For months now, we have been teased by the planets in the night sky. Uranus and Neptune need a telescope to be seen, but Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, and Venus can be seen with the naked eye. All of these six have been out in the night sky, and last week they were finally joined by […]
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Glaciers Pulverized Earth’s Surface 700 Million Years Ago, Setting The Stage For Complex Life
Earth was a very different place during its Cryogenian period, around 700 million years ago. It was covered head-to-toe in kilometers-deep dice as huge frozen rivers churned across the planet’s rocky surface. Now, new research has described how the destructive power of these ancient glaciers may have set the stage for life by acting like […]
Can You Eat Invasive Species In The US?
Invasive species are a serious problem, but what’s the best way to deal with them? One solution might be to stick ‘em in a stew and gobble them right up. What is an invasive species? ADVERTISEMENT Invasive species are non-native species that cause harm. Introduced either on purpose or accidentally to areas where they don’t […]
100-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Eggs Capture Remarkable Diversity Of Utah’s Ancient Ecosystems
The Cedar Mountain Formation in Utah is home to the Mussentuchit Member, a site where the first fossil eggshell from the Cenomanian age (~100 million years ago) was described 50 years ago. The diversity of fossil eggs – known by the fun word “oodiversity” – had been limited to just one unstable taxon, Macroelongatoolithus carlylei. […]
The Scientists Who Drank Heavy Water To See What It Tasted Like
From the man who smuggled deadly parasite eggs into the US by injecting them before ejaculating them out upon his return to the doctor who saved lives by pumping hydrogen gas into his own anus, history is replete with heroes of science who went the extra mile for their work and conducted experiments on themselves. […]
Nauru Launches A Novel Climate-Fighting Scheme – Selling Citizenships
Fancy a new nationality? You might be in luck – at least, until your adopted country sinks under the ocean. As the tiny island nations of the Pacific come increasingly under fire from climate change, one – Nauru, the Micronesian nation located about 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) northeast of Australia – is reaching for a […]
Untold Chapter Of Humans Revealed By 150,000-Year-Old Tools In African Rainforest
Humans were living in rainforests as early as 150,000 years ago, reshaping long-held theories about our species’ history. This revelation challenges the idea that jungles were only inhabited in recent times and suggests that these environments may have played a previously unrecognized role in the human story. ADVERTISEMENT In a new study, archaeologists from the […]
3,000-Year-Old Gold Processing Complex Discovered In Egypt
The ancient Egyptians are known for their love of bling, and excavations near the coastal city of Marsa Alam have now revealed new details as to how gold was extracted in the days of the pharaohs. Uncovering a 3,000-year-old gold mining camp and processing facility, archaeologists have gained an unprecedented glimpse into the technologies with […]
Why Are Most Houses Rectangular – And When Did That Become The Norm?
Homes were not always so square. Long before our abodes were defined by right-angled corners and straight walls, houses came in a wide variety of shapes and sizes in West Asia, the land where many of the earliest complex settlements emerged. ADVERTISEMENT It was often thought that early human societies primarily built rounded structures, which […]
In Death Valley’s Racetrack Playa, 320-Kilogram “Sailing Stones” Move All On Their Own
Walk across the Racetrack Playa in Death Valley National Park and you might spot something strange. Here, enormous boulders can be seen tailed by what look like tire marks on a racetrack in the form of trails carved into the dry lakebed. These “sailing stones” can weigh up to 320 kilograms (700 pounds) at the […]
What Actually Is Jet Lag? How To Avoid The Dreaded Post-Travel Anguish
You’ve just sat through a 12-hour flight surrounded by screaming babies, barely edible food, and a disappointing selection of in-flight entertainment, but the worst may still lay ahead: jet lag. ADVERTISEMENT Whether you’re trying to avoid falling asleep at the dinner table or staring at your hotel room ceiling at 4 am, it’s a burden […]
Giraffe Covered In Unusual “Bumps” Spotted In Kruger National Park
It might be easy to forget that diseases and conditions can cause problems in the world of wildlife just as they can in the human medical sphere. In Kruger National Park, a giraffe has been spotted that may be infected with a type of papillomavirus. ADVERTISEMENT Photographed by wildlife photographer Marius Nortje, the images reveal […]
Astronaut Attempts Daring Pants Maneuver On ISS After Public Requests
Astronaut and keen astrophotographer Donald “Don” Pettit has performed a tricky pants maneuver in space. Pettit has racked up over 500 days in space and is currently doing a stint on board the International Space Station (ISS). ADVERTISEMENT While on board, during his various missions, he has taken spectacular space photos and explained why some images […]
Huge Purple Dinosaur Footprint Found On The Isle Of Wight
Fossil guide Joe Thompson was looking for dinosaur fossils on a beach on the Isle of Wight when he came across something perhaps even more extraordinary: A purple, three-toed dinosaur footprint almost 1 meter (3 feet) long. ADVERTISEMENT “Anything that’s that old and that exciting – it gives you such a rush, especially a huge, […]
Scientists Turn The Power Of Mussels And Body Goo Into A New Superglue
Some of the most ingenious recipes come from nature, just ask the mussel. Capable of slapping itself on the side of ships and forming a rapid bond that’s hard to break, it’s a covetable strength for an adhesive. A team of scientists at MIT and the Collaborative Research Center “Dynamic Hydrogels at Biointerfaces” decided to […]
Should Golf Courses Be Converted Into Solar Or Wind Farms?
It sounds like one of President Donald Trump’s most dreaded nightmares: what if the world’s golf courses were transformed into wind and solar farms? A new study has highlighted that the land occupied by golf courses in the 10 countries with the most courses could generate up to 842 GW of solar power and 659 […]
Meet The “Red Princess Of The Silk Road”, Whose Teeth Were Dyed With Toxic Cinnabar
The first ever case of an ancient skeleton with cinnabar-stained teeth has been reported in China. Dated to between 2,200 and 2,050 years ago, the young adult female has been dubbed the Red Princess of the Silk Road, and may have been the subject of a shamanic ritual designed to impart immortality. ADVERTISEMENT Cinnabar is […]
Tracks Hint Native Americans Had Handcarts 16,000 Years Before The Wheel
Track marks in the desert at White Sands, New Mexico, are thought to have been made by a simple ancient hand cart. Given the age of the layer in which the tracks are found, these tracks represent by far the oldest evidence known for this method of transporting goods, long before the wheel was added. […]
The First Private Mission To Deep Space Is About To Launch
On February 26, AstroForge will launch their experimental spacecraft Odin on a Falcon 9 rocket. The goal of the company’s mission is a bold one, becoming the first commercially-built craft to navigate far beyond the Moon, with the secondary goal of reaching near-Earth asteroid 2022 OB5. The mission is a stepping stone in the intriguing […]
Did Anything Have Feathers Before The Dinosaurs?
Look out the window long enough and you’ll see a modern-day dinosaur making use of its feathers to soar across the sky. It’s impressive, but is flying what feathers first evolved to do? And where in the evolutionary tree do they first emerge? ADVERTISEMENT A new study led by Professor Paul Barrett and Professor Xu […]
