A sunbittern (Eurypyga helias), photographed at the Central Park Zoo.
Photo of the Day #647: Sunbittern
A sunbittern (Eurypyga helias), photographed at the Central Park Zoo.
Brian Switek is a freelance science writer and a paleontology volunteer with the Natural History Museum of Utah. He is also author of the books My Beloved Brontosaurus and Written in Stone. ... Read More
Topicsbirds
In Orbit You Have to Slow Down to Speed Up
Driving a spacecraft around a planet isn’t anything like driving on a planet. A physicist explains orbital navigation.
Physicists Create a Thermometer for Measuring ‘Quantumness’
“Anomalous” heat flow, which at first appears to violate the second law of thermodynamics, gives physicists a way to detect quantum entanglement without destroying it.
Climate Change Made Hurricane Melissa 4 Times More Likely, Study Suggests
Unusually warm ocean temperatures fueled one of the worst hurricanes on record. New research finds climate change increased the storm’s likelihood.
How to Follow the Trajectory of Comet 3I/Atlas
The interstellar comet 3I/Atlas reached its closest point to the sun. Here's how to follow the rest of its journey away from our solar system.
Hurricane Melissa Has Meteorologists Terrified
The storm, which is set to make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, has stunned meteorologists with its intensity and the speed at which it built.
How Genes Have Harnessed Physics to Grow Living Things
The same pulling force that causes “tears” in a glass of wine also shapes embryos. It’s another example of how genes exploit mechanical forces for growth and development.
The ‘10 Martini’ Proof Connects Quantum Mechanics With Infinitely Intricate Mathematical Structures
The proof, known to be so hard that a mathematician once offered 10 martinis to whoever could figure it out, uses number theory to explain quantum fractals.
Unpicking How to Measure the Complexity of Knots
Two mathematicians have proved that a straightforward question—how hard is it to untie a knot?—has a complicated answer.
How Do Metal Detectors Work?
What sneaky invisible forces enable these instruments to locate buried treasure?
The First Radio Signal From Comet 3I/Atlas Ends the Debate About Its Nature
An observatory detected the first radio signal from the interstellar object 3I/Atlas. Here’s what it means.
Analog Photography: The Beginner’s Guide to Film Cameras
Which film camera should you get? Which films are the best? We demystify the world of analog photography to help you get started.
An Invasive Disease-Carrying Mosquito Has Spread to the Rocky Mountains
The Aedes aegypti mosquito that can carry dengue, yellow fever, and Zika was thought to be too reliant on a hot and wet climate to survive in the Mountain West. But now, a population is thriving in Western Colorado.