We've all been taught to wash our hands after using the restroom. But do we really need to? Let's take a look at the science.

You've probably seen a bunch of headlines about the 'super blood wolf moon' total lunar eclipse which is set to wow stargazers on January 21. Unfortunately, most people in the Southern Hemisphere - including Australians - won't be seeing anything out of the ordinary. Tch.

Heavy alcohol consumption over ten years or more can cause significant brain function problems. But what about casual drinking?

Research reported last week found even moderate drinking could “damage the brain”. Considering 78% of Australians over 14 years old drink alcohol, this is understandably concerning information.

Looking to torch a ton of calories but don't want to get injured? Low-impact workouts might just be exactly what you need. Here are six that almost anyone can pull off, regardless of their fitness level.

If December’s multiple meteor showers left you craving more, you’re in luck! The quadrantid meteor shower ends this weekend and we’ve got your list of all the major meteor showers to put on your calendar for 2019.

Two blowflies were chowing down on a dog turd mixed with their own vomit for lunch. One of the flies burped. The other replied: "Don't be so disgusting while I'm eating!"

But anyway.

Jim Cramer, host of CNBC’s Mad Money and co-founder of TheStreet.com, claims to only need four hours of sleep each night to feel well-rested and alert. Cramer said he sleeps between 11:30 p.m. and 3:45 a.m. most weeknights, and rarely needs an alarm to rise. His father, he says, was the same way, only taking a couple of naps but never sleeping a full eight hours.

Cramer’s not the only one: Leaders such as Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, and even ex-US President Barack Obama rarely — if ever — get what’s considered a full night of sleep.

We all know the advice for healthy teeth – brush twice daily and don’t eat too much sugar. So why do those of us following these instructions find we sometimes need a filling when we visit the dentist? The truth is, there’s a little more to preventing tooth decay than these guidelines suggest.

If you haven’t built and launched water rockets with your kid, you’re missing out on an awesome project. With 10 bucks or so worth of parts, an air pump, and an empty soda bottle or two, you can have a blast of an afternoon and learn some elementary rocketry. Even the most jaded kid will be blown away by the sheer power and height of a properly constructed water rocket. I promise.

Finding the right motivation to lose weight often comes from others who have similar experiences. Losing weight requires lifestyle changes you can sustain. The initial weight loss is only part of the equation. You need to have a plan in order to maintain your loss.

Science is weird and wonderful. Sometimes 'weird' takes centre stage. From hugging octupi on ecstasy to the truth behind "Yanny" vs "Laurel" these were the weirdest science stories of 2018.

Scientists have long had the view that females, at least in many mammalian species, have evolved to prefer the strongest males. According to research from Griffith University, the same is true of humans.

Insane prices in the art market make art forgery a potentially high-profit business. So how do art buyers tell real undiscovered artworks from fakes? To analyse and identify forgeries, experts must apply their knowledge of art history, plus the science behind the materials and techniques of artists.

In the video below, forensic scientist Thiago Piwowarczyk and art historian Jeffrey Taylor show Wired how they identified a forgery of Jackson Pollack’s drip paintings (which are actually famously hard to forge).

Naps are a great way to recharge our brains and boost our energy, but we don't always have time for long siestas. Good news: Research published in Sleep suggests the best nap length is just 10 minutes - longer naps can lead to detrimental 'sleep inertia'.

The story of Knickers the giant steer has gone viral on social media over the past week. Yes, Knickers the steer is really, really big. But he’s far short of true genetic freak status. Here's everything you need to know.

Speculative fiction is the literature of change and discovery. But every now and then, a book comes along that changes the rules of science fiction for everybody. Certain great books inspire scores of authors to create something new. Here are 21 of the most influential science fiction and fantasy books.

Clearly sugar is not great for us. But it’s so delicious! And as anyone who’s ever sat down to eat a handful of M&Ms and accidentally polished off the bag (i.e. everyone) can tell you, once you start, it can be hard to stop. If only there was something to interrupt the deadly and delicious cycle...

When it comes to health and fitness, there are rarely any quick fixes. But if you're struggling to get the recommended 30 minutes of exercise a day, micro workouts might be just the thing you need to start improving your fitness.

Content warning: There are some potentially disturbing images of dead bodies throughout this story.