Survival

There are 23 deserts all over the world — Europe is the only continent without one — and some are hotter than others. Do you know which five are the hottest?

By Jesslyn Shields

There's one element to any wilderness kit that proves itself useful over and over -- the survival knife. What qualities should you look for in your blade and handle, and why is a rugged knife so important in the first place?

By Jessika Toothman

Packing one of these firearms could save you at sea, so don't forget to bring one before you set off on any maritime adventures. And it might help to know how to use it before you set out.

By Jacob Silverman

It's cold and dark. Your car is upside down in a snow-covered ditch and you're miles from civilization. How can you make help come to you?

By Charles W. Bryant

Let's say you're adrift at sea. There's water everywhere, but you can't drink any of it because it's salty. If only you had a contraption to turn seawater into freshwater.

By Sarah Winkler

If you own a GPS device, then gone are the days of getting lost. This little device can lead you out of the jungle or around a crowded city. How do you put one to work?

By Charles W. Bryant

It doesn't seem murderous, but that bright burning ball of gas in the sky can do your body some serious damage. What kind of ill can come from the sun?

By Charles W. Bryant

When you hear a rumble of thunder, you head indoors. It's common sense. But what if you're in the forest, and there is no indoors? Where do head then?

By Sarah Winkler

When your camping trip turns life-or-death because you've lost your way in a vast, unpopulated wilderness, you'll want to have these gadgets on your person.

By Sarah Winkler

Superman, Spider-Man and Batman use supernatural powers to save people in distress. But regular old humans and animals have some tricks up their sleeves as well. What are they?

By Sarah Winkler

Slithering snakes, flesh-tearing lions and roaring bears usually top people's lists of most feared creatures. But you might be surprised which animal's bite is most likely to result in your demise.

By Debra Ronca

If you're stranded in the wild and you're not carrying a hunting rifle, your best bet for bagging dinner is probably a snare or a trap. But how do you set one up?

By Amy Hunter

You may not be envious of MacGyver's mullet, but having a talent for surviving the elements with only a wristwatch, socks and a soda can is pretty cool.

By Debra Ronca & Chris Warren

Let's say your vacation tour group ditches you in the outback. Or your car slips off an icy road in the middle of nowhere. Will you have the tools to save your life?

By Charles W. Bryant

If you're the lone survivor of a plane crash on a deserted island or if your car breaks down on the way to grandma's, what scary medical conditions could come your way?

By Charles W. Bryant

It was hailed as the world's fastest, most luxurious ship, and proclaimed unsinkable. But on a moonless, frigid night, a brush with an iceberg resulted in disaster. Why did the Titanic sink? And was it doomed from the start?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus & Kathryn Whitbourne

Grizzlies are bit touchier than the average black bear. So, you'll really need to watch yourself if you encounter one on the trail. At what point should you curl up in a ball and play dead?

By Debra Ronca

Bears are burly -- so burly that it takes multiple gunshots to even slow one down. Shoot it once and you'll just make it mad. Do yourself a favor -- use bear spray instead.

By Charles W. Bryant

It's a pretty gross idea, sucking on venom. But is it as dangerous to your health as it seems? Turns out, your instincts are right.

By Debra Ronca

If you swallow these plants, you could wind up with stomach convulsions, blurred vision or amnesia. You could even die. What shouldn't you taste on your next hike?

By Amy Hunter & Clint Pumphrey

A Japanese hiker slipped, was knocked unconscious and then survived 24 days without food or water. That's not supposed to be possible. What survival instincts fuel us through dire straits?

By Charles W. Bryant

Toxic tree frogs, poisonous plants, malaria-carrying mosquitoes. You get the picture: The jungle is no place to get lost. How will you make it out of this lushness alive?

By Charles W. Bryant

Machete, knife, gun, mosquito net. They would all be plenty useful in the jungle. But there's one survival tool that beats out all the rest. What is it?

By Charles W. Bryant

You surface from a scuba dive to find that the boat ditched you. Are you a dead man? Between the sharks and the dehydration, we've got to admit -- it doesn't look good.

By Charles W. Bryant

A summer squall stirs up the ocean. When the boat bangs into a wave, you're bounced off the vessel and into the choppy water. What do you do now?

By Charles W. Bryant