Google has launched a global competition with XPRIZE and the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) to apply quantum computing to real-world challenges. Quantum computers use quantum mechanics to solve problems that are simply too complex to be calculated by traditional computers, or even supercomputers. The hope is that, as the field progresses, these computers […]
Spectacular Volcanic Eruption On Galápagos Island Lights Up Midnight Sky
If someone says “Galápagos Islands”, it often conjures up thoughts of giant tortoises or Charles Darwin – but there’s something important missing from that list. The islands are volcanic, and they’ve just dished up a steaming hot reminder of that with the eruption of La Cumbre volcano late on Saturday night. La Cumbre, a shield […]
Are Horses Secretly Just Big Dogs?
What’s the difference between a dog and a horse? Well, look past the more obvious distinctions – the hooves; the mane; the lack of woofing – and you’ll find the two species are actually a lot more similar than they seem. Humans’ best friends Of all the species humanity has domesticated over the millennia, dogs […]
In The Right Solution, Like Charges Can Attract Along With Opposites
The principle that opposite charges attract and like charges repel has some exceptions, chemists have shown, complicating what is seen as a fundamental law of physics. There are few things that make chemists happier than getting one over on physicists, so the discovery must have caused great delight for that reason alone, and there could […]
The Furthest Point On Earth From Its Center Is On The 37th Highest Mountain In The Andes
How to define the tallest mountain on Earth is debatable. Mount Everest, everybody’s go-to peak, is a contender as its 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak places it as the highest above sea level, with K2 coming a close second at 8,611 meters (28,251 feet). If you measure from base to peak, however, Mauna Kea in Hawai’i is […]
Shape-Shifting Metamaterial Inspired By Octopuses Is A World First
Researchers in South Korea have created a remarkable first-ever encodable multifunctional material, which can be shifted into different shapes and mechanical properties in real-time. The inspiration for this new metamaterial came from an unlikely place: octopuses. According to the researchers, this material surpasses the limits of existing materials and opens new possibilities for various fields […]
The Evolving Factors That Have Predicted Divorce Since The 1950s
In a recent study, researchers undertook an ambitious analysis of the predictors of marital dissolution, e.g. divorce, and how they have evolved since the 1950s in the US. The study has explored whether certain factors that have been associated with higher divorce rates have remained consistent or whether new ones have emerged due to growing […]
California Anticipates “Impressive” Superbloom As Officials Beg “Take Photos Not Flowers”
California is gearing up for another superbloom this spring – and it’s set to be an impressive one, with swathes of rainbow-colored wildflowers expected to bejewel the state’s hillsides. However, state park officials are begging visitors to enjoy the flowers responsibly. The Golden State experienced blooms in 2017, 2019, and 2023, attracting hundreds of thousands of people […]
A Simple Dietary Supplement Improved Brain Function In A Twin Study Of Over-60s
Many of us are concerned about how aging could impact our brains, and a lot of time and effort has gone into research that could help slow cognitive decline. A new twin study is the latest to address this question, finding that a simple fiber supplement was enough to improve memory performance in as little […]
Why The World’s Tallest Sand Dunes Aren’t In The Geological Record
A mighty Saharan Sand Dune has been found to have a 13,000-year-old base, but most of its current height grew within the last 1,000 years. The information transforms the way geologists think about star dunes, the tallest class category of sand dunes. Since star dunes are found not only in the deserts of Africa, Asia, […]
Some Tropical Mammals Appear To Have “Lunar Phobia”
Moonlight can spell disaster or triumph in the animal kingdom, helping those species with limited eyesight catch prey more easily, while also giving those who might be the prey fewer places to hide away in the dark. Now, new research has investigated which species might benefit from or avoid moonlight, with the help of some […]
The Madagascan Chameleon That Goes “Extinct” For A Few Months Every Year
In the lowlands of southwestern Madagascar there is, and sometimes isn’t, a lizard known as Labord’s chameleon (Furcifer labordi) with an unusual life cycle. The chameleons, as pointed out by UK fun fact podcast No Such Thing As A Fish, are functionally extinct for several months of the year, with no adults alive (as far […]
You Are In For A Spectacular Month Of Celestial Events
Let’s hope for clear evenings ahead of us this month, because there are many celestial happenings in the March sky. The equinox will be at 3:06 am UTC on March 20 (10:06 pm ET on March 19), with the Northern hemisphere entering spring and the Southern hemisphere entering autumn. This month is the best time […]
The US Left Nuclear Waste Around The World, Now Climate Change May Unearth It
During the Cold War, when messing around with nuclear energy was all the rage, the US military left a legacy of radioactive debris at a few different sites around the world. Much of the fallout was kept at bay or contained – well, depending on who you ask – but climate change is now threatening […]
New Robotic Surgeon May Be Better Than Humans At Removing Cancerous Tumors
Scientists have developed a new robo-surgeon that can remove cancerous tumors from extremely delicate locations that can prove challenging and risky for even the most experienced human surgeons. When removing cancerous tumors, a process known as resection, the aim is to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible while removing the cancerous cells to prevent […]
Politicians Are Getting Heated About Nicotine Pouches – But What Exactly Are They?
Forget vapes – there’s a new nicotine product on the block, and it’s safe to say it’s been getting people a bit riled up recently. Nicotine pouches, sold under brand names like Zyn and Velo, have been both lambasted and lauded by politicians, influencers, and parents when it comes to their supposed health effects. But […]
Asian Elephants Bury And Mourn For Their Dead Calves
Funerals could easily be assumed to be a uniquely human phenomenon, but a new study appears to challenge that after researchers observed Asian elephants burying dead calves and loudly mourning for them. Both African and Asian elephants have previously been observed interacting with their dead and displaying grief-like behaviors, but the current study aimed to […]
The US Wants To Boost Its Nuclear Power
After decades of dwindling, nuclear energy could be making a big comeback in the US. Last week, the House passed through bipartisan legislation that aims to bolster nuclear energy with a sweeping 365-36 vote. The measure, the Atomic Energy Advancement Act, will essentially make it easier to build nuclear power plants by speeding up environmental […]
1,000-Year-Old Astrolabe Illuminates Scientific Exchange Between Muslims, Jews, And Christians
An elaborate artifact that was once used to tell the time and calculate distances appears to have been used by members of three different faiths during its long and storied life. Known as an astrolabe, the relic has been dated to the 11th century CE and bears inscriptions in Arabic, Hebrew, and Western numerals. Astrolabes […]
The World’s Biggest Space Rock Was Found – And Lost – In The Sahara In 1916. Did It Ever Exist?
A meteorite allegedly exists in the Sahara that would make all the other meteorites look like pebbles. An object the size of a skyscraper, it was reported in 1916 by Western observers but then disappeared without a trace. Now, scientists in the UK have set out to solve the mystery with the help of radar […]
