What qualities must a book have to be considered science fiction? Genre categories can be helpful in guiding us toward works that we might like, or just are in the mood to read, but those definitions can be slippery, and many of the very best books defy conventions and upend expectations.

"The federal government produces one hell of a lot of data, but despite desultory lurches toward usability, there’s little guarantee that it’s available in a way that makes it useful to anyone. That may change for the better with the OPEN Government Data Act, which the president signed into law last night. The act essentially requires federal agencies to default when possible to making data (and metadata) public, to publish that public data in a machine-readable format and catalog it on...

The damage-resistant "structural battery" can stand up to hard impact and even stabbing without losing power.

Many places deserve to be called the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll. Memphis often gets the nod because that’s where Sam Phillips of Sun Records recorded Elvis Presley belting out an impromptu, uptempo cover of “That’s All Right” in 1954. Cleveland makes the list since it’s the place where, in 1951, a local disc jockey named Alan Freed coined the genre’s name. ...

Residents say Satan should be "despicable — not kind and seductive"

The city council says money from the fountain, traditionally given to the poor, must boost city coffers.

To highlight the waste material from discarded electronic parts, artist Zayd Menk is building a small-scale model of London's Westminster area solely out of e-waste.

Move over, Camembert!

Students and junior investigators are more likely than senior scientists to secure crowdfunding for their research.

The cryobank is a rich source of genetic knowledge of hundreds of creatures. It may one day be used to bring endangered species back from the brink and deepen the gene pool of wild populations.

Are they trying to shortchange you some milliliters of vino? Most likely no. But the real reason isn’t entirely clear.

As 2019 begins, make sure you follow the people that really matter in software engineering. We've put together a list to make things easy.

In 1924, a group of ten children and hundreds of spectators gathered for a mass baptism. This was no mere religious rite. As the children and their parents

In this original animated video, anthropological research helps reveal the surprising story behind fat in the human body and in cultures around the world.

And they react to the buzzing of pollinators by sweetening their nectar.

The famous moving gaze of the "Mona Lisa" has been challenged by researchers.

For more than three decades, kiss cams have been seen as a lighthearted, silly part of the sports fan experience. But in our current cultural environment, the gimmick raises questions about inclusiveness, pressure, and consent.

For decades Jeffrey Lendrum helicoptered up and rappelled down to aeries on cliff faces from Patagonia to Quebec, snatching unhatched raptors and selling them, investigators believe, to wealthy Middle Eastern falconers. This week in London, one of the most bizarre criminals in modern history goes on trial for the fourth time. Here is his story.

After the decline of feminist bookstores, there's a new trend emerging: mobile, black-owned book operations.

CES organizers withdrew an award for the Osé personal massager despite spotlight on male-focused sex tech

Epics dominated this list of visual artistry, where there's room for black-and-white gems "Citizen Kane" and "Raging Bull." But so many memorable movies didn't make the cut.

From Death Star to Hogwarts, pop culture structures are as every bit iconic as the characters. How much would they cost to build in real life? We estimate the costs of five iconic structures.

It's difficult to draw the line between distributing essential, hard-to-find cultural relics and piracy.

Time to end the debate: Here are the best horns, ever.

Twelve years after JK Rowling’s final book in the wizarding series, why is everything from Quidditch slippers to Hedwig lip balms still flying off the shelves?