It’s a wonderful world — and universe — out there.

Explainers

Background pieces for a deeper dive into a broad range of pivotal topics

Brain
Understanding Autism

By Bryn NelsonApril 3, 2014
Earth
Explainer: Telling a tsunami from a seiche

By Stephen OrnesMarch 26, 2014
Health & Medicine
Explainer: What is a hookah?

By Amanda Leigh MascarelliMarch 19, 2014
Health & Medicine
Explainer: What are e-cigarettes?

By Amanda Leigh MascarelliMarch 19, 2014
Environment
Explainer: How and why fires burn

By Stephen OrnesMarch 14, 2014
Computing
Explainer: Data — waiting to become information

By Janet RaloffDecember 13, 2013
Computing
Explainer: Understanding the size of data

By Stephen OrnesDecember 13, 2013
Earth
Explainer: Ice sheets and glaciers

By Douglas FoxSeptember 4, 2013

Earth
Explainer: Antarctica, land of lakes

By Douglas FoxSeptember 4, 2013
Environment
Explainer: All crude oil is not alike

By Janet RaloffAugust 30, 2013
Tech
Explainer: What is fracking?

By Erica GiesAugust 21, 2013
Animals
Explainer: Animals’ role in human disease

By Amanda Leigh MascarelliAugust 15, 2013