Latest articles by Charles Q. Choi
How deep is the Mariana Trench?
The bottom of the Mariana Trench is about 35,876 feet (10,935 meters) deep, making it deeper than Mount Everest is tall.
How many hearts does an octopus have?
Octopuses are odd: They have more than one heart and copper-rich blue blood.
Unknown lineage of ice age Europeans discovered in genetic study
The largest study yet to look at the genetics of ice age hunter-gatherers in Europe has uncovered a previously unknown lineage dubbed the Fournol.
Insect that flings pee with a butt catapult is 1st known example of 'superpropulsion' in nature
Glassy-winged sharpshooters rapidly fire their pee out of butt catapults.
Bering Land Bridge was only passable during 2 brief windows, study finds
The first people to enter the Americas may have taken the coastal route along the Bering Strait Land Bridge during these two periods.
Massive, 1.2 million-year-old tool workshop in Ethiopia made by 'clever' group of unknown human relatives
An unknown group of hominins crafted more than 500 obsidian hand axes more than 1.2 million years ago in what is now Ethiopia.
Prehistoric population once lived in Siberia, but mysteriously vanished, genetic study finds
A genetic study has revealed the existence of a previously unknown hunter-gatherer group that lived in Siberia upwards of 10,000 years ago.
How many times can you fold a piece of paper in half?
It's easy to fold a piece of paper in half once, twice or even three or four times. But what's the highest number of times one piece of paper can be folded in half?
How long do dogs live?
The average life expectancy of a dog is more than 10 years, but life span varies greatly among different breeds.
What is the largest squid in the world?
There are two contenders for the world's largest squid, and both are giants.
Who was the world's first author?
The oldest known writing dates back more than 5,000 years. But who was the first author we know by name?
Why does chocolate turn white (and is it safe to eat)?
Sometimes dark or milk chocolate gets a white sheen or blotchy white spots on it. What is happening, and is chocolate that has turned white safe to eat?
Why People Hear Voices When Climbing Mount Everest
People can get visual and auditory hallucinations and extreme altitudes, and altitude sickness may not be the cause, research found.
Why do cats and dogs shed?
Shedding fur is useful for cats and dogs. Here's why they do it.
Flap Flop: Earth's First Bird Not a Bird After All
The new bird on the block? A pigeon-size beast.
Elemental Shift: Periodic Table Gets Weight Changes
Ten elements that help make up the universe, including carbon, are getting their very atomic weights altered.
Snakes on Planes? Serpents Accelerate Faster Than Fighter Pilots
Harmless rat snakes can strike their prey as fast as can venomous vipers, and both snakes reach accelerations that would make humans black out.
No Regrets: Why 'Letting Go' May Be Key to Happy Aging
Life regrets are tied to depression in older adults.
Invisible Plastic Trash Poses Newfound Threat to Sea Life
Waterborne plastic debris could pose a toxic hazard to sea life.
Selfless Chimps Shed Light on Evolution of Altruism
Chimpanzees help strangers without apparent expectation of personal gain.
Human Evolution: Our Closest Living Relatives, the Chimps
Chimpanzees offer many clues as to how we evolved our human traits.
