Science

German researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg and University Hospital Erlangen have shown that adult mouse hippocampal tissue can be cryopreserved using vitrification, cooled to liquid nitrogen temperature, and later rewarmed with key functions intact. In the study, the tissue regained electrical activity and synaptic communication after thawing. The work marks an important step in cryobiology, but…

Charles Lieber is one of the best-known names in nanoscience, but his career took a dramatic turn after a federal conviction in the United States. Once a leading Harvard chemistry professor, Lieber was convicted in 2021 of making false statements to federal authorities and tax-related offences tied to payments from China. Today, he is back…

A single particle over Utah pointed to a cosmic ray with no clear origin. Image credit – Gemini One of the strongest cosmic rays in history was detected in May of 2021 in Utah. Amaterasu hit Earth’s atmosphere and caused a big shower of secondary particles. By 2023, scientists had determined that it was the…

In 1971, historian Alexander McKee led a dive that uncovered the remains of the Tudor ship, the Mary Rose, buried in Solent mud. This remarkable find, preserved for centuries, yielded thousands of artifacts offering insights into 16th-century life. Image Credit: Mary Rose Trust, via Wikimedia Commons History is not just neatly stored in books lined…

After a grueling 16-year quest, Mel Fisher’s relentless pursuit culminated in the monumental 1985 discovery of the Spanish galleon Atocha. Beneath the Florida Keys’ treacherous waters, his team unearthed a “silver reef” of immense value, estimated at $400 million. “Today is the day.” Sixteen years, to be precise, Mel Fisher woke up hearing those exact…

Dreams can feel chaotic, vivid or strangely disconnected from reality, yet new research suggests they are far from random. A study from the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca shows that dreams are shaped by a mix of personal traits, daily experiences and broader life events. Instead of simply replaying what happens during the day,…

Divers found an unidentified vessel some 300 feet below the surface, its masts still standing and cabin intact, untouched for nearly two centuries. Image Credits: Google Gemini It started with a blip on a screen.In 2017, a fibre-optic cable survey team working in Lake Ontario spotted something strange: a large, unexplained shape sitting on the…

Africa may show us first what happens when a continent splits in two. Image credit – Gemini Africa appears to be relatively stable geologically. However, many forces are at play underneath the surface of the continent, resulting in its break-up. And scientists claim this is proceeding faster than expected. In millions of years, this process…

Meet the 400-year-old shark that might be older than America. Image credit – Wikimedia A shark that may be older than the United States generated massive interest in one of the most unique animals inhabiting our oceans. Shockingly, this theory has been backed by various experts who claim it may be accurate.As it turns out,…

The discovery of Viking presence in North America, initially hinted at by local lore and confirmed by the Ingstads’ archaeological work at L’Anse aux Meadows, has been precisely dated to AD 1021. Image Credits: Evidence for European presence in the Americas in ad 1021 study/ Extended Data Fig. 5. Pictures of the wood items studied…

A remarkable discovery at New South Wales’ Willandra Lakes unearthed Mungo Lady, revealing 42,000-year-old cremation rituals, predating ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations. Image Credits: via Wikimedia Commons There is a sombre ambience about the Willandra Lakes of New South Wales. The landscape is dotted with dried-up lake beds, and it has the impressive formations known…

Scientists discovered a 46-million-year-old mosquito fossil in Montana. This ancient insect was perfectly preserved in shale, not amber. Its abdomen held its last meal, confirmed by chemical tests. Image Credits: Hemoglobin-derived porphyrins preserved in a Middle Eocene blood-engorged mosquito study by PNAS Fig 1 For decades, the notion of a prehistoric mosquito entombed in a…