An eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), photographed in suburban New Jersey.
Photo of the Day #901: Eastern painted turtle
An eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), photographed in suburban New Jersey.
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
Topicsreptiles
In Orbit You Have to Slow Down to Speed Up
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Physicists Create a Thermometer for Measuring ‘Quantumness’
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Climate Change Made Hurricane Melissa 4 Times More Likely, Study Suggests
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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.
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.
Hurricane Melissa Has Meteorologists Terrified
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The Hidden Math of Ocean Waves
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How Do Metal Detectors Work?
What sneaky invisible forces enable these instruments to locate buried treasure?
Can a Hydroelectric Dam Really Make the Days Longer?
By shifting water to a higher elevation, the giant Three Gorges Dam caused the Earth to spin more slowly.
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.