The oldest known dome-headed dinosaur has been discovered to protrude from a cliff in the Gobi desert in Mongolia
Paleontologists have discovered the oldest and most complete dome-headed dinosaur fossil ever in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. Fossils 108-115 million years ago pushed back the timeline of the appearance of dome-headed dinosaurs, or Pakisephalosaurus, around 15 million years later. New fossils can also reveal details about the evolution and development of these strange round skulls. […]
Scientists invent a new sunscreen made from pollen
Sunscreens made from pollen can protect beach fans from sunburn while minimizing harm to coral reefs, new research finds. Researchers have discovered that gels made from pollen from camellia flowers (Camellia sinensis) block ultraviolet (UV) light and existing commercial sunscreens, such as those made with oxybenzone and octino acid salts. However, unlike these traditional options, […]
“The sun is slowly awakening”: NASA warns that there may be more extreme space weather over the next decades
NASA scientists warn that the sun may be “waking up” from a short period of relative inactivity that contradicts past assumptions about our home star. If true, this could mean that there are decades of potentially dangerous space weather in storefronts. The sun traces a cycle of solar activity of about 11 years, beginning with […]
Anthropologists argue that the position of the 1,300-year-old Mayan altar’s hand has a deeper meaning
Maya used “sign language” at the altar about 1,300 years ago, and these signs could represent important dates on Maya’s long calendar, new research argues. “This was able to show that, as far as I know, everyone has a genuine, well defined script,” and was able to show that there is a hand sign on […]
Diagnosis dilemma: The knife broke in a man’s chest, unaware for eight years
Patient: 44-year-old man from Tanzania Symptoms: For 10 days, pus soaked through the opening of the man’s breast under the right nipple, urging him to visit the emergency room. He told the doctor he had no pain or difficulty breathing. He had no fever and his vital signs were normal. What happened next: When the […]
“When people gather in groups, strange behavior often appears”: How the rise of online social networks has led to dysfunctional thinking
When the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, strange conspiracy theories took global social media by storm. The disease is caused by radio frequency emissions from the 5G mobile phone tower. Wild theory is spreading across social media platforms. The belief in this conspiracy was so enthusiastic that the media reported more than 100 incidents of arson […]
History of Science: The tragic death of gene therapy that stalled the field for 10 years – September 17, 1999
Simple facts Milestone: First reported death from gene therapy Date: September 17, 1999 Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia WHO: Jesse Gelsinger 26 years ago today, September 17th, a teenager who underwent experimental gene therapy died. His death led to the necessary changes in the clinical trial process, and ultimately spurred skepticism that stopped the field […]
‘We certainly weren’t exceptional, but now we’re the only ones left’: In new PBS series ‘Human,’ anthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi explores how humans came to dominate Earth
When Homo sapiens first emerged in Africa some 300,000 years ago, we did not roam the planet alone. Our species lived alongside at least six, and possibly more, other human species, from Homo erectus, the first hominin species to venture out of Africa; to Neanderthals and Denisovans, contenders for our closest relatives; all the way […]
The skyscraper-sized asteroid was previously predicted to hit us in 60 years.
The skyscraper-sized “potentially dangerous” asteroid is set to get close to Earth this week. You can zoom in the past yourself using a backyard telescope or via a free online live stream. The asteroid discovered earlier this year was predicted to have a slight chance of hitting our planet in 2089. However, following new observations, […]
Volcanic “squeaky eyes” stare at space from a skull-like peninsula – Earth from space
Simple facts Where is it? Chiltepe Peninsula, Lake Nicaragua, Lake Managua [12.236943676, -86.34017745] What do you see in the photo? Two volcanic lakes that look like pairs of eyes facing up Who took the photo? Nameless astronaut on the International Space Station When did you take it? January 21, 2014 This fascinating photo of the […]