Health & Fitness

Dutch cities are replacing solid concrete surfaces with grass-filled paving blocks that absorb rainwater and help keep urban areas cooler

Scientists discovered a plastic-eating fungus in the Amazon rainforest that survives without oxygen and could one day help tackle landfill waste worldwide

Japan scientists developed a fabric that blocks heat-producing infrared light while letting crops receive the sunlight they need for photosynthesis

This ordinary pen helped save Apollo 11 astronauts, now it has sold at auction for an $857,600

A crucial felt-tip pen, famously utilized by Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 mission, fetched an astonishing $857,600 at Sotheby's Space Exploration auction. This ordinary pen played a vital role in fixing a circuit breaker on the Moon, ensuring the lunar module's safe return to Earth. It exemplifies the ingenuity and urgent problem-solving that marked space exploration history.

Scientists create human organs in space for the first time in a microgravity environment

In an extraordinary milestone, researchers have managed to cultivate liver and kidney tissues in outer space. This innovative mission, a collaboration between Auxilium Biotechnologies and the Wake Forest Institute, leveraged cutting-edge bioprinting techniques to achieve impressive scalability. The unique microgravity environment facilitated optimal cell distribution and tissue growth, paving the way for potential future advancements in organ repair and replacement therapies.

Scientists thought this fish had been extinct for 66 million years, until it reappeared

Scientists showed horses silent videos of wolves and found their hearts raced even when...

Horses exhibit an intriguing phenomenon when identifying predators on video screensthey experience heightened heart rates indicative of internal stress while showing no outward signs of fear. Notably, male horses and dominant herd members trigger stronger responses, challenging traditional views of prey animals' panic-driven behavior. Grasping this psychological disconnect is essential for improving horse welfare and ensuring rider safety.

Scientists found South Americas first insect-bearing amber, a 112-million-year-old time capsule from a lost dinosaur-era forest

MIT built a 300-gram robot that flies through the sky, dives underwater and takes off again, just like a diving bird

The Flapping-wing Aerial-aquatic Vehicle (FAAV), developed by engineers at MIT and EPFL, is a 300-gram robot designed to mimic the diving birds like the Atlantic puffin. It is the first machine capable of completing the full cycle of swimming, diving, and launching back into the sky using its wings rather than separate propellers or legs.

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun yet Venus is hotter; thanks to a runaway greenhouse effect

'Hello from ISS': Indian-origin Nasa astronaut Anil Menon shares first space message

Nasa astronaut Anil Menon shared his first orbital message from the International Space Station. He expressed deep gratitude for the people who supported his journey to space. Menon also conveyed his appreciation for the beauty of Earth seen from orbit. His eight-month mission includes scientific investigations and station maintenance. This assignment marks a significant milestone in his career as a former flight surgeon.

Guam kingfishers vanished from their home after invasive snakes devastated their species: Now scientists are restoring them with four new chicks

The Guam Kingfisher, known as 'sihek', is extinct in the wild due to invasive brown tree snakes. These birds played vital roles in the island's ecosystem, controlling insect populations. Their disappearance has led to increased spider numbers and thinner forests on Guam. Conservation centers now house the remaining 140 birds, aiming for eventual reintroduction. Efforts focus on breeding pairs to save this species from complete extinction.

American scientists created a flexible solar skin that stretches like fabric and follows the Sun to capture more energy

An ancient sea once divided North America from north to south; 70-million-year-old creatures from its waters still shimmer like gemstones

Millions of years ago, South Dakota was covered by a vast inland sea. This ancient seaway supported diverse marine life, including ammonites and marine reptiles. Today, fossils from this period are displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. These ancient shells still shine due to their mother-of-pearl composition. Discoveries continue to reveal insights into prehistoric marine ecosystems and Earth's history.

Emperor penguins survive Antarctica's brutal winters by huddling together, but a maths study reveals the hidden system behind their remarkable teamwork

Emperor penguins in Antarctica form huddles to survive extreme cold temperatures. Each penguin moves to reduce its own heat loss, which benefits the entire group. This movement ensures every bird eventually experiences the warmer center of the huddle. The study modeled this behaviour, showing it explains even warmth distribution. Researchers found this natural movement is key to their survival strategy.

Scientists have finally explained why killer whales struggle to hear blue whales, and the answer may have helped the giants survive for millions of years

Some baleen whales use low-frequency songs to avoid killer whales. This acoustic crypsis helps flight species escape predators in open oceans. Blue whales, known for loud calls, sing at frequencies predators cannot hear. Natural selection favored these low-frequency calls over millions of years. This discovery reveals how predation shaped whale communication systems.

NASA's Curiosity Rover spots mysterious honeycomb pattern on Mars

Quote of the day by Charles Darwin: An American monkey, after getting drunk on brandy, would never touch - a witty observation on why humans often repeat the mistakes they already know can harm them

Charles Darwin noted monkeys learn from bad experiences, unlike many humans. People often repeat harmful habits despite knowing the negative consequences. Intelligence does not always guarantee wise decision-making in personal matters. Memory can distort past events, justifying the repetition of mistakes. Wisdom lies in changing behavior after a negative experience, not just knowing.

A scientist slipped into a pool beneath a US military base and found a 'demon cavefish'

In a remarkable finding, a scientist has uncovered a new species of eyeless fish in Bobcat Cave, aptly named the demon cavefish after a character from a popular TV series. This fascinating creature has evolved to thrive in complete darkness, displaying no eyes or pigmentation. Intriguingly, it cohabits with another sightless predator, showcasing the resilience of unique wildlife beneath humanity's constructed environments.

Scientists cut climbing vines from a damaged Borneo forest. Its canopy then grew three times faster

Trimming aggressive climbing vines from logged tropical forests can substantially expedite canopy recovery, providing a more economical alternative to new tree planting for ecosystem restoration. Areas where vines were cut exhibited a carbon storage rate three times quicker than those with newly planted trees, as confirmed by laser mapping. Effective vine management promotes forestry sustainability and preserves biodiversity.

Around 100 volunteers collected 11 million seeds by hand across Scotland; nearly 8 million native trees are now being grown to rebuild its disappearing Atlantic rainforest

A 1971 prediction by Stephen Hawking just came true with a cosmic collision 1.3 billion light-years away: Now scientists are trying to understand how

A cosmic collision of two black holes confirmed Stephen Hawking's fifty-year-old prediction. The observed increase in the merged black hole's area precisely matched theoretical calculations. This event provided the most accurate observational evidence for Hawking's black hole area law. Scientists collaborated across LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA to analyze the gravitational wave signal. The precise data reinforces fundamental principles of modern physics and cosmology.

How tiny pollen grains helped solve a brutal murder: The fascinating science behind nature's invisible crime scene evidence

Tiny pollen grains offer vital clues for investigators solving complex criminal cases. Forensic palynologists analyze these microscopic particles to link suspects to crime scenes. A notable murder case in New Zealand was solved using unusual mutated pollen evidence. Pollen's resistance to decomposition makes it a persistent and valuable forensic tool. This silent evidence helps identify and locate regions, aiding in criminal investigations.

Scientists fitted a European honey buzzard with a GPS tracker. The bird flew for 42 days, covering more than 10,000 km from South Africa to Finland and helping researchers uncover the secrets of one of nature's greatest migrations

Indian-origin astronaut Anil Menon lifts-off to ISS: Inside Russia's eight-month mission

Nasa astronaut Anil Menon launched for his first spaceflight mission. He will spend eight months aboard the International Space Station. Menon will conduct scientific experiments and technology demonstrations. His research focuses on human adaptation to microgravity and medical advancements. This mission continues cooperation between Nasa and Roscosmos despite global tensions.

Scientists may have solved the 252 million-year-old mystery behind Earth's greatest mass extinction

A new study reveals metabolism's role in Earth's greatest marine extinction event. Organisms' oxygen use and energy generation dictated survival during this ancient crisis. Warming oceans and declining oxygen levels stressed less active ancient marine life. More mobile animals with higher energy demands better survived deteriorating conditions. This ancient shift continues to shape today's diverse ocean ecosystems.

Rare fossil reveals T. rexs attack style

An amazing fossil discovery shows a T. rex tooth stuck in an Edmontosaurus skull, dating back 66 million years. This proves a direct clash between these dinosaurs. The tooth confirms T. rex involvement, meaning the Edmontosaurus was either attacked or scavenged. This is crucial evidence for understanding T. rex's hunting habits.

Norway opened the Arctic seabed for mining, but rare deep-sea life lives there too

Japan's 2011 megaquake sent a seismic wave nearly 2,900 km to Earth's core, which returned 13 minutes later and shifted the entire country eastward

Meet the magnetic liquid metal robot: It merges and squeezes through tiny gaps like a living cell

This supersonic jet needed a radiation meter because it flew twice as high as commercial aircraft

The Concorde jet soared near the edge of space, requiring careful monitoring of radiation levels to ensure passenger safety. In the face of hazardous cosmic storms, pilots were mandated to descend to safer altitudes. While this supersonic aircraft typically flew above the majority of Earth's atmospheric shield, fluctuations in radiation exposure depended on several factors including altitude, geography, and solar activity. During such storms, safety took precedence over speed.

Scientists say crushing deep-ocean pressure squeezes hidden nutrients out of sinking marine snow, feeding microbes and changing what we know about Earths carbon cycle

Scientists have discovered that the immense pressure in the deep ocean squeezes nutrients out of sinking marine snowtiny particles of dead algae and organic matterproviding an unexpected food source for deep-sea microbes. The findings suggest more carbon escapes into deep ocean water than previously believed, which could reshape scientists' understanding of Earth's carbon cycle and improve future climate models.

A supernova lit up Earths sky in 1054 and was visible in daylight. Hubble now shows its glowing remains are still expanding nearly 1,000 years later

Astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope to measure the expanding Crab Nebula. New images compared with older ones show gas filaments moving outwards. This ancient stellar explosion's remnant is still actively changing today. The Crab Pulsar at the center continues to power the nebula's glow. Scientists also identified previously unrecognised filament structures within the nebula.

Quote of the day by popular psychiatrist Thomas Szasz: If you have strongly held opinions, you are opinionated; if you don't, you lack - a witty observation that exposes the impossible standards society often places on independent thinkers

Thomas Szasz noted people face criticism whether they express strong opinions or remain silent. He observed that holding firm views leads to labels of being opinionated. Conversely, avoiding firm positions results in accusations of lacking conviction. This paradox highlights the impossibility of avoiding judgment from others. Ultimately, the focus should be on well-considered views, not on evading all objections.

Buried for 5,300 years beneath a Stone Age tomb, a skull discovered in Spain has revealed the world's earliest known ear surgery

Award-winning innovation: 17-year-old New Jersey student built an AI that detects autism and ADHD with a retinal scan

Europe just unveiled a reusable rocket concept that could challenge SpaceXs Starship

European researchers have proposed a new rocket concept called RLV C5. This design offers a partially reusable launch vehicle for Europe's heavy lift needs. The RLV C5 utilizes liquid hydrogen and oxygen, which is more efficient. Its booster would glide back and be captured by an aircraft. This approach aims to reduce development complexity and cost for Europe.

Science word of the day: Allele, know its meaning, who introduced the term, and its practical applications