In 2018, scientists described a new species of spider-like arachnid that lived 100 million years ago. Like modern spiders, it had spinnerets, a palpal organ for sperm transfer, and four paired walking limbs. Very much unlike modern spiders, however, it also had a tail. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign […]
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How Do GLP-1 Agonists Like Ozempic and Wegovy Work?
GLP-1 receptor agonists, developed as treatments for type 2 diabetes, have become some of the most in-demand drugs on the market. Studies are published at least weekly on their effects, reporting both unexpected bonuses for health, and worrying side effects. With millions of people now taking them, and many more likely to in the near […]
Evolution In Action: These Rare Bears Have Adapted To Be Friendlier And Less Aggressive
Are bears getting soft on us? After centuries of living in close proximity with people, a population of brown bears has evolved to become unusually calm for a species famous for its mightiness and no-nonsense temper. The Apennine brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus), also known as the Marsican brown bear, is a critically endangered subspecies […]
Nearly 100 Years After Debating Bohr On Quantum Mechanics, New Experiment Proves Einstein Wrong – Again
Quantum mechanics is weird. When you think you have reached the bottom of its weirdness, you always discover a new subbasement with even weirder stuff. The number one hater of this weirdness was none other than Albert Einstein; he believed that reality had to be deterministic. His famous quip, “God does not play dice with […]
9,500-Year-Old Headless Skeleton Is New World’s Oldest Known Cremated Adult
For prehistoric hunter-gatherers, building a funeral pyre to cremate their dead was a real faff, and simply wasn’t worth all the effort or the investment in terms of the amount of valuable firewood required to burn a human body. However, new research shows that a Stone-Age community in Malawi did in fact honor a female […]
World’s Longest Jellyfish Can Reach A Whopping 36 Meters, Even Bigger Than A Blue Whale
The blue whale might be the largest known animal ever to have lived on the planet, but it turns out it has a rival, at least when it comes to length. It’s tentacle-y, it’s deliciously peachy and red, it’s… the lion’s mane jellyfish (Cyanea capillata). The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please […]
In 1994, December 31 Was Wiped From Existence In Kiribati
The period between Christmas and New Year’s is a confusing time for many. After weeks of festivities and overindulgence, the calendar becomes a blur, and the days of the week melt into one another. The old year feels finished, but the new one hasn’t quite arrived. If you ever feel unsettled during this strange lull, […]
A Giant Volcano Off The Coast Of Oregon Failed To Erupt On Time. Its New Schedule: 2026
So. It’s December 31, and that means one thing: that the world – and specifically, Axial Seamount, the volcano lying on the seafloor off of the Pacific Northwest – has just a handful of hours remaining to prove last year’s scientists right by erupting before the end of 2025. Of course, as satisfying as such […]
Here Are 5 Ways In Which Cancer Treatment Advanced In 2025
Cancer touches most of us at some point in our lives, whether it’s getting a diagnosis ourselves or supporting a friend or family member through a treatment journey. Countless hours of scientific research each year are dedicated to developing innovative new therapies and improving survival rates, and 2025 was no exception. As Health & Medicine […]
The First Marine Mammal Driven To Extinction By Humans Disappeared Only 27 Years After Being Discovered
The gentle giants that are the sea cows – meaning manatees and dugongs – are some of the most iconic animals out there, but they’ve also become vulnerable to extinction through the actions of humans – and it’s not even the first time this has happened. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. […]
The Planet’s Oldest Bee Species Has Become The World’s First Insect To Be Granted Legal Rights
In a first for nature and the planet, an insect has been given official legal rights. The revolutionary move comes from Peru, where the world’s oldest bee species is responsible for pollinating over 80 percent of Amazonian flora. In recognition of their service, Peru has awarded the bees and their ecosystems inherent rights including: The […]
Facial Disfiguration: Why Has The Face Been The Target Of Punishment Across Time?
Faces are a central part of human interaction and sometimes the main source of information about the people we meet. Throughout history, faces have been the subject of fascination and fear, providing insights into someone’s identity and emotional state while also being a focus for social judgments and prejudices. And, according to a new review, […]
The World’s Largest Living Reptile Can “Surf” Over 10 Kilometers To Get Between Islands
Saltwater crocodiles are not to be messed with – they’re the largest of all the living reptiles, have the strongest bite of any animal, and are notoriously unfussy about what they use that bite on. Still, even the most fearsome of apex predators haven’t mastered it all; these crocs might be good at swimming in […]
In 1962, A Geologist Went Into A Cave. 2 Months Later, He’d Accidentally Invented A New Field Of Biology.
The year is 1962. The place: Scarasson, a glacial cave in the French Alps. Climbing out of the abyss for the first time in more than two months is a lone man, eyes covered in dark goggles to protect them from the light of the Sun. He has no idea what the date is; he […]
The Ancient Remains Of A 3-Ton Shark Indicate A New Point Of Origin For Gigantic Lamniform Sharks
When and where did sharks first become so massive? The discovery of enormous shark remains from northern Australia has just changed everything we thought we knew about these supersized predators. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content. We’ve long thought that gigantic lamniform […]
The Biggest Landslide In Recorded History Happened Quite Recently And Pretty Close To Home
Landslides are – well, the clue is rather in the name: it’s “defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope,” explains the United States Geological Survey, or USGS. They’re a type of what’s known as “mass wasting” – a very general term referring to any movement of rock […]
Meet The Amami Rabbit, A Goth Bunny That’s Also A Living Fossil
On the relatively remote Japanese islands of Amami Ōshima and Tokunoshima, hops a very unusual bunny. The Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi), a dark-furred and ancient-looking animal, is unique to these islands and is a veritable living fossil. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full […]
The Largest Native Terrestrial Animal In Antarctica Is Both Smaller And Tougher Than You’d Expect
Antarctica is known for being a rather inhospitable place, what with its extreme cold, violent winds, and low levels of water – it is technically a desert. Much of continent also sits at high altitude, making it a difficult environment for creatures to survive. But despite its harsh conditions, Antarctica is not completely devoid of […]
The Freaky Reason Why You Should Never Store Tomatoes And Potatoes Together
There are three rules to live by in life. Be kind. Wash your hands. And never, ever, store tomatoes and potatoes together. I know, you’re sick of being told what to do. “It’s my right,” you may be thinking, “to put the tomatoes with the potatoes.” And hey, I can’t stop you, but I can […]
Hominin Vs. Hominid: What’s The Difference?
We humans like to think of ourselves as the most advanced and sophisticated creatures ever to walk the Earth, but the truth is that we’re remarkably similar to apes. And as genetic discoveries continue to shorten the evolutionary distance between us and our simian relatives, the terms that we use to differentiate ourselves have had […]


















