geography

The Mongol Empire Was So Vast That It Once Encompassed One-Fifth Of The Total Land Area Of Planet Earth

At 9 million square miles encompassing one-fifth of the Earth's total land mass, the Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous empire in the history of the world.

By Cara Johnson • Jun 30, 2026

The Mongol Empire Was So Vast That It Once Encompassed One-Fifth Of The Total Land Area Of Planet Earth

At 9 million square miles encompassing one-fifth of the Earth's total land mass, the Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous empire in the history of the world.

By Cara Johnson • June 30, 2026

‘The Time To Prepare Is Now’: California’s San Andreas Fault Is At Its Highest Stress Level In 1,000 Years

In the words of Liliane Burkhard, the lead author behind the new study, "Southern California faces a significant and growing seismic risk, and the time to prepare is now and not after the next earthquake."

By Braden Bjella • Jun 23, 2026

Science News

‘The Time To Prepare Is Now’: California’s San Andreas Fault Is At Its Highest Stress Level In 1,000 Years

In the words of Liliane Burkhard, the lead author behind the new study, "Southern California faces a significant and growing seismic risk, and the time to prepare is now and not after the next earthquake."

By Braden Bjella • June 23, 2026

Inside Dallol, The Scorching Stretch Of Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression That’s One Of The Hottest Places On Earth

With an average daily temperature of 94 degrees Fahrenheit, Dallol is considered the hottest inhabited place on Earth — and one of the most beautiful.

By Kaleena Fraga • Jun 22, 2026

Inside Dallol, The Scorching Stretch Of Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression That’s One Of The Hottest Places On Earth

With an average daily temperature of 94 degrees Fahrenheit, Dallol is considered the hottest inhabited place on Earth — and one of the most beautiful.

By Kaleena Fraga • June 22, 2026

Inside Poveglia Island’s History Of Death And Madness

Venice's Poveglia Island was a quarantine center and mass grave for victims of bubonic plague, earning it the nickname the "Island of Ghosts."

By Genevieve Carlton • Jun 16, 2026

Inside Poveglia Island’s History Of Death And Madness

Venice's Poveglia Island was a quarantine center and mass grave for victims of bubonic plague, earning it the nickname the "Island of Ghosts."

By Genevieve Carlton • June 16, 2026

What Does Chernobyl Look Like Now? Inside The Disaster Zone In Northern Ukraine

After the April 1986 nuclear disaster, a 30-kilometer zone around Chernobyl was completely abandoned. This is what it looks like today.

By John Kuroski • May 26, 2026

What Does Chernobyl Look Like Now? Inside The Disaster Zone In Northern Ukraine

After the April 1986 nuclear disaster, a 30-kilometer zone around Chernobyl was completely abandoned. This is what it looks like today.

By John Kuroski • May 26, 2026

The Lost Continent Of Lemuria Was A Myth — Then Scientists Found Evidence In 2013

For decades, scientists offered theories about the fabled sunken continent of Lemuria in the Indian Ocean. But in 2013, researchers uncovered evidence that it may have actually existed.

By William DeLong • May 21, 2026

The Lost Continent Of Lemuria Was A Myth — Then Scientists Found Evidence In 2013

For decades, scientists offered theories about the fabled sunken continent of Lemuria in the Indian Ocean. But in 2013, researchers uncovered evidence that it may have actually existed.

By William DeLong • May 21, 2026

There Is A Town In Missouri The U.S. Government ‘Wiped From The Map’ — It’s One Of History’s ‘Worst Environmental Disasters’

Dioxin contamination, compounded by a devastating flood, made Missouri's Times Beach no longer safe for its residents. By 1982, they were warned against returning to their homes.

By Stacy Fernandez • May 19, 2026

There Is A Town In Missouri The U.S. Government ‘Wiped From The Map’ — It’s One Of History’s ‘Worst Environmental Disasters’

Dioxin contamination, compounded by a devastating flood, made Missouri's Times Beach no longer safe for its residents. By 1982, they were warned against returning to their homes.

By Stacy Fernandez • May 19, 2026

A Woman Walks Around New Orleans At Night. Then She Spots A Cruise Ship That Proves The City Is ‘Far Below Sea Level’

New Orleans is a city known for its cuisine, culture, and nightlife. It's also precariously situated below sea level — and now, some are learning just how much that affects this famous city.

By Braden Bjella • May 14, 2026

Science News

A Woman Walks Around New Orleans At Night. Then She Spots A Cruise Ship That Proves The City Is ‘Far Below Sea Level’

New Orleans is a city known for its cuisine, culture, and nightlife. It's also precariously situated below sea level — and now, some are learning just how much that affects this famous city.

By Braden Bjella • May 14, 2026

History Is Marked By Powerful Global Empires — But Which One Was The Largest?

The British Empire began expanding in the late 16th century, and at its peak in the 1920s, it covered more than 25 percent of the land on Earth.

By Kaleena Fraga • Apr 27, 2026

History Is Marked By Powerful Global Empires — But Which One Was The Largest?

The British Empire began expanding in the late 16th century, and at its peak in the 1920s, it covered more than 25 percent of the land on Earth.

By Kaleena Fraga • April 27, 2026

What Life Looks Like In Oymyakon, The Coldest City In The World

Located near the Arctic Circle, Oymyakon, Russia is the coldest inhabited place on Earth. Winter temperatures average around -58°F — and only 500 residents brave the chill.

By Erin Kelly • Jan 23, 2026

What Life Looks Like In Oymyakon, The Coldest City In The World

Located near the Arctic Circle, Oymyakon, Russia is the coldest inhabited place on Earth. Winter temperatures average around -58°F — and only 500 residents brave the chill.

By Erin Kelly • January 23, 2026

The Remarkable Life Of Brendon Grimshaw, The Englishman Who Bought A Neglected Island In The Seychelles — And Transformed It Into A Thriving Paradise

Brendon Grimshaw bought Moyenne Island in the 1960s, then spent his life restoring its ecosystem and protecting it from development.

By Ainsley Brown • Dec 28, 2025

The Remarkable Life Of Brendon Grimshaw, The Englishman Who Bought A Neglected Island In The Seychelles — And Transformed It Into A Thriving Paradise

Brendon Grimshaw bought Moyenne Island in the 1960s, then spent his life restoring its ecosystem and protecting it from development.

By Ainsley Brown • December 28, 2025

33 Vintage Images Of The First Explorations Into The Arctic

From the race to the North Pole to the perilous waters of the Northwest Passage, there's no question that early Arctic expeditions were full of excitement, danger, and adventure.

By Ainsley Brown • Dec 22, 2025

33 Vintage Images Of The First Explorations Into The Arctic

From the race to the North Pole to the perilous waters of the Northwest Passage, there's no question that early Arctic expeditions were full of excitement, danger, and adventure.

By Ainsley Brown • December 22, 2025