A shooting star is a meteoroid (typically a sand-grain to pea-sized piece of rock) burning up in Earth's atmosphere at...

Sapphire is September's birthstone, and it has carried symbolic weight for thousands of years. It was worn by clergy, set...

August's birthstone is peridot, the light olive-green gem the ancient Egyptians called the "gem of the sun." Two other stones...

July's birthstone is the ruby, and no other gem carries quite the same weight of story. Its English name comes...

If you were born in June, you have a richer birthstone lineup than almost anyone else on the calendar. The...

Have you ever wondered if the poppy seeds on the bagel you’re eating come from the same poppy flower that produces opium? They actually do, but they have been scrubbed of the milky substance which forms illegal narcotics and therefore are perfectly safe to eat. Don’t be alarmed: The poppy flowers growing in your backyard are a different species! There are 120 varieties of poppies, only one of which you cannot grow in the US. Learn all about poppy flower history, nutrition, folklore, and tips for growing. Read on.

If your birthday falls between May 1 and May 31, your birthstone is the emerald, a stone the Greeks named...

The diamond is April's birthstone. Its name comes from the Greek word, “adamas,” meaning unconquerable and indestructible. What makes it so special? Learn about its legendary hardness, unmatched sparkle, and mysterious folklore. We explain why ancient Egyptians wore diamonds on their ring fingers and other surprising facts about this rare gem. Read on.

Few cultures have held onto pre-Christian folk belief as stubbornly as the Irish. A 21st century Irish farmer will still...

March arrives with two birthstones, not one. Aquamarine gets most of the attention, all sea-glass blues and Pisces calm, but...