These ancient agave plants are a living link to Arizona’s Pre-Columbian cultures
In the sun-drenched landscapes of Arizona, researchers have stumbled upon an astonishing discovery: agave plants, a crucial component of early American diets and economies,...
In 250 million years, a single supercontinent will form, wiping out nearly all mammals
A recent study published in Nature Geoscience uses supercomputer climate models to examine how a supercontinent, dubbed Pangea Ultima (also called Pangea Proxima), that...
Scientists discover DNA scissors in unlikely creatures
Scientists at MIT have made an incredible breakthrough, discovering thousands of enzymes in a variety of species such as algae, snails, and amoebas, which...
Is there really a 1 in 6 chance of human extinction this century?
In 2020, Oxford-based philosopher Toby Ord published a book called The Precipice about the risk of human extinction. He put the chances of “existential...
Earth’s smallest flowering plant can handle 20x earth’s gravity
Astronauts need to eat, and they need to breathe. That means, for long-duration missions, they are going to need to bring plants with them.
But...
A new discovery: could there be a sixth taste?
Remember that zesty tingle on your tongue when you taste a lemon?
Or how a piece of candy can make your day sweeter? These are...
Cosmic airburst might spark agriculture in Syria 12,800 years ago, shows study
Once upon a time, nearly 13,000 years ago, something extraordinary happened that would eventually reshape the way humans lived and survived.
This story isn’t a...
Why are carrots orange? New study reveals the color secret
Picture a lavish, vibrant carrot salad on your plate.
Have you ever stopped and wondered why carrots, a popular veggie, are predominantly orange and not,...
Scientists find 3 genes linked to being a vegetarian
Choosing to go vegetarian is often perceived as a straightforward dietary preference or a conscious moral choice.
However, a recent Northwestern Medicine study explores a...
New method can make disease detection from DNA 100 times faster
In a groundbreaking stride for biomedical engineering, researchers at UMass Amherst have innovated a unique method that escalates DNA detection's sensitivity, heralding a transformative...