April 25, 2019 was an exciting day for different groups of astronomers. The second-ever detection of a neutron star collision was reported, being picked up by one of the two LIGO detectors. Two and a half hours later, the CHIME observatory picked up a Fast Radio Burst (FRB), a very brief powerful release of radio waves. […]
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The Only Treatment For Rabies Involves Doctors Almost Killing You
Rabies is a terrifying disease with an almost zero percent survival rate. If bitten by an animal carrying the virus, a person has just 24 hours (or 48 hours if they are vaccinated) to reach a hospital to stop it from infecting the nervous system, where the infection takes hold and begins causing symptoms. If […]
Bomb Detector Rats’ Genitals Will Open And Close Several Times Through Their Lives
A rat that can sniff out bombs has just revealed a new party trick, as research has discovered that the African pouched rat’s genitalia is constantly transforming throughout its adult life. The unusual approach to reproductive development sees the vagina open, then seal up only to open again later. Magic. The southern African giant pouched […]
WHO Announces 8 More Cases Of Highly Fatal Marburg Virus Disease
Eight more cases of the hemorrhagic disease Marburg have been confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO) after the initial outbreak was announced on February 13, bringing the confirmed total to nine with 20 more cases likely to be Marburg. The virus that causes Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is related to the Ebola virus and […]
This Brand New “Einstein” Tile Can Do Something No Other Shape Can Do
Einstein has done it again. No, not that one: this time, the “einstein” that’s changed the world of math and physics is a tiny, skew-whiff polygon that’s been dubbed “the hat”. There’s no relation to the famous physicist: in this case, “einstein” comes from the German “ein Stein”, meaning “one stone”, and it’s a pretty […]
Ettore Majorana: The “Genius” Physicist Who Predicted Neutrons And Then Disappeared Completely
From when he was a small child, it was clear Ettore Majorana was going to be a brilliant mathematician or physicist. Born in Sicily in 1906, Majorana completed high school early, before heading to Rome to study engineering and then physics, under the supervision of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Enrico Fermi. Fermi – awarded the prize […]
Where Two Worlds Collide: Do The Atlantic And Pacific Oceans Mix?
If you stand on the southernmost tip of South America, you’ll be able to look out and see roughly where the Pacific Ocean meets the Atlantic Ocean. Despite what you may have seen in viral videos, there is no clear distinction between these waters, and the oceans will happily drift into one another. Nevertheless, sailors […]
A New, Massive Hole In The Sun’s Atmosphere Is Pointing At Earth
Last week, a massive hole in the Sun’s atmosphere led to a severe geomagnetic storm that put satellites on high alert and delivered Northern Lights down to very low latitudes. And now there is another one. Forecasting expects another increase in solar wind to arrive towards the end of the week, providing another chance for […]
World’s Most Venomous Octopus Bites Woman Multiple Times, And She Survives
Earlier this month, a woman in Australia was bitten multiple times by a blue-ringed octopus – the deadliest octopus in the world, and one of the most venomous animals full stop. However, in what may seem a surprisingly happy ending, she lived to tell the tale. While swimming at a beach in New South Wales […]
People With Mental Illness Are Biologically Older Than Peers
New research has shown that people with various different mental disorders have increased biological markers of aging, indicating that they are physically aging at a faster rate. People with mental illness typically show more age-related disorders and have shortened lifespans, though research until now has failed to highlight exactly why. While severity varies by individual […]
Australian Firm Obtains Mammoth DNA Sequence, Makes Mammoth Meatballs
A firm in Australia has used the DNA from a mammoth to make mammoth meatballs. Vow hopes that by creating meats from unusual (and extinct) animals, they can start a conversation about these cultured meat alternatives, and tempt people away from traditional meat sources that are no longer sustainable during the climate crisis. To create […]
High Blood Pressure Damages Brain Regions Associated With Dementia, World-First Study Finds
Long-term changes in the brain caused by high blood pressure have the potential to cause cognitive decline, which may progress into dementia. This link has long been observed, but a new study has revealed for the first time how these two conditions could be connected. Scientists used information gathered from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans […]
Twitter Is Likely Worth Half What Elon Musk Paid For It, According To Elon Musk Memo
Last year, Elon Musk purchased social media giant Twitter for $44 billion, before setting in motion a number of changes aimed at increasing revenue. According to a new memo from Musk to his employees, it isn’t really working out that well (yet?), with the platform now worth less than half of what he paid for […]
A Whiff Of Someone Else’s Sweat Could Help With Social Anxiety
Sniffing odors from other people’s sweat could be a helpful tool in the treatment of social anxiety. It may be a little early to start hiding the deodorant from your friends and family, but recent results presented at the European Congress of Psychiatry did suggest that exposure to body odor augmented the positive impact of […]
The Simpsons Predicted The Ridiculous Florida Row About Michelangelo’s David
The Simpsons has been said to predict a number of things, from the Super Bowl (three times) to the building of the Shard in London. Well, according to fans it’s done it again, this time predicting the row currently raging in Florida about whether or not Michelangelo’s “David” is “pornographic”. Last week, Hope Carrasquilla, principal […]
New Water Reservoir On The Moon Discovered In Beads Of Impact Glass
We know there is water on the Moon. Several missions in the last few decades have shown that our natural satellite is not as dry as previously thought. Apart from the region in eternal shadow, water evaporates from the soil during the long lunar day. This suggests that something in the soil holds enough water […]
This Could Be The Best Way To Tell If Someone Is Lying To You
It can be incredibly difficult to tell if you’re being lied to – even so-called “lie detector” machines struggle, as we found out in issue 8 of our e-magazine CURIOUS. Thankfully, a new study has come through with a relatively simple tip to help us discern fact from fiction: look out for lack of detail. […]
Are Kids Ready To Eat Insects?
Producing meat pollutes and requires a lot of space and resources (water, grains…). To protect the planet, we must therefore find new sources of protein. One of the solutions is to replace, at least partially, meat by insects. The problem is that insects, as a food, are rejected by Europeans and North Americans as inedible, […]
Pool of Siloam: The Ancient Site Where Jesus Was Said To Perform Miracles
There’s an ancient rock pool mentioned in the Bible that’s said to have been where Jesus performed one of his most famous miracles. Remarkably, 2,000 years later, parts of these pools can still be seen today in Jerusalem. The historical site of the Pool of Siloam is found in Wadi Hilweh, a neighborhood just south […]
Two Megamouth Sharks Filmed For First Time, And Scientists Suspect They’re Getting Jiggy
Meet the megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios). Despite being one of the biggest fish in the ocean, this species is famously elusive and little is known about its biology and life history. In fact, there have only been 273 total sightings since 1976 and two megamouth sharks have never been recorded together, until now. On September […]
