The date was February 3, 1925. The Star, a daily South African newspaper, featured a story on an exciting scientific discovery – the fossilized skull of a species with a mixture of human-like and ape-like features. The anthropologist who analyzed the fossil, dubbed the Taung Child, believed it was an ancestor of modern-day humans – […]
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Nanoparticle Vaccine Could Protect Against Future COVID-19 Variants – Plus Other Coronaviruses
A newly developed vaccine against a group of viruses including SARS-CoV-2 is producing promising results in mice, part of the quest to develop a universal shot against all variants of these troublesome pathogens. Using nanoparticles containing various combinations of sections of viral proteins called receptor binding domains (RBDs), scientists have been able to produce antibody […]
OpenAI And Los Alamos Lab Will Use AI For Nuclear Weapon Security
In scenes faintly reminiscent of Terminator 3, OpenAI has partnered with Los Alamos National Laboratory to use artificial intelligence (AI) systems to “supercharge” atomic research and strengthen US nuclear security. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE A significant part of the plan is to use AI-powered supercomputers to reduce the risk of nuclear war, while simultaneously helping […]
As Valentine’s Day Approaches, Beware Of Fake Viagra
Sildenafil, most commonly known by the brand name Viagra or the “little blue pill”, is one of the most recognizable medicines we have. Originally tested as a treatment for angina, it was proving a bit of a disappointment until a number of male trial participants started reporting one very peculiar side effect. And thus, Viagra’s […]
“A Perfect Invader” Is Taking Over The Ocean – 185,000 Eggs At A Time
If you live on The Internet, you’ve likely heard about carcinization: a kind of convergent evolution that’s seen a surprisingly large number of living things evolve crab-like bodies. So, are crabs peak performance? Given the meteoric rise of a species currently invading the oceans, they just might be. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE Enter: the European […]
Spot The Rare Trio Of Adorable Bengal Tiger Cubs Born In A Thai National Park
For the first time in its history, camera traps in a Thai national park have captured some oh-so-cute footage confirming that the area is now home to a Bengal tiger with a trio of cubs in tow. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE The discovery was made in Kaeng Krachan National Park where, according to the park’s […]
As Shrew Like It: Elusive Californian Mammal Photographed For First Time
There is something inherently appealing about finding an animal few have seen in the wild. This could be a “lost” species or a particularly rare creature, but for students at University of California, Berkeley, it was the record of a shrew that had not been seen in 20 years and had never been photographed that […]
Why Drying Clothes Indoors Could Put Your Health At Risk
Hanging the washing out to dry in the garden has been a rare sight these last few months, with winter storms bringing freezing temperatures and 100mph gusts of wind. But does the way we dry our clothes indoors actually matter? ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE Drying wet clothing on racks in poorly ventilated spaces could increase […]
These “Solar-Powered Sea Slugs” Steal Plants’ Superpowers To Feed On Sunlight
A scientist in Japan made a chance and shocking discovery when they saw that a sea slug in their lab had lost its head. Expected to wither away without its vital organs, the head surprised everyone by surviving long enough to grow a whole new body. How? Well, it seemed they’d gone solar-powered. ADVERTISEMENT GO […]
Giant “Island” Structures Around The Earth’s Core Are Older – And Stranger – Than We Thought
A recent study investigating giant “island” structures near Earth’s core has deepened the mystery surrounding them: As well as suggesting they are truly ancient structures, the research may alter what we think we know about the Earth’s mantle. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE Lying beneath Africa and the Pacific in the lowermost part of the Earth’s […]
How Birds And Animals Use The Earth’s Geomagnetic Field (Including Humans?)
The Earth, with its constantly moving molten iron core, is surrounded by a vast and glorious magnetic field. It’s as much a part of the planet as the oxygen or water that it protects, shielding the planet from solar wind being blasted at us from the Sun. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE And, like water and […]
Why Are Cruise Ships And Luxury Yachts Often Painted White?
Have you ever noticed how cruise ships and luxury yachts are almost always painted white, while massive cargo ships come in a variety of colors, and military warships stick to a dull, somber grey? ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE The characteristic white hull of cruise ships is partially a matter of aesthetics. An all-white ship can […]
Why Is Everyone Talking About The “Square Structure” Captured On Mars?
Every now and then, robots on the surface of Mars, or the spacecraft orbiting the planet, send back some fascinating images of rock formations on the Red Planet. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE These can range from the interesting (such as the donut-shaped rock that may not be from the planet) to the silly (hello, avocado […]
World’s Oldest Runestone May Have Been Carved By A Woman
The earliest runestone ever to be reliably dated has been discovered at a grave field in Norway, providing some fascinating insights into the origins of runic writing. Engraved some time between 50 BCE and 275 CE, the ancient stone was eventually broken apart and scattered across multiple burials, while some of the inscriptions suggest that […]
Creatine Supplements Could Help Boost Depression Treatment
Creatine – best known for its use by bodybuilders – could help enhance the effects of talking therapy as a treatment for depression, recent research suggests. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE Around 280 million people have depression worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. The condition is often treated using psychotherapies, pharmacotherapies, or a combination of […]
What Happens If You Donate Your Bone Marrow And The Recipient Commits A Crime?
Bone marrow donation is vital to many people’s lives. But, it can also produce a weird quirk in which the recipient’s blood can change to be like the donor’s. So, we had a peculiar thought: if your bone marrow recipient went out, committed a crime, and left their blood over a crime scene, could it […]
Man Develops “Yellowish Nodules” And Soaring Cholesterol Level On High Fat “Carnivore Diet”
A case report concerning a man whose hands, feet, and elbows became covered in yellowish nodules has recently been published – and it appears that the cause was likely a fad diet. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE Medical science primarily advances through scientific trials, but now and then we get to learn things in other ways, […]
What Snakes Live In The Florida Everglades?
Totaling 1.5 million acres, the Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States and home to some of the country’s most unusual wildlife. While adorable manatees, frightening crocs, and archaic-looking gators often steal the limelight, the nature reserve is also home to an impressive menagerie of snakes. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE […]
COVID Lockdowns Disrupted A Crucial Skill Among Young People
Tempting as it is to push memories of lockdown to the back of our minds, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting effect on society. Now, new research reveals the long-reaching effect of lockdowns on a crucial skill among children – social cognition. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE Social cognition is the ability […]
Dolphin Or Sloth, Who Can Hold Their Breath For Longer?
While renowned for being exceptionally slow, sloths possess one superpower – they can hold their breath longer than an episode of Friends. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE These sluggish creatures are able to hold their breath for an incredible 40 minutes. In comparison, a dolphin can hold their breath for approximately 10 minutes and the world […]
