Deborah Bloomfield

Synthetic human embryos – derived from stem cells without the need for eggs or sperm – have been created for the first time, scientists say. The structures represent the very earliest stages of human development, which could allow for vital studies into disorders like recurrent miscarriage and genetic diseases. But questions have been posed about […]

Scientists believe they may have found a possible risk factor for endometriosis: a type of bacteria commonly found in the guts and mouths of people. If further research confirms these findings, then eliminating the bacteria in question could be a possible way to treat this painful chronic illness.  Endometriosis affects roughly 10 percent of women […]

Astronomers have discovered six new “runaway” stars in the Milky Way. These are stars that move extremely fast and in an unusual direction, usually as the result of a supernova event. Two of the stars are among the fastest objects of their kind ever observed in the galaxy, including one that has the highest constant […]

While its relatives were making the earth shake, one South African sauropod barely made a ripple with a body mass of around just 75 kilograms (165 pounds). That wouldn’t even put it in the top weight class for women’s wrestling at the Olympics, let alone men’s. If it was an asteroid we might say it […]

For the first time, researchers have laid eyes upon a newly discovered species of “gelatinous predator” spotted in the light-deprived depths of the Pacific Ocean. Experts now believe this yet-to-be-described species of jellyfish may illuminate a deeper understanding of the enigmatic aquatic world from which it emerged. Scientists filmed the gelatinous orange organism at a […]

Across Egypt and Sudan, you can find a vast network of stone walls running across the landscape. In a new study, archaeologists detail how some of these ancient structures were constructed by humans over 3,000 years ago and served as an ancient form of hydraulic engineering that tempered the River Nile.  Researchers from the University […]

Scientists have discovered salt crystals in samples from asteroid Itokawa, collected by Hayabusa in 2010. The space rock is an S-type asteroid, which as a class has been considered quite dry, with little water alteration in its past. But the presence of salt indicates that they are not as dry as previously thought. Analysis of […]

Scientists have taken a closer look at “blue balls”, the supposed feelings of pain and discomfort felt in the genitals after sexual situations that don’t lead to an orgasm. Though “blue balls” is a fairly popular term, and the phrase itself originated way back in 1916 in the USA, there has not been much by […]

For the first time, a joyful bundle of at least 15 critically endangered Burmese peacock softshell turtles hatchlings has officially been recorded in the wild.  The news comes from conservation charity Fauna & Flora which has been working alongside local communities living by Myanmar’s Indawgyi Lake, one of the largest inland lakes in Southeast Asia, […]

You’ve seen a dolphin. You’ve seen an elephant. Put them together (sort of) and what do you get? Nihohae matakoi, whose tusk-like front teeth set it apart from modern dolphin species. A new analysis of a fossilized skull found in New Zealand in 1998 has revealed that it belonged to one of these charismatic creatures, and […]

If you care about the search for life elsewhere in the Solar System and are not already on board the Enceladus bandwagon, now might be a great time to join. Already described as having “all the elements necessary for life,” the little moon has now been shown to have one of the utmost importance in […]

The only scientist to walk on the Moon found out that he was allergic to it. Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison H. Schmitt made the discovery upon returning to the landing module, while still on the lunar surface. Schmitt walked on the Moon in December 1972, the final crewed mission to the Moon before the Apollo […]

We are here thanks to photosynthesis. Light from the sun is converted to food for plants and animals, and its byproduct is oxygen. While crucial to life on Earth, the most intimate details of this chemical reaction have long eluded scientists. That’s where quantum mechanics and biology meet. And scientists are now there too. Over […]

Truffles are pretty ugly to look at, but hoo boy – do they fetch a pretty penny at auction. So why are these fungal mounds so expensive, and what exactly are they? Truffles are hard to find, store, and come with a hearty flavor that means a little can go a long way. As an […]

Is it possible to clone a dinosaur? Or could we bring back dinosaurs some other way? We ask because it’s the 30th anniversary of Jurassic Park, and we’ve got dinosaurs on the brain. In the lead-up, we decided to dive into the world of animal cloning and dinosaur husbandry by speaking to researcher Dr Susie […]

There are 100 or more “uncontacted” tribes around the globe, but the Sentinelese are undoubtedly the most isolated. Against the colossal forces of colonialism and economic globalization, they have resisted almost all attempts at contact from the outside world for thousands of years – sometimes with violence. The Sentinelese made international headlines in 2018 when […]

A new theory has arisen surrounding the cause of death of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun. Speculation around the Boy King’s demise has previously suggested that a life-threatening condition topped off with a malaria infection may have been to blame, but a scientist has floated the bold idea that alcohol may have had a part to […]

Since the early 1990s, Jurassic Park, both book and movie, has been enormously influential. With the movie turning 30 this month, it’s impossible not to revisit its themes. Among them, there is a figure that may seem a bit out of place: chaotician Ian Malcolm. Why was he invited to scope out the Park? What […]

In 2016, geologists studying a Canadian mine made an incredible discovery. At a depth of about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles), they found flowing water, which tests revealed to be between 1.5 billion and 2.64 billion years old. Having been isolated for all this time, it was the oldest water that had been found on Earth.  […]

The Vatican has launched a message into space on Monday on board a “papal satellite” created by students at the Polytechnic University of Turin. The CubeSat was launched into orbit on Monday from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The satellite contains a tiny nanobook with a […]