Why does the moon appear larger when it is above the horizon?
When a full moon peeks over the horizon, it looks very large. This is an interesting phenomenon; in this position, the moon is furthest from us, so it should appear slightly smaller than when it is at its zenith. “You actually have to look far beyond the earth, so [the moon is] It’s one Earth […]
Archaeological research reveals that 2,500 years ago, Bulgarians ate dog meat as a delicacy and delicacy
Cuts on dozens of dog skeletons discovered at an archaeological site in Bulgaria suggest that people were eating dog meat 2,500 years ago. It wasn’t just because they had no other choice. “These sites were rich in livestock, the main source of protein, so there was no need to eat dog meat out of poverty,” […]
The 480,000-year-old ax sharpener is the oldest elephant bone tool ever discovered in Europe.
A triangular artifact made from elephant bone was used to sharpen hatchets by relatives of ancient humans in what is now Britain some 480,000 years ago, new analysis reveals. Measuring approximately 4.3 by 2.3 inches (10.9 by 5.8 centimeters), it represents the oldest elephant bone tool ever discovered in Europe, and demonstrates the high level […]
Research shows that AI can spontaneously develop a “personality” with minimal stimulation. What does that mean for our usage?
Our character as humans is formed through interactions that reflect our basic survival and reproductive instincts, without any preassigned roles or desired calculus. Now, researchers at Japan’s University of Electro-Communications have discovered that artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots can do the same thing. The scientists outlined their findings in a study first published in the journal […]
This week’s science news: World’s oldest rock art, giant freshwater reservoir discovered off East Coast, and biggest solar radiation storm in decades
This week’s science news was full of discoveries that were thought to have been lost to time. In particular, the world’s oldest known rock art was discovered in Indonesia. A nearly 70,000-year-old human handprint discovered in a Sulawesi cave fills a major gap in scientists’ understanding of human migration across the islands of Southeast Asia […]
Why the rise of humanoid robots could make us uncomfortable with each other
When Elon Musk talks about robotics, he does little to hide the ambition behind his dreams. Tesla’s Optimus is being pitched as an all-purpose humanoid robot that can do heavy lifting on the factory floor and free us from drudgery at home. Tesla aims to have 1 million of these robots over the next 10 […]
Why don’t you usually look at your nose?
Close one eye and focus straight ahead without moving your eye. You will notice a fleshy blur in your peripheral vision, namely your nose. It’s there every time you wake up, but you’re rarely aware of it. So why can’t you see your nose when it’s literally right in front of your eyes? “You can […]
Research confirms that humans, not glaciers, brought stones to Stonehenge
Humans, not glaciers, carried Stonehenge’s megaliths across Britain and to their current location in southern England, a new study has confirmed. Scientists have believed for decades that the iconic stones of this 5,000-year-old monument came from present-day Wales and as far away as Scotland, but there is still debate as to how the stones ended […]
Some of the oldest harpoons ever discovered reveal that Brazil’s indigenous people were hunting whales 5,000 years ago
Harpoons made from the bones of humpback and southern right whales indicate that indigenous peoples in what is now Brazil were hunting whales 5,000 years ago. The discovery, which includes 118 whale bones and crafted artifacts, reveals that prehistoric whaling was not limited to people in temperate or polar climates in the northern hemisphere, according […]
‘A real revolution’: The James Webb telescope is upending our understanding of the biggest, oldest black holes in the universe
Colossal monsters lurk in the centers of all galaxies. Known as supermassive black holes, these gravitational beasts can have millions to billions of times more mass than the sun. For decades, astronomers have wondered where these behemoths came from and how they got so huge. Early on, physicists thought that supermassive black holes formed like […]