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

Explainers

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

Health & Medicine
Top 10 tips to stay safe during an epidemic

By Janet RaloffMarch 3, 2020
Science & Society
Explainer: What is a mentor?

By Bethany Brookshire and Janet RaloffFebruary 11, 2020
Health & Medicine
Explainer: What are allergies?

By Avery Elizabeth HurtFebruary 6, 2020
Health & Medicine
Explainer: What is a coronavirus?

By Tina Hesman SaeyJanuary 23, 2020
Physics
Explainer: Understanding meteors and meteor showers

By Matthew CappucciDecember 13, 2019
Chemistry
Explainer: What are acids and bases?

By Lida TunesiNovember 13, 2019
Earth
Explainer: Earth — layer by layer

By Beth GeigerNovember 11, 2019
Genetics
Explainer: How DNA testing works

By Tina Hesman Saey and Bethany BrookshireOctober 24, 2019

Health & Medicine
Explainer: What is ultrasound?

By Silke SchmidtOctober 1, 2019
Chemistry
Explainer: The bacteria behind your B.O.

By Bethany BrookshireAugust 22, 2019
Climate
Explainer: Why some clouds glow in the dark

By Matthew CappucciAugust 2, 2019
Climate
Explainer: What is attribution science?

By Stephen OrnesJuly 30, 2019