Trending Science News
Indonesian foragers may have sucked on mind-altering nuts 25,000 years ago, research finds
Archaeological evidence from ancient Indonesian skeletons suggests foragers sucked on psychoactive betel nuts as far back as 25,000 years ago, potentially marking the earliest known human drug use.
UK mathematician debunks myth around Parthenon’s optical illusions
A UK mathematician challenges the long-held belief that the Parthenon’s architectural features were designed to correct optical illusions, finding little evidence to support the 2,000-year-old claim.
‘Very messy eaters’: scientists solve the mystery of when black holes ‘burp’
Scientists have identified when black holes release powerful jets after consuming stars, finding they occur at two specific phases of the feeding cycle regardless of the black hole’s size.
When did grey squirrels start posing a threat to reds in the UK?
Red squirrel populations in the UK have dropped from 3.5 million to under 300,000, largely due to competition from grey squirrels introduced from North America in the 19th century.
Poison suspected in deaths of ten lions in game reserve in Tanzania
Ten lions have been found dead in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with wildlife officials suspecting poisoning as the cause and launching an investigation.
Haze-choked Indonesia records more than 170,000 respiratory cases
Indonesia has recorded over 175,000 respiratory illness cases since August amid ongoing wildfires that have blanketed the region in toxic smog, with more than 40,000 cases involving young children.
Scientists say a critical Atlantic Ocean current is weakening and the effects could be global
A critical Atlantic Ocean circulation system has been weakening over nearly two decades, potentially affecting weather patterns, rainfall, storms, and sea levels globally, according to new research.
There are still nearly pristine coral reefs. They’re a blueprint for coral restoration
Pristine coral reefs at Palmyra Atoll in the remote Pacific Ocean are providing crucial insights into reef recovery and restoration strategies for scientists worldwide.
Stonehenge’s 6-ton altar stone may have traveled from Scotland by glacier
Researchers propose that Stonehenge’s six-ton Altar Stone may have traveled from Scotland via glaciers to the North Sea before being transported overland by Neolithic people to its current location.
The Arctic sea ice melt season grew longer for decades, but something strange happened around 2010
Arctic sea ice melt season expanded 40 days since 1979, but growth unexpectedly plateaued around 2010 despite continued regional warming, according to a NASA-led study.
These tropical trees breathe at night to survive drought
Researchers have discovered how tropical Clusia trees evolved an efficient nighttime photosynthesis strategy through ancient genome duplication, offering insights for developing drought-resistant crops.
Millions of heads of lettuce ruined by aphid outbreak
A record aphid outbreak is destroying approximately 30 million heads of lettuce in the UK, with growers facing £10 million in losses as the pests devastate end-of-season crops.
Blood tests find high levels of cancer-causing forever chemical in residents near factory
Blood tests reveal elevated levels of cancer-causing PFOA in dozens of residents near a UK chemical factory, with 70% showing readings suggesting increased health risks.
The “big one” might not come alone: Two major West Coast faults may strike back to back
Research suggests the Cascadia subduction zone and San Andreas fault may rupture within minutes or hours of each other, potentially affecting multiple West Coast cities simultaneously.
A broken rib from the world’s largest T. rex hid a 66-million-year-old secret
Researchers used neutron imaging to examine a fractured rib from Scotty, the world’s largest T. rex skeleton, revealing fossilized blood vessels from a healing injury 66 million years ago.
Indonesian foragers may have sucked on mind-altering nuts 25,000 years ago, research finds
Ancient Indonesian foragers may have sucked on psychoactive betel nuts as long as 25,000 years ago, according to skeletal analysis revealing distinctive tooth wear and chemical traces.
UK mathematician debunks myth around Parthenon’s optical illusions
A UK mathematician challenges a 2,000-year-old claim that the Parthenon’s curves correct optical illusions, finding the illusions themselves are imperceptible or nonexistent.
This deep-sea enzyme survives heat that destroys most proteins
Scientists isolated a heat-resistant enzyme from a deep-sea microorganism that performs nitrogen fixation at temperatures above 90°C, revealing structural insights into one of biology’s most complex reactions.
Einstein’s “spooky action” just survived one of physics’ most extreme tests
Physicists at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider have demonstrated that quantum entanglement persists in heavy, short-lived particles called Z bosons, confirming Einstein’s counterintuitive quantum phenomenon under extreme conditions.
A 66-million-year-old tooth reveals T. rex was nearly as warm as a human
Researchers measured a fossilized T. rex tooth and determined the dinosaur maintained a body temperature of approximately 97 degrees Fahrenheit, comparable to modern humans and supporting evidence of warm-blooded metabolism.
Scientists opened a sealed envelope after 10 years. Gravity still didn’t make sense
After a decade of experiments, physicists opened a sealed envelope containing the gravitational constant measurement, only to find their result disagreed with previous measurements, deepening a longstanding puzzle in fundamental physics.
FEATURED
Science Articles
An Object From Another Star System Just Passed Through Ours
In 2025, astronomers detected 3I/ATLAS -- only the third object ever identified as having originated outside our solar system. Like its predecessors, 'Oumuamua in 2017 and Borisov in 2019, it was spotted moving through our solar system on a trajectory that could not...
New Fremont, California Pedestrian Accident Study
Fremont, a city known for its amusing history and beautiful vistas, has many walkable neighborhoods. Nevertheless, pedestrians in the city are still at risk of accidents, especially when crossing busy intersections, because of careless drivers. A recent study takes a...
CRISPR Gene Editing Study Demonstrates How Hox Genes Impact Appearance
Lots of scientists know of the “McGinnis experiment”, which William McGinnis undertook in 1990 to examine how high-level control genes, known as Hox genes, determine our physical characteristics. He investigated whether proteins encoded by the human or mouse Hox gene...
Importance of space exploration according to ‘The Eureka Manifesto’
The human species has always had an insatiable need to explore the unknown and learn more about the undiscovered. We have always stimulated our ambition by pushing our limits in the pursuit of knowledge and working hard to gain a better grasp of our environment and...