In the latest addition to the ambitious Human Cell Atlas project, launched in 2016, scientists have created the first-ever spatial map of all the different cell types that make up a human ovary. It’s already giving us a detailed look at how these organs function, and could help pave the way for the development of […]
Why Conspiracy Theorists Think The World Is Ending Today
Bad news everybody, according to the Internet’s finest minds the world is going to end today. After humanity survived eclipse after eclipse going right back to the birth of our species, it, apparently, is not going to make it through being briefly in the shade. Conspiracy theories surrounding April 8th’s total solar eclipse have been […]
What Are The Mysteries Of Mount Shasta?
Have you heard of Mount Shasta, the breathtakingly beautiful mountain in Northern California? If not, we’re willing to bet you’ve heard of at least one of the many oddities associated with it. For anyone with a fascination for the weird, wonderful, and barely rational, this site is a cornucopia of fantasies. It has UFOs, cults, […]
Burrowing, Flesh-Eating Fly Larvae Outbreak Sparks National Emergency In Costa Rica
Nearly seven months after declaring a re-emergence of the New World screwworm fly in Costa Rica, a state of emergency was declared in the country on February 7 as the flesh-eating insect population continues to rise. New World screwworm (NWS) flies (Cochliomyia hominivorax), which are a species of blowfly (family Calliphoridae), are native to much […]
Watch One Of The World’s Most Active Volcanoes Produce Vortex Rings
Mount Etna is an iconic volcano found on the eastern coast of Sicily, an island off the coast of Italy. This is the most active stratovolcano in the world and as of Saturday, April 6, Mount Etna has been up to a few tricks. Footage captured from the island shows plumes of what looks like […]
Did Anyone Live To 100 Years Old In Ancient Times?
Our likelihood of celebrating a century of birthdays has increased dramatically since the Industrial Revolution, yet the absolute number of centenarians still remains low, with less than 100 per million people globally. With that in mind, receiving a congratulatory letter from the King on one’s hundredth birthday seems more than warranted, although whether or not […]
“One-In-A-Billion” Giant Sea Monster Skull Breaks A World Record
The discovery of a 150-million-year-old pliosaur skull rocked the world in 2023, after it was retrieved from 12 meters (39 feet) up a cliff along the Jurassic Coast. It belonged to a pliosaur, an ancient marine reptile with a bite force that could’ve bested Tyrannosaurus rex in a fight, and it’s just been entered into […]
Antarctica Was Rocked By A Record Heatwave 40°C Above Average
In March 2022, Antarctica was struck by an extraordinary heatwave that saw temperatures rise by up to 40°C (72°F) above the seasonal average. This event – the highest jump above average seasonal temperature ever recorded – may seem like a freak anomaly, but it’s likely to be a sign of what’s ahead for planet Earth. […]
Dopamine: Everything You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know
Dopamine – it’s the thing that makes us feel good, right? Well, it turns out it’s a bit more complex than that. In fact, it’s quite the multitasker. What is dopamine? Dopamine is a neurotransmitter – aka a chemical messenger released by a neuron that affects the activity of another. In dopamine’s case, that’s actually […]
Is Orange Cat Behavior A Real Thing?
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 Orange Cat Behavior […]
Self-Dyeing Vegan Leather Shoe And Wallet Grown From Bacteria
In a major step towards truly sustainable fashion, researchers have genetically modified bacteria to produce a vegan, plastic-free leather alternative that can dye itself black. Demonstrating the potential of their new method, the study authors were able to grow a whole shoe (minus the sole) from their tailored microbes in just two weeks. Like many […]
What’s The Deepest Part Of The Ocean?
The world’s oceans have an average depth of around 3,682 meters (12,080 feet), yet there is one point where the seafloor plunges to around three times this profundity. Known as the Challenger Deep, the deepest spot in the ocean lies within the famous Mariana Trench in the western Pacific, and has only ever been visited […]
Why Batteries Come In So Many Sizes And Shapes
If you’ve looked in your utility drawer lately, you may have noticed the various shapes, sizes and types of batteries that power your electronic devices. First, there are the round, non-rechargeable button cells for your watches and small items. There’s also the popular AA and AAA cylindrical batteries for calculators, clocks and remotes. Then you […]
Urgent Alert: Critically Endangered Killer Whales Face Rapid Decline
With only 75 individuals remaining in the wild, Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) are among the most high-profile species currently facing the threat of extinction. Highlighting the urgency of the situation, a new study has revealed that this risk is accelerating, with the SRKW population declining at a rate of around one percent per year. […]
A Million People Expected At Niagara Falls For The Solar Eclipse
Niagara Falls is set to receive its largest ever influx of visitors on April 8, with the iconic landmark lying slap bang on the path of the total solar eclipse. And with enormous numbers of people expected to travel from far and wide to view the event at the famous waterfall, hotel prices have become […]
Why Did Modern Humans Replace The Neanderthals? The Key Might Lie In Our Social Structures
Why did humans take over the world while our closest relatives, the Neanderthals, became extinct? It’s possible we were just smarter, but there’s surprisingly little evidence that’s true. Neanderthals had big brains, language and sophisticated tools. They made art and jewellery. They were smart, suggesting a curious possibility. Maybe the crucial differences weren’t at the […]
How An Eclipse Saved Christopher Columbus And His Crew From Doom
Sometimes it really is your lucky day, and for Christopher Columbus that day came on February 29, 1504. As well as being a leap day, this peculiar date also saw a total lunar eclipse occur in the Caribbean night sky, allegedly allowing the famous navigator to trick his native hosts into treating him and his […]
The First Rainbow-Like Effect On A Planet Outside Our Solar System, A 130,000-Year-Old “Stingray” Sand Sculpture May Be World’s Oldest Animal Art, And Much More This Week
This week astronomers have spotted evidence of the rare rainbow-like effect known as a glory on another planet, a prehistoric sand sculpture of a stingray might be the world’s oldest animal art, and a series of ancient engravings found on volcanic boulders in southern Peru might represent music that was performed during shamanic rituals involving […]
Quantum Computing Just Got Hotter: 1 Degree Above Absolute Zero
For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or –273.15°C). That’s because the quantum phenomena that grant quantum computers their unique computational abilities can only be harnessed by isolating them from the warmth of the familiar classical […]
Announcement: Stock Up On Food, Water, And Fuel Ahead Of The Full Solar Eclipse
Lorain County Emergency Management (EMA) in Ohio has issued a warning to eclipse watchers and locals to the path of totality to stock up on food, water, and fuel ahead of the total eclipse on April 8, with an influx of visitors to the area expected. The last total solar eclipse over the US was […]
