West Virginia University geologists discovered a group of microorganisms dating back more than 800 million years that may still be alive, Futurism reported. In their paper, scientists wrote that they were initially studying halite salt crystals inside the Browne Formation, an 830-million-year-old rock found in the...
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The tiny nation of Singapore has taken a new approach to enjoy a cold brew while tackling the issue of water scarcity, according to the Independent. The Southeast Asian country has created a craft beer that is mostly made out of sewage water. Beer is more than...
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The ancient Roman city of Pompeii, located in modern-day Italy, continues to fascinate scientists and archaeologists even though it has been deeply excavated and studied for decades. Recently, a science team was able to sequence the genome of a Pompeiian man who died in the volcanic...
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Domesticated cats can remember the names of other cats living with them, CTV reported. In a new study, Japanese scientists focused on felines living in multi-cat dwellings, as well as those in Japan’s famous cat cafes. They tested the animal’s memory through a series of audio-visual experiments:...
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Green energy is about to become greener, according to Gizmodo. Scientists recently found that a type of algae can power a computer microprocessor for more than six months using sunlight. Cyanobacteria – better known as blue-green algae – produce energy from sunlight and transform it into food...
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Bats can fool predators by imitating the sound of buzzing insects, the New York Times reported. Scientists observed that the greater mouse-eared bat species are capable of mimicking the sounds of bees and hornets as a defense mechanism, which they describe as Batesian mimicry. Named after the...
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Sleeping will become tougher as the climate gets warmer, according to a new study. Danish researchers found a connection between hotter weather and poor sleep in areas around the world, NPR noted. In their study, scientists studied data from tens of thousands of smartwatches and wristbands of...
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Video games have long come under fire for their effects on children but a new study found that the medium can boost intelligence in young minds, Science Alert reported. Scientists analyzed screen time data of 9,855 9- and 10-year olds based in the United States. The...
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It is common to see insects splattered on a car windshield and license plates but in the United Kingdom, it’s a rare occurrence these days. A recent survey by the British-based charity Buglife found that the number of flying insects in the country has declined by...
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Most depictions of saber-tooth cats show the animals always displaying their big canine teeth. That wasn’t always the case, though, according to a new study. Scientists found that at least one species of the extinct predator did not sport its sharp teeth in the open, the...
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Researchers found that there is a large amount of groundwater buried beneath Antarctica’s ice, a discovery that confirms decades of speculation, New Scientist reported. Scientists have come across “ice streams” which they say are responsible for bringing much of Antarctica’s ice to the ocean. “They’re sort of...
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Plants can grow on the moon but some tinkering is needed for vegetation to thrive, according to a new study on lunar soil. University of Florida researchers recently grew small plants using lunar rock and soil samples taken from the Apollo missions decades ago, the Washington...
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Scientists have found that monkeys with more friends had larger areas of the brain linked to empathy and social-decision making, the Independent reported. In a new study, researchers monitored a group of free-ranging rhesus macaques in Puerto Rico for a number of years. They primarily focused...
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Scientists finally figured out why a chemical in sunscreen is harming coral reefs, Smithsonian Magazine reported. Oxybenzone has been used in sunscreen products to protect against strong ultraviolet rays but some studies have shown that it can cause skin allergies and disrupt hormone functions, according to...
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People will immediately try to correct themselves whenever they have an “oops” or “doh” moment. Scientists call this performance monitoring, which they describe as the brain’s way of informing us that we made a mistake. Recently, a research team finally discovered the precise location of these neurons...
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The dolphin-like vaquita porpoises are the rarest sea mammals in the world, numbering about 10 in the wild. Found only in Mexico’s Gulf of California, their minuscule numbers have sparked fears that the creature is on the brink of extinction. It has been labeled the world's...
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Many people pray for rain but the residents of a town in southern Mexico have taken this to a new level, fighting each other to appease their rain deities, Agence France-Presse reported. For centuries, Zitlala’s citizens have been engaging in a bloody indigenous ritual every year...
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A chow-chow might not always be aloof with strangers and a golden retriever isn’t automatically inclined to be friendly, according to a new and vast study on canine behavior that said a dog’s personality is not strictly determined by its breed. A research team collected survey...
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Scientists recently discovered that deforestation could be drastically reduced if people start eating meat made out of fungi, the Guardian reported. In a new study, a research team described how this type of meat is made from microbial protein, which can be produced from different organisms,...
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Meat consumption was not very common in medieval England, regardless of what many historical records say, the BBC reported. Cambridge University researchers recently studied the bones of more than 2,000 skeletons belonging to people from different walks of society from the fifth to the 11th centuries. In...
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