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

Explainers

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

Computing
Explainer: What is the internet?

By Kathryn HulickJanuary 13, 2025
Plants
Explainer: How to identify tree species in the winter

By Sophie HartleyJanuary 6, 2025
Earth
Explainer: How volcanoes erupt

By Carolyn WilkeNovember 15, 2024
Health & Medicine
Why you shouldn’t just brush off dandruff

By Kathiann KowalskiNovember 14, 2024
Brain
Why we aren’t really ‘left-brained’ or ‘right-brained’

By RJ MackenzieNovember 1, 2024
Plants
Explainer: How a seed grows into a plant

By Jennifer JunghansOctober 21, 2024
Artificial Intelligence
Explainer: What is generative AI?

By Kathryn HulickOctober 9, 2024
Chemistry
Explainer: How cells use chemistry to make the electricity of life

By Bethany BrookshireOctober 3, 2024

Health & Medicine
Explainer: Anatomy of a heartbeat

By Bethany BrookshireOctober 3, 2024
Humans
Peripheral vision and what we can see in the dark

By Roberta McLainAugust 28, 2024
Space
Explainer: What is the solar cycle?

By Adam MannApril 8, 2024
Humans
Explainer: What is autism?

By Payal DharApril 1, 2024