Earth & Environment
Five things to know about rare earth elements
Aside from oil, rare earth elements may be the most buzzworthy thing coming out of the ground these days.
Headlines trumpet news about new partnerships...
A sleeping giant awakens: Japan’s Kikai volcano is slowly refilling with magma
Scientists have discovered that one of the most powerful volcanoes in Earth’s recent history is slowly building up magma again—more than 7,000 years after...
Scientists discover lost ice age world beneath Texas cave
A surprising discovery deep inside an underwater cave in Texas has revealed a hidden snapshot of life from the Ice Age.
A paleontologist from the...
Why winter could be the most dangerous season for your heart
Many people worry about heat waves and rising temperatures, but new research suggests that cold weather may be a greater danger to heart health.
A...
Not so lonely after all: Bull sharks choose friends and form social bonds
Sharks are often seen as solitary and dangerous animals that roam the ocean alone. But new research is challenging that image.
A long-term study of...
A tiny “ion pump” could make clean water cheaper and power future technologies
Scientists have developed a new kind of device that can move charged particles through water using very little energy—and without any moving parts.
This breakthrough...
Study finds surprising cancer link between cats and humans
A large new study has made an exciting discovery about cancer in cats, and it may also help improve how we treat cancer in...
Earth was already moving 3.5 billion years ago, study finds
The story of our planet is written in the slow movement of its surface.
Over billions of years, shifting tectonic plates have shaped continents, opened...
Why fashion keeps coming back: Scientists find a 20-year style cycle
Have you ever noticed that old fashion trends seem to come back?
Bell-bottom jeans, miniskirts, and vintage styles often return after disappearing for years.
Many people...
Are ‘designer’ dogs really better? New study questions popular beliefs
“Designer” crossbreed dogs like cockapoos, cavapoos, and labradoodles have become very popular pets in recent years.
Many people believe these dogs are easier to train,...
Neanderthals might have treated infections 50,000 years ago
Neanderthals, our ancient human relatives, may have been more skilled in health care than we once thought.
A new study suggests that they could have...
QLD GPs face barriers in supporting VAD, shows QUT study
Queensland general practitioners provide compassionate, holistic care to patients seeking voluntary assisted dying (VAD), but many face significant hurdles that limit their capacity to...
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Scientists find cold, dry planets could have a lot of hurricanes!
Hurricanes usually mean water as they use warm, moist air for fuel.
However, new simulations show they can form in extremely cold, dry climates.
A climate...
Climate change and overfishing are boosting toxic mercury levels in fish
We live in an era — the Anthropocene — where humans and societies are reshaping and changing ecosystems.
Pollution, human-made climate change and overfishing have...
The moon was once covered by an ocean of molten rock
Data from India's recent Chandrayaan-3 mission supports the idea that an ocean of molten rock once covered the moon.
Scientists from the mission have published...
A surprising discovery in the ocean: nature’s ingenious nitrogen fixers
For a long time, we've believed that only bacteria had the special ability to grab nitrogen from the air and turn it into something...
Ants on the move: How invasive ants hitchhike on cars
Invasive ants have found a surprising new way to travel: hitchhiking on everyday vehicles.
Research shows that these ants pack up their entire colony, including...
Even lawyers don’t like legalese. They prefer plain English too!
Legal documents are notorious for being difficult to understand, causing frustration for anyone who has encountered them.
Surprisingly, a recent study from MIT reveals that...
Whales learn songs from each other in a cultural ‘deep dive’
A University of Queensland-led study has found humpback whales can learn incredibly complex songs from whales from other regions.
Dr Jenny Allen, whose doctoral work...
Seabird takes a wild 1,000 km ride on a typhoon: what this tells us...
In 2019, a big storm called Typhoon Faxai hit Japan.
It was very strong, with winds close to 200 km/hr. While this storm caused problems...