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Outside of entomology circles, bugs aren’t generally known as a romantic or particularly charming kind of animal. There are exceptions, however: fireflies, with their eerily beautiful glow, have long captured imaginations the world over, appearing in legends and lore from as far afield as Japan, Italy, and Miranda. Advertisement But as beloved as they are, […]

Despite its name, the mammoth was not the largest Pleistocene land animal. That status goes to its relative, the straight-tusked elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus), which, due to weighing up to 13 tonnes, was twice the size of a modern African elephant and lived across Asia and Europe until around 100,000 years ago. Anthropologists have sought evidence that Neanderthals hunted Palaeoloxodon, maybe […]

More than one in four people in the US have blue eyes. In the UK, it’s three out of every seven; in the Netherlands, it’s three out of five, and in Iceland, it’s three out of every four. Depending on where you live, it’s a very popular ocular color to have. Advertisement But that’s kind of weird, […]

Issue 24 (July 2024) of CURIOUS is out now, bringing you science highlights for the month plus deep dives into intriguing topics, interviews, exclusives, diary dates, and explanations for some of Earth’s most perplexing natural phenomena and landscapes. Read Issue 24 of our digital magazine now by clicking below! Use the arrows to navigate or […]

This week, freshly analyzed Neanderthal remains suggest our extinct relatives were caring and compassionate, researchers spotted the world’s largest land mammal migration ever recorded, and a robot with a face made out of lab-grown human skin became everyone’s new nightmare. Finally, we explore how some physicists once believed the explosive Tunguska event was actually caused […]

Have you ever heard of Palynomorphs, “microfossils” that are abundant pretty much everywhere? They’re microscopic fossils that appear in sedimentary rocks across the world and are invaluable for geologists and paleontologists researching the planet’s evolutionary history. However, their tiny size and sheer numbers can be a challenge to work with, so researchers have now created […]

Thousands of people take the Tube from the north side of London to the south, or pop across the English Channel via the Channel Tunnel every day, but they’re only able to do so thanks to one pretty important feature – underwater tunnels. But how is such an impressive feat of engineering built? Advertisement The […]

On the face of it, spending any amount of time in a small, 80°C (176°F) room might sound thoroughly unenjoyable – but many people do it willingly on a regular basis. How? Visiting saunas, which are a regular part of life in countries like Finland but have recently shot up in popularity elsewhere too. That […]

The humble mug is one of the most important parts of an office. It’s there to hold your coffee when you need that boost first thing in the morning, to show off your personality with a funky pattern or amusing joke, or to hold on to for warmth when someone else is controlling the aircon. […]

Some insects have detachable penises, others produce sperm that is 20 times the size of their own body. Others have evolved with special equipment to help them tear rivals off potential mates. Insects can be creepy, promiscuous or murderous – but they are rarely dull. Advertisement The stag beetle male – Europe’s largest beetle has […]

Ultra-processed foods are so harmful to health that they should be sold carrying tobacco-style warnings, according to the epidemiologist who coined the term. Advertisement “UPFs [Ultra-processed foods] are increasing their share in and domination of global diets, despite the risk they represent to health in terms of increasing the risk of multiple chronic diseases,” Carlos […]

The motion of celestial bodies has been studied and interpreted for tens of thousands of years. Understanding how the Moon and Sun move helped our ancestors thrive across the changing seasons. Expanding that to the planets gave us an idea of our place in the universe. And the advent of the astronomy of precision several […]

Scientists in Japan have created an artificial womb that can incubate prematurely delivered shark embryos until they are ready to be born. Advertisement A team of researchers at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Motobu built an artificial system that was able to incubate the embryos of slendertail lantern sharks (Etmopterus molleri) for up to 355 […]

Millions of people will visit the USA’s various national parks this summer. But as temperatures continue to rise, visitors are being urged to consider the risks of extreme heat; it is not only a threat to their health, but makes rescue missions more dangerous too. Advertisement To say Death Valley is a hot place would […]

The term “missionary position” is an anthropological enigma. The most prominent explanation is that it has something to do with prudish Christian missionaries. However, that seems to be a big misunderstanding tied back to one of the most famous sexologists of the 20th century, Alfred Kinsey. Advertisement For the uninitiated, the missionary position is a […]

When you think of England, it might conjure a picture of rolling green hills, chocolate-box villages with cobbled streets, and fish and chips by the sea. Something that probably doesn’t feature heavily in that fantasy is a lion. Why, then, do England’s football players, currently carrying the hopes of the nation through Euro 2024, famously […]

“Roger!” has become a go-to expression to acknowledge a message, most often uttered over the phone or a radio transmitter when doing something vaguely important. However, the origin of this cool sign-off is less well-known. And no, it doesn’t have anything to do with a guy named Roger. Advertisement The term can be traced back […]

Engineers at Northwestern University have found a new concrete manufacturing process that stores carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere by using a carbonated solution. The concrete is just as strong and durable as traditional versions and is easy to make. Advertisement When it comes to types of water – still or carbonated – you probably […]

Unless someone happens to have had an unusually extreme early bedtime for the entirety of their life, we’ve all seen plenty of sunsets in our time. Given the wealth of them that end up on Instagram stories, they look pretty great too – but have you ever wondered what they look like from space? Advertisement […]