Stories by Lydia Chain

Could the drummer robot lead its cyber brethren to march in sync—or maybe someday even start a band?

It's embedded with tiny, spiky structures that let the animal both comb its fur and lap up water

A baker’s half-dozen of Earth-size worlds is orbiting a (relatively) nearby star—and some could be habitable

New studies suggest lonely planets flying through intergalactic space were formed by star-destroying supermassive black holes.

Human suitors may woo with red wine and roses, but these jumping spiders come courting with fancy dress and choreography. Now scientists know more about how spiders perceive their admirers' flamboyant displays.

Nobel laureate Robert Wilson discusses how a network of telescopes might illumine a black hole, after the 92nd Street Y’s Bang! Bang! event.

Ig Nobel Prize creator Marc Abrahams shows off this unusual disaster-preparedness device before a night discussing humor and science at the 92nd Street Y.

Scientists discovered a frog’s ability to nab an insect in a fraction of a second depends on the fluid mechanics of its spit.

You think it's just a beverage, but it's a whole lot more

There is still good reason to think undiscovered fundamental particles act as gravitational glue for galaxies.

In a Christmas tradition, the defense organization NORAD helps us keep track of Santa as he zips around the world delivering toys.

This myth has been debunked many times—but rarely in such a fun way

Take a light-speed trip through the solar system to catch up on 2016’s biggest stories from our celestial neighborhood.

Produced with support from Explore Scientific

When polls try to tease out what a group of people is thinking, what are they measuring and how can they go wrong?

Don’t settle for limp, soggy turkey skin—use science when you roast your bird to get that perfect, crackling bite.

Scientists used special microphones to let us listen in on a tickled rat’s titters.

Young inga trees give ants nectar in exchange for guard duty against ravenous caterpillers—but sometimes the ants get a better offer

For this puzzle with over 43 quintillion permutations, author Ian Scheffler explains how players have found the most efficient route to resolving a Rubik’s cube.

Author and “Speedcuber” Ian Scheffler reveals some of the math behind how you could solve the Rubik’s cube puzzle.

It carries valuable clues about how to deal with these horrible home-wreckers

Once the plate or the planet gets too hot it takes forever to cool down, explains ClimateAdam—and in both cases, that's a problem

You can't make this stuff up

Caddisfly larvae build themselves a protective house of stones with some of the stickiest sticky tape on Earth

Could the fungus-farming leaf-cutter ant take on an Olympic weightlifter?