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A large earthquake shook a remote part of central Pakistan Tuesday, and so far local authorities have only reported a few dozen fatalities so far. But according to estimates by the U.S. Geological Survey, the death toll could be far higher. The quake also gave rise to a mysterious island off the coast of Pakistan. The island was likely created by frozen methane that was shaken loose by the shaking. It pushed its way to the surface and created a muddy piece of land that will soon be washed away.

A study argues that the density of restaurants and large-scale food retailers in parts of the U.S. has been a major factor in the rise of obesity. But some see it as a "chicken and egg" problem.

The NFL took away the Patriots' first-round draft pick as punishment for Deflategate. Fans say the team shouldn't be penalized while the case is on appeal.

Eye drops are unpleasant, and they don't do a great job of delivering medication to the eye. A superthin wafer that slowly dispenses medication and then dissolves is a promising replacement.

When a company announces that millions of cars have a defect, there's an upside — for dealerships, at least. Car recalls can lead to more profit, and, counterintuitively, to more brand loyalty.

Fat has a lot in common with the five basic tastes: salty, sweet, sour, bitter and umami. But while people easily recognize the texture of fat, scientists say they can't quite perceive the taste.

One of the really big challenges facing our world is how to grow more food without using up the globe's land and water. One company in Ohio says we've been ignoring one solution: insects. It's using larvae of the black soldier fly to convert waste into feed for fish or pigs.

President Obama's biggest speeches have a musicality to them. That's not an accident. His speechwriters obsess over rhythm and cadence.

Goats aren't allowed in Detroit, but billionaire Mark Spitznagel thinks they could help revitalize blighted neighborhoods. Goat raisers in other cities say the animals can be eco-friendly landscapers.

Blogging and social media force us to think in public, says writer Clive Thompson, and that is making us smarter. It can make students quicker writers too, he says.

The term "congressional gridlock" suggests that people in Congress at least run into each other. But I've begun to think a more critical problem might be that politicians of opposing parties are almost strangers to one another.

The sister of an alleged victim says she's had to avoid going to class because of the jokes others are telling. And an attorney for the victims says trustees should have held off on coach Joe Paterno's firing in order to avoid protests.