Reconnecting with the night sky and reining in light pollution
Writer Craig Childs biked from the brightest sky to the darkest in our Book Club pick “The Wild Dark.” Plus, the latest on light pollution.
Learning to trust the night sky, one star at a time
In “The Wild Dark,” a young Craig Childs finds himself alone in a dark wilderness. As the Milky Way comes into focus, fear turns to wonder.
What was science like in America 250 years ago?
Sure, the American colonies had Benjamin Franklin and his kite. But many other natural philosophers were thinking big thoughts about the world.
Investigating ‘flow state’ with the bassist from Phish
In a 2025 story, Phish bassist Mike Gordon explains his work with neuroscientists to explore the transcendent experience of musical flow state.
Why do sports announcers talk like that?
A linguist breaks down “sports announcer talk,” from inverted speech and rising pitch to the world-famous goal roar.
When music transports you to a different place
Musical daydreams are a phenomenon shared across humankind. What do they tell us about our brains?
10 great nature books for kids
Pond life, tern migration, and the science of animal nests: Literacy experts share their favorite nonfiction children’s books about nature.
Why can I handle tequila but not rum?
Do sugary drinks really cause more intense hangovers? Is wine both bad for you and good for you? Experts take on the chemistry of happy hour.
AI + turfgrass science in the most high-tech World Cup yet
The 2026 World Cup will be infused with AI. How will it change the beautiful game? Plus, what it takes to get perfect grass into 16 stadiums.
Parenting tips from the animal kingdom
How poison dart frogs deal with their kids asking for snacks, and other parenting inspiration from the animal kingdom.