Earth & Environment
These five roadblocks are standing in the way of energy-efficient homes
We all want homes that keep us warm in winter and cool in summer, without breaking the bank.
However, Australian homes built before 2003 have...
Your smartphone is a parasite, according to evolution
Head lice, fleas and tapeworms have been humanity's companions throughout our evolutionary history.
Yet, the greatest parasite of the modern age is no blood-sucking invertebrate....
Scientists uncover secrets of a mysterious wall in the Mongolian Desert
A team of international archaeologists has made an exciting discovery about one of Asia’s least understood ancient structures—the Gobi Wall.
Stretching over 320 kilometers across...
Scientists discover chimpanzees use stones to make sounds—possibly to communicate
A new five-year study has revealed that wild chimpanzees in West Africa may be using stones to communicate with one another.
This remarkable behavior, documented...
Scientists discover iron powder can clean toxic ‘forever chemicals’ better than carbon
Researchers have found that a common and inexpensive material—iron powder—can clean up dangerous "forever chemicals" from water even better than the material most water...
Glaciers won’t bounce back for centuries—even if global warming is reversed, scientists say
A new international study has delivered a sobering message: once Earth warms beyond the critical 1.5°C limit, even temporarily, many of the world’s glaciers...
How giant ground sloths got so big—and why that was their downfall
Sloths today are known for being slow, small, and tree-loving creatures. But their ancient relatives were nothing like them.
In fact, many extinct sloths were...
Why and how do ants walk in a perfect line
In the world of ants, order isn’t optional.
These tiny insects live in colonies with millions of others, working together as a team to forage,...
Why your teeth are sensitive—and it started 465 million years ago
If you’ve ever flinched during a cold drink or a dental cleaning, you know that our teeth can be incredibly sensitive.
That sensitivity is thanks...
What ‘no tax on tips’ really means for service workers—and everyone else
The broad tax package passed by House Republicans last week includes a bill that would eliminate federal income taxes on tips, advancing a key...
Clean water in 5 minutes? New invention makes it possible
Scientists in South Korea have created a powerful new material that can clean dirty water quickly and efficiently—without needing electricity.
This new technology not only...
Scientists confirm dinosaur eggshells had self-grown crystals, just like modern reptiles
A new international study has confirmed that a mysterious feature found in dinosaur eggshells—called secondary eggshell units (SEUs)—are natural biological structures, not just the...
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When frogs die off, snake diversity plummets
Since 1998, scientists have documented the global loss of amphibians.
More than 500 amphibian species have declined in numbers, including 90 that have gone extinct,...
Scientists find locations of ancient Maya sacred groves of cacao trees
For as much as modern society worships chocolate, cacao — the plant chocolate comes from — was believed to be even more divine to...
Scientists find iron ‘snow’ in Earth’s core
The Earth's inner core is hot, under immense pressure and snow-capped, according to new research that could help scientists better understand forces that affect...
Study reveals surprising diversity of spinosaur species in prehistoric Britain
Paleontologists have made an intriguing discovery about the ancient spinosaur species that once roamed prehistoric Britain.
Archaeologists discover lost site of England’s last Anglo-Saxon King
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that a house in Bosham, West Sussex, was once the residence of Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England.
The...
Giant sequoias in the UK: giants among us
In a fascinating turn of events, research led by University College London (UCL) and colleagues at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has uncovered that...
Jack Bogle: Why I really worry about exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a type of investment fund and exchange-traded product, i.e. they are traded on stock exchanges.
ETFs are similar in many ways to mutual funds, except that ETFs...
Scientists decode the Earth’s inner core
Earth's core, the deepest part of our planet, is characterized by extremely high pressure and temperature.
It is composed of a liquid outer core and...