Earth & Environment
How a 4,000-year-old sheep solved a long-standing plague mystery
The Black Death is one of the most infamous pandemics in human history, killing roughly a third of Europe’s population during the Middle Ages.
That...
Tattoos, toxins and the immune system – what you need to know before you...
From minimalist wrist designs to full sleeves, body art has become so common that it barely raises an eyebrow.
But while the personal meaning of...
When humans disappeared, these birds evolved different beaks
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the UCLA campus, students weren’t the only ones affected.
A small brown bird called the dark-eyed junco also felt...
When disasters strike, home batteries could be a lifeline
Extreme weather is placing greater strain on Australia's power grids.
In 2022, the record-breaking Northern Rivers floods blacked out almost 70,000 households.
A powerful storm in...
Biodegradable electronics may create microplastics, scientists warn
Electronics designed to disappear after use sound like a perfect solution to the world’s growing e-waste problem.
Known as transient or biodegradable electronics, these devices...
Your laundry is polluting the ocean—Scientists say this new filter can help
Every time we wash our clothes, tiny plastic fibers are released into the water.
These fibers come mainly from synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon...
Engineers find a way to watch desalination membranes clog in real time
As freshwater shortages worsen around the world, desalination—turning seawater into drinkable water—is becoming increasingly important.
But the technology that powers most desalination plants has a...
Scientists discover the youngest armored dinosaur ever found
For more than two decades, a small dinosaur from China has left scientists scratching their heads.
Known as Liaoningosaurus paradoxus, this strange fossil looked like...
Hot, humid weather may increase risk of kidney failure
People living in Australia's hot and humid northern regions are more likely to suffer from kidney failure than those living in cooler and less...
This brainless animal folds itself like origami, study finds
How does a living thing fold itself into complex shapes without a brain, nerves, or muscles?
A new study of one of Earth’s simplest animals...
Scientists discover 125,000-year-old elephant tracks in southeastern Spain
For the first time, scientists have uncovered fossilized footprints of large land animals preserved in ancient coastal sand dunes in the Spanish region of...
Not just cold and conflict: Roman troops at Hadrian’s Wall battled parasites
Nearly 2,000 years ago, Roman soldiers stationed on the edge of the empire faced more than cold winds, enemy raids, and homesickness.
New research shows...
FEATURED
Why you should think twice before trusting crypto influencers
With the rise of cryptocurrency, crypto influencers have gained popularity on social media, offering advice on how to invest in digital currencies.
But is their...
Chinese astronauts may build a base inside a lunar lava tube
Caves were some of humanity’s first shelters.
Who knows what our distant ancestors were thinking as they sought refuge there, huddling and cooking meat over...
Modern humans and Neanderthals share a tangled genetic history
Our ancestors interbred with Neanderthals at multiple times.
In recent years, scientists have uncovered evidence that Neanderthals and modern humans interbred.
Previous research has shown that...
Solar storms and Northern Lights: Why we’re seeing more of them
In 2024, the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, have appeared in the UK twice—a rare treat!
Normally, these stunning lights are not visible this far...
Scientists find the simple secret to a flourishing forest
When it comes to taking care of our planet, deciding which areas to protect can be a big challenge. Experts often focus on saving...
Top 10 things to know about your health costs right now
When it comes to health insurance, prescription drugs and other health costs, January 2025 was not a boring month.
The new year brought a new...
Second known interstellar object Borisov passes through our Solar System
Comet 2I/Borisov is only the second interstellar object known to have passed through our Solar System.
The Hubble Space Telescope has once again captured...
Scientists discover an ancient die-off greater than the dinosaur extinction
When significant oxygen entered the atmosphere, ancient life multiplied.
But after a few hundred million years, Earth’s oxygen plummeted, resulting in a die-off likely...