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Just one energy drink can pose significant health risks

A single energy drink can alter your health significantly, and consuming energy drinks regularly can be absolutely devastating.

Fossils of huge rats found in Asia

Archaeologists have discovered fossils of rats 10 times bigger than modern rats. Working with the Australian National University (ANU), the team made the findings in East Timor, a former Portuguese colony in south-east Asia. Dr Julien Louys of the ANU School of Culture, History and Language said these are the largest rat fossils ever to be found, and by […]

Greenhouse gas concentrations reach new record

The world enters uncharted territory in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, as concentrations reach record levels, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced.

Is this the most accurate tech prediction ever?

Nikola Tesla had it right since 1908.

Hydraulic fracking use of water linked to environmental impact

The sheer use of water, which can have a huge environmental impact.

Holocaust survivors encode trauma in their genes and pass it on to offspring

In a testament to epigenetics, researchers show that it's possible that the marks of trauma can be transmitted down to subsequent generations.

Tremors around St. Helens may hint at a new eruption

Seismic tremors around Mount St. Helens hint at a new possible eruption in the area. Geological surveys have revealed the interior structure of the volcanic system, and geologists have been able to correlate seismic activity with the activation of the system

Canadian study questions the efficacy of helmet legislation

Researchers studied the link between cycling helmet legislation and recorded head injuries in various parts of the country. Their findings put into question the efficacy of helmet legislation, and the researchers suggest that the best way to protect cyclists is for the government to provide infrastructure tailored to their needs.

A futuristic garden that lets you grow food at home just raised $230,000 on Kickstarter in 4 days

Let's try again: Imagine you could grow your food at home, year-round, using a futuristic aquarium/garden system!

Climate change might force 100 million people back into poverty by 2030

Significant progress has been made in curbing poverty at the global level, but the rapid escalation of climate change could force developing regions to take two steps backwards. A World Bank report says as many as 100 million people could be pushed back into poverty by 2030 if no measures are taken, i.e. we go about business as usual

Liverpool becomes the first city to try out fast walking lanes... sort of

As anyone who’s visited a big city knows, few things are more annoying than being stuck behind meandering tourists when you’re trying to get somewhere fast. Now, the British city of Liverpool has come up with an ingenious solution: fast walking lanes. I often complain that crowded sidewalks are too difficult to navigate: you’ve got […]

Scientists see something shooting out of a black hole for the first time

Just like predicted, astronomers observed a flare ejected out of a black hole... but they don't know exactly why.

Can't find motivation to exercise? Do some drugs, expert says

Exercise is good for you, we all know that. Even better with drugs.

Drug resistant Strep and the return of the scarlet fever

In a study published Monday in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers from the University of Queensland caution that the surge in scarlet fever cases may pose an unexpected threat.

Study finds most women are gay or bisexual -- a personal take

The study recorded the biological responses (a fancy wording for arousal) of a sample of 345 women who watched videos of nude males and females. And the data is quite surprising: 82% of participants responded sexually to both men and women.

Treasure trove of Permian fossils discovered in Brazil

The fossils were discovered in the Parnaiba Basin of north-eastern Brazil, and are some 278 million years old, corresponding to the Permian period, when all the continents we know today were still fused together.

Matter and antimatter have the same properties, experiment suggests

All models of particle physics are based on the mundane assumption that matter and anti-matter are indistinguishable, but we can't be sure. Luckily, an experiment at Brookhaven National Lab seems to confirm this basic caveat of particle physics after it found the attractive forces between antiprotons are the same as those seen in regular matter.

Exxon investigated by NY attorney general for lying about climate change

ZME Science reported earlier that Exxon Mobil might be liable for a RICO case similar to tobacco companies for withholding information about the risks of climate change and actively seeking to manipulate public opinion to favor its business. Now, a NY Times article reports New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman is investigating the oil & gas company on suspicion that the company failed to mention critical information to its investors about the risks of climate change. A subpoena was issued on Wednesday evening to Exxon Mobil, demanding extensive financial records, emails and other documents.

NASA announcement: Martian atmosphere was stripped by solar wind

NASA figured out how Mars transformed from a lush environment to a red desert.

Eye drops with new chemical could clear up cataracts

Scientists have discovered a new chemical that could reverse cataracts, one of the leading causes of blindness.

"Designer Cells" Reverse Cancer in one-year-old

When one-year-old Layla Richards, from London, was diagnosed with an aggressive strain of leukaemia, the word 'incurable' struck like a hammer.

China pollutes more than previously thought - still way less per capita than the US

According to recently released data from Chinese authorities, the country is burning out even more than previously thought

Endangered Fishers are killed by rat poison on marijuana farms

Illegal marijuana farms often spray the vicinity of their crops with rodenticides to exterminate pests that lurk about and compromise the plants. The farmers will most often than sprinkle the rat poison on delicious treats like peanut butter or bacon to attract the rodents and kept them away from their precious cannabis. It's not just rats that fall for it though. Red foxes, spotted owls and, sadly, the endangered weasel-like fishers. According to a new study published in PLoS One, one in ten fishers die because of rodenticide ingestion from illegal marijuana farms.

Owning a car that can't drive itself will be like having a horse, says Elon Musk

"Any cars that are being made that don’t have full autonomy will have negative value. It will be like owning a horse," Musk said.

Alien cancer: man develops lung tumors from a tapeworm

In what can only be called a medical oddity, doctors in Columbia found that a man's lung tumor wasn't actually caused by human cancer cells, but those of a parasite. Apparently, due to the patient's weakened immune system, cells from the parasite leached into the rest of the body and eventually developed into cancer. This is the very first reported case of a patient sick with cancer sourced from outside the body. It's literally alien cancer.

Want to become an astronaut? Maybe even go to Mars? Now you can apply

From Dec. 14, NASA is opening applications for its new astronaut crew. The minimal requirements aren't that strict, but as you might imagine to make the cut you'll have to prove you're better than a stellar class of applicants.

Japan casts steel-like glass using levitation

Using a newly-developed production method, the Institute of Industrial Science at Tokyo University succeeded in producing a type of glass that rivals steel in hardness. The new material opens huge developmental lanes for any glass and glass-related product, from tableware to bulletproof glass.

Scotland to build giant, floating wind farm

The Scottish government announced that it approved the construction of UK's first, and the world's largest floating offshore wind farm.

Low fat diets have a very low impact, decade-long study finds

A meta-analysis of 53 weight-loss studies spanning over several decades and focusing on 68,000 people found that weight loss have a very low impact - if any.

List of secret mustard gas test subjects publicized by NPR

The NPR was recently investigating into records pertaining to secret experiments and found the names of nearly 4,000 individuals that were exposed to mustard gas. The names are joined by a further 1,700 individuals that the NPR could only find a "last known location" for.

NASA to make major announcement about Mars

NASA just loves to hype up its announcements, but so far, they've never disappointed.

AI institute develops new, free, science source engine

Backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, an Artificial Intelligence institute has launched a new, innovative and perhaps most importantly - free, science search engine.

New evidence that T-Rex was indeed a cannibal

Tyrannosaurus was one of the fiercest land predators ever, despite claims that the dinosaur was mostly a scavenger. While this is true to a degree, T-Rex was most definitely a hunter at heart even though the predator might have munched on a carcass or two from time to time. Apparently, the dinosaur even ate its own kind, a new study suggests.

How the pineapple might help crops use less water

The pineapple is the second most grown fruit crop behind bananas, with 85 countries producing about 25 million metric tons each year. It's sweet, exotic, tasty. Most people love it. But there's more to the pineapple than meets the eye. It's one of the most drought resistant crops out there, and scientists have now finally identified the genes that make the pineapple so resilient. By genetically engineering similar crops that share a genetic history with the pineapple it's possible to lend its drought resistance, and thus help curb the stress these face at the hand of global warming.

Earth From Space: 15 Amazing Things in 15 Years from the ISS

NASA recently celebrated 15 years of continuous habitation on the International Space Station. During this time, the ISS and other satellites brought us an inestimable trove of information, pushing forth our understanding of the planet by a wide margin. Let’s have a look at some of these accomplishments. Detecting the ozone hole Monitoring the ozone hole […]

Children's self esteem is already established at the age of 5

A new study has found that by the age of 5, children already have a sense of self-esteem comparable in strength to that of adults.

90 percent of skin viruses are completely unknown

Just like an ecosystem inhabits an area, so to is your skin inhabited by a swarm of micro-organisms - including viruses.

Poor air quality in the office might halve productivity

It's no secret that people nowadays spend most of their time indoors. In high-income countries, as many as 66% of jobs are in the service sector. If you fall in this category, you most likely work in an office environment, which might seem benign enough and boring, of course. However, not all office buildings are built the same. The various materials and furnishings can not only affect your performance at work, but also our health. A new study published in the journal Environmental Health Reports quantified the effects of air quality and found employees working in environments with minimum pollutants in the air performed up to twice as better on cognitive tests.

How oxytocin and THC stimulate social interactions

A new study from the University of California looks at the link between the bonding hormone oxytocin and the effect of marijuana in social contexts that improve interpersonal bonding. Their findings offer insight into how the hormone could make social interactions more fulfilling and satisfying by enhancing our natural cannabinoid receptors.

The ISS: in space for 15 years

It's a remarkable landmark for the International Space Station (ISS) - it's been successfully orbiting the Earth for 15 years.

Scientists find hydrocarbon dunes on Saturn's moon Titan

Saturn's moon Titan has some odd similarities to Earth: it has clouds, lakes and rain, except they're made of methane and ethane.

Do chimps have accents? New research casts doubt on it

A study published by British researchers caused a storm among biologists; the question on everyone's lips - do chimps have accents?

How robots are transforming healthcare

The world of robotics is extremely exciting. Everyday we come closer to building R2-D2, Terminators, and the Iron Giant. The days of having a Betamax, our “personal healthcare assistant” are even closer still, thanks to robotics in healthcare.

Scientists find the smallest snail

The tiny mollusk measures only 0.033 inches (0.86 mm) on average.

The 10 Most Poisonous Plants on Earth

Like all living beings, plants also have natural defense mechanisms in the form of spikes, stings and thorns to protect themselves from animals. Some of the plants are as dangerous as snakes or spiders are, this is to deter animals from touching them. In fact, many deadly poisonous plants grow in our own yards or neighborhoods, […]

Germany is about to plug in a machine that could revolutionize the energy industry

For decades, scientists have been discussing about the possibility of a clean, virtually inexhaustible source of energy – and they still are. But with the work of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, that may soon change, and the way we think of energy might change. After over 1.1 million construction hours, they […]

Rarest whale in the world captured on film for the first time

A new finding is sending waves throughout the marine biology community: Omura's whale, a whale so rare that researchers weren't even sure if it exists anymore

Cuban Oil and American Détente

Havana lawyer, Dr Fidel Castro, in Washington DC, 1959. (Wikipedia) Besides sunshine and sugar cane, what has Cuba got? It looks like the USA is serious about letting Americans party along Havana’s beaches and carry home a cigar or two. For two generations, two of the continent’s closest neighbours have been estranged with nary a […]

IndieGoGo is helping climate change deniers to raise money to derail Paris climate talks

Usually, when we hear something about IndieGoGo, we're excited; it's either an innovative product, a service, or something awesome. Not this time.

Science sexism at its finest: Russian astronauts asked how they will manage without make-up and men

It was exciting at first when Russia announced that six female astronauts would live in a spacecraft in Moscow for eight days, but it went downhill fast.