The Whip-Poor-Will’s shrill, death-proclaiming song populates the works of Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft. But the bird itself has fallen on hard times. Could it become a ghost of Halloweens past?
These Are the Rumors and Misinformation to Watch for on Election Day
We can anticipate many false claims as we approach the U.S. presidential election—including untrue allegations of mass voting by noncitizens or of “suspicious vans” outside polling booths—and should quickly counter them, a misinformation expert says
This Is Your Robot Brain on Mushrooms
New rolling, hopping robots navigate via fungus
The Unsettled Science behind Weight-Loss Drugs for Teens
Wegovy and similar weight-loss medications are becoming widely prescribed for teenagers with obesity, but little is known about their long-term effects
The Surprising Story of How Peaches Became an Icon of the U.S. Southeast
The Spanish brought peaches to the U.S., but Indigenous peoples spread the fruit across the eastern half of the U.S.
Treat or Trick? Astronomical Objects Are Beautiful—And Creepy
If you’ve ever seen faces in clouds, these heavenly entities will leave you haunted
Celebrating Spooky Lake Month with Its Creator Geo Rutherford
An open body of water can be particularly eerie. It’s part of what led creator and author Geo Rutherford to make her viral videos on Spooky Lakes.
Hurricane Helene Disrupted Abortion Care in the South
Damage from Hurricane Helene forced the only abortion clinic in western North Carolina to shutter, disrupting health care for pregnant people across a large region
These Hornets Can Thrive on Just Alcohol without Getting Buzzed
Social wasps can hold their liquor
Apples Have Never Tasted So Delicious. Here’s Why
Apple experts divide time into “before Honeycrisp” and “after Honeycrisp,” and apples have never tasted so good