Dormancy could be one of the keys to life on Earth (and beyond)
It’s easy to forget that, despite life having existed on Earth for billions of years and despite our relatively carefree existence from total destruction,...
Planets without plate tectonics could still be habitable
It has been thought that the existence of plate tectonics has been a significant factor in the shaping of our planet and the evolution...
Unlocking life’s secrets: new advances in bioinformatics
Bioinformatics might sound like a complicated scientific term, but at its heart, it’s about using computers and technology to understand biology.
Imagine trying to read...
You’re made of carbon that took a journey into intergalactic space
I’ve used this fact a gazillion times; every atom in your body has been through the core of a star!
The carbon in our bones...
Breakthroughs in genetic engineering in 2024
Genetic engineering, the science of altering DNA to improve or change the characteristics of living things, is making huge strides in 2024.
These advancements are...
Is there a fundamental logic to life
One of the more daunting questions related to astrobiology—the search for life in the cosmos—concerns the nature of life itself.
For over a century, biologists...
How ‘sad’ bananas could help tackle food waste
Bananas are a sociable fruit.
They thrive in bunches, bound by a unifying stalk which joins them happily together in curvy yellow brightness.
But what about...
Breakthroughs in biotechnology for healthcare in 2024
Biotechnology, which uses living systems and organisms to develop new products, is transforming healthcare in incredible ways.
In 2024, advancements in this field have opened...
How a giant prehistoric elephant skull helped untangle an evolutionary mystery
About 400,000 years ago, early humans in Europe, Asia and Africa lived alongside giant straight-tusked elephants, far bigger than their modern-day cousins.
Their evolution has...
How Emperor Penguins detoxify mercury: A new pathway uncovered
Scientists have discovered a new way emperor penguins detoxify mercury, revealing a surprising detoxification pathway not seen in animals before.
This finding, published in the...