Oregon is burning the centuries-old “Doerner Fir,” one of the tallest trees in the world.
The state’s tallest fir tree is burning along the Oregon coast. The Douglas Fire (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is the most common tree in Oregon, but the burning tree known as Doerner Fir is special. 325 feet (99.1 meters) tall and 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) in diameter, it is one of the largest coastal Douglas Fir trees […]
Six, 300 years ago, dozens of people were killed in celebration of a terrible victory in France
In a series of “victory” celebrations over six,000 years ago in northeastern France, a group of defenders cut off the left arms of conquered enemies and buried them in a hole, archaeologists discovered. This discovery gives us a glimpse into the era when wars were rampant in the region and invaders were forced into northeastern […]
“Why do you want to go?”: Readers respond to the hypothetical 400-year voyage to Alpha Centauri
Are you willing to leave Earth on a one-way trip to our nearest star system? In a live science poll, we asked readers if they would board a spaceship that would take 400 years to reach the Alpha Centauri. The poll corresponds to a hypothetical spacecraft called Chrysalis, which won first place in a contest […]
Scientists think they first detected a known triple black hole system in the universe – and saw it die
Chinese astronomers may have discovered a triple black hole system they have never seen before. The team identified this triplet trapped in a complex “waltz” after finding a hidden super-large black hole lurking in the background of a unique gravitational wave event event first detected six years ago. In 2019, the US-based laser interferometer, Gravitational […]
Rocks on Lake Superior reveal that they accumulate in the giant collisions that formed the supercontinent Rodynia
About 1.1 billion years ago, the oldest and most structurally stable part of North America, called Laurentia – was rapidly heading south towards the equator. Laurentia eventually slammed into other lands on Earth during the Grenville orogeny, forming the supercontinent Rodynia. Laurentia’s path during that period is known thanks to its paleomagnetic properties. By tracking […]
Hikers pick up venom snakes and die after biting, rare allergic reactions
The hiker was recently bitten by a rattlesnake in Tennessee and reportedly died after experiencing a rare allergic reaction to the snake’s venom. Paramedics were dispatched to the trailhead in Savage Gulf State Park on August 8th. The healthcare worker gave him CPR on the trail and transported him to the hospital. The man’s identity […]
“Blood Moon” 2025: Can the total lunar eclipse on September 7th be visible from North America?
On the night of September 7th and 8th, Earth passes directly between the sun and the full moon in the second final total lunar eclipse of the year. For over five hours, the celestial event peaks at an impressive 82-minute overall stage as the giant shadows of the Earth plunge the entire moon into reddish […]
Japan’s power breakthrough could be a “step into a completely wireless society”
Japanese scientists have developed a new, highly efficient method for designing wireless power transfer (WPT) systems. Based on machine learning, this method allows the system to maintain a stable voltage even when the load changes. This is an important step towards the wider adoption of wireless power. WPT systems are already an important part of […]
Diagnostic dilemma: a man’s preference for “soft” bacon may have given him a brain bug
Patient: 52-year-old man from the US Symptoms: Patient reported to the outpatient clinic after noticing changes in typical migraine symptoms. For the past four months, drugs have not been effective in treating migraines and have started to occur more frequently than usual, but once a week, it has become more severe. He also reported worsening […]
Quantum navigation system for testing the secret X37-B space plane – Scientists hope to replace GPS one day
The US military’s spaceflight X-37B orbit test vehicle is scheduled to begin its eighth flight into space on August 21, 2025. Much of what the X-37B does in space is a secret. But it acts partly as a cutting-edge experimental platform. One of these experiments is quantum inertial sensors, a potential alternative to GPS, which […]