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Rivers

The US Rivers With The Highest PFAS Levels

Near wastewater outfalls, PFAS ran highest on South Carolina's Pocotaligo among six US rivers tested, measured in river water and not household taps.

Rivers

The Rivers Where Trout Grow Largest

The Rivers Where Trout Grow Largest. Arkansas tailwaters have produced browns near forty pounds, while steelhead and rainbows grow big on sea time and salmon.

Cities

2026's 11 Most Scenic UK Towns

Discover 11 scenic towns in the UK, where dramatic coastlines, mountain landscapes, and centuries of history make the setting part of the experience

Places

9 Best Natural Wonders To Visit In Portugal This Year

Portugal's nine natural wonders include the Douro Valley's terraced vineyards, Algarve sea caves, Azores volcanic craters, and Madeira's old laurel forest.

Wildlife By Place

How Far North Armadillos Have Reached

How Far North Armadillos Have Reached. Breeding populations hold near the fortieth parallel, but one wanderer turned up in Indiana just shy of Michigan.

Space

Why Evidence Suggests Dark Energy Is Weakening

Although our leading minds have barely more than a theoretical grasp on what dark energy is, it appears to be weakening.

Ancient World

Who Were The Roman Army’s Most Dangerous Enemies?

The Roman army met its match against Carthage, Parthia, the Sasanians, and the Germanic tribes, from Cannae in 216 BCE to the Teutoburg Forest in 9 CE.

Cities

2026's 9 Best Small Towns To Visit In New South Wales

These may be among New South Wales’ smaller towns, yet they always go big in natural beauty, rich local culture, and exciting adventures.

Mountains

The American Power Plants Built Inside A Mountain

From Tennessee's Raccoon Mountain to Washington's Boundary Dam, several U.S. power plants run their turbines deep inside excavated mountain rock.

Towns

11 Best Towns On the Pacific Coast For A Two-Day Recharge

The Pacific Coast has beachside towns perfect for a weekend getaway, offering relaxing coastal walks, activities like tide-pooling, and museums.

Rivers

How Much Of The Colorado River Mexico Actually Gets

Mexico gets 1.5 million acre-feet of the Colorado River a year under a 1944 treaty, just under 10%. Why nearly all of it is used up before the river reaches the sea.

Lakes

The US Lakes With The Highest Mercury Levels

The fish look healthy, but EPA tests found the highest mercury levels in these US lakes. See which catches state health officials say to limit or avoid.

Animals

Gelada

Gelada is the only primate on Earth that lives almost entirely on grass, grazing the Ethiopian highlands by day and sleeping on cliff ledges at night.

Wildlife By Place

Where Manatees Travel Farthest North

Where Manatees Travel Farthest North. Florida manatees follow warm water up the Atlantic coast, and one reached Cape Cod Bay, the northernmost on record.

Animals

Emerald Tree Boa

Emerald Tree Boa facts, from its green camouflage, heat-sensing lip pits, and prehensile tail to its live-born red young in the rainforests of South America.

Space

Which Planet Is The Coldest?

Uranus, not more distant Neptune, reaches the lowest temperature of any planet, about -372°F, while Mercury gets colder at night than anywhere on Earth.

Mountains

Why Denali Is Harder To Climb Than Everest

Lower summit, harder climb. Thin polar air, 100-pound loads, and rescue that can be days away make Denali a tougher test than Everest for most climbers.

Ancient World

Why Rome Could Never Conquer Nubia

Rome conquered many different civilizations but was never able to establish a permanent foothold in Nubia, a region of great significance in Ancient Egypt.

Travel

7 Underrated California Towns Worth the Drive in 2026

Seven California towns worth the detour, from Pioneertown and Solvang to Ojai, Tiburon, Sonoma, Solana Beach and Ramona in the San Diego back country.

Stories

The Island That Changed My Mind About Toronto

A ten-minute ferry from downtown Toronto reaches Center Island, with sandy Great Lakes beaches, a pier, rental bikes and the oldest lighthouse.

Travel

11 Underrated Ohio Towns Worth the Drive in 2026

11 Underrated Ohio Towns Worth the Drive in 2026. Ride a horse-drawn canal boat in Coshocton, see Sugarcreek's cuckoo clock, and find Christmas in Medina.

Space

What New Horizons Is Still Finding In The Kuiper Belt

NASA's New Horizons probe woke from a 321-day hibernation in June 2026, some 6 billion miles from Earth, and continues to study Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.

Ancient World

10 Worst Byzantine Emperors

Ranking the Byzantine emperors whose cruelty, cost-cutting and failed schemes did lasting damage to the Eastern Roman Empire.

Space

Which Planet Could You Survive on Longest?

Mars gives a suited astronaut the best survival odds of any planet beyond Earth, while Venus's heat and the giant planets' crushing depths prove far deadlier.

Ancient World

Who Were The Greatest Generals In Ancient Greece?

Discover how Ancient Greece’s greatest generals used strategy, diplomacy, and military innovation to change the course of the ancient world.

Ancient World

Why Were Roman Emperors Constantly Afraid Of Assassination

To be a Roman emperor meant great power and responsibility. However, it also came with a greatly increased likelihood of assassination.

Mountains

How The Andes Compare To The Rockies

Mount Elbert is the highest point in the Rockies and would not make the Andean top fifty. How the two ranges compare, and the statistic that ends the argument.

GDP

The Richest Countries In Europe 2026

Europe has been an economic hub of the world for centuries. Strong banking and manufacturing sectors and embracing free trade have been key to its success.

Travel

10 Underrated South Carolina Towns Worth the Drive in 2026

Oyster roasts in Bluffton, dawn Thoroughbred workouts in Aiken, a 135-foot peach in Gaffney: 10 underrated South Carolina towns worth the drive in 2026.

GDP

The Richest Countries in North America 2026

In 2025, the U.S., Canada, and Panama lead North America in GDP per capita, reflecting diverse economic strengths and strategies.

Industries

The States With More Farmland Than People

Eight US states have more farmland than people, with farm operations covering over half their land and fewer than 100 residents per square mile.

Geography

How Much of America Drains Into the Mississippi River?

The Mississippi-Atchafalaya basin drains about 41% of the contiguous US, over 1.245 million square miles, and the Missouri subbasin alone supplies 43% of it.

Mountains

The Shortest Mountain Range In The United States

The Sutter Buttes rise about 10 miles across the Sacramento Valley, a worn-down volcano widely called the shortest mountain range in the United States.

Travel

11 Underrated Michigan Towns Worth the Drive in 2026

Michigan towns under two hours from a major airport, with a Dickens festival in Holly, a magic museum in Marshall, and the Polar Express locomotive in Owosso.

Geography

How Much Of The World's Fresh Water Sits In North America?

North America holds roughly one-quarter of the world’s fresh surface water, with the Great Lakes alone accounting for about 21% of the global supply.

Industries

The Busiest Cargo Ports

Cargo ports allow for mass transportation of goods by sea. Here are the largest and busiest cargo ports in various states.

Geography

How Big Lake Superior Is Compared To Entire States

Lake Superior spans 31,700 square miles, larger than 10 US states by total area and nearly the size of South Carolina, plus a 2,726-mile shoreline.

Geography

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.

Geography

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.

Religion

African Countries With Islam As The Religion Of The Majority

In 19 African countries, Islam serves as the religion of the majority.