The largest rough diamond ever found is known as the Cullinan Diamond and its story is pretty interesting. Found in South Africa in 1905, this whopper of a gemstone weighed 3,106 carats and was 10.1 x 6.35 x 5.9 centimeters when it was first found. To put this in context the diamond weighed 621 grams […]
Neanderthals Were Chemists, Analysis Of Ancient Glue Reveals
Neanderthals may have invented a complex method for transforming birch bark into glue, indicating that our extinct cousins probably dabbled in chemistry long before the Bunsen burner came along. Analyzing samples of the ancient adhesive, researchers found that it was most likely synthesized in underground chambers that restricted oxygen flow, thus shedding light on the […]
People Are Drinking Poppers, Mistaking Them For Energy Drinks
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has, once again, pleaded with Americans to stop chugging poppers. The health agency has revealed it is continuing to receive reports of people falling seriously ill and even dying after drinking poppers, mistaking them for energy shot drinks. Poppers are a funky-smelling liquid that typically contains amyl nitrate, […]
New York Lawyer Caught Using ChatGPT After Citing Cases That Don’t Exist
A lawyer in New York has found himself in trouble with a judge after he submitted legal research which had been created by artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT. During a case of an airline being sued over an alleged personal injury, lawyers for the plaintiff filed a brief containing several cases to be used as […]
Making Flint Tools Came With Risk Of Life-Threatening Injuries For Ancient Humans
Flint tool-makers often cut themselves in the course of their craft, but injuries that can today be easily treated with bandages and antibiotics would have often turned deadly in the Paleolithic era. Calculations of the danger show just how valuable tools must have been to make them worth the risk, and how precious each tool […]
Should We All Be Meditating? Find Out In Issue 11 Of CURIOUS – Out Now
Issue 11 (June 2023) of CURIOUS is out now, bringing you science highlights for the month plus deep dives into intriguing topics, interviews, exclusives, diary dates, and explanations for some of Earth’s most perplexing natural phenomena and landscapes. In This Issue… Advertisement OUR COVER STORY: Should We All Be Meditating? Does the science show any […]
In 1872 The Mary Celeste Was Found Completely Abandoned. What Happened To Its Crew?
On December 5, 1872, the crew of the British ship Dei Gratia came across a ship called the Mary Celeste, drifting aimlessly and completely un-crewed, when they were about 644 kilometers (400 miles) east of the Azores, a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The commander of Dei Gratia, David Morehouse, knew that the […]
TWIS: An “Alien Message” From Mars Has Been Received, Evidence Of Non-Binary People In Prehistoric Europe Unearthed, And Much More This Week
This week, a breakthrough implant treatment allows a man paralyzed for a decade to walk again, a visitor to Yellowstone Nation Park inadvertently causes the death of a bison calf, and we ask if the sea could be the solution to a less damaging source of battery metals. Subscribe to the IFLScience newsletter for all […]
At 9,400 Years Old, Çatalhöyük Is One Of The Oldest Buildings Still Standing
Dating around 9,400 years old, Çatalhöyük in present-day Turkey is home to some of the earliest surviving buildings ever built by human hands. The many archeological levels of Çatalhöyük suggest that human activity started around 7,400 BCE and was maintained for over 2,000 years, according to UNESCO. Advertisement The only known site that’s older than this […]
Legendary Sword Of Tipu Sultan Becomes Most Expensive Sword In History
The sword of 1700s Indian ruler Tipu Sultan has become the most expensive sword in history after selling for an astonishing $17.5 million (£14 million) at auction. While it was only expected to fetch $2.5 million (£2 million), the ornate sword smashed past that goal to become not only a record-breaking sword, but a record-breaking […]
Is It Normal To Talk To Yourself?
Talking to yourself while driving in the car or looking in the mirror seems pretty normal, however, out on the street it’s a little more stigmatized and some categorize it as a sign of mental health issues. The fact is, most of us at some point have found ourselves talking out loud to ourselves, so […]
Bizarre Insect Filmed In The Amazon Is Strangely Beautiful
Planet Earth is full of weird and wonderful creatures, which is never more apparent than in the insect world. Some insects can fly on broomsticks, are surprisingly good thespians, and even fling their pee to conserve energy. And then some, like this alligator bug, just look downright bizarre. Recently, footage of a very unusual large winged […]
World’s Oldest Homo Sapiens Footprint Identified On South Africa’s Cape South Coast
Just over two decades ago, as the new millennium began, it seemed that tracks left by our ancient human ancestors dating back more than about 50,000 years were excessively rare. Only four sites had been reported in the whole of Africa at that time. Two were from East Africa: Laetoli in Tanzania and Koobi Fora […]
Historic Great Plains Bison Slaughter Had Surprising Lasting Consequences For Native Americans
When North American bison were slaughtered at the end of the 19th century, the Native Americans who relied on them experienced immediate and severe consequences that are well documented. Recent research now shows that these Indigenous peoples not only experienced a significant loss in height after the extermination, but also a rise in child mortality […]
Better Sleep For Teens Can Be Achieved With Different Social Media Use
The use of social media has major impacts on people for better and for worse. Recently, Dr Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, issued an advisory on teens and social media use following a report from the American Psychological Association. Now, research suggests how different approaches to social media usage for teens can help them […]
This Weekend A Nearby Supernova Is Visible Even With A Small Telescope
If you own a telescope now might be a really good time to take a look at a famous galaxy in Ursa Major. If you don’t, but know someone who does, see if they’ll let you take a look. It’s not often you get to watch a giant star explode before your eyes and shine […]
What’s The Oldest Surviving City In The World?
There are dozens of cities across the world that have been lived in by humans for thousands upon thousands of years. However, when it comes to pinpointing the oldest continuously inhabited city, there is no straightforward answer. The conundrum is a bit like the Ship of Theseus thought experiment: if a city is knocked down, […]
Jade Burial Suits – Why The Ancient Chinese Lay Their Dead To Rest In Such Opulence
They are possibly the most magnificent burial suits in history. Two thousand years ago, during the Han Dynasty, ancient Chinese royals were buried in suits of armor made from hand-crafted pieces of jade. These intricately cut pieces were then fastened together using gold and silver thread. It was a practice reserved only for the wealthiest […]
What Happens If You Touch Mercury?
Mercury is known for its toxicity and for causing health problems around the world and throughout history. But humans are very curious about what’s dangerous and so the question comes up often: Can you touch mercury with your bare hands safely? The answer, surprisingly, is yes. Mercury is not absorbed through our skin, so it […]
Early Universe Symmetry Violations Could Explain Why Matter Exceeds Anti-Matter Today
The symmetry in the laws of physics that holds matter and anti-matter to be perfect reflections of each other didn’t apply shortly after the Big Bang, new evidence suggests. The work could offer an explanation for the troubling fact that, although the universe operates on symmetric laws, antiparticles are far from equally abundant. A universe […]
