As civilizations from Rome to the Maya harnessed empirical ingenuity to create materials with built-in healing, color-shifting, or structural resilience, they left behind recipes that modern science is only now decoding. From rust-proof iron pillars and self-repairing concrete to nanotech-level glass and ancient vulcanized rubber, these ten remarkable “smart” materialsContinue Reading
We like to think we’ve got a grip on reality. That the world mostly makes sense, and the things we were taught in school are—more or less—true. But scratch just beneath the surface, and things get ‘weird’ fast. This isn’t your average trivia list. These are the cracks in theContinue Reading
It is often said that people should get out of their comfort zone if they want to dream up big new ideas, but maybe it all depends on where that comfort zone is. If it is one of the 45,000 or so pubs found across the British Isles, it mightContinue Reading
Many people love general knowledge quizzes or even quiz nights. They get to share interesting facts and show off in front of their friends, while having a great time. (Not in a Sheldon Cooper kind of way, mind you). Then you get those who love weird or downright terrifying facts.Continue Reading
While we typically perceive history as something we only read about in books, 2025 has already proven that history is happening right before our eyes. Despite economic, political, and social conflicts, this year has brought about incredible events and discoveries unlike anything the world has ever seen. Some leave usContinue Reading
We tend to think of everyday objects—pillows, perfumes, makeup—as inventions born from comfort, beauty, or practicality. But dig through the layers of history, and you’ll find that some of these now-ordinary items have surprising ties to ancient burial rites, funerary customs, or corpse preparation. To be clear: not all ofContinue Reading
A full-scale prototype of the Interlune excavator, which was developed in partnership with Vermeer. The excavator will harvest helium-3 on the moon, if all goes according to plan. (Image credit: Interlune) We just got our first look at a prototype for a novel moon-mining machine. “When you’re operating equipment onContinue Reading
Houston-based startup Venus Aerospace has completed the first-ever test flight of a rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) in the United States. The launch took place on Wednesday (May 14) from Spaceport America in New Mexico. A small rocket equipped with Venus’ RDRE lifted off at 9:37 a.m. EDT (1337 GMT;Continue Reading
Everyone knows the old Greek saying, “things are going to Hades in a hand basket.” That seems to be true for our personal and collective health, in multiple surprising ways. Sometimes, it’s the environment and our own doings conspiring against us. Other times, the daily habits we’ve forged are revealedContinue Reading
The silvery-green olive trees that blanket Greece are as rooted in its culture as the stars and sea. According to Greek mythology, Athena planted the first olive tree on the Acropolis, triumphing over Poseidon to become Athens’ patron goddess—forever cementing the evergreen as a sacred symbol of prosperity. In ancientContinue Reading
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