Scientists map thousands of ways ‘city-killer’ asteroid 2024 YR4 could hit the moon, resulting in an explosion as bright as Venus
Building-sized asteroid 2024 YR4 is unlikely to collide with the moon in 2032, but a new study predicts that the asteroid could produce thousands of impact flashes and extreme meteor storms, putting on a spectacular show for sky-watchers. The space rock, which is about 200 feet (60 meters) wide, or about the size of a […]
Research suggests that men develop cardiovascular disease seven years earlier than women. but why?
Men tend to develop cardiovascular disease about seven years earlier than women, according to a new study. This difference is primarily caused by coronary heart disease, which is caused by plaque buildup in the arteries within the heart. Symptoms develop about 10 years earlier in men than in women. Cardiovascular disease is an umbrella term […]
‘Groundbreaking’ elephant bones discovered in Spain may date from Hannibal’s war against Rome
2,200-year-old bones unearthed in Spain may belong to one of Hannibal’s war elephants deployed during the Second Punic War, a new study reports. A baseball-sized bone discovered near the southern Spanish city of Córdoba may be the only direct evidence of a Carthaginian war elephant, according to a study published in the February issue of […]
‘System in flux’: Scientists reveal what happened when wolves and cougars returned to Yellowstone
After wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park, cougars, which only regained a foothold decades ago, were able to coexist thanks to a change in diet and the park’s varied landscape, according to a new study. Encounters between wolves (Canis lupus) and cougars (also known as puma concolor, mountain lion and mountain lion) in Yellowstone […]
In their search for bees, Mozambique’s honey hunters and birds share a language with regional dialects.
Honey hunters in Mozambique use a unique dialect to communicate with birds to find bees, and the adjustment could benefit both species, a new study has found. This interaction is one of the few known examples of human-wildlife cooperation, the researchers reported in a study published in the journal People and Nature. The Greater Honeyguide […]
Physicists push thousands of atoms into ‘Schrodinger’s cat’ state – bringing quantum world closer to reality than ever before
Physicists have put thousands of atoms into the “Schrödinger’s cat” state, breaking the record for the most macroscopic object observed in a quantum state. In a new study, researchers observed that nanoparticles made of 7,000 sodium atoms act as cohesive waves, pushing the strange world of quantum mechanics to new limits. Based on this work, […]
Preserved hair reveals how bad lead exposure was in the 20th century
Although humans have found lead useful for thousands of years, the toxic effects of this metal were not well known until the 20th century. Now, researchers use historical hair samples to show that regulations targeting heavy metal pollution are highly effective at reducing public exposure to lead once its dangers are known. “We have hair […]
Aurora heads toward Earth as perhaps the most active sunspot in years
Updated February 3rd at 11:00 AM ET: Monster sunspot region 4366 is currently facing Earth and shows no signs of weakening. It is the most active sunspot in the current solar cycle (period 25). NOAA predicts that a massive CME shot toward Earth is likely to occur this week. A minor (G1) geomagnetic storm is […]
What is a maltbook? AI social networks threaten ‘total purge’ of humanity, but some experts say it’s a hoax
A social network built specifically for artificial intelligence (AI) bots has sparked viral claims that a machine revolt is imminent. But experts are not convinced, with some denouncing the site as an elaborate marketing hoax and a major cybersecurity risk. Moltbook, a Reddit-inspired site that allows AI agents to post, comment, and interact with each […]
Huge ‘megablob’ beneath Hawaii is solid rock and steel, not sticky – and that could irritate hot spots
A new study has found that a huge chunk deep underground in Hawaii appears to be solid and rich in iron. This blob (scientifically known as the giant hyperslow zone) may be anchoring Hawaii’s hotspot, a region where hot material rises through the mantle and triggers the volcanic activity that formed the Hawaiian Islands. “Because […]