Columns

The space rock taking a surprise swing around our planet is just visiting from Earth's asteroid belt.

Empty chairs, empty tables, and the dismantling of the American Dream.

The asteroid that exploded over Luzon was not a threat—but it was a victory for our planetary defense systems.

“It’s not just preserving seeds, it’s preserving our culture, our history, our way of life.”

Physicists recently created Coordinated Lunar Time, a time zone for our Moon.

An institution of horror movies, this iconic character has evolved along with our views on science itself.

Judged unworthy of Valhalla? Welcome to Helheim.

Nearly 20 years after Hurricane Katrina, the abandoned Six Flags that became a symbol of the city still bears deep scars.

The Cerutti Mastodon, found near San Diego, shows signs of being butchered 130,000 years ago—but by who? Or what?

What you see overhead is a combination of where you are, how our vision evolved, and that flimsy layer of atmosphere that keeps us all alive.

We're not so special after all.

There may be no encore in store for these abandoned vaudeville halls and movie palaces.

Mirrors from China, glass beads from Roman Egypt, and other treasures from far-flung places accompanied ancient Balinese elites to the afterworld.

How do fandoms gain their names?

We sat down with crossword editors to talk Viking words, pizza rat, and the joy of wordplay.

Without this restless geologic process, which triggers destructive earthquakes, Earth would not be habitable.

Northern lights in the American South, clusters of huge geomagnetic storms—the Sun is throwing a tantrum right on schedule.