Earth & Environment

Spring daylight saving time may raise the risk of eye disease

Changing the clocks for daylight saving time may do more than make people feel tired. A new study suggests that the one-hour time change could...

Could Purple Corn Replace Artificial Food Dyes?

A special type of purple corn may soon help replace artificial food dyes in many foods and drinks, according to new research from the...

1789 Smallpox Epidemic May Have Killed Up to 220,000 Indigenous Australians, Study Finds

A new study has used computer modeling to provide one of the clearest pictures yet of the devastating smallpox epidemic that struck Indigenous Australians...

Fossilized wood preserved 300 million years of Earth’s history

Most people think of fossilized wood as an attractive stone displayed in museums or sold as a decorative souvenir. However, scientists have now discovered that...

Did the dinosaur-killing asteroid really shape tuna evolution?

For years, many scientists believed that the asteroid impact that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago also helped shape the evolution...

How School Air Pollution Could Affect Children’s Health for Years to Come

When parents think about air pollution, they often worry about asthma or coughing. However, a large European study suggests that dirty air may also quietly...

This clever parakeet helped design its own perch

Most products made for pets are designed entirely by humans. But what if animals could help design the things they use? A new project suggests...

Ancient Monsoons Created a Spectacular Dinosaur Fossil Site

Around 80 million years ago, a stretch of tropical coastline in what is now northeastern Italy was lashed by monsoon rains and tropical cyclones. Those...

Ancient marine animals began living in empty shells 470 million years ago

Around 470 million years ago, life in Earth's oceans took an important evolutionary step when marine animals began moving into empty seashells for the...

Why handheld fans are not cool for the planet

Portable handheld fans are now often stacked beside chewing gum and vapes at supermarket checkouts and discount stores, available for less than £10. Once mainly...

Archaeologists discover spectacular Roman mosaic hidden beneath English farmland

Archaeologists have uncovered an impressive Roman villa beneath farmland in Devon, southwest England, revealing a colorful mosaic floor, a luxurious bathhouse, and a collection...

Where do the world’s biggest diamonds come from

Some of the most extraordinary gems ever found belong to a rare class of diamonds known as CLIPPIRs (Cullinan-like, Large, Inclusion-Poor, Pure, Irregular, Resorbed). They...

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Why tree frogs lay eggs on the ground

In a fascinating study from Nagoya University in Japan, researchers have uncovered why tree frogs, known for their arboreal lifestyle, sometimes opt to lay...

Scientists discover 10,000-year-old rice beer in China

Researchers have uncovered traces of rice beer dating back 10,000 years at the Shangshan site in Zhejiang Province, China. This discovery, published in the Proceedings...

Should you sell your palm print to Amazon?

Amazon is offering $10 in store credit to anyone who hands over their palm prints for use at the company's register-free brick and mortar...

Puppies are born ready to communicate with people, study shows

Dogs may have earned the title "man's best friend" because of how good they are at interacting with people. Those social skills may be present...

Half of Americans’ IQ harmed by lead exposure in last century

In 1923, lead was first added to gasoline to help keep car engines healthy. However, automotive health came at the great expense of our...

New Low-Cost Leaf Spray Helps Tomatoes Thrive in Salty Soil, Study Finds

A simple and inexpensive leaf spray could help tomato plants grow better in salty soils, offering farmers a promising new way to protect crops...

Why touching a dog can help you reduce stress and depression

In a study from the University of Basel, scientists found that viewing, feeling, and touching real dogs leads to increasingly higher levels of activity...

6 million years ago something slammed into modern-day Brazil

Giant impacts on Earth's surface can be cataclysmic events with far-reaching consequences. They can excavate massive craters like the Vredefort Crater. There's also growing evidence...