Dust devils are a common feature seen in many locations across Mars by the robotic explorers we have sent there. They have been extensively photographed but now, for the first time, we also know what they sound like. Thanks to the SuperCam microphones onboard NASA’s Perseverance scientists were able to record a dust devil as […]
Good News, We’ve Found The Snake Clitoris
The clitoris of the snake has been identified for the first time, busting old myths about the equipment’s suggested role as a vestige of the penis or scent gland. The discovery fills gaps in our knowledge about the female genitalia of reptiles, which researchers say is comparatively poorly studied. “When you open up an anatomy […]
This “Masterpiece Of Ancient Egyptian Art” Once Hung In A Lavish Palace
A “masterpiece of ancient Egyptian art” discovered in the ruins of a giant royal palace is so finely detailed it’s possible to pinpoint the bird species it depicts. The artwork can be found at Amarna, an archaeological site where the capital city of the late Eighteenth Dynasty once stood. It’s believed the city was built […]
First-Ever Fossilized Cockroach Sperm Found Preserved In 30 Million-Year-Old Amber
It’s been a bumper year for things preserved in amber with snails, flowers, ants, and even a whole group of new insects bursting onto the scene. Now, a new cockroach species has been found encased in amber – and it’s even complete with sperm cells. The specimen has been named Supella dominicana as it is surrounded […]
Women Are 50–75 Percent More Likely To Have Adverse Drug Reactions. A New Mouse Study Finally Helps Explain Why
Compared to men, we know much less about how women experience disease. Biomedical research helps us understand the timeline of diseases and how we can treat them. In the past, most of it has been conducted on male cells and experimental animals, such as mice. It has been assumed the results from such “pre-clinical” research […]
Elon Musk And Jeff Bezos No Longer The World’s Richest People
After a troublesome day for Tesla on the stock markets, Elon Musk is no longer the world’s richest person. Tesla, of which Musk owns around 14 percent, saw prices drop by about 6.4 percent on Tuesday. Since Musk sought to buy Twitter in April, shares of the company have halved in value, greatly decreasing his […]
Ancient Aztecs Used The Basin Of Mexico As A Solar Observatory
Ancient inhabitants of the Basin of Mexico used it as a precise solar observatory in order to keep track of the time of year, a new study has concluded. Using the landscape as a calendar, the ancient people were able to plant crops at the correct time of year, and feed a large human population […]
Strange Canadian Fireball Could Rewrite Models Of How The Solar System Formed
On February 22, 2021 a fireball (bright meteor) streaked across the sky over Alberta, Canada, 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Edmonton. A network of cameras, established in the hope of finding where meteorites might land, tracked it. In this case no pieces reached the ground, but that didn’t stop the event having major scientific […]
Mysterious Death From Coyotes Finally Explained: They’re Learning To Hunt Larger Prey
Coyotes are troublesome for farmers and their livestock, but generally don’t pose much of a threat to humans – that is, until one tragic event in 2009 in which a pack of coyotes attacked and killed a 19-year-old hiker in Canada’s Cape Breton Highlands National Park. It marked the first time coyotes have ever killed […]
Archaeologists Have Opened The Unusual Lead Sarcophagi Buried Beneath Notre-Dame
Archaeologists have put on protective clothing and opened two unusual lead sarcophagi found buried beneath Notre-Dame. After the famous Notre-Dame cathedral burned to the ground in 2019, a number of incredible finds were made beneath the scorched ruins. Among them were two unusual lead sarcophagi, buried beneath the cathedral hundreds of years before, and separated […]
Why Do Cats Knead?
“Kneading” is when cats massage an object with the front paws, which extend and retract, one paw at a time. This massaging action, named for its resemblance to kneading dough, is repeated rhythmically. You may have spotted your cat kneading and wondered how on Earth they developed such a behaviour. Advertisement So, why do cat’s […]
The Not-So-Romantic Science Of Mistletoe
Are you ready for the romantic Christmas tradition of kissing under the dung-on-a-twig? No? We don’t blame you – the probable origins of mistletoe’s name aren’t particularly alluring. The parasitic plant has been with us for thousands to even millions of years, weaving its way into trees and traditions alike on every continent apart from […]
Beyond Trophy Hunting Invites The Public To Explore Viable Alternatives To Trophy Hunting
Google “trophy hunting” and you’ll be met with a mixture of press coverage. Some demonstrates the ethical issues involved in hunting for sport, as well as highlighting species we expose to extinction through trophy hunting. Elsewhere, it’s argued that regulated practices can actually benefit conservation over time as the profits allegedly flow from trophy hunting […]
Conspiracy Theorists Are More Likely To Block Wind Farm Installations, Study Finds
A team of researchers have discovered a link between people who believe in conspiracy theories and opposing wind farms, which may help explain why such staunch opposition arises when renewable wind turbines are installed. The results also showed that changing peoples’ minds is possible, but only when you don’t frame it as a debate and […]
Scans Show What Can Happen To Your Stomach After Competitive Speed Eating
The great American pastime of competitive eating is not for weak stomached. In a medical case study from 2017, doctors in Singapore report how a 30-year-old man was hospitalized after chomping down a 3.2 kilogram (7-pound) burger in 30 minutes at a competitive eating event. The doctors explain how the man came to the hospital […]
Two Meter Arthropods Dominated The Seas 470 Million Years Ago
A newly explored site in the Fezouata Shale reveals creatures similar to those found in nearby sites, but even larger, showing how big the ancestors of modern arthropods once grew. Today, arthropods, which include spiders, barnacles, and millipedes, are known mostly for their abundance and extreme diversity, but few are very large. Once, however, they […]
Babbel Makes Mastering Language Learning Easy — And It’s 60% Off
Did you know that in addition to capturing innumerable selfies and pictures of your meals, your iPhone camera works as a translator, too? While the march of technology is truly marvelous, we all know innovation and easy access to a software boost are no substitute for actual knowledge. So if you want to really know […]
We Regret To Inform You That Seals Have Nails
Seals get a good rap as one of the cutest marine predators swooshing through our oceans, but did you know that they have nails? Zookeepers become occasional manicurists for their seals and sea lions, many species of which have nails similar to those on our toes and fingers on their flippers. Curiously, the seal nails […]
How Brain Protein Research Led Scientists To Develop Shock Absorbing Armor
Proteins have been used to generate a material able to absorb supersonic impacts, a new study shows. The research, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, reports on how the material can absorb shots at 1.5 kilometers per second (3,355 mph) while preserving the projectile so that it can be easily removed. The protein in question […]
Woman Finds The Bots Are Very Much Still On Twitter With Two Word Test
Elon Musk has made a lot about how he is going to rid his newly-acquired social media site Twitter of the bots. On Sunday, part of that clean-up happened according to Musk, who triumphantly tweeted in emoji form that the bots were now dead. For a test of his own personal Twitter feed, Musk asked […]
