Jacob Silverman is a staff writer at The New Republic, covering technology and foreign policy. He also wrote over 100 articles for HowStuffWorks, mainly on science and health topics. He holds a bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from Emory University and a master's in humanities and social thought from New York University.
Recent Contributions
Fuel prices tend to be higher in the summer thanks to consumer demand and the type of gasoline mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Did you know that more than 14 different "boutique fuel blends" are sold from June to September?
Even if you don't operate a scanning electron microscope all that frequently, you might want to brush up on these 10 scientific laws and theories. After all, they're some of our best tools for describing how the universe works.
You may have thought militaries stopped using napalm after the Vietnam War thanks to the United Nations, but this incendiary weapon lives on in modern warfare. Has it also been used in Iraq?
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Environmentalists agree that beaver dams help the environment by creating wetlands but why are some landowners and farm owners getting riled up? How could these dams be hazardous to roads, bridges and levees?
Cow flatulence produces the greenhouse gas methane, which is linked to global warming. Find out how scientists are working to reduce cow flatulence in livestock.
Homeowners insurance can help if your home suffers any sort of damage. Find out how homeowners insurance works and how to save money on premiums.
The man immortalized on the left was behind the three laws of motion and the universal law of gravitation. He was also competitive, temperamental and fascinated with alchemy. How well do you know Newton?
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Selling a house is a complicated process, no matter how good the real estate market is. Whether you're a first-time home seller or not, you probably have a bunch of questions.
Home equity loans can provide you with valuable financial flexibility, so long as the market is stable. Learn about the types of home equity loans and how to get the best rates.
We hope you'll never need to know the ins-and-outs of getting out of jail. Bail allows people to leave jail and continue their lives while awaiting trial. How does the bail system work?
Hand sanitizers can only get you so far in preventing a viral infection. Scientists are discovering how visible light can be used to destroy viruses. Learn about the laser technique and what it means for the future.
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Whether we're trying to save a sinking city or dig a massive tunnel, our appetite for construction knows no bounds. But if designers had known the actual cost of these 10 projects, they might have gone back to the drawing board.
Natural gas is a major and essential part of the U.S. energy market, amounting to 25 percent of overall energy use and more than 20 percent of electrical production, according to the New York Times.
A living will can be a difficult document to contemplate, and there's much to consider when writing one. Knowing as much as you can about them can be a saving grace if trouble arises. Take this quiz to learn more about living wills.
It's a document many people find unsettling, but in the event of a health crisis that leaves you incapacitated, a living will ensures that your treatment wishes are honored. We'll take you through the steps it takes to create this document.
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The land of opportunity is also the land of entrepreneurship, the striving businessperson and, consequently, the business student. Are you looking to add those three expensive letters to your academic credentials?
That slick stuff is actually doing its best to help your hair and skin. Is this a case of the more oil, the merrier? Or should shiny, happy people shun oil-based moisturizers?
If you have a talent for moving cattle in seconds flat from atop a horse, then you could rule these rodeo sports. So how many cattle are we talking?
Step outside and the assault on your skin begins. Is slathering on multiple products to protect yourself from the fierce sun and the ferocious mosquitoes a good idea?
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If your car persistently pulls you to the side of the road, it may be trying to tell you something. Relax. This simple service shouldn't cost you that much.
The sport of motocross features spectacular leaps and stunts performed on off-road motorcycles. It also features broken bones and some seriously death-defying crashes. Is all off-roading similarly risky?
If you live far from the ocean but enjoy catching waves and hanging ten, then wakesurfing, or surfing behind a boat, may be the sport for you. But can a boat really mimic the ocean's waves?
Whether you're interested in slaloming down the slopes faster than Alberto Tomba or landing a sweet 180 at the terrain park, you need the right set of skis. What's yours?
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Packing one of these firearms could save you at sea, so don't forget to bring one before you set off on any maritime adventures. And it might help to know how to use it before you set out.
The thrilling roar of fighter jets performing a military flyover is now a common experience at many big events. In fact, the military approves most of the 850 or so flyover requests submitted annually. What does it take to arrange a flyover?