New observations of Apollo moon rocks solve decades-old mystery about the moon’s magnetic field
For decades, debate has raged over whether the moon ever had a strong magnetic field or whether it was always weak. Now, a new analysis of Apollo-era moon rocks suggests that the moon’s magnetic field may be mostly weak despite brief bursts of strong activity, potentially solving the mystery for good. The study, published Thursday […]
In the Roman Empire, babies were not to be mourned. These unusual liquid plaster burials prove otherwise.
The Roman mystical burial ritual of pouring liquid plaster on the dead was not limited to elite adults, as previously thought. Researchers found that it was also performed on children, including infants as young as 1 month old. According to two blog posts published by Seeing the Dead, a joint project between the University of […]
Chinese astronaut talks about the moment a crack was discovered in Shenzhou 20
Chinese astronauts have described what happened last year when debris believed to be space debris crashed into their return capsule and nearly stranded them in space. The crew members of the ill-fated Shenzhou 20 mission, Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie, were preparing to depart China’s Tiangong Space Station and return to Earth on […]
Kazakhstan plants tens of thousands of trees in major tiger reintroduction effort
Tigers will soon roam Kazakhstan for the first time in more than 70 years, as conservationists embark on a major effort to restore some of their lost habitat. Kazakhstan’s last Caspian tiger disappeared in the late 1940s after years of hunting, habitat loss, and declining prey numbers. Now, the Central Asian country has ambitious plans […]
I found out why my shoes squeak, and it has something to do with miniature lightning bolts.
The ubiquitous sneaker squeak on basketball courts may be caused by more than just friction, new research suggests. Researchers found that the sharp sound of rubber on hard floors occurs when a small slippery area between the sole and the floor moves at supersonic speeds. And in some experiments, the process produced miniature lightning-like sparks. […]
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy may reduce risk of preeclampsia
A new study has found that contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of pre-eclampsia due to blood pressure problems, but getting vaccinated can help prevent this serious pregnancy complication. Studies consistently show that COVID-19 can worsen pregnancy outcomes. New research suggests that during the pandemic, pregnant women who contracted coronavirus infection had a […]
Largest ever map of the Milky Way galaxy’s center, new ALMA observations reveal ‘unusual and mysterious’ structure
Scientists have released the largest and most detailed map yet of the chaotic gas cloud at the center of our galaxy. Analysis of the resulting images could take years, but they are expected to help solve the mystery of how early stars lived and died shortly after the Big Bang. The new observations, taken with […]
Diagnostic dilemma: Woman’s lung infection, organ damage and forgetfulness caused by a parasite never before seen in humans
Patient: 64-year-old female resident of New South Wales, Australia Symptoms: The woman was admitted to the hospital after experiencing abdominal pain and diarrhea for three weeks. She also had a persistent dry cough and night sweats. A CT scan of her lungs showed opaque areas of thickened tissue, likely caused by inflammation or infection, where […]
‘One of the strangest things in the solar system’: James Webb telescope discovers widespread auroras stretching through Uranus’ atmosphere
Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have mapped Uranus’ mysterious upper atmosphere for the first time, revealing strange new features of the planet’s mysterious magnetic field and glowing auroras. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observed Uranus’ rotation for 15 hours (almost a full day) to learn more about how the ice giant distributes […]
Scientists discover genetic ‘switch’ in mice that turns caring fathers into violent beasts
At least in African striped rats, flipping a single gene switch can cause doting fathers to attack their offspring, a new study suggests. But genes themselves aren’t the only thing responsible for this switch from careful paternal behavior to aggressive paternity. Social conditions also influenced the behavior of male mice. The discovery could shed more […]