Deborah Bloomfield

You might already be aware that the name “strawberry” is a misnomer, as strawberries aren’t really berries at all. Well, it seems strawberries are full of surprises, or rather covered in them because those seedy-looking white dots aren’t actually seeds. The strawberries’ pitted accessories are called achenes, and they are in fact the plant’s fruit, with each […]

We’re all used to having to combat the various molds that appear in our homes during the winter months. At the time when our windows are closed and we’re trying to keep the house warm, we may find out homes have been invaded by some sporific little bugger. But summer can also see the proliferation […]

A new study of ancient whale bones suggests that medieval European hunters may have targeted two species of whale to the point of extinction in the eastern North Atlantic. Although whaling took place on an industrial level during the 19th and 20th centuries, the practice in general is thought to have been present in coastal communities […]

The 2023 Ig Nobel Prizes prove there is still plenty of room in science for the weird and amusing, even under the pressure of ever-tightening research budgets. Highlights include how having bored teachers affects the student experience, and how the mating behavior of very small fish changes water mixing in the world’s largest ocean. There’s […]

Up to an hour after apparently dying, some cardiac arrest patients display an explosion of neural signaling that mirrors conscious brain activity. Describing this unexpected phenomenon in a new study, researchers reveal that many of those who are resuscitated also retain striking memories of their deaths. The study authors followed 567 patients who flatlined at […]

This week JWST has confirmed the universe’s rate of expansion and it’s causing some confusion, it’s been found that crows are capable of performing statistical inferences in decision-making, and researchers say we’ve now breached six of the nine “planetary boundaries” for sustaining human civilization. Finally, we investigated how images of black holes are taken. Subscribe […]

A starving and sick bear has been euthanized in Colorado after wild officials discovered it was suffering from a “severe intestinal blockage” due to eating a huge amount of human trash.  The 181-kilogram (400-pound) male black bear was discovered on the afternoon of Saturday, September 9 near the river trail in Telluride, Colorado.  Advertisement After […]

Almost a year ago, NASA’s DART mission slammed into asteroid Dimorphos, the moon of the larger asteroid Didymos. The goal was to move the asteroid to a different orbit, and the shift was successful – the asteroid shifted way more than expected. New research suggests that, inexplicably, the orbit continued to change for a month […]

Ever wondered what cannabis looks like up close and personal? This study has you covered, revealing what the plant looks like under a microscope. Not only has the research created some imagery fit for a stoner’s phone background, but it’s also provided some insights into the structures that help give cannabis its psychoactive properties and […]

As much as everyone enjoys flying abroad for their holidays, the cost of the climate impact might be making people think twice. So what can we do? Aside from paying to offset the carbon, the emergence of a new industry is hoping to change the way we fly. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) or e-fuels are […]

Back in 2018, scientists achieved something that still sounds unbelievable today: they “transplanted” memories from one snail into another. It was a fascinating study in its own right, but it’s also part of a much bigger story: the long-running human quest to understand precisely what memory is and how it works. How the study worked […]

A team of specialists have recreated in stagging detail the Aztec capital city, Tenochtitlan, which once stood as the center of the expanding Aztec Empire until the Spanish invaded in the 16th Century. For the first time in hundreds of years, we are now able to see what this incredible city looked like before it […]

The 2024 Breakthrough Prize laureates have been announced, as well as the recipients of the New Horizons and Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prizes. The so-called “Oscars of Science” are the world’s largest international science prize and this year awarded $15.75 million in total. The five mainstage prizes (3 in life sciences, 1 in fundamental physics, […]

Crows are highly intelligent members of the corvid family, and while they may be easily confused with ravens, a recent study has revealed that they are capable of using statistical inference.   Statistical inference in this instance is where previous experience of choosing something influences that chance of making that choice again. In humans, it […]

The Earth’s ability to support large-scale human societies is in danger of expiring thanks to our continued reliance on environmentally destructive practices. According to an alarming new study, we’ve now transgressed six of the nine “planetary boundaries” that delineate the upper limits of damage that the Earth can take while continuing to provide hospitable living […]

Blood is critical, loose too much and you probably will be knock-knock-knockin’ on heaven’s door. Despite this life source being so critical, little is actually known about some aspects of blood production. Now, a research team has discovered it is all to do with the SOX17 protein interacting with the gene Raspin1.  One protein that […]

In decades to come, water scarcity is pitted to become one of the biggest problems facing the world. Shortages of freshwater are set to spring up across the world, fueled by unsustainable use, pollution, population growth, and runaway climate change. But could it really reach a breaking point where there’s simply no water left? The […]

Building blocks for life have been found in meteorites, apparently having formed without the benefits of the complex chemistry planets can support. The Earth may have been seeded with the necessary ingredients this way. Evidence of some of these complex organic molecules has been found in the vast gaps between the stars. Now lab-based studies […]

These are exciting times for anyone with a vague interest in finding alien life. The JWST has detected evidence of methane, carbon dioxide, and water in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b. More excitingly, it may have found dimethyl sulfide, a gas which is only produced on Earth by lifeforms. We will have to wait for […]

If you’re looking to adopt a new furry friend, a new study has revealed what can be expected in the first six months of owning a dog from a shelter. Around 2 million dogs are adopted from shelters in the US each year. However, owners can sometimes be faced with unexpected changes in their new […]