Why are Earthquakes in Haiti So Deadly and Destructive?
For the second time in just over a decade, a massive earthquake has struck Haiti. Why are these earthquakes so devastating in Haiti? ...read more
Category: Discover Magazine
Saved by Summer Snow
Two enormous spikes of melting hit the Greenland Ice Sheet in July. But copious snow cover from earlier in the summer blunted the impact. ...read more
How ‘Guerrilla Gardening’ Can Change Your City
Tending illegal gardens on public or private property can spark ideas about how to manage local land ...read more
Honey’s Eternal Shelf Life, Explained
That honey found stored in an ancient Egyptian tomb? Yeah, it's still good to eat. ...read more
What Is, Scientifically, the Most Annoying Sound?
A sound engineer and psychologist explains the psychoacoustics behind the noises that make our skin crawl. Nails on a chalkboard, we're looking at you. ...read more
Why India Experiences a High Rate of Lightning Deaths
In India, around 2,000 people are killed by lightning annually, but international efforts to reduce the toll may be paying off. ...read more
NOAA: July Was Earth’s Hottest Month Ever Recorded
But even more significant than the warmth was weather and climate mayhem on an epic scale. ...read more
Why Does Pain Hurt?
Artificially intelligent systems manage to avoid danger without any role for feeling pain, so why do we have to? ...read more
The Fall of the Aztec Empire: What Really Happened in the Battle of Tenochtitlan?
On August 13, 1521, the capital city of Tenochtitlan fell after a two-month siege — a victory that marked the end of an empire. But five hundred years later, researchers are giving stories surrounding the events another look. ...read more
Can Life Exist on a Rogue Planet?
With the right conditions and a bit of luck, some of the most inhospitable worlds in the universe could still be habitable. ...read more