Thanks to a massive flare and explosion on the Sun that spewed material toward Earth, millions of people were treated recently to displays of red, green and pink lights in the sky. Dazzling aurora borealis displays like this usually are visible only in far northern and southern parts of the globe. But overnight on Oct. 10 and 11, they lit up the skies as far south as Texas. It was all the result of a severe geomagnetic storm triggered by a coronal mass ejection that had occurred together with an ...read more
Coughing, wheezing, and struggling to catch your breath — bronchitis can turn a simple cold into something much more uncomfortable. But beyond the symptoms, one question often comes to mind: Is bronchitis contagious? With respiratory illnesses often spreading in workplaces, schools, and homes, it’s important to know how bronchitis works so you can protect yourself. So, let’s explore what bronchitis is, how long it lasts, how to prevent it, and whether you should worry about catching it fro ...read more
At the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, five eels live in the Amazon Rising habitat, where probes in the water sense their electricity and transmit their energy to a lightbar and a speaker.At any given time, visitors can hear low-voltage pulsing coming from the speakers. If guests push a button, they can summon bubbles or make it rain in the habitat. The eels become more active, and their electricity increases.Scientists have long known that electric eels are indeed electric. But in the wild, they are ...read more
For most animals imprinted with spooky names, their "Boo" is much worse than their bite. Humans generally judge grotesque-looking organisms by appearance, so they conjure up nomenclature that would look right at home on the movie marquee for a "Creature Feature." But even the most menacing-looking animals with shudder-inducing names are more Treat than Trick — as long as they are treated with respect and given the space they need to thrive in their natural environment.1. Goblin Shark(Credit: 3 ...read more
The lost expedition of John Franklin is a classic tale of traveling gone wrong. When the British Royal Navy officer set out from England with two ships in 1845, their goal was to forge a way through the Arctic Ocean to open up the Northwest Passage. Unfortunately, none of the 129 men who sailed out with the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror ever returned. Reports from rescue missions, Inuit in the area and subsequent forensic and archaeological work on human and nonhuman remains have since pieced to ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine