Earth & Environment

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...

Ice age elephants traveled 300 km before being hunted by Neanderthals

During the Ice Age, massive elephants once roamed across Europe—and new research shows they traveled surprisingly long distances before encountering Neanderthals. A study of ancient...

Paleontologists uncover a new Spinosaurus species by following a clue from a decades‑old book...

My fixation on a small, desolate locale in the heart of the Sahara Desert started with a single line buried in a 630-page tome...

How we turned plastic waste into vinegar

Plastic is one of the most durable materials humans have ever made. That durability has made it indispensable in medicine, food packaging and transport. But...

Not quite like birds: How dinosaurs hatched their eggs less efficiently

How did dinosaurs hatch their eggs? Scientists have long debated whether bird-like dinosaurs used body heat like modern birds or relied more on environmental heat,...

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Scientists find new way to turn waste plastics into useful benzoic acid

Styrofoam egg cartons, hard plastic compact disc cases, red drinking cups and many other common products are composed of polystyrene, a type of plastic...

Physics theory could be slam dunk for basketball coaches

A physics theory that’s proven useful to predict the crowd behavior of molecules and fruit flies also seems to work in a very different context – a basketball court.

Turning phones on silent increases, not decreases, phone checking

'Common sense' advice to halt smartphone distraction may actually be misguided. Telling people to turn their smartphones off, or set them on silent as a...

Air pollution linked to childhood obesity, study finds

Childhood obesity, or kids being too heavy for their age and height, is a big problem around the world. Many things can cause it. Sometimes...

Ancient flower art reveals mathematical thinking 8,000 years ago

A new study suggests that some of the world’s earliest botanical art was much more than decoration. Researchers have found that people living over 8,000...

Your credit score may reveal where—and how—you were raised

A new study from Harvard’s Opportunity Insights group has uncovered a surprising truth: your credit score doesn’t just reflect your recent financial behavior—it can...

Fracking linked to heart disease in nearby communities, shows study

Older adults living near fracking sites in Pennsylvania were more likely to be hospitalized for cardiovascular diseases than those who lived in nearby New York state, where fracking is banned.

How dog breeds differ in pain sensitivity and how it can fool even vets

Do you ever wonder how sensitive your dog is to pain? Turns out, a dog's breed can make a difference, but the perceived pain sensitivity...