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Isotopes inside salmon ear tell a fishy story

According to a new study, just like tree rings carry with them hints about previous dry or rainy years, bones in fish carry with them a specific signature which records the chemical composition of the waters they used to live in. Most vertebrates, especially fish, have what is called an ‘otolith’ – a specific bony structure […]

NASA is offering over $2 million for the best design for a 3D printed Martian habitat

NASA is offering up to $2.25 million to anyone that can successfully design a habitat that can be 3D printed on Mars. The announcement is part of a broader attempt by NASA to outsource ideas and projects.

Huge Ice Shelf in Antarctica Set to Collapse

A NASA study has found that a huge ice shelf is set to collapse in a few years. The ice shelf, which has existed for over 12,000 years, is estimated to be over 200 meters thick.

Your hand shake is an indicator of your heart's health

You can find out a lot about a man by his handshake - about his personality, his feelings towards you, or... his heart health. According to a new Canadian study, a firm handshake is a reliable indicator of good health; they actually want to use handshake tests as initial ways to gauge the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Bee numbers dropping at incredible rates

Something is killing off the bees; it's likely us, and we'll all have to pay the price. In fact, in many areas of the world, we already are.

Another strong earthquake hits Nepal, no casualties reported

It seems like the people of Nepal just can't catch a break - another large, 7.4 earthquake has struck, sending the people from the capital of Kathmandu running on the streets scared.

Velociraptor's cousin was an even better predator

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have discovered a new species of dinosaur, closely related to the famous velociraptor. This new species, Saurornitholestes sullivani was a bit bulkier, probably had a better sense of smell, an researchers believe it was an even better predator than its cousin.

Curiosity Enjoys Romantic Sunset on Mars

Using its Mast Camera, the Curiosity Rover has snapped stunning images of a blue sunset on the Red Planet. The blue-tinted images show the Sun dipping into the horizon as blue streaks shroud the sky across the evening light.

When nature calls in outer space: here's how astronauts use the toilet

A few days ago, we were telling you about the espresso machine 3D printed onboard the International Space Station. Now, it’s time to go full circle and look at how the coffee… gets out of the body. Here’s how astronauts use the toilet (yes, in case you’re wondering, this is suitable for viewing at work): […]

5 Ways Louis Pasteur Changed the World

Widely considered one of the most brilliant scientists in history, Louis Pasteur basically revolutionized the world as we know it.

Archaeologists in Madagascar discover the treasure of notorious pirate Captain Kidd

Archaeologists working in Madagascar have uncovered the treasure hidden by the notorious pirate Captain Kidd – and they have the loot to prove it: a 50 kg silver bar they presented to the president of Madagascar. US explorer Barry Clifford discovered the shipwreck and recovered the silver bar, but he believes that many more still […]

New Discovery Suggests the Arabs Met the Vikings in Ancient Times

Archaeologists have uncovered a silver ring with an Arabic inscription in a Viking grave, adding support to the theory that the two cultures had fascinating connections. Different Cultures “I have never seen bodies as nearly perfect as theirs. As tall as palm trees, fair and reddish, they wear neither tunics nor kaftans. Every man wears […]

Meet the first space barista: she's Italian, and she's awesome

A few days ago, we were telling you about the first cup of coffee ever made in space, onboard the International Space Station, thanks to a 3D printed espresso machine. Along with it, six mugs were also supplied, but these are not just ordinary mugs; they have a sharp inner corner that allows the liquid to be pushed along the inside of the cup and towards the astronaut’s lips. So, now that we have the first spatial coffee, let's have a look at the person who made it.

The surreal practice of honey hunting in Nepal

The life of a beekeeper is not an easy one, but for bee hunters, it’s an entirely different world. In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, bee hunting is an ancient art practiced by some Himalayan civilizations in one way or another in the past 10,000 years. It’s been done in 8,000 BC, it’s […]

Book review: 'A Dictionary of Geology and Earth Sciences (4 ed.)'

“A Dictionary of Geology and Earth Sciences” By Michael Allaby Oxford, 672pp | Buy on Amazon Confession time: I’ve previously never owned a geology dictionary. I know, I know, I was that guy – always taking something from the University library, borrowing from my colleagues or looking for stuff online. Mea culpa – but then again, I […]

Timelapse video perfectly highlights world's largest salt flat

Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat at 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 sq mi). It is located in the Daniel Campos Province in Potosí in southwest Bolivia, close to the crests of the Andes, at 3,656 meters (11,995 ft) above sea level. It was captured in all its splendor in the above timelapse, by Enrique Pacheco. […]

Scientists find new microorganism that may shed light on evolution of complex cells

The discovery of a new microorganism may help bridge the knowledge gap between simple and complex cellular organisms, also shedding light on how complex cellular life came to be.

The LHC is back in business!

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has smashed its first particle since it was shut down two years ago. The particle accelerator is heating up with some low energy collisions, CERN said in a statement.

Fight fire with fire: toxic gut bacteria used against itself

Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that can cause numerous medical problems, including colitis or colon inflammation; in severe cases, it can actually be fatal. Now, doctors have tried a new approach in dealing with it - they tried not to eliminate it, but to replace it with its friendlier cousins.

Mysterious Oregon Lake Disappears into Lava Tunnel

Every year, in Oregon, a mysterious lake fills up with snow melt, and then every year it disappears; it’s a natural wonder that had many scientists puzzled as to where the water is going, but now, the mystery is out: the water appears to go into a lava tube.   They call it the Lost […]

Berlin T-shirt vending machine shows shoppers where cheap clothes come from

Would you buy a t-shirt for under $3? Most people would say they would, but many people in Berlin who were given the chance bounced on the opportunity, as they were shown images of the shirt’s production. A vending machine was installed in Berlin, offering 2 Euro t-shirts ($2.25 USD), as part of the Fashion Revolution Day. […]

Huge floods might have spelled doom for prevalent American civilization

Megafloods likely wiped out one of the most significant American civilizations, a new study has concluded. Until now, the reason of their demise remained a mystery.

Fjords are good at fighting global warming, study finds

While fjords are admired worldwide for their unique beauty, a new study has found that these natural ecosystems also act as carbon sinks, playing an important role in regulating our planet's climate.

China develops scientific centers in Antarctica. But why?

China is showing increased interest in Antarctica, developing several outposts and research stations on the frozen continent. But while from a research perspective that may seem interesting and exciting, China's interests seem more strategic than research-focused. Here's why.

25,000 Mexican Fisherman Sue BP Over Environmental Disaster

Five years after the British Petroleum catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, Mexican fishermen have still not received any compensation, so they've decided to sue the oil giant.

Underwater volcano erupts off the coast of Oregon

An underwater volcano 300 miles off the coast of Oregon has awakened from its slumber and apears to spew out lava. There is no immediate danger, but geologists are excited to be able to study it in real time.

Book review: ‘Introduction to Mineralogy’

Mineralogy is one of the most beautiful and most difficult subjects in geology - I had a love/hate relationship with it in my undergrad years. Reading an introductory textbook takes me back, and brings back lots of memories - and it doesn't get much better than this when it comes to textbooks. The second edition of Introduction to Mineralogy does a great job at complementing its predecessor and sets a high standard for mineralogy textbooks worldwide.

Swap a sweet drink for water and you get a 25% lower chance of diabetes

Swapping out a single daily sweet drink for water or unsweetened tea or coffee can lower the risk of diabetes by up to 25%, a new research suggests.

The Bombardier Beetle Packs a Hot Machine Gun

Many beetles have defense mechanisms which involves foul chemicals squirting from their abdomens, but bombardier beetles have taken it to the next level. Researchers from MIT, the University of Arizona, and Brookhaven National Laboratory wanted to see how it works, so they studied the bombardier beetle and figured it out. The research is published in Science.

9 Foods to Make Sure You're Eating Enough Potassium

Potassium is one of the more important nutrients in our diet, and the recommended daily dietary intake is 4700mg – but few of us actually get even close to that figure (you may need more or less potassium depending on your body and if you have certain medical conditions). Sure, you can take dietary supplements, but […]

Aesthetic arrangements from garbage? Alejandro Duran’s site-specific dirty decorations

They say that one man’s trash is another man’s gold, but artist Alejandro Duran gave a whole new meaning to that saying. Walking along the coastline in Sian Ka’an, Mexico’s largest federally-protected reserve, he collects many bits of trash that wash up on the coast from all over the world and uses them for site site-specific installations for an ongoing […]

Book review: ‘Ecological Statistics: Contemporary theory and application’

“Ecological Statistics: Contemporary theory and application” By Gordon A. Fox, Simoneta Negrete-Yankelevich, Vinicio J. Sosa Oxford University Press, 400pp | Buy on Amazon Modern ecology is less about field observations and data, and more about what you do with the data – that’s where statistics shines. However, many ecologists or biologists aren’t especially savvy in statistics, […]

Teens: Forget the salt, eat more bananas

In the modern world, we tend to eat more salt than we should, and that can have several negative impacts on our body, including higher blood pressure – or so we thought. But a new study on teenage girls found that salt has no negative effect on blood pressure; bananas do. “It may be that […]

Coral disease threatens Hawaii reef

A disease called black band coral disease is affecting nearly half of the reef sites researchers have surveyed in waters off Kauai and threatens to destroy Hawaii's reefs, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Creative sandblasting art by Kyle Goodwin

Sandblasting is a type of abrasive blasting which involves propelling a stream of abrasive material against a surface under high pressure to smooth a rough surface, roughen a smooth surface, shape a surface, or remove surface contaminants. But while it is most often used to clean pipes and smooth rough surfaces, it can also have other […]

10 Remarkable Entries from the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

It’s that time of the year again! The 27th annual National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest opened on April 7, and we already have some awesome entries; before we dive into them and admire their magnificence, you should know that you too can enter the contest using this link. Official categories include:Travel Portraits; Outdoor Scenes; Sense of Place; […]

Childhood bullying has worse effects than adult maltreatment

Childhood bullying seems to be almost ubiquitous to some extent, and yet researchers have time and time again underlined the negative effects it can have. Now, a new study has concluded that kids who were bullied by their peers suffer worse in the long term than those who were maltreated by adults. The research was […]

WHO: The world is not prepared to deal with antibiotic resistance

Drug-resistant bacteria are one of the biggest challenges mankind has to face in the near, as well as distant, future. In a recent survey conducted by the World Health Organization it was revealed that only 34 out of 133 questioned countries have even a basic plan to combat the misuse of antibiotics fuelling drug resistance and encouraging the development of superbugs.

Lake Michigan is so clear right now you can see its shipwrecks from air

A coast guard patrol reported that Lake Michigan’s shallow waters are so clear that  you can actually see the shipwrecks on the bottom of the lake, until sediments stir up the water and algae blooms develop. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one that’s completely on […]

Geological art: Urban geodes on the streets of L.A.

If you happened to wander in the right areas in L.A. recently, you may have noticed a rather peculiar and unique style of art: apparent geodes appearing in the cracks and crevices around the city. Here’s what I’m talking about: Naturally, these aren’t actually geodes – geodes are geological structures in which numerous crystals from in […]

Nobuo Okano and the forgotten art of restoring old books

  While many people today aren’t even considering reading paper books, Japanese craftsman Okano Nobuo has been repairing old, tattered books and making them look brand new. Using simple tools like a wooden press, chisel, water and glue, Okano can make even incredibly, centuries old books look like they just came out of the press. He and […]

New Cancer Treatment Dissolves a Woman's Tumor in 3 Weeks

You hear about potential cancer treatments all the time, and despite significant and remarkable improvements, we're still miles away from an actual cure for cancer; so what makes this therapy so great? Well... it just seems to work - on humans, suffering from cancer, not in a lab. For one woman, it seems to have completely dissolved a big tumor in just three weeks, and overall, 53% of patients experienced at least 80% tumor shrinkage.

Gamers have more grey matter and better brain connectivity, new research suggests

All those hours of leveling up your character have finally paid off - a new study conducted by Australian and Chinese researchers suggests that playing computer games not only increases the amount of grey matter in your brain, but also promotes better connectivity between different areas of the brain.

Biologists find algal embryo that "turned itself inside out"

Researchers from Cambridge have, for the first time, captured a 3D video of a living algal embryo turning itself inside out: from a sphere into a mushroom and into a sphere again. The results could help us better understand the process of gastrulation in animal embryos -- which biologist Lewis Wolpert called "the most important event in your life."

Turkey Sized Vegetarian T-Rex Discovered

A seven year old has discovered the fossil of a turkey-sized dinosaur that roamed South America over 140 million years ago. The tiny dinosaur was related to T-Rex, but had few similarities to it; aside for its size, the dinosaur was a vegetarian, munching on plants instead of terrorizing other creatures.

Man cleans up entire river on his way to work

We all see garbage in our daily routine, be it on the way to work, school, or just on the streets. But most people just choose to ignore it; after all, what difference could one man possibly do? Well, Tommy Kleyn didn’t think like that when he was walking pass a polluted river to work. He […]

Experiment made people feel like they're invisible

We've all had days when we've felt invisible metaphorically, but Swedish researchers have taken it to the next level - they've made a man actually feel like he's invisible.

The Mind Bending Types of Geological Folds

Folds are some of the most common geological phenomena you see in the world – a geological fold occurs when planar (usually sedimentary) layers are curved and/or bent, permanently deformed due to outside pressure. Folds’ sizes can vary from microscopic to mountain-sized, as you can see above. Despite being a fairly simple process (in principle), […]

Handy women: females are better than male at DIYs - at least in chimps

In most cultures, men are typically regarded as handy and it’s usually up to them to do the handy work – it’s quite a stereotype actually, but I think it’s among the few that really stick; but a new study reveals that women may actually be much more well suited for that job. Female chips […]

Massive Methane Hotspot Over the US Might Signal Bigger Problems to Come

A "massive methane hotspot" sounds pretty bad... and bad it is - much worse than previously thought. In 2014, NASA reported that the methane hotspot is responsible for producing the largest concentration of the greenhouse gas methane seen over the United States – more than triple the standard ground-based estimate. But the methane, a potent greenhouse gas, might have even more drastic consequences on the climate of our planet.
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