Science

An eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) attached to an upper set of artificial teeth (Source: Smithsonian Institution) In 1898, a dredging boat pulling debris from the floor of the Chesapeake Bay made a discovery that looked like something from a biological nightmare: a set of human dentures with a live oyster firmly attached to them.The unusual…

Few scientists have reshaped humanity’s understanding of the universe as profoundly as Max Planck. Celebrated as the father of quantum theory, the German physicist not only revolutionised modern physics but also left behind timeless reflections on science, philosophy and the limits of human knowledge. One of his most quoted observations is: “Science cannot solve the…

A scientist on board captured the moment the glacier crashed into the ocean. Credit: Alice Fremand Scientists aboard Britain’s flagship polar research vessel, RRS Sir David Attenborough, watched an estimated 18 million metric tonnes of ice crash into the ocean when a massive section of Greenland’s Sorgenfri glacier broke away in a single evening event.The…

In Brazil, the blue butterfly Godartiana byses has expanded from the states of Rio de Janeiro and Bahia to Sao Paulo. Butterflies are relocating across the world as climate change and extreme weather continue to alter their habitats. According to a new global study, many species are expanding into new areas, while others are disappearing…

Representative Image (AI-generated) Animal bones resting on the floors of South Australia’s underwater caves are revealing far more than the identity of the creatures they once belonged to. According to a new study published in PLOS One, the cave environment itself leaves distinct “fingerprints” on bones, helping scientists reconstruct how they were deposited, the environmental…

Representative Image of a mouse and a human side by side, both engaged in sniffing (AI-generated image) A mouse hunting for food might sniff several times a second. A person checking whether a cantaloupe is ripe usually leans in for a single, unhurried breath. On the surface, these look like completely different behaviours. Two complementary…

People in India will gather around a forming crowd even if they don’t know why. While at times it can be a tourist attraction, at other times it can be a mystery they are trying to figure out on their own. In videos going viral on the internet from Gujarat’s Morbi district, people are gathering…

German biologist and recreational fisherman Roland Lorkowsky released thousands of juvenile Wels catfish into Spain’s Ebro River in 1974. His goal was simple and positive: to create a world-class sport fishery by introducing one of Europe’s biggest freshwater fish. But today, the Wels catfish has become one of the dominant predators in many Spanish waterways….

Egg oiling helps protect vulnerable Sage-Grouse by reducing raven numbers. Common ravens are among the most intelligent birds in the world. Over the years, raven numbers have increased in many places because they benefit from food and nesting sites linked to human activity. According to USGS research, from 1966 to 2018, raven numbers across North…

SpaceX has been achieving many of its targets these days, even by accident. After months of anticipation, a discarded upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is believed to have careened into the Moon early Wednesday morning near the Einstein Crater. It exploded on impact, causing a flash that may have been visible from…

Industrial plants release vast amounts of carbon dioxide every day, yet much of the conversation around cutting those emissions has focused on capturing the gas and storing it underground. Turning it into something useful has always been a more attractive idea, but one that has struggled outside laboratory conditions. Factory exhaust is not made up…

The introduction of agriculture, around 11,500 years ago in the Middle East was a milestone for humankind. For decades, the image of the prehistoric hunter-gatherer has been remarkably consistent: hunters skilled in living off mainly meat, with plants as occasional supplements. It’s an image deeply embedded in popular culture, in documentaries and even in modern…