Caught From Orbit: SpaceX Snatches a Starship Out of the Sky for the First Time
For the first time, a rocket’s upper stage came back from orbit and was caught by its launch tower.
Rogue Waves Explained: What Causes Monster Waves, and How Often They Strike
Rogue waves went from sailors’ tales to measured fact with the 25.6-meter Draupner wave in 1995. Here is what counts as a rogue wave, the three ways the ocean builds one, how often they happen, the ships that met them, whether they can be forecast, and what sneaker waves mean at the beach.
The Nuremberg Sky Battle of 1561: What Hans Glaser’s Famous ‘UFO’ Broadsheet Really Shows
On April 14, 1561, people in Nuremberg saw a ‘battle’ around the rising sun. Here is Hans Glaser’s broadsheet in a new translation, the Basel sightings of 1566, and why a halo display fits better than UFOs.
The Eye of the Sahara: What Really Made the Richat Structure’s Giant Rings
The Richat Structure, the Eye of the Sahara, is a 40-kilometer bullseye in Mauritania. Here is how magma, hot water and erosion made its rings, why the impact-crater idea collapsed, and why it isn’t Atlantis.
Best Action Cameras (2026): Five Picks Compared, From $197 to $700
Five action cameras compared by video modes, waterproofing and battery, from the $197 GoPro Hero to the $700 GoPro Mission 1 Pro, plus a 360 pick and an underwater camera.
Total Solar Eclipse August 2, 2027: Path, Times and the Best Places to See It
The August 2, 2027 total solar eclipse is the longest over land until 2114. Here is the path of totality, local times and durations for Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the weather odds, the heat and crowd problems, and how to watch safely.
Palisades Nuclear Plant Restart (2026): When It Comes Back Online and What Went Wrong
Palisades, the Michigan nuclear plant that closed in 2022, is trying to become the first retired U.S. reactor to restart. Here is where it stands in November 2026, what delayed it, what still has to happen and how it compares with Three Mile Island and Duane Arnold.
The St. Francis Dam Disaster: Why the 1928 Collapse Happened and What It Changed
The St. Francis Dam failed just before midnight on March 12, 1928, killing at least 431 people. Here is why it collapsed, how the flood unfolded hour by hour, what investigators still debate, what changed afterward and how to visit the site.
Best Blenders (2026): Six Picks Compared, From $200 to $550
Six countertop blenders compared by jar, motor, programs, height and warranty, from the $200 Breville Fresh & Furious to the $550 Vitamix Ascent X2.
Ball Lightning Explained: What Scientists Know About the Glowing Orbs of Thunderstorms (2026)
Ball lightning is a rare glowing sphere seen during thunderstorms. Here is what witnesses report, the one natural ball ever measured with a spectrograph, the leading theories, and the 2026 lab experiment that made a ball of trapped light.
Google and Samsung Smart Glasses (2026): Price, Release Date, Features and Which Phones Work
Google and Samsung’s first Android XR glasses, sold as Warby Parker and Gentle Monster Intelligent Eyewear, go on sale December 10, 2026, from $395. Here is what they do, which phones work, how privacy works and how they compare with Ray-Ban Meta.
Geminid Meteor Shower 2026: Peak Date, Best Time to Watch and Where to See It
The Geminids peak on the night of December 13-14, 2026, with almost no Moon. Here are the best times to watch by city, where to go for dark skies, and the strange rocky asteroid behind the year’s best meteor shower.
Best Turntables (2026): Six Record Players Compared, From $179 to $599
Six record players compared by drive, automatic operation, preamp, Bluetooth and 78 rpm support, from a $179 Audio-Technica AT-LP60X to the $599 Denon DP-400.
Three Mile Island Restart (2026): When the Crane Clean Energy Center Comes Back, and Why Microsoft Wants It
Three Mile Island Unit 1 is coming back as the Crane Clean Energy Center, powering Microsoft’s data centers. Here’s the 2027 restart timeline, what still needs NRC approval, and why it isn’t the reactor that melted down in 1979.
The Magnus Effect Explained: Why Spinning Balls Curve and Rotor Sails Push Ships (2026)
Why does a spinning ball curve? The Magnus effect, from Newton’s tennis ball and Roberto Carlos’s free kick to the spinning rotor sails now pushing cargo ships, explained in plain English.
Las Vegas Grand Prix 2026: Schedule, Race Time, How to Watch, Best Grandstands and Road Closures
Formula 1 returns to the Las Vegas Strip Nov. 19–21, 2026. The full schedule, the 8 p.m. Saturday race time, the free Apple TV stream, a guide to every grandstand, road closures, and why the cold desert night makes this race so tricky.
Mirror Life: Could Opposite-Handed Microbes From Mars Threaten Life on Earth?
A mirror-image microbe could slip past immune systems and predators, scientists warn. Here is what that means for Mars samples, the odds of opposite-handed life elsewhere, and whether it could already be here.
How Data Centers Stay Cool: Air, Liquid, Immersion and Closed-Loop Water
A closed pipe can circulate hundreds of gallons a minute without consuming them. The cooling methods behind AI campuses, colocation, enterprise and edge data centers—and what actually determines their water use.
Best Video Doorbells (2026): Six Picks Compared, From $36 to $250
Six video doorbells compared by video, field of view, power and subscription costs, from a $36 Blink to the $250 Ring Battery Doorbell 4K Pro.
Starlink Mini 2 (2026): Price, Battery Life, Specs, Release Date and How It Compares With the Mini
SpaceX’s Starlink Mini 2 adds a removable 71 Wh battery, USB-C power and Wi-Fi 6. The $999 invite-only preorder bundle, the specs next to the original Mini, what’s missing, and who should wait.
