Memento Mori: Pompeii mosaic of a wealthy man who lost his dog in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius
simple facts Name: Memento Mori What is it: table mosaic Birthplace: Pompeii, Italy Created: Around 50 BC The stunning Memento Mori mosaic was discovered in a Roman mansion that doubled as a store in Pompeii, and is one of the most famous works of art in this ill-fated city. The mosaic was excavated in 1874, […]
Which animal is fooled by optical illusions?
Bowerbirds create a stage to make themselves appear larger to potential partners. Fish and butterflies can flash what appear to be large staring eyes to intimidate predators or deflect attacks. Male peacock spiders raise their legs as part of their courtship ritual, making them appear much larger than they actually are. These are just some […]
Gulf of California killer whale paralyzes young great white shark before removing liver
Researchers have observed for the first time that killer whales repeatedly attack and devour the livers of juvenile great white sharks in the Gulf of California. Killer whales (Orcinus orca) employ a brutal but clever method to temporarily paralyze their prey, according to a new study. The technique involved turning the small shark upside down, […]
The first ‘bottom-dragging fossil’ of its kind has been discovered in South Africa – and it was left behind by a relative of the fuzzy elephant 126,000 years ago
The rock hyrax, better known as a “dassie” in southern Africa, is a furry, bushy creature with short legs and no discernible tail. They spend much of their time sunbathing on rocks. Another thing they sometimes do is drag their butts along the ground. Dog owners know that this behavior can be a sign of […]
French archaeologists discover ‘vast Roman burial ground’ with cremation graves ‘fed’ with liquid offerings
Archaeologists excavating on the French Riviera have discovered a huge Roman cremation cemetery. Careful work at the site has revealed the step-by-step process the Romans used to cremate their dead and honor them in the afterlife. More than 160 cremation tombs were discovered in the ancient ruins of Olbia. Olbia began as a fortified Greek […]
Research reveals molecules on Saturn’s moon Titan break basic rules of chemistry
The frigid conditions on the surface of Saturn’s largest moon Titan allow simple molecules in the atmosphere to break one of chemistry’s most fundamental rules, a new study shows. According to this principle, known as “like dissolves like,” mixtures containing both polar and nonpolar components, such as oil and water, typically do not mix and […]
5,000-year-old ‘cult space’ discovered in Iraq dates back to the time of the world’s first cities
Archaeologists in Iraq have unearthed the remains of a 5,000-year-old building that may have been a temple from the Uruk period, when the world’s first cities were emerging. The buried “monumental” structure was discovered in September at the Qani Shayeh site in northern Sulaymaniyah Governorate, at the foot of the Zagros Mountains in northern Iraq, […]
James Webb Telescope reveals glowing center of iconic galaxy — Space Photo of the Week
simple facts What it is: M82, an edge-on spiral starburst galaxy Location: Ursa Major, 12 million light years away Share date: October 23, 2025 If you have a small telescope in your backyard, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the Cigar Galaxy (M82) with your own eyes. It is relatively close to the Milky Way […]
Chimpanzees ‘think’ to weigh evidence and plan actions, new study suggests
Chimpanzees use a variant of the “scientific method,” allowing them to abandon their previous beliefs and change their minds when compelling new evidence emerges, according to a new study. When chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) were given the task of finding a tasty treat hidden in one of two boxes, they evaluated several pieces of evidence. And […]
This week’s science news: Irradiated comet 3I/ATLAS reveals a rapidly brightening sun, a tiny tyrannosaurus makes it reconsider, and the unexpected perks of taunting a chatbot
This week’s hottest science news revolves around the Sun, with some surprising new research published about our star and a fascinating interstellar comet currently passing close to the Sun. First, scientists have discovered a clue as to why the sun is much hotter on its outer surface than inside its core. New research reveals that […]