Are multiverses real? An astrophysicist explains why it depends on how you define ‘real’

Physics has multiple theories and interpretations of the existence of a multiverse. Yana Iskayeva/Moment via Getty Images Zachary Slepian, University of Florida Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected]. Are multiverses real? If so, what do they […]



NASA wants to build a base on the Moon by the 2030s – how and why it plans to build up to a long‑term lunar presence

NASA’s Space Launch System rocket that will take an astronaut crew around the Moon rolls out to the launchpad. Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images Michelle L.D. Hanlon, University of Mississippi The next U.S. trip to the Moon isn’t about planting a flag. It’s about learning how to live and work there. NASA has just reset […]

How Fast Would Digging Straight Down Kill You? Faster Than You Think

You ever start digging a hole and think, “What if I just.. never stopped?” Like, straight down. No breaks. No logic. Just you and a shovel. Well, someone actually did the math on that, and let’s just say the Earth has many creative ways to end your little digging career very quickly. Check it out!

The Ancient Origins of Beer: Humanity’s Oldest Buzz

Before cities, before writing, and before anyone thought, “Hey, maybe don’t drink that questionable water,” humanity had already discovered something much more important: how to turn soggy grains into alcohol. And like most great discoveries in history, it probably happened by accident… and then immediately became a tradition. Imagine wandering for days through medieval Europe, […]

Autism Isn’t a Scale: It’s 39 Dimensions of Human Complexity

Autism Wheel

For a long time, people have talked about autism like it’s something you can measure with a slider. A little autistic on one end, very autistic on the other. Simple, tidy, and… completely wrong! A newer way of visualizing autism flips that idea on its head. Instead of a straight line, imagine a circular web […]

Inside the Can: How Food Becomes Practically Immortal

Ever wondered how a can of food can outlast basically everything in your fridge? This video breaks down the 200-year-old science behind one of humanity’s greatest survival hacks: canned food. It all started in 1795 when Napoleon Bonaparte needed a way to keep his armies fed. A French inventor, Nicolas Appert, cracked the code by […]

60 years of fiber optics: How a carrier of light you can’t see underlies much of the modern world

Fiber optics, illustrated here, underpin much of modern communications. Yuichiro Chino/Moment via Getty Images John Ballato, Clemson University Imagine a world without internet, email, streaming services or social media. Imagine having to write letters or call everyone on a rotary dial phone to communicate. Imagine having to drive to a store to buy anything and […]

Will your electric car burst into flames? A solid‑state battery would reduce the risk

Taiana Lucia Emmanuel Pereira, McMaster University Canada recently signed a new trade agreement with China, reducing tariffs on up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) each year. By 2030, half of these imported vehicles are anticipated to be “affordable EVs” costing less than $35,000. This could make electric cars a more budget-friendly option for Canadians. […]