For most of human history, the creation of new ocean floor has been something inferred rather than witnessed. Geologists could map ancient scars on the seabed, measure the slow movement of tectonic plates and study volcanic rock brought to the surface, but the actual process of seafloor spreading remained largely hidden beneath kilometres of water.That…
Nanoplastics found in Antarctic soils for first time, suggesting long-range atmospheric transport Scientists have detected nanoplastics in Antarctic soil for the first time. This provides fresh evidence that tiny plastic particles can travel through the atmosphere and reach some of the most remote places on Earth. But how is it even possible?The study was published…
Goblin shark near Tonga Trench (2024). Credit: Minderoo-University of Western Australia Deep-Sea Research Center and Inkfish For the first time, scientists have filmed live goblin sharks swimming freely in their natural deep-sea habitat, giving researchers a glimpse of one of the world’s rarest and most mysterious sharks without removing it from the ocean. The discovery…
Isaac Newton (Image: Wikipedia) Isaac Newton spent his entire career proving that the universe follows precise, predictable laws. Then he lost a fortune betting on people, and admitted the difference out loud. “I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies but not the madness of people,” he is reported to have said, after watching his…
Bumblebees may be carrying a far heavier burden of toxic metals than honeybees, even when both species forage in the same countryside. The research found that pollen collected by bumblebees contained between two and seven times higher concentrations of several harmful metals, including arsenic, chromium, lead and tin, compared with pollen gathered by nearby honeybees….
BENGALURU: Isro has completed the fifth Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT-05), clearing another milestone towards the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission by qualifying the crew module’s main parachute system to withstand the maximum expected loads during descent.“The test, conducted on July 7 at the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) drop zone in Sheopur…
Seaweed is no longer just an aquatic flora, it has now transformed into a nuisance, especially for scientists. Sargassum, a genus of brown macroalgae that was once largely confined to the Sargasso Sea has evolved into the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt that stretches across 5,000 miles. In May alone, scientists detected 37.5 million tons of…
Mangrove forests rank among the world’s most valuable coastal ecosystems, shielding communities from storms, storing vast amounts of carbon and providing nurseries for countless marine species. For decades, scientists warned that these unique forests were disappearing faster than many tropical rainforests because of coastal development, aquaculture and pollution. Now, new satellite observations from Nasa present…
From luxury truffles to everyday chocolate bars, foil has long been one of the most recognisable forms of chocolate packaging. While its glossy metallic appearance adds a premium feel, its purpose goes far beyond aesthetics. Chocolate is highly sensitive to heat, moisture, oxygen and strong odours, all of which can affect its texture, flavour and…
For years, the idea that Mars once held vast amounts of water has remained one of planetary science’s most persistent questions. Dry river valleys, mineral deposits, and ancient lake basins have all hinted that the planet looked very different billions of years ago, but proving the existence of a true ocean has been far more…
For decades, scientists believed the world’s tallest trees faced a fundamental disadvantage during drought. The higher a tree grows, the harder gravity makes it for water to travel from the roots to the leaves, leading researchers to assume that towering rainforest giants would be especially vulnerable as the climate becomes hotter and drier. A new…
As humans dream of venturing to other planets and creating a virtual world with the help of AI, the hand that was holding tight with the past seems to be losing its grip. In the race to develop the future, the rich depths of the past are getting lost. Those that define our origins, reveal…
