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Fungi Thriving: Surviving Innovating on the Space Station

Science ⏰ 5 min read

Fungi Thriving: Surviving Innovating on the Space Station

Resilient mold species aboard the International Space Station are not merely surviving microgravity and radiation — they are adapting, evolving, and potentially degrading the station's very infrastructure.

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The Contrabass Balalaika: a Unique Giant Russian Instrument

Arts

The Contrabass Balalaika: a Unique Giant Russian Instrument

The contrabass balalaika is a Russian stringed instrument that is far larger than the more well-known, triangular-shaped balalaika. Due to its size, it requires a stand for support when being played.

⏰ 5 min read

The Serendipitous Invention That Changed Warfare: Gunpowder

History

The Serendipitous Invention That Changed Warfare: Gunpowder

Gunpowder, an essential part of many significant historical events and inventions, was an accidental discovery from a quest for immortality.

⏰ 5 min read

Marvel at the Breathtaking Catatumbo Lightning Display

Nature

Marvel at the Breathtaking Catatumbo Lightning Display

There is a place on Earth that experiences almost constant lightning, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

⏰ 5 min read

The Crocodile Icefish: Unraveling the Secrets of Clear Blood

Animals

The Crocodile Icefish: Unraveling the Secrets of Clear Blood

The crocodile icefish in the cold oceans around Antarctica is the only known vertebrate with transparent blood.

⏰ 5 min read

Russia's Enigmatic 'Dancing Forest': a Natural Phenomenon

Nature

Russia's Enigmatic 'Dancing Forest': a Natural Phenomenon

The Curonian Spit in Russia houses an unusual pine forest where the trees twist into spirals and rings.

⏰ 5 min read

Exploring the Mysteries of Submerged River Formations

Nature

Exploring the Mysteries of Submerged River Formations

Believe it or not, there’s a unique natural phenomenon where we can find rivers that flow beneath the ocean.

⏰ 5 min read

Catastrophic Molasses Spill: a Sticky Disaster in History

History

Catastrophic Molasses Spill: a Sticky Disaster in History

A large molasses storage tank burst and flooded the city in Boston in 1919.

⏰ 5 min read

Deadly Eruptions of Africa’s Mysterious Exploding Lakes

Nature

Deadly Eruptions of Africa’s Mysterious Exploding Lakes

There are three known 'exploding' lakes in the world and they're all located in Africa. These lakes, Nyos, Monoun, and Kivu can explode and release deadly carbon dioxide due to their underlying volcanic activity.

⏰ 5 min read

Bamboo Shrimps: Nature's Incredible Tiny Flaw Detectors

Animals

Bamboo Shrimps: Nature's Incredible Tiny Flaw Detectors

Bamboo shrimp, also known as wood shrimp, can aid in determining the quality of water bodies due to their susceptibility to pollutants.

⏰ 5 min read

The Remarkable Tree Cricket: Nature's Silent Thermometer

Animals

The Remarkable Tree Cricket: Nature's Silent Thermometer

An interesting science fact about the frequency of chirps made by a type of cricket known as the Snowy Tree Cricket corresponds to the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit when specific calculations are applied.

⏰ 5 min read

Wolverine-Inspired Self-Healing Material Revolutionizes Tech

Technology

Wolverine-Inspired Self-Healing Material Revolutionizes Tech

Colorado University's scientists developed a material that can heal itself, inspired by the comic book character Wolverine.

⏰ 5 min read

Unveiling the Predictive Abilities Hidden in Potatoes

History

Unveiling the Predictive Abilities Hidden in Potatoes

In 1928, a biologist utilized potatoes for predicting the weather.

⏰ 5 min read

Enigmatic Curves: The Mystical Dancing Forest of Kaliningrad

Mysteries

Enigmatic Curves: The Mystical Dancing Forest of Kaliningrad

In Russia, there is a forest where the trees twist into spiral and ring patterns. This phenomenon has puzzled scientists and visitors alike for decades.

⏰ 5 min read

Surprising Origin: Fortune Cookie's Roots Aren't in China

Food

Surprising Origin: Fortune Cookie's Roots Aren't in China

The Fortune Cookie, despite its deep association with Chinese culture in the West, was actually invented in Japan and popularized by immigrants in America.

⏰ 5 min read

Discover How Crows Remember and React to Negative Encounters

Animals

Discover How Crows Remember and React to Negative Encounters

Crows can recognize human faces and remember whether that person has been good or bad to them.

⏰ 5 min read

The Iconic Torch of the Statue of Liberty Found a New Home

History

The Iconic Torch of the Statue of Liberty Found a New Home

The torch that the Statue of Liberty holds was actually replaced in 1986.

⏰ 5 min read

Direct Communication Link Between Moscow and Washington D.c.

History

Direct Communication Link Between Moscow and Washington D.c.

The Moscow-Washington Red Phone, commonly misinterpreted as a telephone system, was actually a fax machine.

⏰ 5 min read

How Play-Doh Was Invented: a Surprising Historical Tale

History

How Play-Doh Was Invented: a Surprising Historical Tale

Play-Doh, the popular children's modelling clay, was originally developed as a wallpaper cleaner in the 1930s.

⏰ 5 min read

Sonic Bloom: Uncovering How Sound Waves Boost Plant Growth

Science

Sonic Bloom: Uncovering How Sound Waves Boost Plant Growth

A discovery that certain frequencies of sound can stimulate plant growth.

⏰ 5 min read

The Fascinating Phenomenon of Animals with Multiple Heads

Animals

The Fascinating Phenomenon of Animals with Multiple Heads

Polycephaly is a condition of having more than one head. This phenomenon occurs in wide range of animal species, including humans.

⏰ 5 min read

The Superb Lyrebird: Southeast Australia’s Mimicry Maestro

Animals

The Superb Lyrebird: Southeast Australia’s Mimicry Maestro

The Superb Lyrebird, native to Australia, is famed not only for its impressive tail feathers but also for its extraordinary ability to mimic a vast array of sounds.

⏰ 5 min read

The Surprising Birthplace of the Iconic Bubblegum Flavor

Food

The Surprising Birthplace of the Iconic Bubblegum Flavor

Bubblegum flavor doesn't mimic any natural flavors but was created to have a unique, lasting taste.

⏰ 5 min read

Saccharin: The Accidental Discovery of the First Sweetener

Science

Saccharin: The Accidental Discovery of the First Sweetener

Saccharin, the first artificial sweetener, was discovered accidentally by a chemist named Constantin Fahlberg in 1879.

⏰ 5 min read

Octopuses Punch Fish: an Unusual Underwater Defense Tactic

Animals

Octopuses Punch Fish: an Unusual Underwater Defense Tactic

A species of octopus slaps predators when it feels threatened.

⏰ 5 min read

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Fungi Thriving: Surviving Innovating on the Space Station

Science

Fungi Thriving: Surviving Innovating on the Space Station

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The Fungus That Rewires Ant Brains Without Killing Them

Science

The Fungus That Rewires Ant Brains Without Killing Them

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The Fungus That Turns Cicadas into Zombie Sex Machines

Science

The Fungus That Turns Cicadas into Zombie Sex Machines

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Unlocking Coral Resilience: The Role of Endophytic Fungi

Nature

Unlocking Coral Resilience: The Role of Endophytic Fungi

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