Deborah Bloomfield

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For centuries, people in Europe didn’t really know where birds went during the winter. It’s not their fault, they had a lot on that kept them from investigating the disappearance of other species. It’s hard to focus on “where did birb go?” when you’re working on your main task of dying of the plague. The […]

What killed off the dinosaurs? For many, the matter is settled – and there’s a huge crater down in Mexico to act as evidence. However, a minority of experts were unconvinced, arguing instead that the Chicxulub meteorite impact was simply a bombastic end to an extinction that was already underway – one that was being […]

Kīlauea in Hawaiʻi started bursting with lava and belching out volcanic gas in the early hours of Monday morning, providing onlookers with a red-hot spectacle. The eruption began around 2:20 AM local time on December 23, according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Lake-loads of lava have already been pumped out of the volcano. The […]

Ever wondered what happens to Santa’s post? Thousands of children write to Father Christmas every year. While Grinches and Scrooges might assume these letters end up in a landfill, the reality is much more heartwarming. The US Postal Service (USPS) has devised a special program to ensure as many as possible receive a reply and don’t […]

After hearing that there was a particularly tiny type of reindeer, I RAN to the internet to find some photos – and were delightfully overjoyed by how cute and fluffy they were. Introducing the Svalbard Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus), which are around 1.5-1.6 meters (4.9-5.2 feet) long. What does the Svalbard Reindeer look like? These […]

The concept of negative time sounds implausible – or the basis for time travel. But while many scientists are skeptical of its existence, recent research has hinted to there being more to this wacky phenomenon than previously thought.  Negative time is a peculiar quirk of quantum mechanics, like the possibility of an object being in […]

Global cloud coverage appears to be shrinking and could be exacerbating the warming effects of climate change, according to research based on NASA satellite data. Earth currently receives more solar energy than it loses. However, although it explains a lot of it, our dependence on fossil fuels is not enough to explain the total extent […]

Burt, perhaps one of the most famous crocodiles in the world, has died at the ripe old age of around 90. The beast-come-celebrity was the reptilian star of the 1986 movie Crocodile Dundee about an eccentric Aussie bushman’s antics in New York City.  The sad news of his passing was shared by Crocosaurus Cove, the […]

A cave in France that was used by Neanderthals – or possibly their ancestors – may contain the oldest direct evidence of controlled fire use by humans in Europe. While it’s currently unclear exactly which species of ancient hominid lit these prehistoric campfires, the discovery suggests that our lineage had developed the ability to ignite […]

Is the future hydrogen-powered? It might be, if a new study turns out to be correct: using longstanding geological models tweaked to include data about natural hydrogen, researchers have estimated an untapped reservoir of potentially trillions of metric tons of the element within the Earth’s subsurface.  For a while now, we’ve been told that the […]

Born in the Santa Isabel Clinic in Lima, Peru, a baby has been born using a new technique called Fertilo. This uses ovarian support cell (OSC) technology, which helps to mature eggs outside of the body. “We are delighted to celebrate the world’s first live birth conceived using Fertilo,” said Dr Dina Radenkovic, CEO and […]

Quantum teleportation has been demonstrated over a fiber optic cable carrying classical traffic (like the Internet) for the first time. The work suggests it will be possible to take advantage of the benefits quantum communication offers without needing to build a whole new infrastructure in parallel to what already exists. Quantum entanglement, famously derided by […]

As the holiday season rolls in, many of us are celebrating with family, friends, and – let’s be honest – a few extra glasses of eggnog. But while we indulge in festive cheer, it’s a good time to think about how alcohol affects not just our bodies but our brains too. Researchers at Texas A&M […]

Say hello to the Picasso bug, Sphaerocoris annulus. This colorific critter gets its nickname for the beautiful combination of pigments splashed across its back like paint on canvas.  It is a member of the Scutelleridae, a group of true bugs known as shield backed bugs or jewel bugs for their brilliant coloration. However, they are […]

The oldest confirmed case of the plague outside of Eurasia has been detected in an ancient Egyptian mummy. Dating back to around 3,290 years ago, the embalmed remains belong to a male individual who was likely suffering from severe symptoms at the time of his horrific death. The bubonic plague – also known as the […]

Giraffes are one of the most iconic species that roam our planet, so you’re likely familiar with most of their quirks and eccentricities (seriously, what’s the deal with those ludicrously long necks?) – but did you know there’s not one but four species of the tallest living terrestrial mammal? The long-necked creatures were long believed […]

It is the holiday season! Sparkling lights, beautifully wrapped presents, and mountains of delicious treats – what’s not to love? Well, there’s one thing that’s not on the wish list: the dreaded sugar hangover. But what is it, and how can we avoid it? What causes sugar hangover? Sugar lights up your brain’s reward center […]

Popping open a bag of potato chips to find its contents are 90 percent air can be a dispiriting and humbling experience, but there are good reasons why your packets of snacks can sometimes resemble an inflated pillow (or at least that’s what Big Potato wants you to think). It’s commonly said that packets of […]

NASA has scheduled an early Christmas present for solar researchers on Tuesday, December 24, when the Parker Solar Probe will pass 6.1 million kilometers (3.8 million miles) from the Sun – closer than it or any other spacecraft has ever gone before. Assuming it survives the experience in a condition to keep sending back data, […]