The articles are on current topics, but the writing certainly isn't dry and academic. Included are articles on forensic science, spinal cord repair, volcanoes, and sandcastle science. The opening page contains only two articles, one current, and one two weeks old. The Whyfiles are published by the National Institute for Science Education and funded by the National Science Foundation. The site does a good job of staying fresh - every article has a different background and graphics theme.
Some articles are only a page in length, while others are quite lengthy.
After spending some time exploring this site my opinion of it changed considerably. I came to appreciate the non-technical writing style and the simple interface. I learned a lot. I'll bet your students will too. This document may be reproduced or reprinted for educational, non-commercial use, in whole or part, without permission as long as the above copyright statement and source are clearly acknowledged.