A former NASA analyst on TikTok has explained the (hopefully obvious) reason why photographs of our galaxy – the Milky Way – are not real. Responding to the question “How do we take pictures of the Milky Way if we are in it?”, science communicator and former NASA space analyst Alexandra Doten explained that we […]
Freaky Ratfish Have Teeth Growing Out Of Their Foreheads, And They Use Them For Love
Teeth and the evolution of teeth have long fascinated researchers in all manner of species. Questions arise, such as why they evolved, why they were lost, and even in some cases, why they evolved again. However, these questions focus on teeth within the mouth – one fish species is growing teeth straight out of its […]
The Largest Turtle Ever Known To Have Lived Was An Absolute Unit
The Late Cretaceous was a time of ocean giants, with the likes of scarily sharp-toothed mosasaurs and ridiculously long-necked elasmosaurs bigging it up in the seas. But while these might be some of the more famous aquatic reptilian behemoths from this period, they aren’t the only ones. Around 74 million years ago, they were joined […]
“It Literally Leapt Out Of The Rock At Us”: How Violent Storms Led To The Extraordinary Preservation Of Baby Pterosaurs
Pterosaur fossils aren’t easy to find, especially well-preserved ones. Often, you’re looking at the odd bone here and there. That is, until you start looking in the Solnhofen Limestones in Germany. Here, scientists have found almost perfectly preserved hatchling pterosaurs; meanwhile, the adults are all in pieces. The solution to that mystery appears to rest […]
This Is The Reason Why Earth’s Core Exists, And It’s More Interesting Than You Might Think
New research has identified a new restriction on the chemistry involved in the Earth’s core, explaining how it was able to crystallize millions of years ago. According to this work, the core would have needed to be made of 3.8 percent carbon for crystallization to begin, which means carbon is likely far more abundant in […]
Over 11 Million Years Of Evolution, Eyeless Cavefish Developed Blindness Independently Many Times
Eyeless, colorless fish inhabit the rivers running through caverns beneath the eastern and southern United States. Who needs eyes or a flashy appearance when you live in complete darkness? Remarkably, this trait evolved independently at least four times among cavefish, making them a striking example of convergent evolution in action. Scientists at Yale University examined […]
Tropical Mammoths, Dazzling Brain Map, And Perfectly Preserved Pterosaurs
This week on Break It Down: Queen ants are throwing the rules of reproduction out of the window by producing offspring of two different species, for the first time ever we have a complete map of brain activity and boy is it pretty, a new lineage of tropical mammoths have been discovered in Mexico, 150 […]
What Is Actually In Pumpkin Spice? Spoiler: It Isn’t Pumpkins
It’s almost that time of the year when there’s a welcome chill in the air, the leaves are starting to turn golden, and everything is inexplicably flavored with so-called “pumpkin spice”. But what is actually in this ubiquitous, seasonal spice mix? Spoiler: it doesn’t contain any pumpkins. Pumpkin spice is a blend of spices, including […]
Voyager 1 Launched 48 Years Ago Today, So NASA Shares Archival Footage Of Carl Sagan To Celebrate
Forty-eight years ago today, Voyager 1 blasted off from Earth, beginning its epic journey through our Solar System and beyond. It’s still out there, over 25 billion kilometers (15 billion miles) from its home planet, hurtling through interstellar space at 61,196 kilometers (38,026 miles) per hour. To celebrate the anniversary of the spacecraft’s launch, NASA’s […]
Infrasound: The Noise That Travels Further Than Any Other On Earth
There are a lot of legends about infrasound. It can make you see ghosts, some say; others insist it can make you poop your pants. Elephants and whales use it to chat across thousands of kilometers, but you’ve never heard it in your life – in fact, from a human perspective, even the word “infrasound” […]
Ready, Set, Chonk: Fat Bear Week 2025 Is About To Begin. And Yes, It’s Early
We come bearing great news: Fat Bear Week is arriving early this year. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content. What is Fat Bear Week? You’ve heard of March Madness? Fat Bear Week is basically like that, except instead of a bracket full […]
Artificial Sweeteners Like Aspartame Linked To 1.6 Years Of Extra Brain Aging In 8-Year Study
Artificial sweeteners may be linked to faster cognitive decline as we age, a new study of almost 13,000 people has found. The researchers looked at seven of the most common sweeteners and tracked participants for eight years, finding that those who consumed the most had the highest rates of cognitive deterioration. The controversial world of […]
The Largest Mammal To Ever Live Made African Elephants Look Incredibly Small
Since the demise of the dinosaurs, mammals have thrived. Without their scaly peers around, their numbers exploded, they diversified, and they got bigger – but just how big? It’s well-known that the blue whale is the largest mammal ever – heck, it’s also the most massive animal to ever live – measuring around 30 meters […]
West Coast States Form New Health Alliance To Give Vaccine Advice, Saying CDC Is Now “A Political Tool”
The West Coast states of California, Oregon, and Washington have announced they will be joining up to create their own public health alliance to provide information about vaccines, calling it a response to “the Trump Administration’s destruction of the U.S. CDC’s [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] credibility and scientific integrity.” In a joint statement […]
Shakespeare’s Skull Is Missing
William Shakespeare is widely considered the most influential playwright writing in the English language, with his works still being studied and performed centuries after his death. Despite his fame then and now, there are plenty of things which we don’t know of his life and eventual death in 1616. A month before he died, for […]
Is One Type Of Drinking Water Better Than Another?
We’re told time and time again about the importance of staying hydrated – which, to be fair, is pretty reasonable considering that we need water to stay alive. But does the type of water that we drink matter? Of course not – water’s just water, right? Not if you take a wander down the bottled […]
What Food Did Neanderthals Eat? The Real “Paleodiet” Wasn’t As Meaty As You Imagine
Neanderthals and other prehistoric hominins have a reputation for being bloodthirsty brutes, existing on a diet of megafauna meat and the flesh of their enemies. However, this is a very reductive (and outdated) view of our hominin relatives. A wealth of evidence shows that Neanderthals had a taste for meat but also an appreciation for […]
Typhoon Tip: The Largest Storm Ever Could Have Swallowed Half Of The Continental US
Typhoon Tip was the largest and most intense tropical cyclone ever documented. In October 1979, it tore through the western Pacific Ocean, with a swirling mass of wind and water vapor that was nearly half the size of the continental US. Imagine half the country swallowed by a single spiraling engine of wind and water. […]
Is Acrylamide Really Bad For You?
IFLScience needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, check out ourPrivacy Policy Deborah BloomfieldSource Link: Is Acrylamide Really Bad […]
Macaws Learn From Watching Other Macaws Interact – A Kind Of Imitation We Thought Was Unique To Humans
When trying to fit in, it’s not uncommon for humans to watch other humans interacting to get an idea of how they themselves should behave. This is what’s known as third-party imitation, and it’s something we used to think was unique to humans. Now, it’s been identified in another animal for the first time. Yes, […]