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Symbolbild Schaltjahr (picture-alliance/dpa/L. Schulze)

No perfect calendar

Why we have leap years and why the Earth's always out of sync

People find leap years inspiring. Perhaps it's the feeling they're getting an extra day. But February 29 is really not an extra day. It just a mathematical attempt to make up for lost time.  

small white stone with the words: Viel Glück (picture-alliance/F. May)

How to celebrate a leap year in Germany

February 29 only comes around every four years. Is a leap year really unlucky? Here are a few superstitions and traditions that have persisted in Germany.  

Symbolfoto Vorsichtsmaßnahmen Coronavirus | Spritze und Biogefährdungsschild auf Mundschutz (picture-alliance/dpa/Bildagentur-online/Ohde)

Will warmer weather stop the spread of the coronavirus?

Does the coronavirus get weaker when temperatures rise? Virologist Thomas Pietschmann explains why spring really gives hope and why women have a clear advantage in the fight against the COVID-19 disease.  

NGC 4258, also known as M106, a spiral galaxy like our own Milky Way.

Astronomers detect biggest explosion since Big Bang

Researchers say the blast is the biggest since the universe began. It occurred at the center of a galaxy cluster some 390 million light years away from Earth.  

Clinic in Dusseldorf (picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Meissner)

Coronavirus updates

WHO says virus has 'pandemic potential'

More countries across Europe have confirmed cases of COVID-19, but EU countries said borders will remain open. Hamburg confirmed its first case — a hospital staffer in the pediatric ward. All the latest updates here.  

What you need to know about the coronavirus

How Africa has been preparing for outbreak  

Japan's school closures a political move to save the Olympics?  

Consequences for tourism in Germany  

Will warmer weather stop the spread of the coronavirus?  

How Germany is preparing for a possible pandemic  

Flock of ducks

Parasites

China says sending locust-eating duck army to Pakistan actually not the best idea

Experts assigned to help Pakistan combat its locust infestation have stepped-back from an earlier proposal of deploying some 100,000 ducks to devour the plague of crop-ravaging insects. They suggested pesticide instead.  

Symbolbild WhatsApp (picture-alliance/PIXSELL/I. Soban)

WhatsApp security flaw

Thousands of links to groups can still be easily found online

A DW journalist recently discovered WhatsApp links that lead to closed groups could be found with a simple Google search.  

A man holding a smartphone with google pay functionality.

Pre-installed malware

Your Android phone may spy on you!

US researchers have discovered a large number of vulnerabilities in smartphones. Malware and backdoors are often pre-installed at the root level, and there is nothing a regular user can do about it.  

Italien - Casalpusterlengo - Coronavirus (picture-alliance/dpa/AP/LaPresse/C. Furlan)

Coronavirus: How can I protect myself from infection?

There is no reason to panic before a pandemic, but we can use the remaining time wisely.  

An Italian couple wearing face masks in public transport

Myths vs. facts: How true is coronavirus information on the web?

Rinse your nose with saline? Reject all packages delivered from China? The internet is full of misinformation about how to protect yourself from the new coronavirus. DW separates fact from fiction.  

Weiße Fledermaus Tent Making Honduran White bat (picture-alliance/Mary Evans Picture Library)

Bats: Secrets of the flying mammal

Bats usually conjure images of bloodsucking and disease, but there's a lot more to these creatures of the night. From incredible immune systems to age defiance and pollination, bats are as fascinating as they are spooky.  

A woman looking at a smartphone in a state of shock

Why do men send women 'dick pics' without consent?

Whether dating apps or texting, it's all too common for women to receive random, unsolicited sexual images from men. Scientifically, cyberflashing hasn't received much attention, but initial studies offer some answers.  

Agricultural drone flying over a field in Cambodia (Heng Sopheak)

Crop-dusting in Cambodia

Drones are making work safer and easier for farmers

A Cambodian man, concerned about how many hazardous pesticides farmers use on their crops in his country, has created something to help: a crop-dusting drone.  

Watch video 01:02

How catfish protect themselves from predators

What might look like a sea monster is actually a clever tactic on the part of some smaller sea creatures.  

A plane starting in the sunset

Coronavirus and other dangers

How to stay healthy on the plane

Flying is bad for the environment, but is it bad for health? DW looks at typical diseases caught during flights and how to avoid them.  

A father and his son wear face mask to prevent infections in Hong Kong, China

Spectrum: Do I scare you?

"Careful, he's Chinese." It was a throwaway comment whispered in a German pedestrian zone. But it joins a global chorus, and it raises an ugly thought: Has the coronavirus made us more racist? And if so, what's the vaccine?  

Äthiopien Flughafen Addis Abeba | Sicherheitsmaßnahmen gegen Coronavirus (Getty Images/L. Dray)

Shunning 'sad but no surprise'

Anecdotes of coronavirus "hypervigilance" — bordering on racism — are in. DW asks why and what the science says.  

Coronavirus (imago/Science Photo Library)

A race against time

Researchers are developing a vaccine for the new Coronavirus. But it will be months before the first tests can start.  

Watch video 02:33

Do all animals sleep?

This week's viewer question comes from Nini Johanna B.  

More videos

Projekt Zukunft vom 01.03.2020 - Schlafen (Colourbox)

Do all animals sleep?

Projekt Zukunft vom 01.03.2020 - Röntgen (Imago)

Tomorrow Today - The Science Magazine

Projekt Zukunft vom 01.03.2020 - Physikgesetzte (NASA)

Four basic forces that keep the world turning

Projekt Zukunft vom 01.03.2020 - Fusion (First Light Fusion)

Fusion: soon a viable energy source?

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A man, wearing a hoody, working on a computer (Colourbox/O. Artem)

Avoiding censorship: How to move anonymously on the internet

Some practical tips on how to navigate the Internet safely and anonymously and how to avoid censorship.  

A 2019 satellite picture of Hurricane Dorian near the US Atlantic coast

Earth Observation

Will 5G mobile networks wreck weather forecasting?

Meteorologists were able to forecast Storm Sabine well before it hit Germany. But they will have it harder when 5G networks spread. The new mobile phone frequencies disrupt weather satellites.  

NASA MARS 2020 Rover

NASA's Mars 2020 rover: Scheduled to deploy in 1 year

NASA's new and fifth Mars rover is even bigger and heavier than its predecessors. On July 17, 2020, it is scheduled to leave Earth on its journey to the red planet. It's expected to arrive on Mars on February 18, 2021.  

Long-tailed Pangolin (picture-alliance/Mary Evans Picture Library)

Coronavirus: From bats to pangolins, how do viruses reach us?

Pangolins may be the latest link in the coronavirus outbreak, but as with SARS and MERS, bats are the most likely original source of the deadly virus. Scientists believe bats' unique genetic quirks make them ideal hosts.  

A man, holding his stomach

While humans vomit toxins, rodents dilute

When toxins get into our bodies, we vomit. It's a survival instinct. But not all mammals are so lucky. What do they do?  

A woman under a blanket blowing her nose (picture alliance/dpa/C. Klose)

Coronavirus, cold, or flu symptoms? How to tell the difference

Runny nose, cough, sore throat, and fever: Symptoms are often similar when one starts to feel sick. That makes it difficult to tell if the illness is a virus or a bacterial infection.  

Watch video 00:50

Ball lightning: Real or fake?

Ball lightning happens during thunderstorms. It's a real thing. But this spectacular video is misleading.  

Teenagers looking at their smartphones on the grass

'Problematic' internet use grows among teens in Germany

As smartphones have become more and more ubiquitous, German teenagers are spending increasing amounts of time online. This is damaging their health, according to a new report by a German government agency.  

PODCAST

Young black woman awake from sleep feel afraid

Spectrum: You need more sleep

No, you’re not the only one in zombie mode. Sleep deprivation is an "epidemic," and it's awful for your mental health.  

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In Good Shape

The magazine offers reports and studio discussions with experts on the best way to achieve a healthy lifestyle.  

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