Earth & Environment
The rise of fish began with a mass extinction, fossils reveal
About 445 million years ago, life on Earth nearly collapsed. In a relatively short geological moment, Earth’s climate flipped dramatically.
Massive glaciers spread across the...
Whale hunting in south America began 5,000 years ago—far earlier than we thought
The history of whale hunting is much older—and more global—than researchers once believed.
A new study shows that Indigenous communities living along the southern coast...
How a 400-year-old shark keeps its vision sharp for life
In a quiet office at the University of California, Irvine, Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk watches a grainy video on her computer.
A massive Greenland shark drifts slowly...
This system reveals how super-Earths are born
One of the best things about being able to see thousands of exoplanetary systems is that we’re able to track them in different stages...
Why the Los Angeles fires were so destructive
Twelve months after devastating wildfires tore through parts of Los Angeles, researchers are still uncovering lessons from one of the most destructive urban fire...
Your receipt could soon be made from trees, not toxic chemicals
Every day, most of us touch thermal paper without giving it a second thought.
It shows up as shopping receipts, delivery labels, movie tickets, and...
Walking on two legs began earlier than we thought
Scientists may have just pushed back the timeline for when our ancestors first started walking upright.
A new study suggests that Sahelanthropus tchadensis, a species...
The sticky problem of lunar dust gets a mathematical solution
Apollo astronauts discovered an unexpected enemy on the Moon. Fine dust, kicked up by their movements and attracted by static electricity, coated everything.
It found...
How air pollution may raise depression risk in older people
Air pollution is often talked about as a threat to our lungs and hearts, but scientists are now finding that it can also affect...
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...
FEATURED
Avoid bad breath, don’t pick partners when drunk: Ancient dating tips to find modern...
To love and be loved is something most people want in their lives.
In the modern world, we often see stories about the difficulties of...
How to avoid food poisoning this holiday season
Preparing a holiday feast can begin as soon as you get home from the grocery store.
But if you want to serve family and friends...
Ancient Neanderthal gene still affects muscles and athletic performance today
A new study has found that a gene variant inherited from Neanderthals still affects the muscles of some people living today—especially when it comes...
Even low levels of air pollution can increase your heart disease risk
In a new study from Karolinska Institutet, researchers found prolonged exposure to air pollution can be linked to an increased risk of stroke and...
Scientists decode 3,000-year-old Egyptian wheat genome for first time
The genome of an ancient Egyptian wheat has been sequenced for the first time by a UCL-led team, revealing historical patterns of crop movement...
Where was the sun? Here’s why astronomers are more useful in court cases than...
Over the past eight years, I have been asked to submit astronomical evidence for court cases all over Australia.
Normally when we think of evidence...
Five ways schools have shifted in five years since COVID-19
The U.S. educational landscape has been drastically transformed since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered school campuses five years ago.
Access to high-quality teachers and curriculum developed...
What is personalized pricing, and how do I avoid it
Recently, Delta Air Lines announced it would expand its use of artificial intelligence to provide individualized prices to customers.
This move sparked concern among flyers...