Many migratory species use the Earth’s magnetic field to keep their journeys on track. Now a study of a very non-migratory animal, the Drosophila fruit fly, shows the same capacity exists in some unexpected places. Perhaps humans are the rare ones because we don’t have this capability; if so, why? In the quest for survival, […]
Norovirus Is On The Rise – What It Is And How To Prevent It
It’s super contagious, makes you feel awful, and it’s on the increase. We’re talking about norovirus, the “winter vomiting bug”. Cases of the virus have been rising in recent weeks, in both the US and the UK. But what exactly is it – and, more importantly, how can you minimize your chances of catching it? […]
Mysterious Giant Metal Orb Washed Up On Japanese Beach Causes Commotion
A giant metal mystery orb recently washed up on the shore of Enshu Beach in Hamamatsu, Japan. The buoy-like object is 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) wide and is being described as an “iron ball” in the press, though exactly what it is remains a mystery at time of writing. Authorities were first made aware of […]
There’s Something “Rampant” On New York Sidewalks, Scientists Warn
Sidewalks in New York City are absolutely covered in bacteria from dog poop. That’s the not-altogether-surprising finding of a new study, which also makes one very clear recommendation to residents. “Taking your shoes off is a no-brainer,” first author Alessandra Leri told Gothamist. “Shoe soles are disgusting.” Advertisement Leri, along with colleague Marjan Khan at […]
Vivianite: The Necro Crystal You Never Knew Existed
Fans of the fantasy genre are probably used to the idea of special stones or crystals that have formed on ancient dead bodies and boast some sort of mystical property, but did you know there are real necro crystals in the world? What is vivianite? Vivianite, a rare phosphate mineral (Fe3(PO4)2−(H2O)8) has been found growing […]
Distant Galaxies Spotted By JWST Seem More Massive Than What Is Thought Possible
An international team of astronomers has estimated the masses of a handful of very distant galaxies observed by JWST, and found themselves with quite a puzzle on their hands. Their masses are too high for being that early in the universe – there isn’t enough gas and enough time to make galaxies that big. “JWST […]
Three In Five Long COVID Patients Have Organ Damage A Year After Infection
The latest data from the Office for National Statistics suggests that more than 1.2 million people in the UK report living with long COVID for 12 months or more. Several studies have confirmed that symptoms can persist in people with long COVID for more than a year after infection. And long COVID can occur regardless […]
Bizarre And Unknown DNA Discovered In Mars-Like Atacama Desert
If you’re a living organism, the Atacama Desert is a pretty awful place to be. It is the second driest desert in the world, with the land composed of rocks, dust, salt lakes, and lava that flows over arid surfaces towards the Andes. If anyone was to be shown a photo of it alongside a […]
Earliest Evidence Of Bronze Age Brain Surgery Discovered In Israel
Two high-status brothers who occupied the Bronze Age city of Megiddo apparently went to extreme lengths to cure a nasty disease that left them with porous bones. Describing the discovery of the siblings’ gnarly remains, the authors of a new study reveal that one of the brothers underwent a type of cranial surgery called angular […]
Earliest Evidence Of European Bows And Arrows Coincides With Excursion Into Neanderthal Territory
The earliest known evidence for mechanically propelled weapons in Europe (most likely a bow and arrow) has been found in southern France, dating back 54,000 years. This breaks the earlier record by 9,000 years. In combination with a previous discovery at the same location it indicates this important technology coincided with the arrival of the […]
Giant New Species Of Extinct Predatory Fish Was The Length Of Five Corgis
A porcupine quill and some careful excavation have enabled researchers in South Africa to identify a new species of enormous predatory fish dating back to around 360 million years ago. It was retrieved from Waterloo Farm in Cacadu District Municipality, Eastern Cape, and is thought to have been almost 3 meters long making it a […]
Watch Mercury Crossing The Sun In Splendid Solar Orbiter Footage
On January 3, 2023, Solar Orbiter witnessed a transit of Mercury. The smallest and innermost planet of our solar system was in front of the Sun from the vantage point of the space mission, which is a collaboration between the European Space Agency and NASA. Researchers used the opportunity to check all the instrumentation on […]
The Reason Why Different Cheeses Have A Smell
Not all cheeses have a strong smell, but you certainly know when you’re dealing with one that does. Whether you love it or hate it, the smell of cheese has a fascinating origin that also makes it taste so good. The more pungent cheeses, such as Époisses, Stinking Bishop or Limburger, tend to be what […]
Huge Winter Storm Is Bringing Extreme Weather To Almost All Of America
The United States is forecasted to endure the extremes of weather in the coming days as a significant coast-to-coast winter storm churns out snow, freezing rains, heavy winds, and possible flash flooding in a weather event that will see “almost all of the country experiencing some form of notable weather” according to the National Weather […]
Our Moon Has Been Slowly Drifting Away From Earth Over The Past 2.5 Billion Years
Looking up at the moon in the night sky, you would never imagine that it is slowly moving away from Earth. But we know otherwise. In 1969, NASA’s Apollo missions installed reflective panels on the moon. These have shown that the moon is currently moving 3.8 cm away from the Earth every year. If we […]
Do Cats Sleep With Their Eyes Open?
Calling all cat owners: have you ever wondered if cats sleep with their eyes open? Perhaps you found your pet snoring while gazing empty-brained at the ceiling, or thought they looked a bit dead when you spotted them slumped with their glassy eyes staring right at you, only for them to bounce back to life. […]
New Hypersonic Missile Engine Could Have Almost Double The Range, Claim Chinese Researchers
Chinese researchers claim to have significantly boosted the efficiency of boron air-breathing engines in a massive breakthrough for hypersonic missiles, according to the state-sponsored South China Morning Post. The new advancements resulted in 79 percent fuel efficiency in ground simulations, giving engines capable of pushing Mach 6 much further range and increasing the viability of […]
Asteroid That Flew Past Earth Is The Most Oblong Known
On February 3, asteroid 2011 AG5 flew past Earth at a distance of 1.8 million kilometers (1.1 million miles). That’s about five times the Earth-Moon distance – far enough to be very safe, but close enough to do some cool science. Goldstone Solar System Radar was used to study the shape, rotation, size, and surface […]
The Link Between Wombat Poo And Lava Revealed
Further investigation into wombats’ unique droppings has revealed a general law of mammalian feces, determining why some animals produce pellets while others make logs – and the work could even have some surprising applications. Among the many features that make wombats wonderful are their droppings, which are so cubic you could almost use them to […]
15-Minute Cities: How To Separate The Reality From The Conspiracy Theory
Conspiracy theories aren’t a new thing, and for as long as they’ve been around they’ve ranged from the benign to the absurd. From the six moon landings being faked to the Earth being flat, or our ruling class being lizards, we’ve all probably come across them in one form or another. Yet, in a surprise […]
