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Stories

A Driving Tour of River Road National Scenic Byway

A Driving Tour of River Road National Scenic Byway winds along Michigan's AuSable River, past sand dunes, high bluffs, and the Lumberman's Monument.

Places

12 Amazing South Dakota Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive

Twelve South Dakota day trips worth the drive, split between Sioux Falls culture and the Rapid City monuments of Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and the Badlands.

Cities

The 7 Can't-Miss Towns In Oregon

The 7 Can't-Miss Towns In Oregon include Astoria, Cannon Beach, Sisters, Ashland, Baker City, Pendleton, and Oregon City, each with its own draw.

Cities

8 Picture-Perfect Main Streets In The United States

The mall took most Main Streets. These eight American towns kept theirs, from Galena's brick to Key West's Duval, and they are a joy to walk today.

Cities

11 New Mexico Towns With Unforgettable Main Streets

Travel New Mexico’s most memorable main streets for Native art, historic hotels, and desert landmarks filled with Wild West stories.

Rivers

The Year The Colorado River Stopped Reaching The Sea

When did the Colorado River stop reaching the sea? Around 1960, when Glen Canyon Dam choked off its flow, with only rare returns since, including a 2014 revival.

Rivers

American Cities That Reversed Rivers To Protect Their Drinking Water

Can a city really make a river flow backward? Chicago did it in 1900 to save its drinking water, and we are still paying for it today.

Oceans

The US Coastlines Where Jellyfish Are Worst

The US Coastlines Where Jellyfish Are Worst run from the Chesapeake Bay to Hawaii, where sea nettles, lion's mane, and box jellies turn beach days painful.

Oceans

The US Coast With The Biggest Tides

Alaska’s North Pacific coast has the biggest tides in the US; learn more about Turnagain Arm’s record tidal range, bore wave, and beluga whales.

Animals

Mako Shark

The mako shark is the fastest shark in the ocean, a warm-muscled predator clocked near 45 mph that leaps clear of the water. Both species are now Endangered.

Animals

American Crocodile

The American crocodile is the most widespread crocodile in the Americas, a salt-tolerant coastal predator ranging from Florida to Peru across 18 countries.

Wildlife By Place

What Animals Live In The Gobi Desert?

Fewer than 50 Gobi bears remain on Earth, all in one desert. Discover the animals of the Gobi and how they survive one of the planet's harshest places.

Space

Which Planet Is The Brightest In Our Sky?

Venus is the brightest planet in our sky, reflecting most of the sunlight that reaches it. Find out when it peaks and why.

Ancient World

The Worst Decisions Made By Roman Generals

Rome lost armies at Cannae, Carrhae, Teutoburg Forest, and Adrianople. A look at the commanders whose choices cost the empire dearly.

Travel

8 Underrated Illinois Towns Worth the Drive in 2026

Beyond the bright lights of Chicago, there are many smaller, underrated towns in Illinois worth making the drive for in 2026.

Animals

Nile Crocodile

The Nile crocodile is Africa's largest crocodilian and the second-largest living reptile, an ambush hunter that takes prey as big as zebra and wildebeest.

Space

Which Planet Has Days Longer Than Its Years?

Venus takes 243 Earth days to spin once but only 225 to orbit the Sun. Here is why its day outlasts its year, and how Mercury complicates it.

Space

What The Hubble Tension Could Break In Cosmology

The Hubble Tension is a fundamental conflict in physics regarding the rate of expansion of the universe, with wide-ranging implications.

Ancient World

Was The Roman Empire Really Better Than The Roman Republic?

Rome swapped the Republic's power sharing for the Empire's administration. What Augustus gained, and what Diocletian's court cost.

Space

What's the Loudest Sound in Space?

Learn why pressure waves from a black hole 250 million light-years away became known as the loudest sound in space, despite there being no confirmed record.

Ancient World

Ancient Tunnels Still Functioning

Ancient tunnels in Rome, Jerusalem, Iran, Oman, and China still carry water by gravity more than 2,000 years after they were dug.

Stories

An Afternoon Or More in Creemore, Ontario

An Afternoon Or More in Creemore, Ontario reveals a walkable Mill Street of cafes, a Michelin-starred restaurant, lavender farms, and craft beer.

Space

Which Planet Rains Diamonds?

Could it really rain diamonds? Discover why scientists think Neptune and Uranus may produce diamond rain deep within their interiors.

Ancient World

Major Turning Points In Roman History

Rome's rise and fall in five turning points, from the Republic's founding and Hannibal's war to Caesar's Rubicon and the Western Empire's collapse.

Travel

8 Overlooked Towns In Wales Worth Visiting

8 Overlooked Towns In Wales Worth Visiting, from coastal Holyhead and Tywyn to castle-rich Kidwelly, Llandovery, and grand Powis Castle in Welshpool.

Stories

Riding the Sunrise Coast Pure Michigan Byway

Michigan's Sunrise Coast Scenic Byway is a 200-mile Lake Huron road trip of sunrise piers, historic lighthouses, state park beaches, and shipwreck lore.

Religion

African Countries With Islam As The Religion Of The Majority

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

Geography

Country Names With 10 Letters

18 countries have names that contain 10 letters, from Azerbaijan to Uzbekistan. Discover what other countries make the list!

Society

Life Expectancy in Asia

Japan has the highest average life expectancy in Asia, as well as the world.

Geography

What Continent Is Hawaii In?

Although politically Hawaii is considered part of North America, geographically Hawaii is not part of any continent.

Geography

What Are The Contiguous United States?

Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia share a boundary with at least one other state and jointly make up the contiguous United States.

Mountains

The Longest Mountain Ranges in Asia

The Kunlun Mountains, in China, is the longest mountain range in Asia.

Geography

Which Countries Border Italy?

Italy borders France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia, plus the two microstates it completely encloses: San Marino and Vatican City.

Sports

The Largest Stadiums In Asia

The biggest stadium on Earth isn't in America or Europe. It's in Asia, alongside 14 more giants. See the largest stadiums in Asia, ranked by capacity.

Nature

What Is A Cloud Forest?

How cloud forests drink from the clouds, and why Kilimanjaro, Monteverde, Yakushima and the Appalachians all depend on the mist.

Climate

The Driest States In The United States

The driest states in the US aren't all deserts. Some are famous for snow. Ranked by NOAA precipitation data, with the geography that keeps each one dry.

Society

Countries That Use Their Own Calendar

In Ethiopia, it's not the year you think, and there are 13 months. Discover the countries that still run on their own calendars instead of the Gregorian one.

Forests

European Countries With The Most Forest Cover

Sweden has the most forest cover of any European country.

Climate

The 10 Most Hurricane-Prone States in the US

A look at the 10 U.S. states most often hit by hurricanes, with context on storm history, coastal risk, and conditions behind landfall today.

Economics

Which US States Trade The Most With China?

California dominates China trade, but state-by-state data reveal tariffs create uneven winners and losers across logistics, manufacturing, and energy.