Trace The Remarkable History Of The Humble Pencil
The classroom writing implement has roots in exploding stars, the French Revolution, the British crown jewels and Walden Pond.
Science
President Obama Really Wants People To Live On Mars
In an op-ed for CNN, the president wrote that he hopes to one day look at the night sky with his grandchildren and tell them that humans are living on Mars.
A Friend For Pluto: Astronomers Find New Dwarf Planet In Our Solar System
The object known for now as 2014 UZ224 is only about 330 miles across and takes 1,100 years to orbit the sun. But one of the most interesting things about it is the way researchers found it.
A Pediatrician's View Of Paid Parental Leave
Paternity leave can make a big difference in a dad's long-term engagement with the child, doctors find. Paid family leave also fosters breastfeeding and reduces the incidence of maternal depression.
Why Parents Don't Get Their Children Vaccinated For The Flu
Parents decline to vaccinate kids against the flu because they don't think they need it. Influenza leads to more hospitalizations and deaths among children than any other vaccine preventable disease.
Matthew Set To End U.S. Hurricane Drought After 10 Years
For the past decade, no major hurricanes have come ashore along the East Coast or Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Matthew is ending that lucky streak.
Perdue Goes (Almost) Antibiotic-Free
The giant poultry producer says that it is now raising all of its chickens without routine antibiotics. Only those flocks that get sick, about 5 percent of all birds, will be treated.
In Haiti, Slow Revelations About The Scale Of Hurricane Destruction
Hurricane Matthew drowned and battered the island nation on Tuesday. At least 283 people died and, more than 48 hours after the storm made landfall, many of the worst hit areas are still inaccessible.
Rhino Horn: The Most Valuable Appendage In Illegal Wildlife Trade
Journalist Bryan Christy estimates the wholesale market for rhino horn is a quarter of a billion dollars. Customers think the horn has healing powers. Criminal syndicates take the money.
Teens' Penchant For Risk-Taking May Help Them Learn Faster
The impulsivity and risk-taking that are common among teenagers may be a side effect of having a brain tuned to learn a lot of new stuff fast, researchers say. So it could be good in the long run.