Aurora heads toward Earth as perhaps the most active sunspot in years
Updated February 3rd at 11:00 AM ET: Monster sunspot region 4366 is currently facing Earth and shows no signs of weakening. It is the most active sunspot in the current solar cycle (period 25). NOAA predicts that a massive CME shot toward Earth is likely to occur this week. A minor (G1) geomagnetic storm is […]
What is a maltbook? AI social networks threaten ‘total purge’ of humanity, but some experts say it’s a hoax
A social network built specifically for artificial intelligence (AI) bots has sparked viral claims that a machine revolt is imminent. But experts are not convinced, with some denouncing the site as an elaborate marketing hoax and a major cybersecurity risk. Moltbook, a Reddit-inspired site that allows AI agents to post, comment, and interact with each […]
Huge ‘megablob’ beneath Hawaii is solid rock and steel, not sticky – and that could irritate hot spots
A new study has found that a huge chunk deep underground in Hawaii appears to be solid and rich in iron. This blob (scientifically known as the giant hyperslow zone) may be anchoring Hawaii’s hotspot, a region where hot material rises through the mantle and triggers the volcanic activity that formed the Hawaiian Islands. “Because […]
The Colorado River’s largest tributary flows ‘uphill’ for more than 100 miles – and geologists may finally have an explanation.
Geologists may have finally solved a long-standing mystery surrounding the Colorado River’s largest tributary. This tributary appears to have been flowing uphill against gravity when it first formed. The Green River originates in Wyoming and joins the Colorado River in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park. About 8 million years ago, rather than flowing around geological formations, […]
Ribchester Helmet: A rare “facemask” helmet worn by Roman cavalry officers 1,900 years ago
simple facts Name: Ribchester Helmet What is it: bronze helmet with face mask visor Birthplace: Ribchester, northwest England Created: Around 100 AD In 1796, a boy running around in the fields behind his home in Ribchester, England, discovered a treasure trove of more than 30 metal artifacts in a hollow. The most unique and impressive […]
‘This is like how Google can map your home without your consent’: Why using aerial lasers to map archaeological sites requires partnerships with indigenous peoples
Imagine an airplane hurtling across the sky at hundreds of miles per hour, firing millions of laser pulses into a dense tropical forest. The goal is to create a detailed map of thousands of square miles, including the ground beneath the canopy, within a few days. Once the stuff of science fiction, aerial lidar (light […]
‘Nose in a Dish’ reveals why colds are worse for some people than others
A new lab has used a ‘nose in a dish’ to understand why colds cause mild symptoms in some people and send others to the hospital. When cold and flu season is in full swing, rhinoviruses, the most common cause of colds, can make many of us miserable, causing symptoms such as runny noses, sore […]
Earth is ‘missing’ lighter elements. They may be hiding in its solid inner core.
For close to a century, geoscientists have pondered a mystery: Where did Earth’s lighter elements go? Compared to amounts in the Sun and in some meteorites, Earth has less hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and sulfur, as well as noble gases like helium — in some cases, more than 99 percent less. Some of the disparity is […]
A rare medieval seal discovered in Britain reads ‘Richard’s Secret’ and is engraved with Roman jewels.
A medieval seal with a blood-red jewel found in Britain holds an ancient secret, researchers have discovered. Metal detectors discovered a medieval seal in Gosfield, east Essex, in autumn 2024. However, a recent analysis of the seal by experts at Britain’s Portable Antiques Project revealed that the center of the 800-year-old object prominently featured 2,000-year-old […]
Hauntingly beautiful Hubble telescope images show stellar nurseries exploding in nascent stars — Space Photo of the Week
simple facts What is it: Lupus 3 (GN 16.05.2 and Bernes 149) Molecular Cloud Location: Located in the constellation Scorpius, about 500 light years away. Share date: January 26, 2026 A placid cloud of gas and dust may not sound like much to get excited about, but it’s where one of the most fundamental phenomena […]