhead Worms Are Toxic and Invasive, But Are They Dangerous?

Hammerhead Worms Are Toxic and Invasive, But Are They Dangerous?
10 of the Most Endangered Fish Species in Our Oceans

10 of the Most Endangered Fish Species in Our Oceans
Giant African Land Snails Invade South Florida Again

Giant African Land Snails Invade South Florida Again

Auto

Why Is Gas More Expensive in the Summer Than in the Winter?

Why Is Gas More Expensive in the Summer Than in the Winter?
How Car Suspensions Work

How Car Suspensions Work
How Do NASCAR Engines Differ From Street Car Engines?

How Do NASCAR Engines Differ From Street Car Engines?
Why Can't You Pump Your Own Gas in New Jersey?

Why Can't You Pump Your Own Gas in New Jersey?

Editor's Picks

Why Is There a Crack in the Liberty Bell?

Why Is There a Crack in the Liberty Bell?
How American Exceptionalism Works

How American Exceptionalism Works
Black Loyalists Fought for Their Freedom During the American Revolution

Black Loyalists Fought for Their Freedom During the American Revolution

A River Runs Through It

The 9 Longest Rivers in the World: From the Nile to the Congo

The 9 Longest Rivers in the World: From the Nile to the Congo
Just 10 River Systems Contribute Up to 95 Percent of Plastic in Oceans

Just 10 River Systems Contribute Up to 95 Percent of Plastic in Oceans
Eco Engineers: 5 Animals That Can Reshape Earth's Waterways

Eco Engineers: 5 Animals That Can Reshape Earth's Waterways

Get Your Garden On

How 'Lasagna Gardening' Helps Create Healthy Soil

How 'Lasagna Gardening' Helps Create Healthy Soil
How Composting Works

How Composting Works
Companion Planting: The Do's and Don'ts of Growing Plants Together

Companion Planting: The Do's and Don'ts of Growing Plants Together

Deserts of the World

5 of Earth's Highest Deserts

5 of Earth's Highest Deserts
10 Largest Deserts in the World

10 Largest Deserts in the World
Hunting for Martians in the Most Extreme Desert on Earth

Hunting for Martians in the Most Extreme Desert on Earth