What Is a Nebula, and How Do Stars Form in One?
Nebulae are the vivid clouds of gas and dust behind some of the most famous images in astronomy, and they are where stars are born and die. Here is what a nebula actually is, the main types, and how new stars form inside them.
What Is an Index Fund, and Why Are They Popular?
Instead of trying to pick winning stocks, an index fund quietly buys a slice of the whole market and charges almost nothing to do it. That simple idea has become one of the most trusted ways to invest. Here is why.
What Is Photosynthesis, and How Does It Work?
Plants pull off a quiet kind of magic: they build food out of sunlight, air, and water, and hand us breathable oxygen as a bonus. Nearly every meal and every breath traces back to it. Here is how photosynthesis works.
What Causes the Northern Lights, and Where to See Them?
The northern lights are the Sun and the Earth colliding in slow motion, painted across the night sky. Here is what actually causes the aurora, and how to catch it yourself.
What Is a Biobank, and Who Owns Your DNA?
Millions of people have spit in a tube or joined a health study. Where does that DNA actually go, who controls it, and is it still yours? Here is the plain version.
Can You Hear Sound in Space?
In space, no one can hear you scream, and that tagline is basically correct. But NASA has released the ‘sound’ of a black hole, so what is actually going on?
Why Is the Ocean Salty? The Science of Seawater
The rivers that feed the ocean run fresh, yet the sea is salty. Here is where all that salt comes from, how much there is, and why it keeps piling up.