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We regret to inform you that the smell which you call “chlorine” at the swimming pool is not, in fact, just the cleaning agent chlorine. In fact, if it smells too strongly of “chlorine” it might be a good idea to get out of the pool entirely, for it is the result of something called […]

Sudden blood loss pushed Kevin Hill to the brink of death, but in a recent interview he revealed what his “near death experience” looked like. They might sound like a thing of movies, but a lot of research has gone into near death experiences, which aren’t hallucinations but something more unusual. “I wasn’t looking down […]

This article first appeared in Issue 6 of our free digital magazine CURIOUS.  There is an old quote by Voltaire that goes “if God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him”. Unless all religions, including the ones that specifically rule out the existence of other gods, are correct, then inventing gods is […]

Following a major leak of radioactive water late last year, a Minnesota power plant has now temporarily shut down due to another incident linked to the clean-up operation. The company that runs the nuclear power plant, Xcel Energy, insists that the overall risk is low and the situation is under control.  The initial leak at […]

A woman has explained what it was like to fall into one of the world’s most-deadly plants: Australia’s infamous Dendrocnide moroides, more commonly known as gympie-gympie (after the town where it was discovered) or the stinging tree (after what it will do to you with gusto). The plant, a type of nettle, is pretty toxic all […]

Issue 9 (April 2023) of CURIOUS is out now, bringing you science highlights for the month plus deep dives into intriguing topics, interviews, exclusives, diary dates, and explanations for some of Earth’s most perplexing natural phenomena and landscapes. In This Issue… Advertisement OUR COVER STORY: Does Everyone Have An Imagination? And does it matter if […]

The unique radiation emitted by heated or electrified elements has been converted into sound, enabling us to hear the distinctive chord each element produces. Although the idea has been tried before, advances in technology have now made it possible for a far more complete and subtle sonification of the periodic table. When elements are energized […]

Deep scattering perplexed sonar technicians during World War 2, as their systems appeared to be telling them that the depth of the seafloor kept changing from day to night. It was later revealed that a peculiar phenomenon that we now know as the deep scattering layer was screwing with their instruments, and it’s an example […]

There’s no better way to show your respect for a long-dead ruler than by mummifying the head of an animal, and the ancient Egyptians were the masters of this strange form of reverence. Further proof of this remarkable tradition has recently been uncovered at the temple of King Ramesses II, where archaeologists have announced the […]

A new estimate suggests that the world’s population will likely peak in the next few decades and will decline significantly by the end of the century, perhaps slumping as low as 6 billion people. If the work is correct, this will be the first time the global population has seen a decline since the Black […]

At some point fairly recently, we’re going to guess you found yourself accidentally imagining a complete stranger in the buff. Did we miss the mark? How about unexpectedly obsessing over whether you left your front door unlocked? Perhaps you even convinced yourself there’d be an intruder waiting for you when you got home. Maybe a […]

This article first appeared in Issue 6 of our free digital magazine CURIOUS.  Allow us to set the scene: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been on the radio (TV is lost to you now), a body-invading pathogen has given rise to a deadly pandemic that causes humans to become bloodthirsty savages. […]

This week, we look at the impact of social anhedonia on marriages, a galaxy has been completely reclassified after a major change and prehistoric artwork depicts a deity with enormous eyes and a wide grin. People Are Less Satisfied With Their Marriage If Their Partner Has Social Anhedonia Married people tend to be less satisfied […]

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals”, are a large family of substances that have an enormous industrial application. They are so widespread that they have started to leach into the environments, and from there to humans and other animals. There are several health risks associated with the accumulation of these substances, […]

For just four years in the early 20th century, New Zealand was host to the largest and most powerful geyser ever seen on the Earth. During its brief life, the dramatic spectacle of the Waimangu geyser attracted tourists from all over, bringing people back to an area that had only recently been marred by tragedy. […]

An astrophysicist has discovered that 17th-century mathematician and astronomer Christiaan Huygens was likely near-sighted by looking at designs for his telescopes. Huygens, perhaps best known for his study of Saturn’s rings and the discovery of one of its moons, Titan, manufactured his own telescopes. Towards the end of his life, he began trying to figure […]

An incredible series of relief paintings depicting the signs of the zodiac has been revealed on the ceiling of an ancient Egyptian temple. Known as the Temple of Esna, the site was constructed in honor of the ram-headed god Khnum and was covered with decorative artwork, including one of the most complete Egyptian star charts […]

ATX-101 is an experimental drug designed to kill cells of all types of cancers, while leaving healthy cells untouched. A trial of cancer patients for whom all existing treatments had failed was intended just to test ATX-101’s safety. For many of those participating it appears to have extended their lives, halting the progression of their […]

Even today, thousands of years after it was built, hundreds of people gather at Stonehenge to witness it align with the Sun on the solstices. While it’s crystal clear that the prehistoric site was built with astronomical alignment in mind, a new study argues that it isn’t the perfect Stone Age calendar it’s sometimes made […]