Inside the Alchemist’s Workshop
What tools would an alchemist use in the quest to transmute other elements into gold?
There May Be a Ninth Planet (And It’s Not Pluto)
Caltech astronomer Michael Brown has proposed the existence of a ninth planet, the existence of which would explain the strange orbits of six KBOs.
What Is Ambergris and Where Does It Come From?
Ambergris, a waxy-like substance found in perfumes, has a unique origin.
The Cardiff Giant: The Biggest Hoax of the 19th Century
The Cardiff Giant was the greatest hoax in an era of hoaxes.
Albert Einstein: Genius and Anti-racist
A look at Albert Einstein's passionate fight against racism.
The Soda Jerk and the Periodical
The history of scientific periodicals starts with Benjamin Silliman's upstart publication.
The Medieval Historical Figures Behind Bruce Holsinger’s Novels
Discover the real men Bruce Holsinger based his characters on.
The Solar Origins of Dendrochronology
Historian George E. Webb recounts the intertwined relationship between solar physics and dendrochronology
A New Engine Sends NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft on Its Way
Dawn spacecraft's mission to Ceres is made possible by a brand new ion engine that runs off individual atoms.
Ole Rømer and the Speed of Light
In 1676, Danish astronomer Ole Rømer predicted that an eclipse of one of Jupiter’s moons would occur ten minutes later than expected. How did he know?