What does it mean to be ‘quantum’? A physicist explains the basics behind Einstein’s spooky actions at a distance
In quantum entanglement, you can learn something about one particle by observing the other in its pair, even across vast…
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A lack of pies for a pack of lies – what spoonerisms reveal about how the brain produces speech
'Lack of pies' wasn't meant to describe a bakery case missing certain treats. Prasit photo/Moment via Getty Images “You have…
Why is Venus hotter than Mercury, when Mercury is closer to the Sun?
The surface of Venus, as reconstructed from radar data collected by NASA's Magellan mission. NASA/JPL, CC BY-NC-SA Curious Kids is…
How redefining one word strips the Endangered Species Act’s ability to protect vital habitat
Northern spotted owls living in old growth forests in the Pacific Northwest were listed as threatened species because of habitat…
A rare bipartisan housing bill just became law – but Americans will still struggle with affordability
As sweeping as the bill is, its impact is likely to be modest. Ilia Yefimovich/Picture Alliance via Getty Images A…
The ball is round – and contrary to some keepers’ views, in this World Cup it has performed just fine
Not every World Cup goal is a classic. Sometimes a half-hearted shot goes in as a result of little more…
Cacti spines, snake fangs, snail love darts – oh my! How function drives the evolution of nature’s puncture tools
Jumping cholla cacti spines are a prime example of how evolution creates specialized puncture tools. Tony Cyphert/Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA Most…
To promote more housing, cities and states target parking minimums
Cars in a parking lot at an apartment complex in Washington, D.C. In recent years, housing shortages have prompted more…
States will shape America’s future as nation confronts a pivotal choice
(Illustration by Alex Cochran for Stateline) A quarter millennia after its founding, the United States faces a stark choice that…
Why are our fingers different lengths?
Hand development is shaped by evolution, biology and environment. Cunaplus_M.Faba/iStock via Getty Images Plus Curious Kids is a series for…
From Augustine to Jefferson, the idea of separating church and state has deep religious and secular roots
The founding generation: James Madison, left, and Thomas Jefferson, both proponents of the separation of church and state. Photo12/Universal Images…
Cities, towns nationwide revive teen curfews amid summer crowds
A sign at the Mall in Columbia, a suburban shopping center in central Maryland, requires anyone under 17 to be…
Can you make a black hole in a laboratory?
The active galaxy Centaurus A, with jets emanating from the central black hole. ESO/WFI (Optical); MPIfR/ESO/APEX/A.Weiss et al. (Submillimetre); NASA/CXC/CfA/R.Kraft…
Aid is on the way after Venezuela’s earthquakes, but it’s not clear how quickly it can get there
Rescue workers carry a person on a stretcher in Caracas following an earthquake in Venezuela on June 24, 2026. Juan…
What are supermassive black holes? Everything you need to know – and what astronomers are still learning – about these mysterious objects
An artist's impression of the black hole in the M87 galaxy and its powerful jet. S. Dagnello (NRAO/AUI/NSF), CC BY-NC-SA…
Trump ‘trampled’ voter privacy by feeding info into Homeland Security system, judge says
Voting at the Portland Expo in Maine’s June 9, 2026 primary election. (Photo by Jim Neuger/Maine Morning Star) The Trump…