Animals & Plants
Petrichor: Why Rain Smells So Good
That clean earthy smell after rain has a name — petrichor. We reveal where the scent comes from: soil, plants and rainfall chemistry.
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Every story we’ve uncovered so far, newest first.
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Human Body
Hangovers: Why Your Body Punishes You the Next Morning
The morning after is your body's honest review of the night before. What hangovers are, why they happen, and what your body is telling you.
Music
Happy Birthday to You: Who Actually Wrote It?
The world's most-sung song has a surprisingly contested past. We trace who really wrote Happy Birthday to You and how the melody became univ...
Music
Moye Moye: How a Serbian Blues Line Went Viral
Moye moye swept through memes and feeds, but the phrase runs deeper than the trend. Here is how one haunting Serbian song line went viral.
Earth & Space
Why Lightning Arrives Before Thunder
You always see lightning before you hear thunder, and the gap is a clue. How light and sound race, and how to count a storm's distance.
Earth & Space
If the Sun Vanished: Earth's First 8 Minutes
If the Sun suddenly vanished, Earth would not notice for eight minutes. Then the real nightmare would begin. Here is what would happen next.
Festivals
Holi: Triumph of Good Over Evil, a Tale of Lasting Love
Holi, the festival of colours, brightens the whole of India. Behind the celebrations lies the triumph of good over evil and a tale of lastin...
Human Body
You Can Always See Your Nose. Your Brain Just Hides It
Your nose sits right in front of you, so why do you never see it? Your brain quietly hides it — and the reason is stranger than you think.
Earth & Space
Why Is Space Black When the Sun Lights Up Earth?
Why is space black when the Sun floods Earth with light? The answer hides in the air around you and the physics of how light travels.
Music
Ho Jamalo: The Story Behind the Song (Not Dahi Jamalo)
Ho Jamalo is the Sindhi folk song that travelled from folklore to the blockbuster charts. We tell the real story behind the name and its las...
Human Body
Why Do We Get Hiccups? A Leftover From Our Fish Past
Hiccups are a sudden diaphragm spasm that makes a telltale 'hic'. Scientists think the reflex is a leftover from our fish-and-amphibian past...
Human Body
Why Cutting Hair and Nails Doesn't Hurt
Cutting nails or hair never hurts, yet a tiny paper cut stings. The difference lies in how nerves serve skin versus keratin. Here is why.