Earth & Environment
How air pollution may raise depression risk in older people
Air pollution is often talked about as a threat to our lungs and hearts, but scientists are now finding that it can also affect...
How a 4,000-year-old sheep solved a long-standing plague mystery
The Black Death is one of the most infamous pandemics in human history, killing roughly a third of Europe’s population during the Middle Ages.
That...
Tattoos, toxins and the immune system – what you need to know before you...
From minimalist wrist designs to full sleeves, body art has become so common that it barely raises an eyebrow.
But while the personal meaning of...
When humans disappeared, these birds evolved different beaks
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the UCLA campus, students weren’t the only ones affected.
A small brown bird called the dark-eyed junco also felt...
When disasters strike, home batteries could be a lifeline
Extreme weather is placing greater strain on Australia's power grids.
In 2022, the record-breaking Northern Rivers floods blacked out almost 70,000 households.
A powerful storm in...
Biodegradable electronics may create microplastics, scientists warn
Electronics designed to disappear after use sound like a perfect solution to the world’s growing e-waste problem.
Known as transient or biodegradable electronics, these devices...
Your laundry is polluting the ocean—Scientists say this new filter can help
Every time we wash our clothes, tiny plastic fibers are released into the water.
These fibers come mainly from synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon...
Engineers find a way to watch desalination membranes clog in real time
As freshwater shortages worsen around the world, desalination—turning seawater into drinkable water—is becoming increasingly important.
But the technology that powers most desalination plants has a...
Scientists discover the youngest armored dinosaur ever found
For more than two decades, a small dinosaur from China has left scientists scratching their heads.
Known as Liaoningosaurus paradoxus, this strange fossil looked like...
Hot, humid weather may increase risk of kidney failure
People living in Australia's hot and humid northern regions are more likely to suffer from kidney failure than those living in cooler and less...
This brainless animal folds itself like origami, study finds
How does a living thing fold itself into complex shapes without a brain, nerves, or muscles?
A new study of one of Earth’s simplest animals...
Scientists discover 125,000-year-old elephant tracks in southeastern Spain
For the first time, scientists have uncovered fossilized footprints of large land animals preserved in ancient coastal sand dunes in the Spanish region of...
FEATURED
Will warmer weather help contain COVID-19? Not really, new research says
In two new studies, researchers suggest that the warm summer months will not strongly slow the novel coronavirus as it spreads around the globe.
They...
This brainless animal folds itself like origami, study finds
How does a living thing fold itself into complex shapes without a brain, nerves, or muscles?
A new study of one of Earth’s simplest animals...
Humans may have set foot in North America 20,000 years earlier than thought
An unexpected discovery by an Iowa State University researcher suggests that the first humans may have arrived in North America more than 30,000 years...
Latest development of AI-created art and music
In the past few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has stepped into a realm we thought was uniquely human: creativity.
From painting beautiful artworks to composing...
Melting Ice Age may have supercharged Earth’s movements and volcanoes
At the end of the last Ice Age, around 10,000 years ago, the melting of massive glaciers may have done more than just raise...
Cooking on your gas stove may pollute the air more than cars do
Did you know that using your gas stove at home might be filling your house with tiny particles that could harm your health?
A study...
New study reveals how sulfur might have cycled in Earth’s ancient oceans
Imagine trying to solve a puzzle about the Earth's ancient oceans, billions of years ago. That's exactly what geochemist Alexandra Phillips and her team...
Holiday burnout: why it happens – and three research-proven ways to help you recover
Although Christmas only lasts a few days each year, many of us spend months planning for it.
But as enjoyable as all the parties and...