Editorial Policy
How we research, write, check and update our science articles.
What we promise
- We answer the question directly, then show how we know.
- We link important claims to their sources and list them at the end of each article.
- We say so when science is unsettled or a number is only an estimate.
- We never invent sources, statistics, experts or credentials.
How an article is made
- Choosing the question. We pick questions people actually ask, and combine near-duplicates into one article.
- Research. We look for original research and official scientific sources.
- Drafting. We use AI tools to help draft the text.
- Automated checks. Each draft has to pass checks for structure, sources, links and layout.
- Human approval. A person reviews the claims against their sources and approves the article. Nothing is published without this step.
Which sources we prefer
We prefer peer-reviewed research, university research centers, professional societies and government science agencies such as NASA, NOAA, NIH and USGS. We link to the original study where we can, instead of a news report about it.
Numbers and uncertainty
Numbers come with units, dates and the conditions behind them. This matters most for estimates that depend on assumptions, like the energy or water used by AI. We show the range and explain what it depends on, rather than repeating one viral figure.
Who checks our work
Articles are approved by our editors, who are science communicators and not scientific experts. An article only carries a "Reviewed by" line when a named, qualified person has actually reviewed it.
Health and safety topics
Our Human Body articles explain how the body works. They are not medical advice, and we do not diagnose or recommend treatments. If you have a health concern, please talk to a qualified professional. We do not encourage readers to recreate dangerous situations, and we add safety notes wherever they matter.
Updates
The "Updated" date only changes when we make a substantive change. We do not refresh dates just to look current. Significant corrections are listed on our corrections page.
Independence
We currently have no advertisers or sponsors. If that changes, we will disclose it here and on any affected page, and it will not determine our scientific conclusions.