News

There are six varieties of quarks, including one known as “strange”. However, in the world of the very small, where quantum physics reigns, many things are strange, and arguably charm quarks are stranger still. Both top and bottom quarks are heavier than charm quarks (in the case of top quarks, dramatically so), but last year, […]

UNESCO has added over 40 new World Heritage Sites to its list of protected areas and buildings, ranging from the natural wonders of forests and mountains to the culturally significant monuments and memorials of human history. After deliberations at the 45th World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, the list contains nearly 1,200 sites considered […]

While lobsters might not get the acclaim they deserve in terms of popularity and are more likely to end up on a platter at a fancy seafood restaurant than a top ten list of impressive creatures, they nevertheless have some pretty noteworthy characteristics. While most lobster species appear in shiny red or orange hues, just […]

DNA analysis has revealed that the current oldest fish living in an aquarium could be even older than her previous estimated age of 84 years old, putting her at 92 (plus or minus 9 years, giving a range of 83-101 years old). Methuselah is an Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri), a species that hangs out in […]

The deep sea is full of oddities, from magnetic field-sensing bacteria and other strange microorganisms to massive squid and even “potatoes”. The depths of the ocean off the coast of New Zealand host something particularly curious, or at least they did until recent research exposed its origins: the unexplained “hoofprints” scattered across the seafloor are actually the work […]

Down in the depth of the ocean, you could be in for a big scary surprise or you could take a leaf out of the book of the researchers at the Nautilus Live Ocean Exploration Trust as they share the joy they experienced when witnessing a dumbo octopus in front of their remotely operated vehicles.  […]

This week new research suggests the Amazon rainforest’s dark earth may have been intentionally created by ancient cultures, the earliest known wooden structure ever discovered may have been found in Africa, and a deceased man appears to have undergone complete natural mummification in less than 16 days. Finally, we question if there is evidence pointing […]

Astronomers have discovered a large deposit of carbon dioxide (CO2) ice on Europa, one of the icy moons of Jupiter. The distant world is covered by a thick ice crust and beneath it there is a salty water ocean and a rocky seafloor. Europa is already seen as one of the most likely possible places […]

A recent study has revealed a trend of gradual deterioration in relationships before the occurrence of an affair. The findings indicate once an affair takes place, it’s exceedingly uncommon for a healthy relationship to follow. These results point to noticeable declines in well-being leading up to such moments, shedding light on the reasons behind such […]

From an hourglass to the dunes on a beach, we know that sand flows downhill. It’s just what granular materials do. However, researchers have just discovered that it is possible to create a granular material that ignores this basic principle: A sand-like substance that flows uphill and climbs stairs and walls. The discovery was serendipitous. […]

Adults love annoying kids by saying things like, “Youth is wasted on the young,” and, “Your school days are the best of your life!” Meanwhile, those young people stare back in disbelief, imagining how much happier they’ll be when they’re free from exam stress and clueless grownups telling them what to do all the time. […]

Africa is far bigger than you may think. If you look at a map or globe, the continent looks pretty large compared to other land masses, but this representation is not accurate. In reality, Africa is enormous. In fact, you could fit China, India, all the states in the contiguous US, and most of Europe […]

Flossing – of the dental variety – is one of the most mundane parts of a person’s day, but any dentist will tell you it’s vital to maintaining good oral hygiene. Unfortunately, it seems a lot of us are probably doing it wrong, as new research has revealed a vastly superior flossing technique: AHVFT. The […]

The African black-footed cat has a ferocious reputation as the deadliest cat in the world, but if you saw one on a suburban street, you’d probably mistake it for an extremely cute tabby kitten. Along with being the world’s deadliest feline, the black-footed cat (Felis nigripes) also happens to be Africa’s smallest cat. Weighing between 1 to 2 […]

On the South Pole of the Moon, there are craters that never see sunlight. Images of them are usually just a dark abyss, but there is interest in getting to the bottom of them. There is ice there, and the Artemis astronauts will explore the region when humans return to the Moon later this decade. […]

Scientists have achieved a long-standing dream to genetically modify silkworms to produce a material stronger than the Kevlar in bulletproof vests. Not only could the product save lives and have a host of industrial uses, but it could also be more environmentally friendly than existing manufacturing techniques for high-strength fabrics. Silkworms have been put to […]

A big phallic mushroom recently put on quite a show in eastern Germany, where its short life cycle was captured on camera. The fruiting body of the stinkhorn fungus, Phallus impudicus, it looks as NSFW as its species name would have you assume, and the video is really something. The starring mushroom is the visible […]

A man in Bulgaria has been found in a “stage of complete mummification” just 16 days after last being seen alive. Describing this incredibly rare occurrence, the authors of a new case report say that the dead man’s brain, guts, and other organs had shriveled up into “structureless masses”, yet are unable to explain how […]

In a recent Ted Talk, the creator of the Bird Aren’t Real movement Peter McIndoe spoke about the work he does “deprogramming” the public from the “bird lie”. “We live in a pro-bird civilization drenched in propaganda,” McIndoe told the audience, explaining that once he realized that he had to act, going from city to […]

Most species in the Rafflesia genus, also known as “corpse flowers” (not to be confused with Amorphophallus titanum), are in danger. An estimated 60 percent of species are at severe risk of extinction, and 67 percent of their known habitats are outside of protected areas, a new study has found. These parasitic plants are famous for […]