Bacteria hold a record of how their environment affects them, a new study suggests, and this can be passed on to subsequent generations when they divide. The discovery is one among many in recent years that have complicated the ways biologists think about evolution and the transmission of characteristics. It could also have important medical […]
Meet The Cosmic Web – The Largest Structure In The Universe
When we look for “the biggest” in the universe, it is important to specify our definition of the object of study. Is it something indivisible and with a neat boundary, like a black hole? Or do we prefer fuzzy edges so we can talk about galaxies? But if we are looking for the BOAT, the […]
In 1980, Lake Peigneur Disappeared, Swallowing Most Of An Island And Reversing A Canal
The Lake Peigneur drilling disaster saw an oversight result in a dramatic reshaping of the Louisiana landscape. The resulting sinkhole swallowed up a drilling platform, several barges, trees, and the better part of an island. Suffice it to say, drilling disaster is an apt description. Advertisement The dramatic turn of events unfolded on November 20, […]
These Mysterious Monitor Lizards Don’t Need Ears To Look Badass
Borneo is home to all sorts of weird and wonderful plant and animal species. While some of them are famous worldwide, like the conservation symbol that is the Bornean orangutan or the lesser-known critically endangered Bornean elephant, some species are a lot more difficult to find. Meet the very shy earless monitor lizard. Advertisement The […]
2,300-Year-Old Battering Ram From Roman Warship Discovered Off Sicilian Coast
In 241 BCE, one of the most decisive battles in ancient Mediterranean history took place off the coast of Sicily, as the emerging Roman Empire defeated its fierce rival Carthage during the Battle of the Aegates. Having spent the past 20 years scouring the seafloor in search of sunken traces of this epic confrontation, researchers […]
Six New Worlds Challenge What We Know About The Birth Of Planets And Stars
More observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) continue to challenge the distinct pictures scientists have of planet and star formation. Last year, binary objects not much bigger than Jupiter began to properly challenge the separation between the formation pathways. New research has added more fuel to the fire, having found the lightest free-floating […]
End Harmful Legacy Of “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome”, Asks Letter Of Medical Journal
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) has historically been connected to a condition coined “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome.” Its symptoms include headache, nausea, numbness, and palpitations, plus a lack of any concrete scientific evidence to suggest that they are caused by MSG consumption. Advertisement The origins of the dated term trace back to a letter published by the New […]
Can Insects Drown – And How Do They Breathe Anyway?
If you’ve ever witnessed a spider climb out of your bathtub drain or chucked a particularly creepy crawly down the toilet in a moment of panic, you may have wondered if insects are capable of surviving these watery ordeals. Advertisement The answer is that – thankfully for some, unfortunately for others – many insects are […]
All Octopuses Are Venomous, So How Are They Using It?
Lift up an octopus’s arms, and tucked away in the center you will find an octopus beak. It’s a curious feature and a well-named one, looking just like the sort of structure you might find on a parrot’s face. But we’re talking about a mollusk here – so, how are they using them? Advertisement The […]
Intranasal COVID-19 Vaccine Gives Broad, Lasting Immunity Without A Needle In Sight
The next generation of COVID-19 vaccines could soon be here – and they’re totally needle-free. New research is showing the potential of an intranasal vaccine that’s been in development for four years, and it’s not just good news for the needle-phobes out there. Advertisement “This is a live attenuated intranasal vaccine, called CDO-7N-1, designed to […]
Temple Of Maya Death God – AKA “The Stinking One” – Found in Mexico
Archaeologists in southern Mexico have uncovered an ancient palatial complex that appears to have been dedicated to a terrifying Maya death god who ruled over a hellish realm, but was also the god of farts. Known as Ah Puch, or Cizin, the monstrous deity’s name has been translated as “stench”, “flatulence” and “The Stinking One”. […]
Watch As ESA’s JUICE Flies Over The Surface Of The Moon
In a matter of years, we will be getting incredible new high-resolution images of Jupiter, in particular its icy moons, from the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE): the European Space Agency (ESA) mission that will study Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. The road to Jupiter is still long, and to get a boost, it flew past […]
Human-Wildlife Overlap Is Set To Increase, And Saving Biodiversity Will Be An Important Challenge
There are 8.2 billion people on the planet, and that number is only going up. All those extra humans need somewhere to live – and increasingly, it’s wildlife that will pay for it. At least, that’s according to a new study from researchers at the University of Michigan, which has calculated the likely amount of […]
Meet The Critically Endangered Saola: Secretive And Shy, But Still Out There?
It comes as no surprise that some of the most remote places on Earth are filled with some of Earth’s rarest creatures. From those that have only been seen via camera trap, to cases of discovery and rediscovery, even large creatures can manage to hide away inside secret habitats. None more so than the Saola. […]
Meet The Hourglass Dolphin: Small, Speedy, And Super Elusive
While most dolphins prefer warmer waters, there’s one species in particular that’s no stranger to cooler climes – in fact, the most likely place to find one is south of the Antarctic Convergence. The name of this remote and rarely seen marine mammal? The hourglass dolphin. Advertisement A striking Southern Ocean resident Just look at […]
“Space Junk” Turns Out To Be Car-Sized Space Rock Falling Over South Africa
People around St Francis Bay in South Africa had an interesting morning last Sunday: between 8:30 and 9 am local time, a bright streak was seen illuminating the sky, with some people hearing a sonic boom and feeling a tremor. At first, it was speculated to be a piece of space junk falling through the […]
Lethologica: When You Just Can’t Remember That Word You Need
If you’ve ever found yourself scouring your brain for some common, everyday word, only to come up short, don’t worry – it literally happens to all of us. Termed “lethologica”, or more often a “tip of the tongue” state or syndrome, “You can’t talk to anybody, in any culture, in any language, in any age […]
Highest Resolution Observations From Earth Yet Will Reveal Hidden Details Of Black Holes
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) made history over the last several years by delivering the first images of the shadows of two supermassive black holes. The fuzzy orange glow might look out of focus, but it was a technical feat, requiring connecting telescopes all around the surface of the planet to form a single instrument […]
What Is The Highest An Insect Can Fly?
The evolution of flight in insects has seen them take to the skies at incredible sizes and speeds – we’re looking at you, Megaloptera (appropriately enough meaning “large wing”). Flying requires creating lift and for that, you need molecules in the air, something that gets less concentrated the higher up you go. It got us […]
If A Lightning Strike Hit A Lake, Would It Kill The Fish?
Reportedly, fishing is one of the most common activities for people to be doing when they’re struck by lightning. But what does this mean for fish, who famously spend their entire lives in prime fishing locations? Despite what cartoons would have you believe, when lightning strikes a lake, all its once-living contents won’t instantly float […]
