News and Politics  » Explainer

Raising Crane

How do cranes get to the top of skyscrapers?

Forrest Wickman | EXPLAINER | Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at 7:13 PM ET

Can Women Sing in Falsetto?

Sure, but why would they?

Will Oremus | EXPLAINER | Monday, May 21, 2012, at 8:04 PM ET

Punched to Death

How easy is it to kill a man with your bare hands?

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Friday, May 18, 2012, at 7:02 PM ET

Are There Really Just Five Racial Groups?

How the government developed its racial-classification system.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Thursday, May 17, 2012, at 7:19 PM ET

Do Band-Aids Work?

Not really.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at 6:41 PM ET

Aiden, Brayden, Jayden ...

Why do so many of the most popular baby names rhyme?

L.V. Anderson | EXPLAINER | Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at 3:28 PM ET

The Meaning of The

Why can’t lawyers agree on the meanings of basic words?

L.V. Anderson | EXPLAINER | Monday, May 14, 2012, at 7:04 PM ET

Breast-Feeding in Prehistoric Times

Did cave-babies have attachment parents?

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Friday, May 11, 2012, at 6:49 PM ET

Can Someone's Morals Really “Evolve”?

Assessing Obama's change of heart on gay marriage.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Thursday, May 10, 2012, at 6:00 PM ET

What Do Limp Wrists Have To Do With Gay Men?

Ask the Romans.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at 6:22 PM ET

Fat Chances

How accurate are obesity predictions?

L.V. Anderson | EXPLAINER | Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at 7:07 PM ET

Why Parrots Parrot

When birds mimic human speech, do they know what they’re saying?

Will Oremus | EXPLAINER | Monday, May 7, 2012, at 6:27 PM ET

Exit Sandman

A torn ACL may have ended Mariano Rivera’s career. Why are ACL injuries so common?

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Friday, May 4, 2012, at 3:16 PM ET

Was Edvard Munch a One-Hit Wonder?

Plus: What's so great about The Scream, anyway?

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Thursday, May 3, 2012, at 6:16 PM ET

Are There Legal Forms of Hazing?

How prosecutors view college initiation rituals.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at 4:54 PM ET