Science Versus Myth

The speed of light is like that annoying friend who beats you at every game. What would happen if humans one day surpassed the cosmic speed limit?

By William Harris & Patrick J. Kiger

It's one of those fantastic things you may have wished for at one point, like, say peace on Earth, but would a world full of cures be radically different from the one we know, or not so much?

By Susan L. Nasr

While organizations around the world are fighting to end famine, so far, no one has come up with a game-changer. Why does famine happen in the first place, and what would a hunger-free world be like?

By Jessika Toothman

Would we stick flowers in our hair and dance in the street? Or twiddle our thumbs and wonder what to do with all that new free time? Join us as we ponder a world without war.

By Robert Lamb

Would a world with ample water for all mean less disease? Fewer wars? Globally improved health and finances? Sip along with us as we wonder what if.

By Jonathan Atteberry

It's a crazy thought, but what if cancer didn't exist? And malaria, schizophrenia and every other illness that disrupts our normal functioning? Come along as we investigate what such a world might look like.

By Susan L. Nasr

Unless you've been living under a rock (one not appearing on Google Maps’ Street View), you're probably intimately familiar with the behemoth and its many services. But what would the world look like if this powerhouse company had never existed?

By Nathan Chandler

Before leaving work, you'll need to check the traffic report. Lately, a disruptive T. rex has meant some adjustments to your commute. What other changes would be in store if dinos roamed the Earth?

By Jessika Toothman

Leap years only come around once every four years. So, why are they so rare and who decided we need them anyway?

By Marianne Spoon

You may know that the ancient Egyptians used embalming in mummification. But they weren't the first to embalm their dead, nor were they the last. In fact, it's still being done today.

By Elizabeth Sprouse

Matches work by combining flammable chemicals with heat from friction. Learn whether you can light a match with sandpaper in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Einstein showed us a mind-blowing way the universe works, while Max Planck and his gang showed us how particles on the atomic and subatomic levels work. But one doesn't explain the other. So there must be a larger theory encompassing them ... or not?

By Kate Kershner

Explore Loch Ness Monster tales, sightings and pop culture references. From the Surgeon's Photograph to plesiosaur theories, delve into the enduring mystery.

By Nicole Antonio

Mothman sightings began in West Virginia in the late 60s, but is the elusive creature real or just a cover-up to distract the public from a tragic accident?

By Desiree Bowie

The Wampus Cat has roots in Cherokee folklore and Appalachian legends, but is the six-legged feline just another mythical creature on a long list of cryptids?

By Desiree Bowie

The Honey Island Swamp Monster is a mysterious cryptid of Louisiana, described as a Bigfoot-like creature with yellow eyes and grayish brown hair.

By Desiree Bowie

The Mongolian Death Worm is a legendary cryptid of Gobi Desert folklore with a deadly reputation. Explore the origins of the venomous sand-dwelling creature.

By Desiree Bowie

Champy, the legendary creature said to reside in Lake Champlain, has spurred over 300 alleged sightings since the 1600s. Explore the famous cryptid's origins.

By Desiree Bowie

Mokele-Mbembe is a legendary creature of African folklore that is rumored to inhabit Congo's remote swamps. Here's the story of this dinosaur-like cryptid.

By Desiree Bowie

Experts are baffled as to why dogs keep throwing themselves off Overtoun Bridge in Scotland. Are they lured by unseen scents or is something supernatural at work?

By Nathan Chandler

Skinwalkers blur the line between human and beast. They're shape-shifting magical beings that belong to the Navajo spirit world. But how does one become a skinwalker?

By Robert Lamb & Desiree Bowie

Does everyone's favorite Wookiee call Bigfoot family?

By Robert Lamb

Would you like to be able to leave your body at will and travel to other countries and planets? Astral projection promises you can do that. But what does science say about this?

By Nathan Chandler

Humans are awesome and we have superpowers of our own. But could a greedy world of "supervillains" twist them against us?

By Diana Brown

Maybe it's mistrust of the U.S. government and health-related industries, as well as Lyme's insidious nature, that makes this idea catnip for conspiracy theories. But what's the truth?

By Nathan Chandler