Since at least 1886, a groundhog now named Punxsutawney Phil has emerged from his burrow every Groundhog Day to predict when winter weather will end. Other groundhogs (Marmota monax) around the ...

The Atlantic’s Science, Technology, and Health desk has had a busy 2025: Our writers have spent the year probing the limits of human consciousness and gene-editing technology, studying the ubiquity of ...

Some people collect stamps. Others prefer art. And since you've clicked on this link, we're guessing you enjoy gathering interesting facts. A connoisseur of curiosity, a hoarder of trivia and perhaps ...

Santa inspired by St. Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop known for kindness and secret gift-giving. Santa's red suit popularized by Coca-Cola, earlier depictions showed him in bishop's attire. Santa's ...

The season is known as both “fall” and “autumn.” The word “autumn” comes from Latin, while “fall” originated in 17th-century Britain as a shortening of the phrase “fall of the leaf.” While both are ...

In the rolling hills of southwest Germany, there is a rock layer that has yielded some of the most spectacular marine fossils in the world. Known as the Posidonia Shale, this 183-million-year-old ...

The popular maxim that “facts don’t care about your feelings” has become a touchstone of modern debate. It suggests that truth is harsh and objective, immune to the influence—or distortion—of emotion.

Paleontology researchers in Europe have identified a new species of ancient marine reptile – often referred to as a "Jurassic sea monster" or "sea dragon" – that existed nearly 183 million years ago.

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. In 1978, paleontologists discovered the remarkable, nearly ...

A new long-necked marine reptile, Plesionectes longicollum, has been identified from a decades-old fossil found in Germany’s Posidonia Shale. The remarkably preserved specimen rewrites part of the ...