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Editors of EarthSky

How do hummingbird chicks’ long beaks fit in the tiny eggs?

The beak can fit inside the egg - because, when the tiny chick hatches out, the beak is just a tiny bump on the chick's head. Read more about the hummingbird.

Ancient farming practice improves today’s soil

Global food supply tops the agenda of many scientists. A piece of prehistoric wisdom of ancient farming combined with modern science could be a big help.

Seawater is not good to drink. Here’s why

If you're stranded at sea it's better to hope for rain than to drink seawater. Read more about why people shouldn't drink seawater here.

How far can a human see?

There's no practical limit on how far away we can see - if we're looking at objects brighter than their backgrounds. Read more about how far can a human see.

Altitude sickness: What is it, what does it do?

People with altitude sickness feel tired and nauseated - have a headache - and may feel strangely uneasy.

How did sand in the desert get there?

Nearly all sand in deserts came from somewhere else - sometimes hundreds of kilometers away. Read more about sand in the desert here.

Is there good ozone and bad ozone?

You hear weather reports about dangerous levels of ozone, then you hear that we're in big trouble because our ozone layer is thinning.

Do flowering plants have sexes?

Most flowers have both male and female parts - but some flowering plants have separate male and female flowers.

Gene protects grains from disease

A gene protects grains (wheat, rice, corn, barley) from disease. Our species owes its survival in part to the stoutness of the disease-resistant gene in grains.

Isolated dwarf galaxy found stripped of gas

A dwarf galaxy in the direction of the constellation Pegasus is being stripped of its gas, according to astronomers. A galaxy needs its gas to create new stars. So we might be seeing this galaxy near the end of its ability to form stars.