Ancient cheetah mummy discovered in Saudi Arabia contains long-lost cheetah DNA
Scientists have successfully extracted DNA from an ancient cheetah mummy found in a cave in Saudi Arabia. Researchers say this is the first time they have been able to extract genetic information from a naturally mummified ancient big cat, which could lead to the reintroduction of cats to the region. In 2022 and 2023, researchers […]
Traces of ancient ‘megaquake’ in Cascadia subduction zone discovered in deep-sea landslide
Deep-sea landslides in the Cascadia subduction zone in the Pacific Northwest hold records of earthquakes dating back 7,500 years, and similar evidence may be found at other plate boundaries around the world, a new study shows. Subduction zones are where oceanic tectonic plates slide beneath continental plates, which can cause large and damaging earthquakes, such […]
Scientists say new ‘stochastic computing’ paradigm could significantly reduce power consumption in AI chips
Scientists in the United States and Japan have used a new type of component in artificial intelligence (AI) chips that uses less energy when performing advanced calculations. The new system allows more operations to run in parallel, allowing the chip to reach optimal output more efficiently. Most computers rely on bits (0s and 1s that […]
Human Origins Quiz: How much do you know about the human story?
Our species, Homo sapiens, has evolved for more than 300,000 years, but the human origin story begins much earlier. Since we evolved from a common ancestor with our closest living relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos, the human lineage has included many distinct species known as hominins. Scientists called paleoanthropologists, who study the origins and evolution of […]
New map of Antarctica reveals hidden world of lakes, valleys and mountains buried under miles of ice
Scientists have mapped the rock beneath Antarctica’s giant ice sheet in unprecedented detail, revealing the hidden structures that form glaciers. The ice sheet covers more than 5.4 million square miles (14 million square kilometers) and covers the mountains, valleys, lakes and basins beneath it, according to a new study published Thursday (January 15) in the […]
Fragment of lost tectonic plate discovered at intersection of San Andreas and Cascadia faults
Scientists have discovered that pieces of a long-lost tectonic plate are sliding beneath the North American continent in the southern part of the Cascadia subduction zone. This leftover plate fragment could pose new earthquake hazards to the region. A new study published in the journal Science on Thursday (January 15) reveals that the Pioneer Fragment, […]
These genes were thought to have a 100% chance of causing blindness. it’s not.
Genetic mutations are thought to cause blindness in almost everyone who carries them, but new research has found that less than 30% of people actually experience vision loss. This study challenges the concept of Mendelian diseases, or diseases or disorders that are thought to be caused by a single genetic mutation. The idea is that […]
Our model of the universe is deeply flawed – unless the universe is actually a ‘sticky fluid’, new study suggests
Recent observations have revealed flaws in our understanding of the universe, and a new study suggests that may be because the universe is more “sticky” than we assumed. In a paper published on the arXiv preprint server but not peer-reviewed, Indian Institute of Technology researcher Muhammad Ghulam Khwaja Khan suggests that space may have a […]
New Zealand’s rare nocturnal parrot breeds for the first time in four years – here’s why
Endangered flightless parrots are breeding in New Zealand for the first time in four years, authorities announced on January 6. The kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) is a large, flightless, nocturnal parrot with mottled green and yellow plumage that breeds only every two to four years. Their breeding season is triggered by the mass fruiting of the […]
NASA’s powerful new Roman Space Telescope is complete and will soon begin a mission to discover 100,000 alien worlds
NASA recently released the first photos of the newly constructed Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The telescope could soon help researchers search for exoplanets, map the Milky Way, and unravel some of the universe’s biggest mysteries, such as the identity of dark matter. Experts also revealed the most likely launch date for the next-generation spacecraft, […]