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Why The Appalachians Are Older Than The Rockies
Collision built one range and a sinking ocean plate built the other, and that difference is why the Appalachians are far older than the younger Rockies.
What Happens If Flaming Gorge Is Drained To Save Lake Powell
To save Lake Powell, managers are draining Flaming Gorge upstream, up to 1M acre-feet. It buys time but drops the reservoir, hits its fishery, and can't last.
11 Best Downtowns In The Rockies
The majesty of the Rocky Mountains often overshadows the places that have been built along and atop its peaks, such as these 11 best downtowns in the Rockies.
13 Best Towns In Wisconsin For Retirees
From Prairie du Chien to Rhinelander, Wisconsin, towns offer retirees affordable housing, local hospitals, senior centers, lakes, and river trails.
11 Underappreciated Towns To Visit In North Carolina
North Carolina is home to underappreciated towns that offer visitors a slower pace of life away from the state's larger cities.
The Oldest Ballparks Still In Use In America
Fenway and Wrigley are not the oldest: Fuller Field dates to 1878, and Rickwood, Sims-Galle, Centennial and Goss have all been in play for over a century.
9 Top Places To Visit In Ohio This Fall
Ohio's autumn brings moderate temperatures and vibrant foliage, peaking in late September to mid-October, ideal for outdoor activities and festivals.
Cowboy Camping At The Pinery
A thousand campsites, zero available all summer. So I drove to The Pinery on a September Thursday with a sleeping bag, no tent, and no reservation.
7 Underrated Massachusetts Towns Worth The Drive In 2026
Edgartown, Rockport, and Stockbridge lead 7 Massachusetts towns with Jaws filming sites, a house built of newspaper, and 574 original Norman Rockwell works.
The Saltiest River In The United States
Meet the Pecos, the saltiest river in the US, plus the Red River's crab-filled spring and Arizona's honestly named Salt River. Why some rivers run briny.
How Lake Vostok Compares To The Great Lakes
Nobody has ever seen Lake Vostok. It is smaller than every Great Lake, deeper than all of them, and holds more water than four. How Antarctica's buried giant compares.
Getting Lost In Romania’s Storied Capital
Five years of extended stays in Bucharest: packed trams, grey-box transit tickets, basement open mics, Calea Victoriei, and a marathon in Ceaușescu's palace.
Where Black Bears And Grizzlies Overlap In The US
Where Black Bears And Grizzlies Overlap In The US. Both roam Alaska and parts of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington, and each needs its own response.
Sharp-Nosed Viper
Sharp-Nosed Viper is the hundred-pace snake of Taiwan and the five-pace snake of China, both names hinting at how far a victim might get after a bite.
The Places On Earth Most Like Europa
Few moons have captured the imagination of scientists more than Europa, which has displayed qualities that indicate it may support life.
Who Were The Most Underrated Ancient Generals?
Epaminondas, Philip II, Quintus Fabius Maximus, and Gaius Marius changed ancient warfare more than their reputations suggest.
What Happens If Lake Roosevelt Drops Below Grand Coulee's Power Intakes
Lake Roosevelt is drawn down every year on purpose and the Columbia refills it. What happens when levels fall at America's largest power station, and the real constraint.
What Happens To Lake Havasu If Lake Mead Hits Dead Pool
Lake Havasu holds about 83 days of its own outflow and is legally required to stay full. What happens to it if Lake Mead hits dead pool, and why it looks fine either way.
The American Mountains With The Most Rattlesnakes
Rattlesnakes in American mountains, from the Guadalupes and Superstitions to Rocky Mountain foothills and the timber rattlers of the southern Appalachians.
The Actual Northern Limit Of The American Alligator
North Carolina marks the alligator’s true northern edge, where surviving winter is one thing, but sustaining another generation is something else.
Wels Catfish
Wels Catfish is Europe's largest freshwater fish, and in one French river it has learned to beach itself on gravel bars to snatch drinking pigeons.
What Falls To Earth From Space Every Year
Stuff is constantly falling from space. We call it space junk. Here's what exactly is falling to Earth from space each year.
Who Were The Most Underrated Roman Generals?
Fabius Maximus, Marcellus, Gaius Marius, and Flavius Aetius won Rome's hardest wars, yet history remembers their rivals instead.
9 Underrated Wisconsin Towns Worth the Drive in 2026
These 9 underrated Wisconsin towns pair circus history in Baraboo and Cornish stone cottages in Mineral Point with a WWII submarine tour in Manitowoc.
Marbled Polecat
Marbled Polecat wears a mottled coat of black, cream and rust, and when cornered it arches its back, throws its tail overhead and sprays like a skunk.
Why China's Far Side Lunar Samples Matter
The dark side of the moon has long been reputed to contain secrets. Now, China has lunar samples from that famed side. Here's why they matter.
The Wealthiest Roman Emperors Ranked
The days of dictators with unlimited power are not as overt as they once were in Ancient Rome. Here are the Roman Empire's wealthiest emperors.
9 Small Towns in California's Sierra Nevada with the Best Downtowns
Explore these Sierra Nevada towns with historic downtowns, local museums, art, wine, trails, theaters, and memorable mountain scenery.
The US Dams That Power Entire States
Six US hydroelectric plants each out-produced a full state's yearly electricity in 2025, with Grand Coulee on top and The Dalles new to the list.
What Europa Clipper Will Find When It Arrives
With a mission en route to Europa, we may soon discover just what is hidden deep beneath the moon's icy surface layers.
Why the Bronze Age Suddenly Collapsed
Drought, famine, war, and the Sea Peoples brought down the Bronze Age world. A look at what caused the collapse and how quickly it unfolded.
Why The Rockies Are Still Rising
Long after the mountains finished forming, the Rockies keep climbing. Hot mantle, a slow-tearing rift, and steady erosion are quietly lifting them.
What The Nancy Grace Roman Telescope Will Do That Webb Cannot
Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, launched in August 2026, pairs a wide infrared field of view with survey speed the Webb and Hubble were never built for.
Who Were The Most Overrated Roman Generals?
Not all famous Roman generals deserve their praise. There were several of them who, when you really look at their track record, were somewhat overrated
The Youngest Mountain Range In The United States
Grand Teton, despite its impressive appearance, is actually the youngest mountain range in the entirety of the United States.
What Is The Thailand-Cambodia Border Dispute
A border drawn more than a century ago still divides Thailand and Cambodia, with disputed temples and territory keeping tensions alive today.
How Big Alaska Is Compared To The Lower 48
Alaska is one fifth the size of the Lower 48 and bigger than Texas, California and Montana combined. Why the maps you grew up with got it wrong twice.
The 10 US Cities With the Longest Summers
Some US cities barely see winter at all. Ranked by NOAA normals, here are the ten with the longest thermal summers, from Honolulu to Fort Lauderdale.
African Countries With Islam As The Religion Of The Majority
In 19 African countries, Islam serves as the religion of the majority.
Country Names With 10 Letters
18 countries have names that contain 10 letters, from Azerbaijan to Uzbekistan. Discover what other countries make the list!