Colors in the natural world can come in just about every possible shade, from the bright blues of a peacock’s tail feathers to the glow of an animal under ultraviolet light. Now researchers have found some of the earliest traces of the pigments that help produce the pretty colors in snail shells and they are […]
The Alligator Penis Is Permanently Erect, But Pops Out Only When Needed
The alligator penis doesn’t have an off setting. Unable to inflate with blood or lymphatic fluid, it instead maintains erection by being constantly rigid due to a dense network of collagen fibers inside the penile shaft. This means that rather than being flaccid and rising to the task of copulation, it’s permanently ready to pop […]
There Was A Concerning Spike In Certain Google Searches Right After The US Eclipse
A total solar eclipse happened across North America yesterday, in case you’re the one person who missed it and wondered why it was briefly nighttime during the day. OK, there’s not much chance you missed it, given the amount of coverage everywhere. There were countless articles online and so many TV items during the news […]
Solar Power Beat Coal In Texas Over A Whole Month For First Time
There’s a revolution going on in how we produce our electricity, and it’s happening even in the places where it’s denounced the loudest. Few places illustrate that better than Texas, where renewable power keeps setting records, despite how many powerful people hate it. In February 2021, a cold snap put unprecedented pressure on the Texas […]
Where Do Birds Rest When Flying Over The Ocean?
Some members of the bird world are capable of truly amazing feats from flying without flapping for over five hours, to not stopping flying for over 10 straight months. However, all that time in the air can make even the most seasoned flier weary – so where do birds rest when they are flying over […]
In 1973, Passengers On Concorde Witnessed A 74 Minute Total Eclipse
Today, people across North America will witness a total solar eclipse. It should be spectacular (assuming the weather holds), coinciding as it does with the solar maximum. As enjoyable as it will be, most witnesses will only get around 3.5-4 minutes of totality, when the Moon completely covers the Sun from their perspective. There is, […]
The Orgasm Gap: How Partner Gender Affects Women’s Expectations About The “Big O”
Women are more likely to expect to orgasm when anticipating a sexual encounter with a female partner, according to new research. While this may be a hard pill for heterosexual men to swallow, it highlights one of the drivers behind the well-established orgasm gap – but crucially, it also suggests ways in which that gap […]
Meteorites Are Vanishing Into Antarctica’s Soft Ice As The World Warms
When meteorites crash land in Antarctica, they stick out like a black blob against a pure white backdrop. This is the reason why over 60 percent of discovered meteorites have been found on the frozen continent. However, warming temperatures could soon spell the end of this golden era of meteorite-hunting in the South Pole. Antarctica […]
Lāhainā Noon: The Celestial Event Which Makes Objects Look Oddly Rendered
There is no shortage of celestial events to gawp at this year, with the April 8 eclipse and the “Devil’s Comet” being the highlights. These are events that come around only a few times a lifetime, but there are plenty of yearly events to keep the calendar full. One such event is known as “lāhainā […]
Turning Itself Inside Out Made The Moon Lopsided
New evidence has confirmed theories of how the lunar mantle formed, and given increased precision to the timing of this important event for our astronomical companion. In the process, some important insight has emerged into the question of why the near and far sides have such different chemistry, and only one has seas. Like the […]
First-Ever Cell Atlas Of The Human Ovary Brings Artificial Ovaries A Step Closer To Reality
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 […]
