#evolution

Why Poison Dart Frogs Don't Poison Themselves

The Science of Cuteness: Why Baby Animals Make Us Explode

The Science of Blushing: The Human Race's Strangest Superpower

Blushing is the only emotional expression that's uniquely, unmistakably human. Why did evolution give us a response that broadcasts our most embarrassing moments to everyone around us?

The Science of Fear: Why Your Heart Pounds and Why You Love It

Fear is one of our oldest and most powerful emotions — a finely-tuned survival machine. But what's actually happening in your brain and body when you're terrified? And why do so many of us seek it out for fun?

The Science of Kissing: Why We Lock Lips

A simple kiss sets off a hurricane of brain chemistry, hormone exchange, and subconscious assessment. Here's what's really happening when you lock lips.

The Science of Tears: Why Do We Cry?

Humans are the only animals that cry emotional tears. Why? The science of tears reveals a surprisingly sophisticated system — three different types of tears, each with a distinct chemical composition and purpose.

The Immortal Jellyfish: The Only Animal That Can Cheat Death

Turritopsis dohrnii — the immortal jellyfish — can reverse its biological clock and return to its juvenile form. In theory, it never has to die. Here's how it works and what it teaches us about aging.

The Science of Hiccups: An Evolutionary Message from Our Fishy Past

The Alien Minds of Octopuses: Eight Arms, Nine Brains, and a Truly Weird Intelligence

Octopuses evolved intelligence on a completely separate branch of the tree of life — our last common ancestor was a worm-like creature. The result is a mind so different from ours that scientists call it 'the closest thing to an alien intelligence on Earth.'

Living Light: The Bizarre and Beautiful World of Bioluminescence