How did metamorphosis evolve? |Live Science
Once a caterpillar hatches from an egg, it spends its first few weeks of life eating as much as it physically can. It then hangs upside down from a leaf or stem and sheds its outer skin to expose the pupa. Inside, the caterpillar’s body breaks down and specialized cells called imaginal discs begin to […]
Vera Rubin Observatory’s first image reveals hidden structure leading up to the Milky Way trailing behind nearby galaxies — Space Photo of the Week
simple facts What is it: barred spiral galaxy Messier 61, also known as NGC 4303 Location: Virgo, 55 million light years away Share date: October 28, 2025 Chile’s Vera C. Rubin Observatory is already helping astronomers discover remarkable things even before serious scientific activity begins. The observatory’s first images, released in June, included deep views […]
Were there female gladiators in ancient Rome?
The Roman Empire is famous for arenas like the Colosseum, where gladiators engaged in bloody skirmishes. But were any of these gladiators women? Some evidence, including historical records and artistic depictions, suggests that female gladiators existed in the Roman Empire, but female gladiators were much rarer than male gladiators. However, this evidence is limited to […]
History of Science: “Patient Zero” Infects SARS, an Older Relative of the New Coronavirus — November 16, 2002
simple facts Milestone: First SARS infection Date: November 16, 2002 Location: Foshan, China Person: Food handler In January 2003, Chinese epidemiologists identified two cases of “atypical pneumonia” in patients who visited health care workers in Guangdong province. The team began contact tracing and eventually discovered that the disease-causing bacteria had been circulating since November 16, […]
Medieval Hungarian duke was murdered in a brutal and systematic attack, forensic analysis reveals
Forensic analysis of a 750-year-old skeleton reveals that a Hungarian duke was brutally murdered by at least three assailants. Duke Béla of Masso was stabbed more than 20 times with weapons such as sabers and long swords, according to a new study. “By looking at how the blows overlap and how the body reacts, we […]
Scientists invent a way to create and dye rainbow-colored fabric in the lab using E. coli
Scientists used genetically modified bacteria to simultaneously create and color fabric in a one-pot method. Compared to current methods that rely on fossil fuels, this new technology provides a simpler and more sustainable way to produce colored fabrics. In a new study published Nov. 12 in the journal Trends in Biotechnology, researchers created cellulose-based fabrics […]
Where is the darkest place in the solar system? What about space?
When you look up at the night sky, space may seem like a vast expanse of darkness. But are some regions darker than others? Where are the darkest places in the solar system, and on a larger scale, the universe? So the answer isn’t easy and depends on who you ask, experts told Live Science. […]
New Jersey man dies from meat allergy triggered by tick bite
A New Jersey man has died in the first recorded death from alpha-gal syndrome, a meat allergy caused by tick bites. In September 2024, a 47-year-old man collapsed and lost consciousness about four hours after eating a hamburger at a barbecue, doctors wrote in a case report. Despite attempts by the man’s son and paramedics […]
Astrophotographer takes ‘absolutely ridiculous’ photo of skydiver ‘falling’ over the surface of the sun
An astrophotographer has captured a stunning shot of a falling skydiver matching perfectly with the sun’s fiery surface. A flying adventurer appears to be rolling through the vacuum of space in front of our home planet. Andrew McCarthy, an Arizona-based astrophotographer who specializes in photographing the sun, snapped the unlikely photo around 9 a.m. MST […]
Mammoth RNA sequenced for the first time, a major leap towards understanding prehistoric life
Scientists have successfully sequenced the RNA of a woolly mammoth for the first time, dispelling the assumption that this fragile genetic molecule cannot survive from time immemorial. RNA, or ribonucleic acid, acts as a messenger that carries instructions between DNA and an organism’s protein-building machinery, converting genetic information into proteins. RNA can reveal which genes […]