Maggie Crady

Black and white image of Dr. Frankenstein and his monster on a table in a lab with lightning bolts touching the monster.

The Electrifying Science Behind Frankenstein

Sara Loy

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has been one of the most iconic science fiction stories for over 200 years. What science of her time inspired this tale?

Their name comes from their painful, venomous sting, which creates a burning sensation in their victim.

The Fiery Sting of the Fire Ant

Sara Loy

Learn more about the sting the fire ant gets its name from.

Why Did Human Brains Decrease in Size?

Paul Patton

Our brains are three times as large as our closest evolutionary relative. But the size of the human brain hasn't just continually grown during our evolution.

Most kitchen sponges we're familiar with aren't actually made from real sponges anymore.

Sponges: Stranger Than Fiction

Paul Patton

What do you know about sponges? Learn all about these unique members of the animal kingdom with today's A Moment of Science.

Bread is an example of complex carbohydrates, which take fewer calories to satisfy hunger.

The Difference Between Simple and Complex Carbs

Michelle Ross

Our bodies prefer to get their energy from carbs. But does it matter what kind of carbohydrates you put into your body?

Crocodiles engage in a behavior called lithophagy, where they eat rocks.

Why Crocs Might Want to Eat Rocks

Sara Loy

Crocodilians appear to eat rocks on purpose, but why exactly would they want to do that?

Fat-free foods often try to avoid putting fat into the product to begin with.

The Science Behind "Fat-Free" Foods

Rory Boothe

Just because a label says a product is fat free or low fat, that doesn't mean the food is good for you. A Moment of Science looks closer at the pros and cons of fat-free foods.

Birds might rely on different instincts to navigate depending on their species.

Do Birds Hear Tsunamis and Hurricanes?

Sara Loy

There's plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting that birds and other animals can sense incoming weather threats, but is there any scientific backing to these claims?

About twenty percent of White-necked Jacobin females never lose their male-like colors, but scientists aren't sure why.

Bright Colors Mean Less Harassment for Hummingbirds

Victoria Clare

Even hummingbirds can experience unwanted attention. But scientists noted that those with certain plumage tend to face less harassment.

Those who speak English have a harder time describing smells.

The Difficulty in Describing Smells

Jeremy Shere

You might be good at identifying a smell, but how well can you describe it? Research looks closer at the linguistic difficulties some cultures have.