Earth & Environment
Did long childhood shape the evolution of the human brain?
Humans have a uniquely long childhood compared to great apes, during which we develop the skills needed to navigate our complex social lives.
Scientists have...
Scientists develop low-cost method to remove microplastics from water
Microplastics, tiny plastic particles, are found almost everywhere—in the air, soil, oceans, and even inside our bodies.
These fragments, created by the breakdown of larger...
First amber found in Antarctica reveals ancient forest secrets
For the first time, scientists have discovered amber on the Antarctic continent, filling a major gap in the global map of amber finds.
This remarkable...
How to grow food without light
Researchers have come up with an exciting new idea called “electro-agriculture” that could revolutionize how we grow food.
Instead of relying on sunlight and photosynthesis,...
Elon Musk has turned X into a globally influential media platform—and there’s more to...
During the recent United States presidential election campaign, tech billionaire Elon Musk's social media platform X (formerly Twitter) saw record high usage.
The platform—and Musk...
Scientists create super-efficient electro-biodiesel to cut carbon emissions
Diesel-powered vehicles are a major contributor to carbon emissions, which are difficult to reduce.
In the U.S., diesel fuel use accounted for about 25% of...
Space tourism: The good, the bad, the meh
Space tourism here is here to stay, and will likely remain a permanent fixture of near-Earth activities for the foreseeable future.
But is it worth...
Pentagon’s latest UFO report identifies hotspots for sightings
The Pentagon office in charge of fielding UFO reports says that it has resolved 118 cases over the past year, with most of those...
Airlines cancel flights after volcanic eruptions. Why that’s a good thing
At least three airlines cancelled flights between Australia and Bali this week after a volcano eruption in eastern Indonesia spewed a vast plume of...
12,000-year-old stones could be ancient tools leading to wheel technology
Archaeologists in Israel have uncovered a collection of 12,000-year-old perforated stones that might represent one of humanity's first steps toward rotational technology, including the...
How extraterrestrial civilizations could become “stellarvores”
One of the most challenging aspects of astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) is anticipating what life and extraterrestrial civilizations will look...
An otherworldly cloud over New Zealand
Filmmakers love New Zealand. Its landscapes evoke other worlds, which explains why so much of The Lord of the Rings was filmed there.
The country...
FEATURED
Jealousy in Dogs
When hearing the word “jealousy”, most people will think about a love triangle, in which an interloper threatens a romantic relationship.
However, jealousy is evolved...
3D holographic head-up display could improve road safety
Researchers have developed the first LiDAR-based augmented reality head-up display for use in vehicles.
Tests on a prototype version of the technology suggest that it...
Scientists find the Nile river is about six times older than previously thought
Ancient Egyptians considered the Nile river to be the source of all life.
The steady northward path of the river has nourished the fertile valleys...
Carbon dioxide capture and use could become a new global business
Capturing carbon dioxide and turning it into commercial products, such as fuels or construction materials, could become a new global industry, according to a...
Scientists discover a super-earth near the habitable zone of a red dwarf
A super-Earth planet has been found near the habitable zone of a red dwarf star only 37 light-years from the Earth.
This is the first...
When city lights turn deadly for migrating birds
Imagine a world where the night sky in cities glows not just with stars but with myriad lights from buildings and street lamps.
While this...
What kinds of astronomy could be done with a telescope on the Moon
For decades, astronomers have said that one of the most optimal places to build large telescopes is on the surface of the Moon.
The Moon...
Are human burial practices messing up Earth’s ecosystems?
Life depends on death — living things die, decompose and eventually become nutrients for other life.
But when humans die, we’re often embalmed and buried...