Believe it or not
Surprising facts with explanations and sources.
SpaceMarker used to help Apollo 11 leave the Moon sells for $857,600
Buzz Aldrin used an ordinary felt-tip marker to press a damaged circuit breaker in the lunar module. The marker and broken switch cap have now been sold together.
Living worldA giant fungus hides beneath a forest: how do we know it is one?
In Oregon’s Malheur forest one Armillaria organism spans an immense area; mushrooms are only its visible signs.
SpaceA day on Venus lasts longer than a year — which day?
Venus rotates once in about 243 Earth days and orbits the Sun in 225; the sunrise cycle is another matter.
Living worldAn axolotl can regrow a leg — how does it work?
Regrowing a limb demands coordinated cells, nerves and signals; humans cannot yet do the same.
EcologyWhy does red “Blood Falls” flow from Antarctic ice?
Iron-rich brine and microbes beneath Taylor Glacier explain the colour; no blood is involved.
Living worldTardigrades survived open space — but they are not indestructible
A 2007 experiment showed extraordinary resilience and the difference between surviving and thriving.
Living worldWhy do octopuses have three hearts?
Two hearts send blood through the gills; the third pumps it around the body.
PhysicsWhy does ice float?
Water expands as it freezes, leaving ice less dense than liquid water.