How many ants live on Earth? Researcher Mark Wong and his colleagues set out to find out. They started by thoroughly analyzing almost 500 studies on ants spanning every continent. Their final conclusion? A whopping 20 quadrillion ants – that’s 16 zeros – roam the planet to help...
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Earth can become more habitable for life as long as Jupiter changes its orbit around the Sun, Space.com reported. In a new paper, astronomers at the University of California-Riverside simulated different arrangements of the solar system and came across some interesting findings. They explained that a planet’s...
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Seafaring in the Mediterranean 2,400 years ago was no easy feat, especially facing summer’s westerly winds – but ancient Roman sailors kept sailing east and trade with the Levant region went on, the Washington Post reported. Researchers have long wondered how. To solve this mystery, researcher David...
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Humans host trillions of bacteria in their guts that help regulate digestion and general health. These microbiomes are very complex and vary among individuals. Now, scientists at Stanford University have created the first-ever synthetic human microbiome, New Atlas reported. In their study, a research team came up with...
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Pandemic lockdowns didn’t just impact humans but also their other primate cousins, the Guardian reported. A new study found that captive primate species, such as gorillas, bonobos and chimpanzees, experienced behavioral changes when zoos and safari parks were shuttered in 2020. Scientists collected behavioral data between April...
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Lunar samples collected by China’s Chang’e-5 probe are unveiling some new details about the Moon and how its resources can help Earth, the South China Morning Post reported. In 2020, the Chang’e-5 lunar probe – named after China’s Moon goddess Chang’e – returned to Earth carrying...
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A new study uncovered the genetic development of one of humanity’s oldest parasites, the BBC’s Science Focus wrote. For thousands of years, the human whipworm, Trichuris trichiura, has been one of the main sources of bellyaches in ancient civilizations. The parasites live in the intestines of their...
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Ever strike up a conversation with someone, only to unleash a stream of chatter from the other person that seemingly won’t end? Turns out that these talkative folks are more likable, Psychology Today reported. In a new paper, researchers at the University of Virginia asked college students...
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The “immortal jellyfish” lives up to its name. Scientifically known as Turritopsis dohrnii, the marine creature is the only species capable of rejuvenating itself after sexual maturity. Once the jellyfish is damaged or stressed, it can turn itself into a small blob that settles on the sea...
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The availability of oxygen will be one of the main challenges to colonizing Mars – but a toaster-sized device could be the solution, the Washington Post reported. Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently unveiled the new gadget – the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource...
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The discovery of a human skeleton in Indonesia is rewriting the history of medicine and reframing long-held notions that prehistoric hunter-gatherers were primitive, USA Today reported. That’s because the skeleton, named “Skully” and found at a Liang Tebo cave in Borneo, known to hold some of...
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Some animal species are able to use stones and sticks as tools for their own survival. For example, chimpanzees use sticks to collect termites, while sea otters use rocks to smash snails. Researcher Camilla Cenni and her colleagues discovered that long-tailed macaque monkeys in Bali, Indonesia, have...
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Polish archaeologists recently came across the skeletal remains of a 17th-century “female vampire,” the New York Post reported. Located near the village of Pien, in southeastern Poland, the alleged vampire was found buried with a sickle across her throat and a padlock wrapped around her toe. Archaeologist...
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Marilyn Monroe would have probably liked to visit Neptune or Uranus. In 1953, the late actress famously sang, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” On these two planets, she’d have had all the gems she would want. That’s because scientists believe that on Neptune and Uranus it...
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A new study found that artificial sweeteners are not as harmless as originally believed, Cosmos Magazine reported. Artificial sweeteners, such as saccharin, sucralose and stevia, contain chemicals that provide no energy or nutritional benefit. Their non-nutritive features allow them to be used in various products –...
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Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, has always inspired scientists to theorize about its construction. A new study is shedding some light on that mystery. Constructed around 2560 BCE, the structure and its adjacent pyramids were made to commemorate...
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Doppelgängers can pass as identical twins even though they are not actual siblings. Or are they? A new study found that doppelgängers not only share similar looks but also the same genes and lifestyle traits, the Smithsonian Magazine reported. A research team collaborated with Canadian photographer François Brunelle,...
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It can be a tearing-up moment to see an owner reunited with their dog after a long period of time. But it’s not just the humans who are crying, NPR reported. A new study found that dogs can shed tears when reunited with their owners or with...
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Some crops prefer the hustle and bustle of big cities instead of quiet, open spaces, according to Science Alert. Urban farming has become more popular in recent years and current estimates show that 15 to 20 percent of the global food supply is produced in cities...
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In the children’s cartoon “Spongebob Squarepants,” the titular character becomes ill in one episode and starts sneezing bubbles. It turns out that sneezing sea sponges are not fictional, according to Cosmos magazine. In a new study, scientists closely monitored the Caribbean stovepipe sponge to understand why such...
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