Around Antarctica, 250 trillion tons of cold water sink to the bottom of the ocean each year, but global warming is starting to affect that astonishing figure. The downward conveyor sets in train a process that affects every part of the oceans, to our immense benefit, so evidence the rate could almost halve in three […]
Foot Orgasm Syndrome: Genitals And Feet Can Have A Curious Link In Brains
A term you must add to your mental encyclopedia of strange medical conditions is foot orgasm syndrome. It needs little introduction as it is pretty much exactly as it first sounds: the sensation of a sexual orgasm in the foot. Interestingly, however, the rare condition may perhaps explain how foot fetishes are the result of […]
Mountain Lions Fertilise Their Gardens With Carcasses To Attract Prey
Mountain lions (Puma concolor), aka pumas, might have a reputation for a lot of things, but gardening isn’t typically one of them. Now, new research has revealed that nutrients deposited in the soil from mountain lion kills may help improve plant quality and therefore attract ungulates to feed in these areas, helping the mountain lions […]
Mice Playing VR Games Reveal An Unexpected Brain Region For Long Term Memory
Why do some memories stay with us while others drift away? New research decided to explore the neuroscience that underpins this concept in a study that got mice playing virtual reality (VR) games while they observed their brain activity. It revealed a region of the brain not typically linked to memory retention can play a […]
The Carnian Pluvial Event: When It Rained For 2 Million Years On Earth
In the 1970s and 80s, geologists noticed unusual layers deposited in ancient rocks, dating to around 232-4 million years ago. In the Eastern Alps, one team investigated a layer of siliclastic sedimentation deposited in carbonate. Meanwhile, in the UK, geologist and forensic scientist Alastair Ruffell examined a layer of gray rock found inside the famous […]
USDA Acted Unlawfully In Denying Petition To Improve Lab Primates’ Treatment, Judge Rules
A federal judge has left little unsaid in her ruling that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) acted unlawfully when it denied a petition to improve the treatment of primates used in research. The ruling indicates that increased regulatory attention may now be given to laboratories using non-human primates, and may possibly extend to […]
Being Around Cats And Dogs May Reduce Food Allergies in Young Children
A team of researchers from Japan has found that children exposed to pet cats or indoor dogs during fetal development or early infancy appear to develop fewer food allergies, compared to other children. Food allergies have been on the rise over the last few decades, with over 32 million Americans having a life-threatening food allergy, […]
AI Researcher Calls For All AI Experiments To Be Shut Down Immediately
An open letter signed by artificial intelligence (AI) researchers, directors of institutes, and CEOs of social media sites, including Elon Musk, has asked for all AI experiments to be paused, immediately, given the “profound risks to society and humanity” if an advanced AI was created without proper management and planning. Meanwhile, another researcher writing in […]
The Sun’s Truly Awake As New X Flare Erupts From Its Atmosphere
In the late evening of March 28, 2023, the Sun emitted a strong solar flare. This event caused some limited and temporary radio interference – and, in some cases, blackouts – on the Sunlit part of the planet. At the time, the area included Asia and Oceania. The flares were an X-class: the strongest class […]
Strange Cosmic Object That Defies Classification Spotted by Hubble
A lot of science is about classification, but sometimes you encounter things that push the limits of those categories, displaying multiple distinctive characteristics at once. This is the case of Z 229-15, a galaxy that couldn’t just embody one of our arbitrary classifications, it had to do three in one. The European Space Agency does […]
Greenland Has Changed Its Clocks For The Last Time, Embracing Daylight Savings Forever
Greenland has just changed its clocks for the last time. Having just put its clocks forward one hour last weekend, instead of going back to its winter time this October, it will remain in a perennial Daylight Saving Time, permanently changing its time zone. After consultation with the people of Greenland – an autonomous territory […]
Rare Video Of Wombats Having Sex Sideways Offers A Glimpse Into The Bizarre Realm Of Animal Reproduction
If you look at where wombats deposit their poo, you realise they must be able to perform some surprising acrobatics. It has always amazed me to see wombat scats on top of grass tussocks or logs, because I’ve always wondered how the stocky creatures must have manoeuvred themselves to put it there. It turns out […]
Video Of Strawberry Under A Microscope Is Here To Ruin Your Day
One Twitter user has posted a video of a strawberry under a microscope, in case anybody was having a good day that needs ruining. Why, you ask? Well, we don’t want to spoil the surprise, but it’s because of all the tiny bugs crawling around on there. Advertisement One user responded “can’t trust fruit who’s […]
Childhood Dementia: What Causes It And What Does The Science Say?
They’re two words you might never think to put together, but the sad truth is that childhood dementia affects an estimated 700,000 young people across the world. In many ways, the condition mirrors the various types of dementia that we’re familiar with in adults; but the unusual causes, not to mention the age of the […]
Cockroach Sex Is Evolving And We’re To Blame
Years of human-imposed selection, such as the use of insecticide baits, have led some cockroaches to develop an aversion to glucose – which has had an unusual impact on their sex life. Recent research has shown that male cockroaches have adapted their mating strategies to compensate, demonstrating a link between behavioral evolution and sexual selection. […]
The First Known Piezoelectric Liquids Have Been Discovered
Over 140 years after piezoelectricity was discovered, the first piezoelectric liquids have now been found by chance. Not only could they outperform solid piezoelectric materials in some existing uses, but they may also open up entirely new applications we’re yet to imagine. Some crystals and other materials accumulate electric charge when pushed, a phenomenon known […]
The Most Distant Detection Of Hot Gas Heralds The Birth Of A Cluster Of Galaxies
Astronomers have determined the presence of extremely hot gas in a cluster of galaxies being born. The team reported that the whole system of gas, galaxies, and dark matter is about 100 trillion times the mass of the Sun. Most of this mass is in the gas within this nascent cluster, which has been heated […]
This Is What It’s Like To Be Dumped By A Dark Triad Personality
Getting dumped by a Dark Triad personality may be a little messy. Those with Dark Triad traits are more likely to use manipulation and escalation when breaking things off, and some may be more inclined toward open confrontation, according to a recent study. The Dark Triad refers specifically to three personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and […]
6,000-Year-Old Copper Fishhook For Catching Sharks Discovered In Israel
Shark may have been on the menu for the ancient inhabitants of the Levant thanks to the invention of large copper fishhooks, a new discovery suggests. Having recently discovered one of these remarkable pieces of prehistoric tackle, researchers are now re-telling the story of how the occupants of this historic region lived, fished, and ate […]
An Unknown Multi-Billionaire May Have Been Found Inside US Tax Data
It’s probably not that often that you pore over the US Treasury’s daily reports of financial transactions and come away with anything other than a feeling of intense boredom. But looking at data from February 28, 2023, associate director of budget analysis at the Penn Wharton Budget Model John Ricco found something intriguing: a payment […]
