James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name. He specializes in history, space, strange science, and anything out of the ordinary.View full profile James is a ...

We think of oxygen as life, sustenance, a literal breath of fresh air. But it's actually a very reactive element. Anyone who's burned a log has witnessed this firsthand. So why do so many life-forms ...

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Why do humans and animals have to breathe? – ...

What just happened? A milestone in the long-term plan for bases on Mars was passed recently when NASA announced it had generated breathable oxygen from the planet's thin atmosphere. It's not a lot - ...