While some ancient civilizations left behind written histories or crumbling temples, all that remains of Peru’s long-lost Nazca culture are the epic geoglyphs that adorn the desert landscape they once inhabited. Back in 1994, when these so-called Nazca Lines were given UESCO World Heritage status, only 30 of the giant etchings had been identified, yet […]
Revolutionary World-First Tobacco Law Takes Effect In New Zealand
The historic passing of a new law in New Zealand today will see anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, prevented from purchasing tobacco products for the entirety of their lives. With the aim of creating an entirely smoke-free generation, the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill is a world first […]
Horses Have A Crusty Remnant Of Evolution Stuck To Their Legs
Evolution has a funny way of leaving the residue of past adaptations in strange places on animals’ bodies, and chestnuts on horses’ legs are a fine example. Nobody’s quite sure what horse chestnuts exactly are, but they’re believed to be a remnant left behind from horses’ five-toed ancestors. For a long time, it was believed […]
How A Big Bag Of Reindeer Eyes Revealed That They Turn Blue In Winter
You might have seen a cool post on Reddit that appears to show the dramatic transformation of reindeer eyes from golden brown in the summer to White Walker blue in the winter. Unfortunately, this photo is fake as the vibrant blue eye is actually an edited version of a real image on Alamy. However, there […]
We Have Ignition: US Experiment Becomes First To Achieve Controlled Fusion
For the first time, a controlled fusion experiment has produced more energy than was put in. This is known as ignition, and it was achieved at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California. An experiment conducted on December 5 has reached that incredible threshold and milestone achievement in the quest to […]
First-Ever Sounds Of A Dust Devil On Mars Revealed
Dust devils are a common feature seen in many locations across Mars by the robotic explorers we have sent there. They have been extensively photographed but now, for the first time, we also know what they sound like. Thanks to the SuperCam microphones onboard NASA’s Perseverance scientists were able to record a dust devil as […]
Good News, We’ve Found The Snake Clitoris
The clitoris of the snake has been identified for the first time, busting old myths about the equipment’s suggested role as a vestige of the penis or scent gland. The discovery fills gaps in our knowledge about the female genitalia of reptiles, which researchers say is comparatively poorly studied. “When you open up an anatomy […]
This “Masterpiece Of Ancient Egyptian Art” Once Hung In A Lavish Palace
A “masterpiece of ancient Egyptian art” discovered in the ruins of a giant royal palace is so finely detailed it’s possible to pinpoint the bird species it depicts. The artwork can be found at Amarna, an archaeological site where the capital city of the late Eighteenth Dynasty once stood. It’s believed the city was built […]
First-Ever Fossilized Cockroach Sperm Found Preserved In 30 Million-Year-Old Amber
It’s been a bumper year for things preserved in amber with snails, flowers, ants, and even a whole group of new insects bursting onto the scene. Now, a new cockroach species has been found encased in amber – and it’s even complete with sperm cells. The specimen has been named Supella dominicana as it is surrounded […]
Women Are 50–75 Percent More Likely To Have Adverse Drug Reactions. A New Mouse Study Finally Helps Explain Why
Compared to men, we know much less about how women experience disease. Biomedical research helps us understand the timeline of diseases and how we can treat them. In the past, most of it has been conducted on male cells and experimental animals, such as mice. It has been assumed the results from such “pre-clinical” research […]
Elon Musk And Jeff Bezos No Longer The World’s Richest People
After a troublesome day for Tesla on the stock markets, Elon Musk is no longer the world’s richest person. Tesla, of which Musk owns around 14 percent, saw prices drop by about 6.4 percent on Tuesday. Since Musk sought to buy Twitter in April, shares of the company have halved in value, greatly decreasing his […]
Ancient Aztecs Used The Basin Of Mexico As A Solar Observatory
Ancient inhabitants of the Basin of Mexico used it as a precise solar observatory in order to keep track of the time of year, a new study has concluded. Using the landscape as a calendar, the ancient people were able to plant crops at the correct time of year, and feed a large human population […]
Strange Canadian Fireball Could Rewrite Models Of How The Solar System Formed
On February 22, 2021 a fireball (bright meteor) streaked across the sky over Alberta, Canada, 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Edmonton. A network of cameras, established in the hope of finding where meteorites might land, tracked it. In this case no pieces reached the ground, but that didn’t stop the event having major scientific […]
Mysterious Death From Coyotes Finally Explained: They’re Learning To Hunt Larger Prey
Coyotes are troublesome for farmers and their livestock, but generally don’t pose much of a threat to humans – that is, until one tragic event in 2009 in which a pack of coyotes attacked and killed a 19-year-old hiker in Canada’s Cape Breton Highlands National Park. It marked the first time coyotes have ever killed […]
Archaeologists Have Opened The Unusual Lead Sarcophagi Buried Beneath Notre-Dame
Archaeologists have put on protective clothing and opened two unusual lead sarcophagi found buried beneath Notre-Dame. After the famous Notre-Dame cathedral burned to the ground in 2019, a number of incredible finds were made beneath the scorched ruins. Among them were two unusual lead sarcophagi, buried beneath the cathedral hundreds of years before, and separated […]
Why Do Cats Knead?
“Kneading” is when cats massage an object with the front paws, which extend and retract, one paw at a time. This massaging action, named for its resemblance to kneading dough, is repeated rhythmically. You may have spotted your cat kneading and wondered how on Earth they developed such a behaviour. Advertisement So, why do cat’s […]
The Not-So-Romantic Science Of Mistletoe
Are you ready for the romantic Christmas tradition of kissing under the dung-on-a-twig? No? We don’t blame you – the probable origins of mistletoe’s name aren’t particularly alluring. The parasitic plant has been with us for thousands to even millions of years, weaving its way into trees and traditions alike on every continent apart from […]
Beyond Trophy Hunting Invites The Public To Explore Viable Alternatives To Trophy Hunting
Google “trophy hunting” and you’ll be met with a mixture of press coverage. Some demonstrates the ethical issues involved in hunting for sport, as well as highlighting species we expose to extinction through trophy hunting. Elsewhere, it’s argued that regulated practices can actually benefit conservation over time as the profits allegedly flow from trophy hunting […]
Conspiracy Theorists Are More Likely To Block Wind Farm Installations, Study Finds
A team of researchers have discovered a link between people who believe in conspiracy theories and opposing wind farms, which may help explain why such staunch opposition arises when renewable wind turbines are installed. The results also showed that changing peoples’ minds is possible, but only when you don’t frame it as a debate and […]
Scans Show What Can Happen To Your Stomach After Competitive Speed Eating
The great American pastime of competitive eating is not for weak stomached. In a medical case study from 2017, doctors in Singapore report how a 30-year-old man was hospitalized after chomping down a 3.2 kilogram (7-pound) burger in 30 minutes at a competitive eating event. The doctors explain how the man came to the hospital […]
