Traces of the Ancient Seas
Since ancient times, the remains of various marine animals — primarily clamshells — have been found on land, including far from the ocean and high up in the mountains. Ancient people puzzled over how they got there, but now we know the answer and can even use these traces of ancient seas in order to learn about our planet’s past.
Everyday Combinatorics
Some claim that mathematics is merely an abstract science needed only in school. Arithmetic is seen as sufficient for everyday life — for counting money. What about the branch of mathematics known as combinatorics? It’s barely a part of the school curriculum, merely perceived as gymnastics for the mind, but it can be found everywhere — from the analysis of popular games, such as poker, to the creation of drugs.
Mistakes in Physics
Physics can give an inquisitive mind plenty of food for thought, and under the right conditions, it can help develop critical thinking. But there’s a paradox: high school physics has very little to do with the way physics as a science is practiced today. The vast majority of concepts and phenomena studied by millions of high school students around the world are from the 17th–19th centuries! So, why do we continue to approach the study of physics in this way?
Natural, An appeal to nature
Organic products are expensive. Manufacturers claim that they are better for you than regular products because, after all, nature provides what’s best for us. We would be stronger and healthier if only we would stick to all things natural: organic makeup, organic food, cyanide… Wait, what?
William Gilbert: Science is The Best Superpower
We love comic books just as much as you do, but sometimes it seems unfair: why does everyone know Thor and Magneto, but so few have heard about the real person who first researched electricity and magnetism? This month, we’re fighting this injustice by reading comics about the English physicist William Gilbert.
Scientific Astrology
For a long time, people believed that the month of a person’s birth affects their destiny, that every day the stars and planets are arranged differently, and that this somehow changes the abilities and capabilities of an infant. Astronomical research has shown that celestial bodies have nothing to do with it, but some traits of health and character really do depend on someone’s date of birth. It’s all biology.
How Has Coronavirus Changed The World ?
It might seem that the biggest difference in the post-COVID-19 world is the advent of widespread mask-wearing and intensive handwashing. But the changes go much deeper — from innovations on the global scale to everyday habits, some adaptations are obvious while others are completely unexpected. Some of these modifications have affected our world positively, but others have led to unfortunate consequences. We can only make our best guesses about which of these changes will disappear with the pandemic and which will stick around in the long run.
Caves: Dungeons & Caverns
This month, we’re going down into the deep! Not for adventure’s sake, but in pursuit of knowledge. Caves aren’t always so dark and damp — they might surprise you.