A fantastic animation that explains the famous drake equation with the help of the voice of COSMOS editor Wilson da Silva. The Drake equation is a probabilistic argument used to arrive at an estimate of the number of active, communicative extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy. [Andrzej Dudnik]

From Reactions: Now that the Fourth of July is just around the corner you firework lovers out there are gearing up for the big day. We on the other hand have been taking an up close, slow motion look at the chemistry of how sparklers work. Chemistry of Sparklers infographic: [Reactions]

Why does fresh, hot toast have a more complex flavor than plain bread? Why does cooking raw food in general result in mouthwatering smells and a rich taste? The answer lies with the Maillard reaction, also known as the “browning reaction.” By delving into how this process works, Reactions helps you get the most deliciousness […]

Plyethylene Oxide, also called POLYOX, is a polymer that is made from extremely long chain molecules, and when poured, the molecules tug at each other, allowing the liquid to “pour” itself out of a container, even when at an almost vertical position. Check it out! [Steve Mould]

You throw a rock in water from your boat. Can you figure out what happens to the water level? For those who are interested in doing more of these puzzles, here’s a big that was made just for you guys: Professor Povey’s Perplexing Problems: Pre-university Physics and Maths Puzzles with Solutions. [Physics Girl]

Your eyes and brain are amazing! Check out ASAP Science’s latest video to learn some pretty neat things about vision and color. [ASAP Science]

Tim Urban knows that procrastination doesn’t make sense, but he’s never been able to shake his habit of waiting until the last minute to get things done. In this hilarious and insightful talk, Urban takes us on a journey through YouTube binges, Wikipedia rabbit holes and bouts of staring out the window — and encourages […]