The next Carrington-level solar superstorm could wipe out ‘all the satellites’, new simulation reveals
A solar storm comparable to the infamous Carrington event could wipe out all the satellites orbiting Earth, leaving us in an unstable and costly predicament, according to an alarming new simulation. And experts say such powerful solar storms are inevitable and will hit Earth sooner or later. On September 1, 1859, British astronomer Richard Carrington […]
‘Chemical brain’ may result from damage to the brain’s drainage system
Early research suggests that “chemobrain” – difficulties with concentration, thinking and memory caused by chemotherapy – may be caused by the destruction of the brain’s lymphatic system caused by cancer treatment. This study focused on the meningeal lymphatic vessels, a drainage network found in the protective tissue layers surrounding the brain. Dysfunction of this network […]
Greenland is twisted, tense and shrinking due to the ‘ghost’ of melting ice sheets
A new study shows that tectonic movements and the “ghosts” of past ice sheets are warping, lifting and pulling Greenland in different directions. Greenland sits on top of the North American tectonic plate, which has dragged the island northwest by 0.9 inches (23 millimeters) per year for the past 20 years. Researchers have been monitoring […]
‘Unprecedented’ view of the sun reveals elusive coronal waves after 85 years of search
A hot mystery about the sun may be close to being solved. Scientists have been trying for decades to understand why the sun’s outer atmosphere is so much hotter than the surface, even though it is further away from the core. The surface, or photosphere, is millions of degrees Fahrenheit, while the outside air is […]
2,000-year-old Celtic teenager may have been sacrificed and considered ‘disposable’
British archaeologists have discovered the 2,000-year-old skeleton of a teenager lying face down in a hole. This unusual burial position may provide a clue to the murder mystery. Researchers at Bournemouth University discovered a strange burial site earlier this year while excavating Celtic ruins in the county of Dorset in southwest England. Bournemouth University said […]
Why aren’t teeth counted as bones?
At first glance, teeth look a lot like bones. Both are hard, white, and rich in calcium. So why aren’t teeth considered part of the skeletal system? Although teeth and bones have some basic similarities, they are actually quite different. The main similarity between teeth and bones is what teeth and bones are made of: […]
Free-ranging lab monkeys in Mississippi are free of herpes, a university has announced. But are they dangerous?
A truck accident in Mississippi resulted in lab monkeys, initially thought to be carrying various diseases, escaping from the truck and law enforcement officers killing numerous animals. However, it is still unclear how dangerous they are. On Tuesday (Oct. 28), a truck carrying Tulane University’s rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) overturned in Jasper County, unleashing several […]
Genes on the X chromosome may help explain higher rates of multiple sclerosis in women
Brain inflammation may be caused by a gene on the X chromosome, a new study in mice suggests. And in female mice, which have two X chromosomes, a diabetes drug called metformin may be effective at reducing inflammation. If these findings are confirmed in future studies, they could help solve the long-standing mystery of why […]
Revolutionary ‘artificial muscles’ allow humanoid robot to lift 4,000 times its own weight
South Korean researchers have built an artificial muscle that can lift about 4,000 times its own weight. The technology can also be applied to future humanoid robots. A key advance in muscle design is that it can be made flexible or tense as needed, a first for this field of research. The scientists outlined their […]
Archaeologists excavate a 7th century warrior’s tomb revealed by satellite and discover a wealth of grave goods
Hungarian archaeologists have unearthed the remains of rare iron sabers, jewelry and other artifacts from a 1,300-year-old tomb of an elite warrior. The gracefully curved sword (of the type primarily used by warriors on horseback) is heavily rusted, but the blade still retains traces of fine decoration, demonstrating the craftsmanship used to make the ancient […]