Though it may seem like we’ve got it all figured out, there are still plenty of wonderful mysteries left in the world. While we may never know the meaning of life, or how the Earth was formed, we now ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky. Why is the sky blue? Check. What makes a rainbow? Check. Why ...

Why do zebras have stripes? Contrary to what's often assumed, the black-and-white bands aren't used for camouflage. According to the traditional theory, stripes allow a zebra to hide against ...

Zebras are famous for their contrasting black and white stripes—but until very recently no one really knew why they sport their unusual striped pattern. It's a question that's been discussed as far ...

This story might sound like something out of a Monty Python skit, but our science correspondent Heather Goldstone assures us it is real science and it answers an age-old question: Why do zebras have ...

WASHINGTON — Scientists are providing new evidence to answer the longstanding question about why zebras have stripes. Well, it appears stripes make terrible landing strips, bamboozling the fierce ...

Most of us take color for granted. We simply see it the moment that light beams from or reflects off an object, enters our eyes, and is processed by our brains. But do we stop to think what color ...

A drawing by Sheila Girling, wildlife biologist Tim Caro's mother, in Caro's new book, 'Zebra Stripes.' (Sheila Girling/illustration) The distinct black and white stripes of zebras capture people’s ...

Protection from flies best explains the function of zebra stripes, says a new analysis. A head-to-head test of five explanations that researchers have proposed for zebras’ distinctive patterning finds ...

Scientists have long debated why zebras have stripes, and one of the most popular theories has held that the markings help the animals camouflage themselves. But a new study suggests that probably isn ...