A wealth of treasure onboard the “world’s richest shipwreck” is starting to be revealed. Marine archaeologists and the Colombian Navy have recently been studying the sunken remains of a ship that’s hoped to be the 18th-century Spanish galleon San José. Not only did their work confirm it was the famous ship, but it’s starting to […]
Emperor Penguins Could Be Disappearing Faster Than Even Our Worst Fears
The results of a new analysis into the decline of emperor penguins are in, and they aren’t good. Using satellite imagery, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) says that their numbers appear to have dropped by 22 percent over a 15-year period, from 2009 to 2024. This decline is only based on one region of the […]
Is This The End Of The “Gates Of Hell” In Turkmenistan?
The “Gates of Hell” have been furiously burning away in Turkmenistan for decades, but scientists now have reason to believe that it’s giving up the ghost. Officially known as the Darvaza gas crater, or the Shining of Karakum, this infamous site is a massive pit filled with fiercely burning flames, casting an orange glow across […]
Franz Reichelt And The Eiffel Tower Wingsuit Incident Of 1912
Here’s something to reassure anyone thinking of getting into extreme sports: Every activity and dangerous sport, apart from something we’re looking at introducing known as white water zorbing, has been tried at least once before by some daredevil. For example, the first parachute jump was performed on October 22, 1797, when André-Jacques Garnerin, from France, […]
First-Ever Footage Of An Incredibly Rare Squid Shows Battle Scars From The Deep
A squid that had previously never been seen alive has been captured on camera by scientists working in the Southern Ocean. Gonatus antarcticus is an incredibly rare deep-sea squid that, as its name would suggest, is only found in freezing Antarctic waters. It made its first live appearance on Christmas day thanks to a fortuitously […]
The “State Of Nature”, An “Idiot”, And “Tragic Story Bingo”: The Changing Face Of Feral Children
Since almost the dawn of civilization itself, humanity has been fascinated by those who live outside of it. We’ve told each other tales of Enkidu, the wild man who must slowly be introduced to the modern world of ancient Mesopotamia; of Romulus and Remus, the children suckled by a she-wolf, who, legend has it, would […]
FAA Chief Promises “No More Floppy Disks” Will Be Used In Air Traffic Control In Major Overhaul
US air traffic control systems are to get an upgrade, finally ending the use of 30-year-old operating system Windows 95, and dispensing with floppy disks and paper strips in the process. On Wednesday, June 4, the acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) informed the House Appropriations Committee that they were to begin replacing […]
Ed The Zebra’s Escape Escapade Ends With Undignified Helicopter Flight
After just over a week on the run, Ed the zebra has finally been caught. The rebellious equine caused quite a stir with his escape antics, shutting down highways, inspiring memes, and even gathering adoring fans across the world when being airlifted to safety. The story began on May 31, just one day after Taylor […]
New Group Of Critically Endangered Douc Langurs Found Hidden In Vietnam Highlands
With a recorded total population speeding towards fewer than 2,000, the critically endangered gray-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix cinerea) is one of Vietnam’s rarest primates – but the discovery of a new population in the country’s central highlands has brought hope that there could be more out there. The previously unknown group was found in Khe […]
People with Intersex Traits Transcend History and Cultures
In the US alone, the American Civil Liberties Union is currently tracking more than 500 pieces of legislation aimed at the LGBTQ community, which in some instances can include people with intersex traits. Intersex is a broad categorization of people with anatomical, genetic, or hormonal variations that do not fit the typical “male” or “female” […]
We May Finally Understand How Paracetamol – AKA Tylenol® – Actually Works
Almost everybody has reached for paracetamol at one time or another. Otherwise known as acetaminophen, and often just by brand names like Tylenol® or Panadol®, the drug is a staple of household medicine cabinets, used for everything from headaches to fevers to period pain. It’s so common, in fact, that it will probably surprise you […]
The Ordovician Mass Extinction
IFLScience needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, check out ourPrivacy Policy Deborah BloomfieldSource Link: The Ordovician Mass Extinction
Scientists Make First-Ever Airborne Detection Of Toxic Chemical In Western Hemisphere
Over the fields of Oklahoma, a little-known, toxic, organic pollutant has been reported for the first time. Its impacts are currently unknown, but researchers believe it’s something that governmental agencies should keep a close eye on. Chemists at the University of Colorado Boulder were recently toying around with high-tech instruments in Oklahoma with the hopes […]
World-First Footage Shows How Ship Anchors Are Ripping Up Antarctica’s Once-Pristine Seabed Ecosystem
It was once hoped that the Antarctic and its icy, remote waters were relatively unscathed by human activity – but those hopes are being swiftly dashed. In a new study, marine scientists have shown how ships are causing long-term damage to the seabed in Antarctic waters, resulting in significant harm to the strange ecosystems that […]
NASA Orbiter Captures Gigantic Arsia Mons Volcano Peeking Through Martian Clouds At Dawn
NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter has captured a stunning image of the Arsia Mons volcano, its summit peeking above the Martian clouds. In 2001, NASA launched the Mars Odyssey mission to map the chemicals and minerals of the Martian surface. The spacecraft has been in orbit around the planet ever since, breaking the record for the […]
Prepare To Have Your Brain Scrambled By Canada’s Island In A Lake On An Island In A Lake On An Island
Nestled in the Arctic Archipelago, Canada’s Victoria Island is home to a mind-bending, Russian nesting doll of lakes and islands. The geographical oddity is comprised of an island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island – yes, you read that right. The Inception-worthy phenomenon is known as a third-order island […]
Why Did Street Lights In The US Turn Purple?
In recent years, nighttime revelers in the US have noticed odd streetlights starting to emit an otherworldly purple haze. It isn’t a psychological warfare operation, nor a viral marketing ploy for a posthumous Prince album, but the result of LED silicone phosphor degradation. It’s estimated that at least 30 states have reported streetlights switching from […]
World-First Fossil Discovery Of Sauropod Stomach Contents Reveals They Didn’t Chew Their Food
The first ever discovery of sauropod stomach contents has revealed new insights into the dietary habits of these enormous dinosaurs, including support for the long-held idea that they were herbivores. It also appears that they were walking around with “gastric furnaces” that could break down food thanks to fermentation and microbes in the gut – […]
These Galactic Clusters Smashed Into Each Other. Giant Bow Shocks Suggest They’re About To Go For Round 2
For anyone disappointed that the Milky Way – our host galaxy – may not collide with our closest neighbor Andromeda after all, we have good news to keep your collision-hungry minds satisfied. Astronomers have spotted two clusters of galaxies that have collided, and appear to be lining up to smack into each other a second […]
Wild Fossil Discovery In Prehistoric “Latrine” Suggests Butterflies Have Been Around Longer Than Flowers
Two hundred and thirty-six million years ago, an ancient herbivore took a dump that would blow 21st-century minds. You see, that poop contained what would become the oldest-known evidence of butterflies and moths, preserved in tiny hexapod scales still detectable in coprolites (fancy word for fossil poop). Most perplexing of all is that, if the […]
