Deborah Bloomfield

Inokashira Park Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, has launched an investigation after 31 of its 40 squirrels died over the course of a week, potentially the result of an accidental poisoning. According to a statement released by the zoo on December 11, keepers had given all 40 squirrels an anti-parasitic medication on December 4, alongside spraying […]

Long before the bright lights of Lima robbed the stars of their splendor above the central Peruvian coast, the Milky Way dazzled with such blazing brilliance that the region’s pre-Hispanic inhabitants built their cosmology around it. Such was their devotion to the sparkling arch known in Quechua as “Mayu” (meaning “river of stars”) that these […]

If a sibling is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, then there is an increased risk of a shortened lifespan in other family members, even for those without the condition. This is especially true for twins, a new study argues. According to new research conducted by a team at the University of Southern California (USC) Dornsife College of […]

Of all the potential pets that could be dangerous to humans and other animals, few would rank a goldfish very highly. However, these previous pets have been released into the wild by careless pet owners and are now causing havoc across the Great Lakes of Canada and in France. A new study has tracked one […]

This time last year, NASA’s Orion spacecraft successfully returned to Earth. To celebrate this anniversary, NASA showed off stunning footage of the ship falling through our atmosphere at 32 times the speed of sound The ship, designed to take humans further than we have ever traveled before, was launched using NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) […]

It’s been quite the two months for NASA’s Psyche mission. Now, in the latest of its long list of successes, the spacecraft has snapped its first images – achieving a milestone called “first light”. On December 4, the mission turned on Psyche’s twin cameras and photographed a star field in the constellation Pisces, according to […]

Years of sample collection on the Hungarian steppe has revealed four brand new species of fungi, including one that scientists say bears a striking resemblance to an infamous sci-fi monster. Its worm-like body and sandy dwelling place led the team to dub the new species Tulostoma shaihuludii, after the Shai-Hulud sandworms that feature in Frank […]

If you’ve been on the Internet you’ve probably heard of the Slow Mo Guys, the YouTubers dedicated to filming everything from guns firing bullets at other bullets to Will Smith wielding a big flamethrower in slow motion. After doing it for over a decade, the team wondered whether they could attempt to film “the fastest […]

There are many times when we would rather hold in a sneeze – whilst driving, during an exam, or that deathly quiet important meeting. It turns out, however, that trying to stifle a sneeze may not be the best idea, and a recent case report documents one man who ended up tearing a small hole […]

On the Moon, as well as several robots, some tardigrades, and a family photograph, you will find 96 bags of human poop and other assorted space trash. There are so many signs of human interference on our favorite satellite, in fact, that a team including an archaeologist, an anthropologist, and a geologist have made the […]

Long-lasting radioactive isotopes found in ocean sediments have been considered indicators of nearby supernova activity. However, according to one, yet to be peer-reviewed, preprint submitted to The Astrophysical Journal Letters, in one case something more exotic was probably involved. During their lifetimes, stars convert hydrogen to helium, which eventually becomes other light elements such as […]

Over four decades have passed since the original Golden Records were blasted into deep space onboard the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 in one of humanity’s first efforts to communicate with alien species. Now, scientists are looking to put together a new edition of the message to provide potential extraterrestrial life with another snapshot of […]

Earlier this month we celebrated the birthday of the oldest living land animal in the world and now it’s time to celebrate the return of the world’s oldest living wild bird to land. Wisdom the albatross came back to her nesting site of the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the North Pacific Ocean on […]

Stonehenge, the Pyramids of Giza, and Machu Picchu are just some of the ancient monuments that are said to be connected by mysterious invisible pathways called ley lines. Given how little we know about these spectacular yet enigmatic landmarks, it’s sometimes been difficult for scientists to fully quell this theory or offer alternative explanations as […]

We know: “time crystals” sound like something out of a movie. And not a good movie, either – probably something from the same scriptwriter who came up with “unobtainium”. However, not only are they real, but they’re actually much cooler than anything Hollywood could come up with. They break the laws of physics. They turn […]

The Geminid Meteor Shower is set to light up the night skies on December 13 and 14. Don’t be put off by the cold weather – this is one of the strongest meteor showers of the year, and the favorable conditions of the moon should ensure they’re perfectly visible.  The Geminid Meteor Shower lasts from […]

The people of the Internet love nothing more than getting annoyed at stuff and correcting other people’s mistakes. After being prompted by X (Twitter) user Amy Colleen to reveal common historical myths that make their hackles rise, they got a chance to do both.  Below are a few of our favorites. As always, we’ll jump […]

Scientists have unveiled the new must-have accessory for the discerning lab mouse: virtual reality goggles.  Virtual reality (VR) has actually been a mainstay of neurobiological research for over a decade, but since they don’t make an Oculus Rift small enough for your average rodent, some compromise has been required. The current state-of-the-art systems use computer […]

An alarming suspected new syndrome has been described for the first time in newborn babies whose mothers used non-prescription opioids, “particularly fentanyl“, while pregnant. Displaying a range of facial, musculoskeletal, and genital abnormalities, the infants are now being monitored to determine how their condition influences their cognitive development and overall well-being. The pattern of birth […]

Deep below the mountains of Sicily, a vast deposit of ancient freshwater has been found. Although it has been trapped here for 6 million years or so, geologists believe could offer a solution to the modern-day water shortages faced by the many arid lands around the Mediterranean coastlines. It’s estimated that the deposit contains 17.5 […]