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Finding diamonds is notoriously difficult, but a recent discovery may have made the search slightly easier. Researchers have found that a far less prized gemstone can hold clues about whether diamonds are likely to be nearby, potentially speeding up the hunt for them. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in […]

In 1920, a farmer plowing a field in Grootfontein, Namibia, hit a sudden roadblock below the surface of the soil. Curious about what had stopped his plow, the farmer dug around and found a very strange sight. Beneath the soil was a giant slab of metal. In fact, at 60 tons, it turned out to be the […]

Issue 42 (January 2026) of CURIOUS is out now, bringing you science highlights for the month plus deep dives into intriguing topics, interviews, exclusives, diary dates, and explanations for some of Earth’s most perplexing natural phenomena and landscapes. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the […]

Humans have five senses, right? At least, that’s what Aristotle said back in 350 BCE. And despite the fact that several of the famed Ancient Greek philosopher’s scientific theories were proven more than a bit wrong, his idea about the senses has persisted – and now modern science is challenging him once again. The late […]

There’s an annual tradition of popular science articles looking forward to astronomical events to watch for in the coming year. There’s always at least one, and sometimes several, eclipses that might be worth traveling to, some meteor showers not overwhelmed by the full Moon, and sometimes an anticipated comet or conjunction. This year, we thought […]

In recent decades, atmospheric rivers that carry water vapor high above Earth’s surface have shifted position, a change that could affect weather patterns and rainfall worldwide. Scientists at UC Santa Barbara found that atmospheric rivers in both hemispheres have moved approximately 6° to 10° closer to the poles over the past 40 years. This means […]

Category 5: It’s the top tier of hurricane intensity, a storm status serving as a warning of imminent destruction and danger to life. But with a warming climate and scientists predicting that hurricanes are likely to only get stronger, is it still enough? Is it time to introduce something even higher – a Category 6? […]

During the Last Glacial Maximum, the materials you chose to build your house out of could make the difference between life and death. And for one group of hunter-gatherers in Ukraine, there really was only one thing for the job – mammoth bones. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in […]

While some volcanoes have spent the last 2,000 years sleeping soundly, Stromboli, a volcanic island to the north of Sicily, has taken no such rest. In fact, it’s spent nearly all of that time in an almost constant state of eruption. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe […]

Flat-headed cats have been successfully detected and filmed in southern Thailand for the first time in almost 30 years. One of the world’s rarest cats, it was last documented here back in 1995, leading some to believe it was “possibly extinct”. However, conservationists thought otherwise. “We had heard reports for many years and were confident […]

There’s been a lot of hype around air fryers, but for foodies like Jay Rayner, nothing beats the indulgent crisp of something that’s been fried in a deep pool of bubbling golden oil (the secret ingredient is danger). However, what’s great for our taste buds isn’t all that good for the environment, as the cooking style results […]

It’s holiday season – which, for many of us, means seeing off 2025 by eating and drinking to excess before kickstarting the new year with unattainable resolutions, a gruelling exercise regimen, and Dry January. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content. But for […]

It’s a common dilemma: little and often or longer but less frequent. When it comes to walking, it’s better to pick the former. New research suggests it’s not just the amount you walk – it’s how. The results of a large cohort study suggest it is better to take one long stroll than break up […]

Cutting down a tree, hauling it inside, and decking it out in lights, tinsels and baubles is a tradition that harks back generations. But what – and where – is the world’s largest Christmas tree? Well, that depends.  The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the […]

The Human Genome Project was completed a little over twenty years ago. Now, scientists involved in the 4D Nucleome Project have created a detailed map that not only showcases the human genome in 3D, but reveals how different components of the genome interact with one another over time – if the first was a blueprint, […]

Left untreated, household mold can trigger an array of nasty health problems and damage property. But what if there was a fast and easy way to detect not just the presence of mold in a building, but determine the specific strain of mold that may be infecting your home? The rest of this article is […]

Perihelion – or the Earth’s closest approach to our host star – will take place on January 3, 2026. At this point, our planet will be around 2.5 million kilometers (1.5 million miles) closer to the Sun than we are at aphelion, the point when Earth is furthest from our old reliable yellow dwarf. This […]

Is there other life out there? “Pray that there’s intelligent life somewhere out in space ‘Cause it’s bugger all down here on Earth,” sang Monty Python. We do not know if there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, and we do not know if there is any other life beyond Earth. However, this last […]

December 23 marked a fiery anniversary for Kīlauea, as the volcano officially reached a whole year since its current eruption began – and it’s spat out some pretty spectacular lava fountains to celebrate. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content. Kīlauea is a […]

There are some seriously beautiful spiders in the world, but the species we currently have a crush on is Eresus rubrocephalus, a kind of ladybird spider. It’s not just any ladybird spider, however, with unique traits scientists have never seen in its genus. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in […]