An enormous ancient island that now lies at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean may hold vast reserves of rare earth elements and other valuable minerals. Known as the Rio Grande Rise (RGR), the submerged continental plateau formed as a volcanic ridge around 40 million years ago and was once a large tropical landmass covered […]
Cicadas Aren’t Just Noisy – They Also Pee In Jet Streams Like Elephants
Cicada season is coming up soon, and you’d better make sure you grab your raincoat if you’re planning on heading outside. Why, we hear you ask? Not because of April showers, it turns out, but because you might just get hit by a jet stream of cicada pee – and this unusual trait has helped […]
America’s Cheyenne Mountain Complex Can Withstand A 30-Megaton Nuclear Bomb
Beneath the rocky surface of Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado, US, lurks a settlement primed for Armageddon. The Cheyenne Mountain Complex was built at the height of the Cold War, and, when it pulls out all the stops, can withstand nuclear, electromagnetic, and biological attacks. What is the Cheyenne Mountain Complex? The bunker-on-steroids is one of […]
Oils, Microneedles, And New Drugs: What Does The Latest Science Say On Hair Loss And Regrowth?
Hair loss is something that many people will experience in their lives, and though some might be tempted to say, “it’s just hair”, it can have a profoundly negative impact on the people affected by it. As a result, science has long been searching for a way that hair loss can be treated – so […]
The Largest Land Animal To Ever Live Roamed Across All Seven Continents
You’re probably familiar with classic sauropod dinosaurs – the four-legged herbivores famous for their long necks and tails. Animals such as Brachiosaurus, Apatosaurus, and Diplodocus have been standard fixtures in science museums since the 1800s. With their small brains and enormous bodies, these creatures have long been the poster children for animals destined to go […]
A Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity To See A Nova, How Animals Act During A Total Solar Eclipse, And Much More This Week
This week, new data challenges the belief that male mammals are typically larger than females, scientists are investigating the effects of microgravity on blood spatter patterns, and 11,000-year-old earrings and lip studs might be the world’s oldest piercings. Finally, we question why animals act so strangely during a solar eclipse. Subscribe to the IFLScience newsletter […]
Long COVID Is Just Like Other Post-Viral Syndromes, Health Chief Argues
Long COVID is real, as are the experiences of those who suffer with lasting symptoms after a bout of the illness. But according to new data, it may not be a unique condition. At an upcoming conference, a team including the Chief Health Officer for the state of Queensland, Australia, will present evidence suggesting there […]
Where’s The Lead In A Stanley Cup? This CT Scan Reveals All
It’s safe to say that the Stanley Quencher Cup reached an astronomical level of popularity last year – to the point where people went full “fisticuffs at dawn” just to get a particular color. But then, earlier this year, a series of videos on social media started claiming that the cups contained lead – which, […]
First Ever Unconventional Superconductor Found In Nature
Scientists have found the first unconventional superconductor whose chemical composition is also found in nature. The mineral in question is called miassite, a truly peculiar substance. There are only three other natural superconductors but they follow the rules of Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer theory, the first microscopic theory of superconductivity. Lab-grown miassite is different. Superconductivity means the ability […]
Voyager 1’s Concerning Signal From Interstellar Space Is Actually A Message!
The farthest human-built object is in trouble. Voyager 1 is 24 billion kilometers (15 billion miles) from our planet, flying through interstellar space, and over the last several months NASA has not been able to properly communicate with it. But a first step towards a solution has been achieved. The engineering team has recognized a […]
I Stored Tomato-Based Food In A Plastic Container – Is It Doomed?
It’s a conundrum many of us have wrestled with. We all want to do our bit to help the planet and fight food waste – yet we know that the minute the leftover spaghetti touches the inside of that plastic food container, it will be consigned to a life of orange-stained abandonment at the back […]
Ötzi The Iceman’s Tattoos Recreated On Living Skin To Discover How They Were Made
A research team consisting of archaeologists and a professional tattoo artist has finally unlocked the secrets encoded onto the skin of Ötzi The Iceman. Arguably the world’s most famous prehistoric corpse, Ötzi’s body was covered in tattoos, yet until now scientists were unsure how the markings were made on the old geezer’s skin. Thought to […]
Meet The Maned Wolf: South America’s Largest Canid
Long legs, brown fur, big ears, and a bushy tail – the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) looks remarkably like a fox, and you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a wolf as the name suggests. However, this remarkable creature is actually not closely related to either. So what exactly is a maned wolf, and what […]
When Was The Longest Recorded Solar Eclipse In History?
Not all solar eclipses are equal – even if we’re ignoring partial and annual eclipses, some are more impressive sights than others. Part of the building excitement about next month’s North American eclipse is how much longer it will last than the 2017 equivalent, leading to questions like: when was the longest eclipse of all? […]
Why Polyamory? New Insights Into People’s Motivations Challenge Old Stereotypes
A new study explores the motivations that lead some individuals to pursue polyamory, the practice of engaging in multiple consenting romantic and/or sexual relationships. According to the study, polyamorous individuals are largely driven by a desire for greater relatedness (connection with people), autonomy, and a desire to have more of their needs met. The results […]
Farmed Python Meat Could Be The Earth-Friendly Food Of The Future
As the world tries to wean itself off emission-belching agriculture, giant pythons could prove to be a more sustainable, slithering alternative to beef, pork, and chicken. In a new study, a team of scientists argues that pythons could provide a “flexible and efficient” alternative to other conventional farmed livestock, since they are surprisingly sustainable while […]
Don’t Worry About The Alien Pea Pods Popping Up Around The World This Summer
We come across a lot of bizarre animals here at IFLScience and the one we present to you today is no different – but you’d definitely be forgiven for thinking it was a sign of an alien invasion if you came across one. What on Earth (literally) are we on about, we hear you ask? […]
Golfing And Gardening May Put Men At Up To 3 Times More Risk Of Motor Neuron Disease
A new study indicates that men who take part in hobbies like golf, gardening, and woodwork are at a higher risk of developing a progressive, incurable neurological disease known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The results add to a growing link between this disease and exposure to toxins in the environment. ALS is a fatal […]
Russia And China Are Planning On Building A Nuclear Reactor On The Moon
In 2021, the Chinese and Russian space agencies signed a joint agreement to build a research base on the Moon. In a new announcement, the space agencies say they are hoping to build an automated nuclear reactor on the lunar surface to power the International Lunar Research Station by 2035. You may have noticed that […]
Giant Blueberry The Size Of A Ping Pong Ball Is The New World Record Breaker
A big-ass berry has just earned the title of the world’s heaviest blueberry, weighing in at a whopping 20.40 grams (0.71 ounces) and measuring 39.31 millimeters (over 1.5 inches) in diameter. The ping pong ball-sized berry was picked in November 2023 at a farm operated by Costa Group in Corindi, New South Wales, Australia. Advertisement […]