Kazakhstan plants tens of thousands of trees in major tiger reintroduction effort
Tigers will soon roam Kazakhstan for the first time in more than 70 years, as conservationists embark on a major effort to restore some of their lost habitat. Kazakhstan’s last Caspian tiger disappeared in the late 1940s after years of hunting, habitat loss, and declining prey numbers. Now, the Central Asian country has ambitious plans […]
I found out why my shoes squeak, and it has something to do with miniature lightning bolts.
The ubiquitous sneaker squeak on basketball courts may be caused by more than just friction, new research suggests. Researchers found that the sharp sound of rubber on hard floors occurs when a small slippery area between the sole and the floor moves at supersonic speeds. And in some experiments, the process produced miniature lightning-like sparks. […]
Largest ever map of the Milky Way galaxy’s center, new ALMA observations reveal ‘unusual and mysterious’ structure
Scientists have released the largest and most detailed map yet of the chaotic gas cloud at the center of our galaxy. Analysis of the resulting images could take years, but they are expected to help solve the mystery of how early stars lived and died shortly after the Big Bang. The new observations, taken with […]
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy may reduce risk of preeclampsia
A new study has found that contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of pre-eclampsia due to blood pressure problems, but getting vaccinated can help prevent this serious pregnancy complication. Studies consistently show that COVID-19 can worsen pregnancy outcomes. New research suggests that during the pandemic, pregnant women who contracted coronavirus infection had a […]
Diagnostic dilemma: Woman’s lung infection, organ damage and forgetfulness caused by a parasite never before seen in humans
Patient: 64-year-old female resident of New South Wales, Australia Symptoms: The woman was admitted to the hospital after experiencing abdominal pain and diarrhea for three weeks. She also had a persistent dry cough and night sweats. A CT scan of her lungs showed opaque areas of thickened tissue, likely caused by inflammation or infection, where […]
‘One of the strangest things in the solar system’: James Webb telescope discovers widespread auroras stretching through Uranus’ atmosphere
Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have mapped Uranus’ mysterious upper atmosphere for the first time, revealing strange new features of the planet’s mysterious magnetic field and glowing auroras. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observed Uranus’ rotation for 15 hours (almost a full day) to learn more about how the ice giant distributes […]
Scientists discover genetic ‘switch’ in mice that turns caring fathers into violent beasts
At least in African striped rats, flipping a single gene switch can cause doting fathers to attack their offspring, a new study suggests. But genes themselves aren’t the only thing responsible for this switch from careful paternal behavior to aggressive paternity. Social conditions also influenced the behavior of male mice. The discovery could shed more […]
14,000-year-old ivory tools discovered in Alaska suggest how Clovis’ ancestors first arrived in the New World
Ancient tools discovered in Alaska could shed light on how humans first reached the Americas, a new study has found. These artifacts include items related to stone tool making and ocher, a red mineral often used in rituals, and are about 600 years older than similar artifacts from the Clovis people who lived further south, […]
A new genomic study suggests there are far fewer people related to Genghis Khan than previously assumed.
According to Kazakh folklore, the body of Genghis Khan’s eldest son Jochi is kept in a mausoleum in the Ulitau region in the country’s central highlands. But when archaeologists examined bodies recently unearthed from a medieval mausoleum, they did not find Jochi, but instead discovered a new genetic lineage that may have been inherited by […]
Obesity may increase chances of dying from serious infections, study finds
A new study of more than 500,000 people found that people who are obese are 70% more likely to be hospitalized or die from a serious infection than those who are not obese. The study found that obese people account for one in 10 deaths from infectious diseases worldwide. This association persisted even in obese […]