Best Coffee Grinders (2026): Six Burr Picks Compared, From $110 to $300
Six burr coffee grinders compared by burrs, grind range, dosing and espresso ability, from a $110 OXO to the $300 Baratza Encore ESP Pro.
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.
Why You Can Run on Oobleck: Non-Newtonian Fluids Explained (2026)
Cornstarch and water pours like cream but turns solid when you hit it. The friction and jamming physics behind oobleck, the 2026 drop study that surprised physicists, an easy home recipe, and where shear thickening is used.
The Great Smog of 1952: How a Windless Week Turned London’s Coal Smoke Into Acid
For five days in December 1952, a windless fog trapped London’s coal smoke and turned it into acid. The weather, the chemistry solved in 2016, the disputed death toll and how the Clean Air Act cleaned the city’s air.
Starship Flight 15 (Nov. 13, 2026): Launch Time, Double Catch, How to Watch and What to Expect
SpaceX’s Starship Flight 15 will try to catch both the Super Heavy booster and, for the first time, the Starship upper stage back at the Starbase tower. Launch time, minute-by-minute timeline, the route over Mexico and Texas, and how to watch.
Does Hot Water Freeze Faster Than Cold? The Mpemba Effect Explained (2026)
Does hot water freeze faster than cold? The Mpemba effect, from Aristotle to a Tanzanian schoolboy’s ice cream, and what careful experiments in 2016 and 2026 found about when, and why, the hot cup sometimes wins.
Stingray’s Laser Robots: How Norway Shoots Sea Lice Off Salmon With AI
Norway’s salmon pens now hold more than 2,500 of Stingray’s AI-guided laser nodes, which shoot sea lice off farmed fish without touching them. How the cameras and lasers work, why lice are so costly, and what the evidence actually shows.
Rocky Horror Picture Show at Sphere (2027): Opening Date, Tickets, Best Seats and What We Know
Sphere Entertainment expects The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Sphere to debut in Las Vegas by the end of March 2027. What is known about tickets, likely prices, props and costumes, ages, and the best seats, using The Wizard of Oz at Sphere as the guide.
