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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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Science

Vantablack: Discovering the World's Darkest Material Yet

Vantablack is the darkest material on earth, absorbing 99.995% of light.

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Animals

Exploring the Unexpectedly Varied Dietary Habits of Spiders

Contrary to popular belief, not all spiders survive solely on insects. Some species have a surprisingly varied diet that includes plants, nectar and even fish.

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Space

Exploring the Enigma of High-Energy Cosmic Rays in Space

Cosmic rays, high-energy protons and atomic nuclei which move through space at nearly the speed of light originate from outside our Solar System, yet the origins of these particles are a mystery not well known to many.

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Animals

Snakes Possess the Ability to Predict Impending Earthquakes

Snakes possess an extraordinary ability to detect forthcoming earthquakes up to five days in advance.

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Nature

Exploring the Transparent Mystique of the Natural Glass Sea

The naturally occurring glass fields in the Libyan desert, Libya.

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Science

Radioactive Element Ensures Safety in Home Smoke Detectors

Your household smoke detector is slightly radioactive.

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Arts

Stravinsky's Controversial Performance Instigates a Riot

The premiere of Igor Stravinsky's ballet 'The Rite of Spring' in 1913 reportedly caused a riot.

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Science

Invisible Glass: an Astonishingly Unsuccessful Innovation

Sir Charles Vernon Boys, a British physicist, accidentally invented invisible glass while trying to create ultra-thin fibers known as 'spun quartz.'

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Food

Accidental Invention: The Surprising Origin of Popsicles

Popsicles, a favorite summer treat for many, were accidentally invented by an 11-year-old boy named Frank Epperson in 1905.

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Health

Understanding Lachanophobia: The Fear of Eating Vegetables

Lachanophobia is an incredibly rare and lesser-known specific phobia that involves a dread or fear of vegetables.

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Nature

Exploring the Intriguing Spectacle of Singing Sand Dunes

Certain sand dunes around the world are known to emit a musical hum, a phenomenon referred to as 'singing sand'.

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Animals

The Etruscan Shrew: World's Lightest Mammal Champion

The Etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus), also known as the Etruscan pygmy shrew or the white-toothed pygmy shrew, is the smallest known mammal by mass.

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Health

Using Sage for Smudging: a Natural Way to Purify Indoor Air

Burning sage, a traditional practice known as 'smudging', has been found to cleanse specific types of bacteria in the air.

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Nature

The Secret Language of Trees: Communication in Forests

Scientific studies have found that trees in a forest can 'talk' to each other through a network of latticed fungi buried in the soil. This process is known as 'Wood Wide Web'.

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Mysteries

Exploring the Enigma of the Mysterious Purple Waters

Sea water is generally perceived as being blue, but did you know that in some parts of the world the sea appears to be purple? This is particularly notable in the oceans surrounding Antarctica.

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Society

North Sentinel Island: a Glimpse into an Uncontacted World

A tribe in North Sentinel Island, which belongs to the Andaman Islands of India, has remained isolated from the rest of the world for thousands of years. They are among the last tribes to resist contact with the outside world.

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Science

Discovering the Unique Aroma: The Science Behind Petrichor

The scent produced when rain falls on dry soil is known as Petrichor. This term was coined in the year 1964.

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Science

Understanding the Decoy Effect on Consumer Decision-Making

The phenomenon where consumers tend to have a change in preference between two options when a third, asymmetrically dominated option is presented, is known as the Decoy Effect.

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History

The Unexpected Discovery of the World's Oldest Crayon

Archaeologists discovered a tiny object from 10,000 years ago on a UK excavation site that turned out to be world's the oldest known crayon.

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Science

Creating a Polymer Chain Using Colorful Pony Beads

Pony beads can act as a visual aid in demonstrating a polymer chain and illustrating the concept of 'polymerization'.

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Mysteries

Dangerous Waters: The Strid at Historic Bolton Abbey

A seemingly harmless stretch of water in Yorkshire, England is one of the deadliest bodies of water on earth.

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Animals

Uncovering the Enigma of the Intricate Termite Structures

Termites build their mounds with an uncanny similarity to human skyscrapers, raising questions about their engineering expertise.

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Nature

The Perpetually Burning Waterfall of Eternal Flame Falls

A small grotto at the waterfall's base emits natural gas, which can be lit to produce a flame, thus named 'Eternal Flame Falls.' This flame is visible nearly year round, though it can be extinguished and must occasionally be re-lit.

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Animals

The Unique Isolation of the Forever Alone Ant Species

Cephalotes are a special type of soldier ant known for their extraordinary ability to glide, earning them the name 'gliding ants'. However, what's most interesting is there is a specific variety termed as 'the forever alone ant' that lives its entire life without meeting another member of its species.

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