Life Science
From the smallest microbe to the largest mammal, Life Science explores the origins, evolution and expansion of life in all its forms. Explore a wide range of topics from biology to genetics and evolution.
Why do people sing in the shower?
10 Bizarre Treatments Doctors Used to Think Were Legit
Ancient Egyptian Pregnancy Test Survived Millennia Because It Worked
Can You Crack This Nuts Quiz?
The Science Behind Your Cat's Catnip Craze
Corpse Flower: When Nature Deceives
Hypertonic vs. Hypotonic Solutions: Differences and Uses
Your Phone Is a Germ Factory, So Stop Taking It to the Toilet
Why Even Identical Twins Have Different Fingerprints
Howstuffworks Interviews: Extinction Level Events with Annalee Newitz
What will the Earth look like in 50,000 years?
How did language evolve?
The Tallest People in the World Share These Curious Qualities
Who’s Your Daddy? The History of Paternity Testing
What are the likely outcomes of mankind's new knowledge of the human genome?
Differences Between Pet Training and Animal Conditioning
What Is Shadow Work and How Does It, Well, Work?
Why can't we remember being babies?
Learn More / Page 14
Whether you're a procrastinator or a workaholic, you can improve your time management. How? With a timer, scheduled breaks and some serious discipline.
Phrenology, the belief that you could determine personality from the shape of someone's skull, was so popular in the Victorian era that phrenology parlors sprang up all over Europe and America. But the trend was soon debunked.
Heuristics are rule-of-thumb strategies that help us shorten decision-making time and solve problems quickly and effortlessly.
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Centrioles are spindles that create the pathways for chromosomes to follow during cell division.
What are the chances there are still large, undiscovered animals on the planet? More likely than you might think.
By Diana Brown
Do we have a tendency to walk clockwise around the block? Why do sports favor counterclockwise rotation? Does it have anything to do with handedness or driving habits?
An extensive study looks at personal space in 42 countries, and how weather affects preferences.
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The mass of microorganisms swarming inside your favorite elite athlete's body may be a great business opportunity.
By Amanda Onion
At least two commercial DNA testing services offer users information on heritage coming from coupling between ancient humans and other species.
Although left-handed people were thought to be "sinister" or "unnatural" in previous eras, we now know that left-handedness is natural for 10 percent of the population. And it can have some advantages over right-handedness too.
By Alia Hoyt
On the surface, Antarctica may seem like a barren landscape. But underneath, in massive ice caves, life may be abundant.
By Amanda Onion
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A series of studies showed that including the word 'sorry' in a rejection actually made the rejected person feel worse.
By Alia Hoyt
We often think that if a drug has been studied by scientists and given a favorable outcome, then it must be safe and proven. But many kinds of biases can creep into a study, rendering it less than effective.
It's already a scary world. Why do we seek to experience more fear?
By Jamie Allen
A new study shows that belief in perceiving patterns correlated strongly with belief in conspiracy theories and the supernatural.
By Alia Hoyt
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A groundbreaking study finds light skin pigmentation gene variations originating in Africa, eroding the notion of race as a biological characteristic, and shedding light on cancer and evolution, too.
Cork is the go-to material for wine stoppers and bulletin boards. So are we really running out of it? And if so, what happens?
By Wendy Bowman
Requiring little care and upkeep, daffodils are bright, showy perennials that symbolize rebirth and new beginnings.
By Wendy Bowman
People often make vision boards at the start of the year. Some swear by vision boards for making their dreams come true. But is there any science to back that up?
By Alia Hoyt
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If you engage in constant self-talk, it may surprise you that some people think in pictures instead or do nothing at all. And the number of people truly having an inner monologue may not be as great as you think.
Viruses need hosts to replicate and reproduce. So if a virus has no host, how long can it survive? It depends on a lot of factors.
Nearly every living cell is made of DNA, and every chromosome contains exactly one molecule of DNA. But not all cells are made of the same number of chromosomes.
Humans are a diverse lot — which is good! The question of ethnicity vs. race vs. nationality is a source of much debate, even among experts.
By John Donovan
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Cell division can be confusing, but it's not as difficult if you pretend chromosomes are sentences.
While plant and animal cells are strikingly similar, there are a few key differences.