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Meteorites impacting ancient Earth could have formed the basic ingredients for life

A novel simulation mimicked the conditions of early Earth, finding that meteorites could have seeded the essential building blocks for life.

The risk of a Yellowstone super-eruption is actually decreasing, new study finds

Nothing would surprise us in 2020, but a Yellowstone eruption is likely not on the menu.

Mangrove forests could be gone by 2050 if sea levels continue to rise

The forests would be in danger if the sea level rises more than six millimeters per year

Trump continues to weaken environmental regulations in the United States

New projects won't need to go through an environmental review amid the coronavirus pandemic, while EPA limits air quality controls.

Astronomers may have found a twin solar system thousands of light-years away

Observations suggest that the exoplanet and its parent star are strikingly similar to Earth and the Sun.

Scientists make synthetic red blood cells that mimic natural properties, and some extra features

The artificial blood cells can carry different payloads such as cancer therapies.

Fossil Friday: the UK's first-ever pterodactyl fossil

The dinosaur belonged to a family of pterodactyls called tapejarids.

New treatment could finally prevent anaphylaxis in people with allergies

A preventive treatment could prevent a lot of deaths.

CO2 levels hit all-time highs despite coronavirus crisis

Atmospheric carbon dioxide exceeded the 417 parts per million on average during May.

Foxes living in the city are starting to become domesticated

They seem to like city life.

Good news -- study finds that people generally try to help one another out

We have a desire to help hardwired into us.

Modified immune cells could be a long-term treatment for type 1 diabetes

Patients with type 1 diabetes currently need daily injections of insulin to manage the disease.

Archaeologists track down the earliest use of maize in the Mesoamerican area

When corn first entered people's lives, it was likely in the form of an alcoholic liquor.

Largest and oldest Maya monument forces archaeologists to rethink how the civilization evolved

There's more than one hot item in the state of Tabasco.

Mars may have had planetary rings billions of years ago -- and might get a new one

A tiny Martian moon suggests Mars may have had planetary rings.

The world's cleanest air is in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica

It's truly pristine and unaffected by pollution from human activities.

Three times more Americans are now experiencing psychological distress due to the pandemic

Looming fears over contracting disease and economic uncertainty is causing major psychological suffering among American adults.

Fuel tank collapses in Russia, leaking 20,000 tons of diesel in Arctic river

It's considered the second largest environmental accident in modern Russian history.

Scientists engineer squid-like transparent human cells

Sorry -- no invisible humans any time soon, but the applications can be intriguing.

Pregnant women living near oil and gas wells are 40% more likely to birth low-weight babies

Researchers looked at the records of three million births in California and found a disturbing pattern.

Human mini-livers set the stage for an organ donor free future

Researchers developed a miniature liver from human skin cells

Climate change will make droughts more intense, more frequent

New research from ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, Australia, says we’ll see longer and more frequent droughts due to climate change. Southwestern Australia, parts of southern Australia, as well as regions in the Amazon, Mediterranean and southern Africa can expect to see more frequent and intense droughts in the future as climate patterns […]

Air pollution is back to pre-coronavirus levels in China, and Europe could follow

Satellite date shows concentrations of fine particles and nitrogen dioxide is rising again in China

Deforestation: 2019 is the third most devastating year of the century

Satellite data shows that 2019 was the third most devastating year since the turn of the century.

The iconic 'Dumbo' octopus stars in the deepest-ever octopus sighting

It's the deepest confirmed sighting of any cephalopod.

Police officers accused of brutal violence often have a history of complaints by citizens

Complaints are a reliable indicator -- but they need to be addressed properly.

Can exposure to the common cold offer immunity to COVID-19?

There a four coronaviruses known to cause common colds, but can they offer any immunity against SARS-CoV-2?

Researchers document how asymptomatic COVID-19 cases unknowingly spread the coronavirus

A rather large portion of COVID-19 cases lack symptoms. A new study reveals new insights into how they can spread the disease.

How close are we to reaching herd immunity for the coronavirus?

Just 3% of the world's population has antibodies for COVID-19 -- woefully short of at least 60% required for herd immunity.

How to stop police violence with evidence-based policy

Sweeping the dirt under the rug won't cut it anymore. Here's what research says about what works and what doesn't to curtail police violence.

Stress greys our hair out, and the process is reversible within a 'relatively short' timeframe

Our mental state does have an effect on the hair, it seems.

The world is facing a sixth mass extinction -- and it's happening much faster than expected

Human activities are driving thousands of species to the brink of extinction.

New Ebola outbreak hits Congo, with five deaths and growing concerns

It happens as the country deals with a coronavirus and a large measles outbreak.

May was the sunniest month on record in the UK -- and climate change might be behind it

Meteorologist are surprised by the sudden change from extremely wet to extremely dry weather in the UK.

Cannabis was used for religious rites in Israel, archeologists find

It’s not only about discovering temples and ancient civilizations. Archeologists can sometimes discoverunexpected surprises, such as the use of cannabis in ancient Israel.

Gold mining with mercury poses health threats for hundreds of miles downstream

Even small-scale gold mining with mercury can pose important threat to ecosystems and communities, two new studies conclude.

Riot or resistance? How media frames unrest in Minneapolis will shape public's view of protest

The role of the media is crucial in the ongoing protests.

The Milky Way's halo might be thousands of times hotter than the sun's surface

The halo surrounding the Milky Way may be much hotter than originally thought.

GMO eggplants yield 20% more produce and revenue in Bangladesh

Farmers see higher yields thanks to genetically engineered eggplants.

New sodium-ion battery performs on par with some lithium-ion batteries

The salty future of energy storage might be upon us.

Climate change is making marine species migrate towards the poles faster than those on land

Marine species move to the poles six times faster than those on land.

Do dogs really respond to human cries for help?

"Don't worry, hooman. Fluffy come rescue."

Mobile data shows which European countries took lockdown seriously

Anonymized data can show us who stayed more at home -- and this can be useful to devise long-term strategies.

Conservation efforts save endangered Hainan gibbon from the brink of extinction

The primate is making a comeback, with now over 30 gibbons living in the island of Hainan.

Lockdown: we need to experiment with reopenings now to prevent a second wave

If we want to relax the lockdown, we need to experiment. But that's exactly the kind of thing policymakers don't like.

SpaceX makes history, launches its first crew mission to the ISS

It's the first maned launched from US soil since the space shuttle was retired nine years ago.

While the world is looking at AI, it's biotech that could end up changing the world

From cheap genetical sequencing to quick medical tests and synthetic meat, a biotech revolution is just waiting to happen

The coronavirus cleaned our air -- it might clean the waters, too

Cleaner air might make for cleaner waters, too.

How we get trapped in the same Youtube loops

Researchers try to untangle the twisted vines of Youtube suggestions.

Humanity is making trees grow less and live shorter lives

Its a bad time to be a tree.