Science & Tech
That’s no understatement — for the 2.3 billion people around the world who don’t have access to sanitation, a new kind of loo could save countless lives. Flush toilets aren’t everywhere Flush toilets are commonplace in the U.S. and Europe, but for large swaths of the developing world, the technology is yet to land. Many […]
It’s a notion first put forth—and explored—by television…but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. It’s been use as a plot device on numerous sitcoms. In fact, Uncle John got the idea for this piece when he was watching an episode of The Partridge Family the other day—Laurie had just gotten fitted for braces, and she […]
While President Trump has floated the idea of a “Space Force,” an organization is actively taking a different approach to the cosmos—they’re going to live there. Earth’s got problems Earth is a wonderful place to live—well, technically speaking, it’s the only place to live, as far as we know. But this big blue and green […]
Whether it’s wearing shorts and T-shirts to beat the heat, or swimwear to the beach or the pool, you can’t help but show a little more skin than usual in the summertime. Here’s some info about those little friends that are along for the ride. What causes pimples? Everything your mom and your doctor told […]
Koko was probably the most famous real-life primate of all time. That’s because she was remarkable. Koko was a gorilla who learned to communicate with human beings through the use of sign language. Last week, Koko died at the age of 46—here’s a look back at her remarkable life. Birth Koko was specifically a western […]
Humans boast at least five senses. Dogs seem to have a few more—as evidenced by the fact that they can sense illness and medical conditions in humans before the humans have any idea. Migraines According to a University of Pittsburgh study, dogs that live with people who suffer from migraines are able to notice subtle […]
The animal kingdom has its champions, too. A safari through YouTube’s wildlife clips reveals some fascinating and surprising records and some incredible footage from the wild world. (This article was first published in YouTube: World Records.) Monkey Business About 98 percent of their genome is identical to humans, so it is not surprising that chimpanzees are […]
There is plenty of kitten action and a lot of celebrity cats on YouTube, but not many make the record books. Here’s a select few who are on the road to purr-fection. (This article was first published in YouTube: World Records.) Fluffy Sweater Alley, a stray cat, was adopted after she was found looking frail and nervous […]
In science, there’s a word for everything—especially all the weird and gross things your body does and makes. Ice Cream Headache If you eat ice cream too fast, you’re going to give yourself an “ice cream headache” or “brain freeze.” But what are you supposed to do? If you eat ice cream (or a popsicle, […]
March 14 was “International Ask a Question Day,” and over on our Facebook page, we invited our readers to, well, ask a question and be entered in a giveaway. The response was overwhelming—hundreds of you BRI stalwarts posed a trivia conundrum. Unfortunately, we can’t answer all of them and not everyone can be a winner, but […]
March 14 was “International Ask a Question Day,” and over on our Facebook page, we invited our readers to, well, ask a question and be entered in a giveaway. The response was overwhelming—hundreds of you BRI stalwarts posed a trivia conundrum. Unfortunately, we can’t answer all of them and not everyone can be a winner, but […]
Who’s a good blog entry full of facts about puppies and dogs? These are! Yes they are! Puppies at Birth Puppies are born without teeth, sight, and hearing. (Those come at about two weeks old.) Nor can they regulate body temperature or know how to expel body waste. The first sense they develop is touch, […]
How did you sleep last night? Let’s take a moment to reflect on the importance of sleep, the science of sleep…and all of the many ways that sleep doesn’t come so easily for a lot of people. Exploding Head Syndrome This hyperbolically named condition affects sleepers right as they’re falling asleep or who have just […]
Here is a celebration of one of the world’s most adorable, fascinating, and endangered creatures. Size In pictures and in videos—spending an afternoon in a panda wormhole on YouTube is a fine way to waste a few hours—pandas look like they’re about the size of a stuffed teddy bear, or a dog. They’re actually much […]
Sad news: Stephen Hawking, quite possibly the greatest scientist of our time and the smartest person on Earth has passed away at age 76. He’s been a public figure and popularizer of science for decades, but there’s still a lot about him that most people didn’t know. Field of Study Hawking was a “scientist” to […]
Neil Armstrong was the first person to step foot on the moon, and Russian dog Laika was the first animal in space. Big deal. First Cat in Space Seeking to catch up with the American and Soviet Union’s ambitious space programs, France sent the first cat into space in October 1963. But the chosen astro-kitty, […]
Dogs’ noses are wondrous things. Their acute sense of smell enables them to be trained to detect bombs and drugs, and find earthquake survivors. But it also makes them fine-tuned to human emotions, strengthening the bond between dog and owner and helping them serve as therapeutic companions to those in distress. (This article was first […]
Babies: Cute little bundles of joy…or bizarre creatures from another planet? Bones An adult human has exactly 206 bones. Babies, however, have as many as 300. When they’re born, a lot of what will eventually harden and fuse into solid bones are individual pieces of soft bones, or cartilage. Knees But some bones adults have […]
