Earth & Environment
A star’s death throes involves a lot of kicking
Imagine being nudged again and again by thousands of tiny shoves, each one barely perceptible alone, until they add up to a steady drift...
Crocodile brains have barely changed in 100 million years, new study finds
Crocodiles are often called "living fossils," and a new study suggests that description may be more accurate than ever.
Scientists have discovered that the brains...
Why the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool turned green—and why it matters for America’s drinking...
When the famous Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., suddenly turned bright green, many people were surprised.
The unusual color quickly became national news....
New solar hydrogen system converts over 31% of sunlight into clean fuel
Hydrogen is expected to play an important role in the future of clean energy because it can store renewable electricity and produce no carbon...
Scientists turn plastic bottles into high-quality battery material
A plastic bottle that would normally end up in a recycling bin or landfill could one day help power electric cars, smartphones, and renewable...
Australia’s farmland at risk of ‘ecological collapse’
Australia may need to fundamentally redraw its rural landscape — retiring farms, restoring vast tracts of vegetation and reshaping regional economies — if it...
Lost giant shark fossils confirm megalodon could reach an incredible 80 feet
Scientists have rediscovered a set of giant fossil bones that belonged to the famous prehistoric shark, the megalodon.
The fossils had been missing for decades,...
Solar storms may reduce rain and snow across North America, study warns
Scientists have discovered new evidence that powerful solar storms may briefly affect Earth's weather.
A new study suggests that after a large solar storm, some...
Europa’s ice shell secrets unlocked by ground radar study
Jupiter’s moon, Europa, has become high-value real estate for astrobiologists and the search for life beyond Earth.
This is because the small moon, which is...
Hidden museum fossil solves a 5-million-year-old saber-toothed cat mystery
A fossil that sat unnoticed in a museum drawer for decades has turned out to be one of the most important discoveries about the...
Scientists turn plastic bottles into clean hydrogen using only sunlight
Plastic waste is one of the world's biggest environmental problems. Millions of tons of plastic end up in landfills, rivers, and oceans every year,...
New printable cooling technology could replace harmful refrigerants
Air conditioners, refrigerators, and heat pumps help keep our homes, workplaces, and food cool. However, the refrigerants they use can create environmental and safety...
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Ancient stone tool makes surprise appearance in old French painting!
Imagine you're looking at an old painting from France, and you notice something that looks like a stone tool from a very, very long...
Archaeologists discover 5,000-year-old ceremonial site in Jordan
Archaeologists from the University of Copenhagen have uncovered a fascinating 5,000-year-old ceremonial site in Murayghat, Jordan, that could reveal how early societies adapted to...
Scientists discover the oldest fortresses in the world
In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeologists from Freie Universität Berlin, together with an international team, have unearthed ancient fortified settlements in Siberia that date back...
Scientists discover giant ancient dolphin in Amazon rainforest
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists from the University of Zurich have uncovered a new species of giant freshwater dolphin in the Peruvian Amazon.
This incredible...
How hidden water in Earth’s mantle might spark volcanoes
Scientists have long been puzzled by volcanoes that erupt far from the edges of tectonic plates—known as intraplate volcanoes.
These eruptions don’t follow the usual...
Would we still have severe thunderstorms over North America if the Gulf of Mexico...
New study looks at why North America is the global tornado hot spot.
The eastern half of the U.S is one of the principal hot...
Scientists discover a Jurassic pterosaur in South America
Scientists from Argentina, the UK, and Germany recently find a new species of pterosaurs from the Patagonia region of South America.
Pterosaurs are flying reptiles...
The History of Penguins in Australia
Recent studies on the fossil penguin faunas of Antarctica, New Zealand, South Africa, and South America have converged on several key events in penguin...