Earth & Environment
,000-year-old child’s skull found in Norwegian cave reveals secrets of early farmers
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a young child who lived about 4,000 years ago in a cave on Norway's west coast.
The remarkable discovery...
An extended barrage of asteroid impacts made Earth too hot to form continents
The formation of continents was an important step in Earth's history.
Continents and plate tectonics are connected to the planet's habitability, and the same is...
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...
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Ancient Egyptians used hallucinogenic drinks in mysterious rituals, study finds
A groundbreaking discovery has revealed that ancient Egyptians used hallucinogenic drinks in magical rituals about 2,000 years ago.
A professor from the University of South...
Scientists find 11 fish species that could walk on land
A team of U.S. National Science Foundation-funded scientists has identified at least 11 species of fish suspected to have land-walking abilities.
The findings are based...
Happy mid-life relationships may protect people from chronic diseases
Satisfying relationships in midlife with partners, and friends are linked to a lower risk of multiple chronic diseases in older age.
Scientists trace the moon’s birth to Earth’s nearby planetary twin
Around 4.5 billion years ago, a dramatic event changed Earth forever.
A massive, planet-sized body called Theia slammed into the young Earth in a violent...
Hot weather linked to higher stroke risk in older people
In a study from Tsuyama Central Hospital and Okayama University, scientists found emergency visits for stroke increased after a heatwave.
Music could boost health in people with Parkinson’s disease
Scientists found musical interventions could lessen motor symptoms in Parkinson's patients and improve their cognitive ability and emotional well-being.
Can AI really measure beauty?
Can a computer really decide what is beautiful? A new study suggests the answer is not as simple as many people think.
Researchers from the...
Earth’s last magnetic field reversal took far longer than once thought
A reversing field might significantly affect navigation and satellite and terrestrial communication, but the study suggests that society would have generations to adapt to...