Nathan Chandler

Contributing Writer

Nathan is a freelance writer and photographer based in Lincoln, Nebraska. He earned his B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa and has researched and written about consumer tech for more than 10 years. He's also game to take on stories about science, conspiracy theories and more.

Recent Contributions

It's a battle of the buzzing insects. We're talking hornets vs. wasps. How do these two differ and which one has the worst sting?

By Nathan Chandler

Nope, it's not the police code for marijuana possession. It has a much cooler origin story. Find out about the meaning of 420.

By Nathan Chandler

ASMR has become a pop phenomenon and scientists are trying to figure out why some people love those tingling-inducing videos and others can't stand them.

By Nathan Chandler

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Seven might seem like the no-brainer answer if you grew up in the U.S. But it may surprise you to know that experts around the world disagree on how many continents are out there. Here's why.

By Nathan Chandler

Perhaps best known as the last home of Elisa Lam before her mysterious death, the Cecil Hotel has a sordid past full of murders and mayhem. Care to step inside?

By Nathan Chandler

Everyone's heard of the blue moon and the harvest moon, but every other full moon of the year has a name, too. What are their names, and when do these moons occur?

By Nathan Chandler

In 1959, a group of nine Russian hikers disappeared and were later found dead in circumstances that, to this day, have mystified authorities and armchair sleuths alike. But scientists now believe an avalanche holds the solution to the mystery.

By Nathan Chandler

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Released in 1983, 'A Christmas Story' is the anti-Hallmark Card film about the holidays in America. How much do you remember about this classic comedy movie?

By Nathan Chandler

For decades Bob Lazar talked about a mysterious element 115 that could power alien spacecraft. People thought he was nuts, but scientists discovered element 115 in 2003. What can that element do?

By Nathan Chandler

Worried there might be a warrant out for your arrest? How can you find out for sure?

By Nathan Chandler

Thanks to the Faraday cage, we can control electricity and make it safer for our computers, cars and other inventions.

By Chris Pollette & Nathan Chandler

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In 17th century Japan, wealthy citizens built homes with "nightingale floors" that squeaked, warning them of intruders. In fact, the floors squeaked louder when the steps got lighter.

By Nathan Chandler

The Dyson Air Multiplier works like a fan, but it has no blades. Can it be as effective as a traditional fan? What's so different about it?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler & Nathan Chandler

Among the millions of pictures taken every year, some capture our hearts and stand the test of time. Here are the stories behind 13 of the most iconic.

By Nathan Chandler & Yves Jeffcoat

The Mariana Trench is the deepest place on Earth, and we're still in the dark about much of the life that calls it home. Here are just a few of the trench's eye-popping residents.

By Nathan Chandler

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Weird things can affect your call's signal strength — like that city bus that just blocked your path, or the fact that it's raining outside.

By Nathan Chandler

If you follow politics long enough, there'll be headlines that make you wonder if a U.S. president can really do that thing you just read about. Take our quiz to learn what's within a president's rights.

By Nathan Chandler

You've probably heard that no two snowflakes are alike, but how can that be true? Find out how molecules of water vapor come together to form these winter wonders.

By Nathan Chandler

This sprawling garden of a landscape cemetery sits in the middle of Paris and holds the remains of some of its most famous, and infamous, citizens.

By Nathan Chandler

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The Mad Trapper of Rat River probably wasn't a trapper, and he most likely wasn't mad, but who was he and why did he lead the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on one its greatest chases ever?

By Nathan Chandler

One survey said 11 percent of Airbnb guests had found a hidden camera in their rented home. Is this legal? And how can you tell if you're being spied on?

By Nathan Chandler

Wouldn't it be nice to have your favorite song start up the moment you walked in the house? Or to get the coffee brewing from bed? Smart homes can do all those tricks, and you might be able to afford one, even if you're not Bill Gates.

By Molly Edmonds & Nathan Chandler

Your washer's on the fritz again, and your toaster oven is, well, toast. Instead of breaking out the big bucks for new appliances, should you opt for a used model? Here are some things to keep in mind when purchasing used appliances.

By Nathan Chandler

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Say you're a government agency or a company of some sort and you want to negotiate the terms of a working relationship with another group or agency. However, you're not too enthused by the idea of lawyers, contracts and legalese. That's where Memoranda of Understanding come in. What are these MOUs, exactly, and who uses them?

By Nathan Chandler

The super-intelligent South African isn't just one of the richest and most creative people on Earth, he's also a forward-thinking futurist with a penchant for controversy.

By Nathan Chandler