Earth & Environment
How the risk of AI weapons could spiral out of control
Sometimes AI isn't as clever as we think it is.
Researchers training an algorithm to identify skin cancer thought they had succeeded until they discovered...
The hidden cost of Netflix’s autoplay: How it affects your watching habits
Autoplay, the feature that automatically plays the next episode or movie without user input, is now a common part of streaming platforms like Netflix.
While...
The Big Three investors: A double-edged sword for the stock market
Since the 2008 financial crisis, more and more investors have moved their money from actively managed funds to passive index funds.
This shift has led...
Cyclone Alfred is expected to hit southeast Queensland—the first in 50 years to strike...
If you're in southeast Queensland, brace yourself.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to cross the southeast Queensland coast late this Thursday as a Category 2...
How smart biorefineries can create a sustainable future
Imagine a world where we no longer rely on oil and gas for energy and products.
Instead, we use natural, renewable materials to meet our...
Antarctica’s melting ice is slowing the world’s strongest ocean current
New research has found that melting Antarctic ice sheets are slowing down the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC)—the world's strongest ocean current.
This slowdown could have...
Frozen in fire: How a Vesuvius ash cloud turned a Roman’s brain to glass
In 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted, destroying the Roman city of Herculaneum.
Thousands of people were killed instantly. Now, scientists have made a shocking discovery—inside...
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s another superhero film!
Captain America continues to conquer obstacles and crush villains―not bad for a man approaching age 85.
The comic book hero made his debut in print...
Earth’s acid test: How oceans became friendly for life
Scientists from Yale University and Singapore have developed a new model to estimate when Earth’s oceans became less acidic, allowing life to begin.
Their research...
Are the Oscars going bananas?
Hollywood’s biggest night, the Academy Awards, arrives this weekend, but this year there’s some monkey business going on.
It’s easy to focus on the race...
How early life on Earth got the nitrogen it needed
Life on Earth needs nitrogen.
It is an essential building block for proteins and DNA, helping all living things grow and function.
Even though nitrogen makes...
Scientists turn old clothes into stronger recycled paper
Most old clothes are burned, leading to wasted materials and environmental harm.
However, researchers in Austria have developed a new method to recycle cotton-based textiles...
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A monster solar storm struck earth 14,300 years ago
The Sun is such a stable presence in our lives that we often take it for granted.
Few things are as certain sure as the...
Extreme weather could push the U.S. into recession
Without better knowledge of the risk, the average energy investor can only hope that the next extreme event won’t trigger a sudden correction, according...
Scientists unlock secrets of the sun’s history using Thallium decay
The sun, the powerhouse of life on Earth, generates its energy through nuclear fusion and constantly releases neutrinos—tiny particles that act as messengers of...
Deep dive into Earth’s interior shows change isn’t skin deep
They say it's what's on the inside that counts.
And so it goes with the planet's surface; from mountain ranges to a river's drainage, the...
Ray Dalio: What I have learnt from my worst investment
Raymond Thomas Dalio (born August 8, 1949) is an American billionaire investor and hedge fund manager.
He has served as co-chief investment officer of the world's largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates,...
New study reveals the evolution of anti-bullying laws in the U.S. over 18 years
Between 1999 and 2017, a significant shift took place across the United States as every state introduced legislation aimed at combating bullying.
This period marked...
Dogs and their owners share a risk of developing diabetes, study finds
In a new study, researchers found that owners of a dog with diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes themselves than owners...
Unprecedented weather patterns hit the U.S. in April 2024
April 2024 was a month of extreme weather across the United States, marked by over 100 tornadoes and significant snowfall, according to a recent...