In a new study, scientists have been able to use peptides taken from an ancient hominin to determine its sex – and at 3.5 million years old, they believe it to be the oldest such specimen to have been successfully analyzed in this way. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE As palaeoanthropologists have discovered more and more […]
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Professor Of Physics Explains Why He Hates One Particular Star Trek Scene
Star Trek, as well as being a great sci-fi show, is known for either predicting or inspiring real-world technology. Scientists are putting artificial intelligence in “holodecks” for training purposes, are making progress towards a tricorder, and are honing in on whether a warp drive would be possible with real physics. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE But […]
An Inside Look At How Humanity Is Dealing With The Threat Of Asteroid 2024 YR4
Over the last few weeks, Asteroid 2024 YR4 has become a staple in science news columns. This space rock has a fluctuating but small chance to hit our planet around 12 pm UTC on December 22, 2032. This chance will likely drop to zero in the coming weeks, but the possible size and current risk […]
“Exceptionally Well-Preserved” 66-Million-Year-Old Edmontosaurus Reveals Collagen In Dinosaur Bone
Can you get organic compounds in a fossilized bone? There was a time we thought not, but a new study that used a novel combination of techniques has provided the best evidence yet for collagen within dinosaur remains. So, the question becomes, what else could we find? ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE “This research shows beyond […]
Hoba Mystery: Why Didn’t The World’s Largest Meteorite Leave An Impact Crater?
In 1920, a farmer plowing a field in Grootfontein, Namibia, hit a sudden roadblock below the surface of the soil. Curious about what had stopped his plow, the farmer dug around and found a very strange sight. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE Beneath the soil was a giant slab of metal. In fact, at 60 tons, […]
The WHO Has New Advice About Salt
We’re eating too much sodium. That’s the message from the World Health Organization (WHO), which recently published new guidelines on the use of lower-sodium salt substitutes. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE According to the guidance, announced in January 2025, 1.9 million deaths every year are attributable to a high sodium intake. Despite public information campaigns and […]
Red Light Therapy: Skincare Superhero Or Beauty Bust?
If you’ve ever seen a beauty influencer don one of those mildly creepy red light masks, you might have wondered if they actually do anything for your skin. Is red light therapy really the answer to all of our skin woes, or does it just make us look a little bit silly (and/or like a […]
What Is The World’s Biggest Flower?
Plants are among Earth’s oldest and largest organisms. The 80,000-year-old Pando – a vast colony of quaking aspen covering 42.6 hectares (105.3 acres) – is believed to be one of the oldest and largest living organisms. Meanwhile, the ocean harbors two of the largest single-celled organisms in the form of algae. While the world’s tallest […]
Why Was California Depicted As An Island For Centuries?
If you take a glance at maps produced in the 17th and 18th centuries CE, you may notice something unusual about California. For centuries, it was depicted as an island. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE Old maps are pretty fascinating things to take a look at. If they don’t have phantom islands or warnings of lizard […]
5 “Dinosaurs” That Weren’t Dinosaurs At All
What’s your favorite dinosaur? If you said “pterodactyl”, then oof – we’ve got bad news. The same goes for anybody who went for a plesiosaur: they weren’t dinosaurs, and neither were their flying pals. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE “You may think that an animal is a dinosaur because it’s large and scaly,” paleontologist Danny Barta, […]
A Quantum Demonic Engine Doesn’t Have To Violate Thermodynamics To Work
The second law of thermodynamics underpins all of classical reality. It is the reason why it’s easier to make things messy, why you can’t have perpetual motion, why you age, and maybe even why time only moves in one direction. There have been considerations that the quantum world might escape the constraints of this law. […]
Calling All Curious Minds: Don’t Miss Out On The Biggest Science Event Of The Year!
Pittcon is where science meets innovation. This fantastic annual event brings together researchers, innovators, and industry leaders from around the world, and, for the first time, it will be held in Boston, USA, from March 1-5 this year. With a legacy spanning over 75 years, Pittcon first took place in Pittsburgh, organized by the Society […]
If We All Shave Our Hair, Will Lice Go Extinct?
Every parent who has ever sifted through their child’s hair with a nit comb has had the temptation to just grab the electric razor and be done with it. Yet while a kindergarten full of hairless toddlers may eliminate one local infestation, what would happen if we expanded the anti-lice campaign on a global scale? […]
Scrawny Star With Large Planet Breaks Galactic Speed Record At 1.9 Million Kilometers Per Hour
Around the galaxy exist stars that have been given a push, and orbit much faster than the vast majority of their stellar companions. These are known as hypervelocity stars, with some moving faster than the escape velocity of the Milky Way of around 600 kilometers (373 miles) per second. There is another star that is […]
The Woman Who Helped Astronomers Map The Stars And Prove A Universe Beyond Our Galaxy
IFLScience needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, check out ourPrivacy Policy Deborah BloomfieldSource Link: The Woman Who Helped […]
Watch Amazon River Dolphins Pee Straight Up Into The Air: They May Be Sending Messages To Their Mates
It’s not unusual for species to have a few tricks up their sleeves that we never knew about. Blue whales can sing low enough to remain undetected by killer whales, tarantulas can run just as fast with six legs as they do with eight, and now research has revealed that Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) […]
Deep Sea Beryllium Spike Shows Something Big Happened 10 Million Years Ago, But What?
The Pacific seafloor laid down around 10 million years ago is dramatically enriched in beryllium-10, compared to older and younger layers. The geologists who discovered this spike propose it could be the result of a major shift in ocean currents, which reshaped the climate for a period. Alternatively, it could indicate a nearby supernova we […]
How Did The XB-1 Jet Break The Sound Barrier Without Producing An Audible Sonic Boom?
Boom Supersonic, the company aiming to create commercial planes that can travel faster than the speed of sound, have successfully tested their XB-1 jet. According to the company, the jet was able to fly without producing a sonic boom that was audible from the ground. ADVERTISEMENT GO AD FREE During the flight on 28 January, […]
Does Pregnancy Change The Father’s Brain? Here’s What We Know
Beyond the expected, like morning sickness and weird food cravings, pregnancy can cause all sorts of bizarre changes in the body. Research has shown that these changes extend even as far as the structure of the brain, which makes sense when you consider that the body is growing an entirely new life and preparing for […]
“They’re Advancing Much Faster Than Anticipated,” Hybrid Fire Ant Threat Heats Up In Virginia
A strange invader is marching across the United States, born of two different species. Red fire ants and black fire ants have both been imported to the US, and now they’ve teamed up to create a hybrid that’s more aggressive and more resilient than either of its parents. Meet Solenopsis invicta × richteri. ADVERTISEMENT GO […]
