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The Pacific Coast Highway Towns Worth Stopping In
California's Pacific Coast Highway links walkable coastal towns from Mendocino to Laguna Beach, where the stop is about the short walk from car to water.
The Oldest Railroads Still Running In America
The oldest railroads still running in America, from Strasburg (1832) and the first-ever B&O to the Mount Washington Cog and the Durango & Silverton steam train.
The National Parks Where People Still Own Homes Inside The Boundary
Roughly 2.6 million acres inside American national park boundaries are privately owned, and one park contains an entire town. Why inholdings exist.
What Happens To Las Vegas If Hoover Dam Goes Dark
Las Vegas would lose about four percent of its electricity and keep every drop of its water. Why the city does not actually run on Hoover Dam
The Largest Arboretums In The United States
Bernheim in Kentucky tops our list of the largest arboretums in America at 16,140 acres, ahead of Ohio's Holden and Dawes and Illinois's Morton Arboretum.
The Most Snake Infested Rivers In Nevada
The Most Snake Infested Rivers In Nevada include the Truckee, Carson, Humboldt, and Colorado, where garter snakes, gopher snakes, and rattlesnakes find water.
The Day Oroville Dam's Spillway Collapsed
The Day Oroville Dam's Spillway Collapsed. A slab tore loose at the tallest US dam, water topped an untested hillside, and a billion-dollar rebuild followed.
What Happens To The Grand Canyon When Lake Powell Dies
The Grand Canyon does not wait for Lake Powell to die. It feels the decline first, and the tools for managing it stop working before the reservoir does.
The American Mountains You Can Reach By Gondola
The American Mountains You Can Reach By Gondola. Ride to Mammoth's volcanic summit, play disc golf atop Aspen Mountain, or dine facing Mount Rainier.
11 Underrated Virginia Towns Worth the Drive in 2026
Whenever you’re ready to hit the open road, it’s worth adding to the itinerary any of these 11 underrated Virginia towns worth the drive in 2026.
The Underwater Cliffs And Canyons Of The Great Lakes
Beneath the Great Lakes lie ridges, basins, and shoals, from a sunken Lake Huron land bridge once used by caribou hunters to a volcanic shoal in Lake Superior
How Far Apart America's Extremes Actually Are
America is a large country, and when its territories are factored in, its geographic extremes become even more prominent.
Dark-Spotted Anaconda
The dark-spotted anaconda lives in northeastern Brazil and French Guiana, a little-studied water boa that bears live young and hides in flooded wetlands.
Weeverfish
Weeverfish bury themselves in shallow sand with only their venomous spines showing, and a sting is eased by soaking the wound in hot water, not cold.
How NASA Uses American Deserts To Prepare For Mars Expeditions
NASA rehearses Mars missions and tests rovers, drones and spacesuits in the Mojave, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico.
Who Were The Most Influential Ancient Generals?
On top of their seemingly mythic status, these generals had a practical influence through their military accomplishments and political endeavors.
The American Mountains With The Darkest Night Skies
The American Mountains With The Darkest Night Skies. Spot Andromeda from Wheeler Peak, use a research telescope on Mount Locke, or camp above Death Valley.
Are There Crocodiles Sneaking Up the Mississippi River Delta?
Are There Crocodiles Sneaking Up the Mississippi River Delta? No. The delta is full of alligators, but cold winters keep American crocodiles in South Florida.
Tiger Rattlesnake
Tiger Rattlesnake produces the most toxic venom of any rattlesnake, yet it is among the smallest of them, with a tiny head and a very low venom yield.
Which Moon Orbits The Fastest?
Gravity and orbits are a fundamental aspect of both our solar system and our universe. Here is the moon in our solar system which orbits the fastest.
How Roman Generals Dominated Their Opponents
The best generals of Ancient Rome relied on a slew of tactics, both military and psychological, to defeat their opponents.
How Big The Great Plains Is Compared To All Of Western Europe
The Great Plains could fit Western Europe twice with room for Texas. See how this vast region compares with European countries, from France to Austria.
Pittsburgh Has More Bridges Than Any City In America, If You Want It To
Pittsburgh calls itself the City of Bridges, and 446 is the number everyone repeats. Houston has 2,325. Here is how the claim survived for over a century.
Star-Nosed Mole
Star-Nosed Mole facts, from the fleshy star that is the most sensitive touch organ known to its record-fast foraging in the wetlands of eastern North America.
Why The Milky Way May Never Collide With Andromeda
A 2025 study of the Milky Way and Andromeda found roughly even odds of a merger within 10 billion years, challenging the long-held collision forecast.
The Worst Mistakes Made By Roman Emperors
Roman emperors were among history's most powerful rulers but even those who wielded immense authority made grievous mistakes.
10 Underrated Florida Towns Worth the Drive in 2026
10 Underrated Florida Towns Worth the Drive in 2026. See manatees at Blue Spring, the Navy SEAL museum in Fort Pierce, and a cattle drive in Okeechobee.
How Long America's Rivers Are Compared To The Nile
The Mississippi runs about 57% of the Nile's length, and the Missouri-Mississippi nearly 90%, with the Yukon, Rio Grande, Colorado, and Columbia even shorter.
Which Moon Is The Most Cratered?
In space, floating bodies often collide. Most commonly, this occurs between asteroids and planets or moons. But which moon is most cratered?
8 Underrated Iowa Towns Worth The Drive In 2026
These towns will take you through Danish settlements, former railroad communities, and towns preserving unusually specialized museums.
The Top Semiconductor States In America
Semiconductors are some of the most coveted materials on the planet, currently. Here are the top semiconductor states in America.
Rome’s Bloodiest Power Struggles
Explore Ancient Rome’s most consequential power struggles and how battles for political control helped bring down the Republic and reshape the Empire.
The Most Important Roman Cities
Four cities shaped the Roman Empire's rise and legacy. Learn how Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, and Carthage influenced its history.
How Big Texas Is Compared To Europe's Largest Countries
Texas is larger than nearly every country in Europe. Its 268,597 square miles stack up against Europe’s biggest nations in surprising ways.
10 Small Towns in The Poconos with the Best Downtowns
Old rail hubs, compact main streets, and unexpected local landmarks give these Poconos downtowns a personality far bigger than their size.
What Would Happen If Earth's Magnetic Field Flipped
The question of Earth's magnetic field flipping is less a matter of "if", and more a matter of "when." Here's what would happen when it does.
The Richest Countries In Africa 2025
Africa’s richest countries fall into three types: island economies, hydrocarbon exporters, and diversified markets, shaped by resources and policies
The Difference Between A Hurricane, A Typhoon, And A Cyclone
A hurricane, a typhoon and a cyclone are the same storm under three names. Which one you get depends on the ocean, and a date line crossing proves it.
The Mountains That Are Still Growing
Some mountains are still rising today, pushed upward by tectonic forces even as erosion and melting ice reshape their peaks.
How The Himalayas Compare To The Rockies
How the Himalayas and Rockies compare in height, length, age, glacier ice, earthquakes, and the rivers they feed, from Everest to the Continental Divide.