Black eyes, orbital fractures, and retinal detachments: Pickleball-related eye injuries are on the rise in the U.S.
As pickleball’s popularity explodes in the United States, new research has found that pickleball-related eye injuries are increasing at an “alarming rate.” More people in the United States are taking up pickleball as a leisure activity, with recent estimates showing that 19.8 million people will participate in the sport in 2024, an increase of about […]
A record-breaking ‘dark object’ hidden inside the distorted ‘Einstein ring’ 10 billion light years away is discovered
Astronomers have discovered a surprisingly small “dark object” lurking in a distant, distorted ring of light. This record-breaking discovery could help unravel the mysterious nature of dark matter, which will have a major impact on the field of cosmology. The hidden object, possibly an invisible mass of dark matter, was discovered inside B1938+666, an “Einstein […]
The ‘most primitive’ star discovered at the edge of the Milky Way galaxy could be a direct descendant of the first star in the universe
Astronomers may have discovered the “most primitive” star ever seen, lurking near the edge of the Milky Way. This unusual alien sun may be a descendant of one of the universe’s first stars, but it is so metal-poor that it breaks a key rule of star formation. All known stars are powered by nuclear fusion. […]
Chasing comets: How to photograph visitors from space like a pro
If you’re looking for an excuse to dust off your camera, two upcoming comets offer the perfect opportunity. First, Comet Lemmon will be most visible between October 13th and 23rd, when its brightness may reach magnitude 4, meaning it may be visible to the naked eye. A new moon will make October 21st an ideal […]
5,000 years ago, Stone Age people in China fashioned the bones of their ancestors into cups and masks.
Skull cups and skeleton masks have been discovered in a 5,000-year-old pile of discarded human bones in China, according to a new study. The carved skull was found mixed with pottery and animal carcasses, but experts have so far not determined the purpose of the macabre item. The bones come from the Liangzhu culture, which […]
Toyota to launch world’s first EV with solid-state battery by 2027 – expected to have a longer lifespan and charge faster
One of the world’s largest automakers has announced plans to mass produce a type of electric vehicle (EV) battery that will last much longer and charge much faster than current technology. On October 8, Toyota and Japan-based Sumitomo Metal Mining announced a joint venture to mass produce cathode materials for solid-state batteries used in automakers’ […]
Scientists discover that stalagmites follow a single mathematical rule
All stalagmites follow mathematical laws, scientists have discovered after creating equations that show how dramatic mineral formations develop into different shapes. The new mathematical description could help scientists extract more precise data about past climate conditions, the researchers noted in a study published in the journal PNAS the week of October 13. “We found that […]
REM sleep may restructure our memories
The amount of REM sleep you get may influence which details of your memories stick with you, new brain research suggests. Previous research has shown that sleep helps strengthen memories, but the question of how sleep shapes the content of memories has been more difficult to pin down. Now, a study published Oct. 1 in […]
Research reveals that Croatia’s skeleton-filled well likely contains the remains of Roman soldiers
Archaeologists excavating an ancient well in eastern Croatia discovered the skeletal remains of seven men, whose bodies had been haphazardly thrown into it. Experts believe the remains belong to Roman soldiers who fought at the Battle of Mursa in 260 AD. The human bones were originally discovered in 2011 during archaeological excavations ahead of plans […]
Jane Goodall revolutionized animal research, but her research had some unexpected results. Here’s what we learned from them:
It’s been two weeks since Jane Goodall’s death, and many are reflecting on her life, including her scientific legacy and how she changed humanity’s connection to the natural world. A pioneering primatologist, Goodall was the first to study chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in Tanzania’s Gombe National Park, studying many behaviors and traits previously thought to be […]