Astronauts ‘definitely will be test subjects’: NASA’s moon program raises big questions and big risks
Mars is out. And next time I might go to stay there. On Tuesday (March 24), NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced new plans to establish a “sustainable human presence” on the moon with a permanent lunar base. Isaacman said construction of humanity’s new home away from Earth could begin as early as 2027. The announcement […]
Two Neanderthals who lived in the same Siberian cave 10,000 years apart were distant relatives, found in 110,000-year-old bones
A small 110,000-year-old bone fragment from Siberia’s Altai Mountains reveals that two Neanderthals, who lived in the same cave 10,000 years apart, were distant relatives. The fragment also produced the fourth complete Neanderthal genome to date, revealing just how small and isolated Neanderthals were long before they disappeared around 40,000 years ago. Researchers discovered bone […]
18 million year old ape fossil found in Africa, found in unexpected place
Illustration of Maslipithecus mograensis, an early Miocene ape. (Image credit: Mauricio Anton) The discovery of a mysterious 18-million-year-old ape fossil in Egypt suggests that the ancestors of all modern apes, including humans, may have originated in northeast Africa or Arabia, a new study has found. Scientists have long believed that modern apes originated in East […]
Astronauts may have a hard time reproducing in outer space, research suggests, but what does that mean for the future of space colonies?
Zero gravity means zero game when it comes to fertilization success, new research suggests. Scientists observed sperm and eggs in a simulated microgravity environment and found that the environment hinders sperm migration, fertilization, and embryo development, posing serious challenges to the future of space colonization. The human, mouse, and pig study, published Thursday (March 26) […]
Mouse research suggests that brain aging is caused by a loss of control over how genes are regulated.
As we age, epigenetic markers that control gene expression in the brain can be ‘erased’, which can snowball and cause unintended consequences, a new mouse study suggests. Small chemical messages attached to our genetic code, called epigenetic markers, change with age in many organs of the human body, leading to the development of “aging clocks” […]
Live Science Today: Meth and Google fined for causing social media addiction, and how dogs have been our friends for thousands of years
Today’s top news The landmark ruling could forever change the way social media sites operate. (Image credit: Wally Skalij via Getty Images) Social media giants Meta and Google have been held liable in a landmark California lawsuit that found the companies knowingly designed addictive social media products that harmed the mental health of young women. […]
Research reveals Roman mosaic depicts topless woman fighting leopard in arena
For the first time, a Roman woman is seen fighting beasts in an arena. Ancient texts say some women fought beasts in the arenas of the Roman Empire, but a new study published March 22 in the International Journal of Sports History provides the first visual evidence that this actually happened. Women who fought beasts […]
1,000-year-old altar and human sacrifices of the Toltec Empire discovered in Mexico
Mexican archaeologists have unearthed a square stone altar used for human sacrifices during the Toltec Empire more than 1,000 years ago. The altar, human bones, obsidian knife and ceramic vessels were discovered during excavations for a transportation project near the Tula ruins, about 55 miles (88 kilometers) north of Mexico City. In a translated statement […]
China’s lander reveals giant radiation ‘cavity’ between Earth and moon – could change the way lunar exploration is done
Could becoming a ‘morning person’ on the moon improve your health? Scientists have identified what they believe to be a ‘cavity’ near Earth’s moon with reduced cosmic radiation. The discovery could help reduce astronauts’ exposure to harmful radiation on future lunar missions by timing some ground activities to local morning hours. The discovery, based on […]
NASA announces ‘nearly impossible’ space plans, including $20 billion moon base and humanity’s first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft
NASA has announced a “nearly impossible” plan to ramp up its moon-landing efforts and launch a nuclear-powered spacecraft by 2028. The change is yet another shake-up of the Artemis program that will see NASA pause development of the Lunar Gateway, humanity’s first lunar space station, and instead use its parts for a newly announced $20 […]