Around 200 million years ago, Earth’s last supercontinent Pangea began to break apart, with plate tectonics slowly moving the continents into the world we recognize today. Plate tectonics was only discovered relatively recently. Though German meteorologist Alfred Wegner first proposed continental drift in 1912 – and hypothesized that the continents were once joined in […]
Why Do Sheep Have Rectangular Pupils?
Stare deep into the eyes of a sheep and you’ll probably upset a farmer, but before the guns start waving you might notice something strange. Rather than a bouncy round pupil like our own, sheep have a rectangular black blob in the middle of their eyes. So, what gives? These ruminant mammals sit alongside deer […]
UN Calls For Action In 2025 Against “Climate Breakdown In Real Time”
The top 10 hottest years since the temperature record began have all happened in the last ten years, and scientists have already said that 2024 is “effectively certain” to be the hottest year on record. With governments across the world dillydallying as the consequences of the climate crisis become more serious every day, UN Secretary-General […]
What Was The Ancient “Wheel Of Ghosts” – AKA “Stonehenge Of The East”?
The mystery surrounding one of the largest megalithic monuments in the Middle East has deepened significantly, as new research has just shattered the popular theory that the circular Rujm el-Hiri in the Golan Heights functioned as an astronomical observatory. Also known as the Wheel of Ghosts and the Levantine Stonehenge, this enigmatic labyrinthine structure is […]
What Is The “Death Rattle” Sometimes Heard In Dying People?
To be with a loved one when it’s their time to go is a special comfort to a lot of people, but there are some aspects to the process of dying that can be uncomfortable and even upsetting to witness. Perhaps the most famous of these is the “death rattle,” a symptom with a name […]
Microplastic Concentrations In The Human Body Linked To Multiple Tissue Lesions
A new metadata analysis into the presence of microplastic concentrations in humans has highlighted multiple links with tissue damage and other health conditions. Over the course of the last 70 years, plastic has become an increasingly significant global commodity, impacting nearly every aspect of human life. During the 1950s, plastic production was around 1.5 million […]
8 Fossil Discoveries That Changed Our Understanding Of Life On Earth
As we wind toward the year’s end we often find ourselves thinking about the future, but sometimes it takes a rare nugget from the past to make strides in academia. Take fossils, a dizzying diversity of really, really old stuff that somehow defied decay and decomposition to linger on in a record we can dive […]
Celsius Vs Fahrenheit: Which Is Better?
Oh, America. You do so confuse the rest of the world, with your “pounds per square inch” and “cups”, instead of sensible measurements like Pascals and liters. And part and parcel of that is your stubborn refusal to drop Fahrenheit in favor of Celsius. Of course, we admit that Fahrenheit does have some advantages. But […]
At 445 Days, 46 BCE Was The Longest Year In History
Some years seem to zip by in the blink of an eye, while others seem to drag on for far longer. But some, like leap years, can last a little longer than usual. And then there’s 46 BCE, which lasted 445 days, 80 days more than we are used to. So, why did the year […]
“Extraordinary Power Of Natural Selection”: Convergent Evolution Found In Hundreds Of Stick Insect Species
A new study examining stick and leaf insect species has found evidence of convergent evolution, with all of the insects evolving similar characteristics despite diverging long ago. Convergent evolution is when similar features that have a similar form or function evolve in species from different periods or regions, despite the last common ancestor of the […]
The Slimy Blob At The Bottom Of The Vinegar Bottle Is The Mother
Have you ever bought a bottle of vinegar with a claim on the label that it contains the “mother”? Once you bring it home and peer more closely into the bottle you’ll see a slimy blob at the bottom – this is the mother of vinegar. What is vinegar? Vinegar has been around for thousands […]
What Would Happen If We Put A Swimming Pool On The Moon? It Would Be Pretty Awesome, Actually
A new video from xkcd cartoonist, science communicator, and author Randall Munroe has posed the age old question; what if we put a pool on the Moon? While splashing around in water on Earth is enjoyable, it turns out that if NASA got their asses in gear it could be a whole lot more fun. […]
Chernobyl’s Dogs Are Genetically Different – But Increased Mutation Isn’t To Blame
In the shadow of the worst nuclear disaster in history, a population of dogs in Chernobyl, Ukraine, have become genetically different from canines in the rest of the world. The reasons for this have always been something of a mystery, but things just got even more perplexing as new research reveals that increased mutation likely […]
Norovirus Is On The Increase In Parts Of The US – Here’s What To Know
Health departments are warning people to take precautions against norovirus after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a surge in cases in some parts of the US. Recent figures show that 91 outbreaks of the virus were reported during the week of December 5, an increase of 22 from the previous week. […]
Undersea Volcano Off The US West Coast Predicted To Erupt In 2025
A submarine volcano near Oregon looks like it could erupt at any time, and scientists have stuck their necks out by predicting that the event will occur before the end of 2025. Forecasting volcanic eruptions with more than a few hours’ notice is currently a huge challenge, yet researchers have identified an undersea volcano called […]
One Of The Most Significant Mammal Recoveries Ever Recorded Scoops 2024 Award
In Kazakhstan lives an antelope that wouldn’t look out of place on the set of Star Wars. Saiga and their gloriously wibbly noses are one of the planet’s most remarkable species, but poaching and mass die off events saw their numbers crash. In 2024, however, the Earthshot Prize awarded an ecosystem restoration effort that’s enabled […]
Not All Trees Are Equal When It Comes To Beating The City Heat
Planting trees has been a staple in urban landscaping for decades, valued for its aesthetic appeal and ability to improve air quality. However, recent research highlights that the location and species of trees are crucial in mitigating urban heat stress. Over the last few decades, temperatures have been rising in cities around the world. Each […]
Which Animal Has The Most Teeth At Any One Time?
Say cheese and flash us those pearly whites! While most adult humans have 32 permanent teeth, or 28 if your wisdom teeth don’t behave, you might be surprised to learn that the animal world has us well and truly beat when it comes to the highest amount of teeth found in one mouth – and […]
Super Foggy Outside? Could Be The Perfect Time To Spot “Dark Watchers”
Allow us to set the scene: you’re out walking on a misty mountain. It was clear as day when you set off this morning, but as you’re reaching the peak a thick fog comes rolling in behind you. The Sun is just about still breaking through when you spot it, a great looming “dark watcher” […]
Once-In-A-Lifetime T Coronae Borealis Nova Event Expected Soon
Around every 80 years, the system we call T Coronae Borealis experiences a sudden increase in brightness. It becomes up to 1,585 times brighter, something that earned it the nickname of “The Blaze Star”. But it has a more accurate name: it is a recurring nova, and it is going to get brighter again very […]
