Africa has the most named deserts of any continent, containing at least ten distinct deserts. These deserts cover about one third of the continent’s land area and come in many forms. From scorching sand seas to salt flats, they define much of…
The Global Peace Index (GPI) ranks countries by safety using three core areas: ongoing conflict, societal security, and militarization. Analysts consider crime, political instability, violent unrest, and military activity to calculate a peace score. Higher scores mean lower levels of peace. Below…
Equatorial Guinea stands out on the African continent for one unusual reason—Spanish is its official language. It’s the only country in mainland Africa where Spanish is widely used in government, education, and daily life. Where is Equatorial Guinea? Equatorial Guinea is a…
Where Are the Carpathian Mountains? The Carpathian Mountains are located across Central and Eastern Europe. They act as a natural boundary between Central Europe and the Balkans. The shape gives the range a distinct geographic footprint, curving like a horseshoe. How Long…
Size matters. A country’s total area affects how people live, where they settle, what they eat, and how they govern. Some nations are all terrain and no people. Others cram enormous populations into tight spaces, pushing infrastructure and resources to the limit….
Lakes are inland bodies of standing water surrounded by land. They form in natural depressions where water collects and remains. The most common source is glacial activity. When glaciers advance and retreat, they carve out basins that later fill with meltwater. Basins…
A country’s size has a profound impact on its identity, economy, and global role. Smaller territories often develop uniform cultures. Living in shared spaces creates strong, tight-knit communities with similar customs and values. In contrast, larger nations foster regional identities that emerge…
In 1965, researchers found the largest spider ever recorded—a male Goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi) with a leg span of 11 inches (28 centimeters). The discovery was made by the Pablo San Martin Expedition that took place in the rainforests of northern South…
While thousands have summited Mount Everest, the planet’s highest peak, fewer than 30 people have reached the ocean’s deepest point. That location, known as the Mariana Trench, lies hidden in darkness more than 7 miles (11 kilometers) beneath the surface. The deepest…
Africa has natural wealth, young populations, and fast-growing cities. But it also faces some of the world’s toughest economic challenges. It is the poorest continent in the world. In many of its countries, poverty is widespread. Of the 26 countries the World…
Could one gorilla defeat 100 men in a fight to the death? On the surface, it sounds ridiculous. But if you strip away the absurdity and lay down real conditions, the question becomes a legitimate study of strength, coordination, fear, and biology….
Yes, people live in Antarctica. But not in the way most think. Antarctica is the only continent without a native human population. It has no cities, no permanent residents, and no commercial industries. Yet each year, thousands of people live and work…
African wild dogs, also known as painted dogs, once roamed much of sub-Saharan Africa. Today, fewer than 6,000 adults survive across Africa. They occupy fragmented areas in countries such as Tanzania, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Habitat destruction, disease, and conflict with humans threaten…
The reason zebras have stripes have stumped biologists since Darwin’s day. Early guesses included camouflage, cooling, and social signaling. But recent studies point to one function above all others — a defense system against biting flies. Not For Camouflage It’s obvious that…
Zebras may resemble horses, but they sound nothing alike. While horses are relatively quiet animals that rely more on body language, zebras are loud, vocal, and constantly communicating. Their calls are higher-pitched, more urgent, and far more frequent. The sounds they make…
De-extinction, or the process of bringing extinct species back to life, is no longer the stuff of science fiction. Thanks to advances in genetic science, the possibility of reviving extinct species is now possible. Below, we examine the de-extinction process and reveal…
