References

Cottonmouth snakes, also known as water moccasins, are venomous snakes found throughout the southeastern U.S. that can be identified by the white color in their mouths.

The Thracian gladiator Spartacus, a popular character in movies and television, outsmarted the Romans until his demise in the first century B.C.

Neanderthals are an extinct group of hominins that emerged around 400,000 years ago and died off around 40,000 years ago. They are our closest known relatives and interbred with Homo sapiens.

The history of video games goes back decades — dating back to the dawn of computing itself.

Here are Denisovan facts about their discovery, where and when they lived and what we know about their appearance, genetics and culture.

The island of Rapa Nui, the most isolated inhabited landmass on Earth, is known for its massive Moai statues.

Reference We've collected some of the most interesting and amazing facts about Earth

Reference Copperhead snakes are commonly found in the eastern U.S., where they inflict more bites than any other snake species. Luckily, their venom is relatively mild and rarely deadly for humans.

Reference The world's deadliest natural disasters span more than 2,500 years of human history and include earthquakes, tsunamis and cyclones.

The ruins of Chichén Itzá in eastern Mexico were built about 1,200 years ago.

Reference Photosynthesis is the process plants, algae and some bacteria use to turn sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen.

Reference Humans have more than five senses that help us navigate the world.

Buying Guide We've rounded up the best yoga mats, suitable for everything from calming practice to the experienced Ashtanga yogi. Grab a deal on a yoga mat this Black Friday.

Brazilian wandering spiders don't build webs but crawl on the forest floor at night in search of prey, which they kill with neurotoxic venom.

Inhabitants of the world's highest settlement, La Rinconada, in the Peruvian Andes, face a unique set of challenges.

Reference Giant huntsman spiders are the largest member of the huntsman spider family Sparassidae with a leg span stretching up to 12 inches across — roughly the size of a dinner plate.

What is the summer solstice, and when does it happen? The longest day of the year falls on either June 20 or 21 every year in the Northern Hemisphere. Here's everything you need to know about the science, and timing, of the summer solstice.

BUYING GUIDE Improve your oral health with some of the best water flossers on the market, and grab a discount this Black Friday.

Read about the latest news, incredible discoveries and mind-bending advances in science by following us on social media.

Reference Quantum mechanics, or quantum physics, is the body of scientific laws that describe the wacky behavior of photons, electrons and the other subatomic particles that make up the universe.