Deborah Bloomfield

Astronomers have produced the sharpest view yet of the R136 star cluster and its most famous inhabitant R136a1, the heaviest star in the cosmos as far as humans know. This incredibly massive object has now been seen with such clarity that the team was able to refine the mass estimates, something that has profound consequences […]

On August 20, 1977, Voyager 2 was launched into space. Its twin, Voyager 1, would be launched 16 days later. Together, they’d bring a new understanding of the gas giant planets in the Solar system and would become the first human-made objects to leave the heliosphere behind and enter interstellar space. Forty-Five years on, the […]

Missions to Mars have many obstacles to overcome, and perhaps chief among them is the danger astronauts will not be able to perform their duties after too long in microgravity. However, a preliminary model suggests the average healthy astronaut probably will cope with the weak Martian gravity, provided they stick to their exercise routine en […]

Thanks to a new breakthrough, “forever chemicals” may no longer be a problem for eternity. Chemists at Northwestern University have found a way to break down two major classes of PFAS chemicals into harmless by-products, according to a new study published in the journal Science.  Advertisement Using powerful computational methods, the researchers found the “Achilles’ […]

Apple has warned iPhone, iPad, and iPod users of a serious security flaw that could allow attackers to take complete control of devices. To fix the vulnerability, they’re urging all users to update their devices ASAP. Advertisement Apple sounded the alarm bell on Wednesday August 17, explaining that hackers were actively exploiting the security flaw […]

This week, a deceased woman gets to have the final word at her own funeral, the puzzling phosphine on Venus saga takes a dramatic turn, and we find out why whales aren’t commonly born with cancer. Advertisement   Hologram Technology Allows Woman To Answer Questions At Her Own Funeral An AI-driven chatbot technology has allowed […]

As a general rule, if you’re going to get sick, you should try not to do it in the past. The present? Sure. The future? Go for it. But the past? Extremely bad idea. At best, you’re going to be sat in the moonlight and just told you feel better – and at worst, you’re […]

In 1922, Howard Carter and his team of archaeologists were the first to enter the most famous Egyptian tomb ever uncovered – Tutankhamun’s tomb. Much like many tombs of the era, the tomb was sprawling, with thousands of treasures including gilded beds, miniature golden statues, and intricate amulets meant to guard the dead within their […]

You love plants, and you’ve tried your hand developing a green thumb, but your plants always seem to let you down. They droop or fade no matter what you do. You’ve Googled and scrolled the numerous sites to figure out the problem, but the information you’ve discovered is contradicting and confusing. Sound familiar? We’ve got […]

A snailfish positively brimming with antifreeze proteins has stunned scientists studying these animals in the sub-zero waters of their home turf off Greenland. Liparis gibbus, as our frozen-water-friendly fish is known, was first noticed for its flashy bioluminescence, but later revealed it was packing record levels of antifreeze proteins in its tiny body, too.  Advertisement […]

An image filled with galaxies was chosen as the first to be released from JWST because it demonstrated the space telescope’s capacities so well. That, however, was just a taster. With more time for light collection, JWST is growing further into its power, as demonstrated by its latest release, part of the Cosmic Evolution Early […]

A New Zealand family discovered more than they bargained for, discovering human remains packed into suitcases after purchasing a storage lot and trailer full of unknown items at auction. The police have since attended the residence and launched a homicide inquiry over the mysterious remains, though the family is not thought to be implicated.   […]

Believed to be the first recorded behavior of its kind, blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) have been observed ambushing fiddler crabs (Minuca pugnax) in a salt marsh in Virginia, USA. The findings are published in the journal Ecology. Advertisement Blue crabs are an aquatic species, with their Latin name Callinectes literally translating as “beautiful swimmer”. However, these […]

A bill to provide free sanitary towels and tampons has been passed in the Scottish parliament in a world-first effort to tackle “period poverty”. Lack of access to sanitary products due to financial limitations, as period poverty is defined, affects people globally and can have a negative effect on mental health and wellbeing. Advertisement Periods […]

Tesla’s Cybertruck has hit yet another road bump. Back in 2019, the plan was to eventually release the clunky-looking pickup for the lean price of $39,900. However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has now suggested that the final specs and price tag of the much-hyped electric vehicle will not be the same as first announced. Advertisement […]

Ever wondered if snakes miss their legs? Youtube creator and inventor Allen Pan wondered just that – and in turn, gifted us this glorious clip. Advertisement Pan’s experiment aimed to allow these limbless reptiles to use four appendages. With the help of snake enthusiast and breeder GranddaddyHerps, he did just that. The video shows the […]

Honeybees display a reduced ability to maintain a straight course after being exposed to common pesticides, according to a new study in the journal Frontiers in Insect Science. Worryingly, the bees’ impaired coordination was correlated with elevated neuronal death in the optic lobe following the ingestion of “sublethal doses” of two agricultural chemicals. Advertisement “Our […]

An AI-driven chatbot technology has allowed one woman to answer questions from beyond the grave at her own funeral, with mourners able to dive into her fascinating life in a morbid but futuristic tribute. The technology was provided by her son, who runs a company that creates “holographic conversational video experiences”, and allowed Holocaust campaigner […]

The Orion Nebula is one of the best-known stellar nurseries. In the vast expanse of interstellar gas, new stars are being born. The Hubble Space Telescope has observed it many times, and the latest image comes from a little area on its outskirts that focuses around the star IX Ori and the effect that has […]

A dangerous animal tranquilizer not approved for human use has been appearing in more and more street drugs like heroin and fentanyl in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Drug Supply Stream (MADDS). The problem has become more noticeable since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and is likely to be indicative of a wider trend […]