We now know much more about how our ancestor ‘Lucy’ lived — and died
From a distance, it might have looked like a small child was wending her way through the waving grass along a vast lake. But a closer look would have revealed a strange, in-between creature — a big-eyed imp with a small head and an apelike face who walked upright like a human. She may have […]
Diagnostic dilemma: The man’s bladder looked like a Christmas tree
Patient: 30-year-old man living in Nigeria Symptoms: A man visited the hospital’s urology department because he had been leaking urine from a small hole in his perineum (the skin between the penis and anus) for about two weeks. This condition is known as a “watering” perineum. The man had a history of various urinary problems, […]
Breakthrough in graphene supercapacitors could improve energy storage capabilities in future EVs and other household devices
Scientists have discovered a new way to manipulate graphene to create a material with record energy and power density. This new form of graphene, when incorporated into energy storage devices called supercapacitors, could be the key to high-capacity, fast-charging energy storage that can deliver power faster than traditional batteries, the researchers said in a statement. […]
A rare snowfall blankets one of the driest places on Earth, shutting down a giant radio telescope — Earth as seen from space
simple facts Where is it? Chile, Atacama Desert What is in the photo? One of the driest places on earth, covered in parts by rare snowflakes Which satellite took the photo?Landsat 9 When was it taken? July 10, 2025 This striking satellite photo captured a rare sight as “one of the driest places on Earth” […]
History of Science: Anthropologist Looks at ‘Town’s Child’s’ Face to Prove Africa Was Human Birthplace – December 23, 1924
Milestone: ‘Town Child’ skull revealed Date: December 23, 1924 Location: South Africa, Town People: Raymond Dart’s Anthropology Team In late 1924, anthropologists began chipping away at the rock around ancient primate skulls, rewriting the story of human evolution. This tiny skull, about the size of a coffee mug, clearly belonged to a creature very different […]
2,300-year-old Celtic gold coin discovered in Swiss swamp
Two volunteer archaeologists discovered what they believe to be two of the oldest Celtic coins ever discovered in the country while exploring a bog in Switzerland. These may have been offerings to ancient gods. The two gold coins were minted around 2,300 years ago, around the mid-3rd century B.C. “This makes them part of a […]
The best space photos of 2025
The final frontier is an endlessly beautiful expanse full of unimaginable wonders, the perfect sandbox for photographers, observatories, and space telescopes to capture stunning images that we can hardly imagine. 2025 was no exception. This year, we feature a variety of surprising space images, from eye-catching portraits of alien comets and planetary parades to Vera […]
3,300-year-old cremations discovered in Scotland suggest people died in a mysterious catastrophe
Archaeologists have discovered the 3,300-year-old cremated remains of at least eight people buried in five urns in Scotland. It is unknown how they died, but it was probably during some kind of catastrophe. Although many Bronze Age burial sites in Scotland have been reused over the years, this discovery is unusual because the newly discovered […]
‘Lucy’ may not be our direct ancestor after all, scientists claim, sparking heated debate
For half a century, the iconic “Lucy” fossil species, Australopithecus afarensis, has held the title of being the most likely direct ancestor of all humans. However, as the list of ancient human relatives grew and more fossils were discovered, Lucy’s position became increasingly questionable. Now, a major paper published last month in the journal Nature […]
A new EV motor invention could reduce the weight of future vehicles by 1,000 pounds, making them significantly lighter while increasing range.
A new in-wheel motor for electric vehicles (EVs) offers massive amounts of torque in a lightweight package, developers say. The motor, made by YASA, a Mercedes-Benz subsidiary that also supplies motors to Ferrari, weighs just 28 pounds (12.7 kilograms) but can deliver up to 1,000 horsepower at a time, or 469 to 536 horsepower over […]