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
Long-banned in the U.S., except for religious purposes, peyote is starting to be decriminalized in some cities. But is that a good thing for this endangered plant?
Corresponding angles are what you get when two parallel lines are crossed by a third line, creating angles that have the same relative position at each intersection. They're easy to find once you know what to look for.
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.
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They're the stuff of headlines, often characterized as evil in the sky. But what are drones and how do they get off the ground and fly?
The words aren't arbitrary, so why do pilots and sailors call out 'Mayday!' rather than something else?
Science is forever uncovering the mysteries of our universe, but some questions remain elusive. What topics have us still scratching our heads?
The undead are frightening, brain-hungry monsters, lumbering toward their victims with great purpose. But wait. Can they even digest brains?
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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?
If you engage in constant self-talk, it may surprise you that some people think in pictures instead or do nothing at all. And the number of people truly having an inner monologue may not be as great as you think.
It may sound silly, but there really are different types of computers. There are super, wearable and, of course, personal computers. And that's just three to start.
Anthropologists specialize in, well, us. But studying humankind doesn't mean you have to hole up in a library or laboratory. Take a peek at this article to learn more about the dynamic, enriching field of anthropology.
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Sometimes, you need to forward calls from a landline to a cell phone, but you may not know how to do it. We'll explain how to forward those calls easily.
We hear about humidity in just about every weather report on the nightly news. There are several different ways meteorologists measure humidity, but relative humidity is the most common measurement. What is relative humidity, though?
Would you like to be able to leave your body at will and travel to other countries and planets? Astral projection promises you can do that. But what does science say about this?
Cryptozoology is the study of creatures that are rumored to exist. But for true believers, these "cryptids" are alive and well and lurking among us. Who are some of the most famous creatures people are looking for?
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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.
Nuclear waste epitomizes the double-edged sword of modern technology. It's a toxic and radioactive byproduct of nuclear medicine, nuclear weapons manufacturing and nuclear power plants.
Our homes, vehicles and technologies require immense amounts of energy, yet fossil fuel supplies are finite. Sunshine, however, isn't disappearing anytime soon.
We may think the butterfly effect means that a small change (like the flap of a butterfly's wings) can have huge consequences (a tornado in China). But what if it means the opposite?
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Before Yeager did it, people thought it was impossible to break the sound barrier in flight. But he proved them wrong, even flying the plane while nursing two cracked ribs.
Alchemy may seem like a cousin to witchcraft but in reality it was the forerunner of modern chemistry.
Your pilot apologizes for your plane leaving late but then assures you she can make up the lost time in the sky. Is she pressing extra-hard on the accelerator or what?
Archaeologists dig up and study the material remains of human civilizations. Bioarchaeologists do the same thing, except they focus on the remains of, well, us. What's the big deal about old bones and teeth?
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Sarin has no taste, no color and no odor. It's a human-made nerve agent, and only a tiny amount can cause serious harm. Where did this dangerous substance come from, how does it work, and how can investigators test for it?
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?