Breathing oxygen is considered a fundamental characteristic of multicellular animals, but scientists have found at least one that can’t do it. Scientists have just discovered a jellyfish-like parasite does not have a mitochondrial genome – the first multicellular organism known to have this absence. This means it doesn’t breathe; in fact, it lives its life … Read more
NASA’s recent job posting for a planetary protection officer inspired a fourth-grader to become the next real-life guardian of Earth. Upon posting a job opening for “Planetary Protection Officer,” NASA space agency has received countless applications, but none as original and adorable as that of Jack Davis, a 9-year-old boy who has all the qualifications … Read more
The phenomenon of baby spiders flying through the air at the end of a length of spun silk has been known for centuries. Now scientists have discovered the surprising mechanism by which the feat is realized. Charles Darwin described the gossamer spiders as “small aeronauts” that he had observed following him on a sea voyage. … Read more
The end of Interstellar left people with a lot of feelings: love, hate, slight confusion, a strong urge to find a bathroom after spending more than three hours in a theater – the list goes on. Neil DeGrasse Tyson Separates Fact From Fiction In ‘Interstellar’ In an interview with NPR’s David Greene, Tyson goes deep … Read more
Recently Jaralee Metcalf, a behavioral specialist and her colleague found an experiment on the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital website, called “How clean are your hands?” “We chose this experiment because we had been learning about decaying leaves and mold and flu season was approaching,” Jaralee Metcalf told. “We decided it would be an awesome mold experiment to … Read more
Scientists have reproduced the voice of a ancient Egyptian priest by creating a 3D printed replica of his mummified vocal tract. David Howard at Royal Holloway, University of London, and his colleagues reconstructed the vocal tracts of Nesyamun, a priest who lived over 3000 years ago during the reign of pharaoh Ramses XI. The incredible … Read more
Lucía Pérez Díaz, Royal Holloway A large crack, stretching several kilometres, made a sudden appearance recently in south-western Kenya. The tear, which continues to grow, caused part of the Nairobi-Narok highway to collapse. Initially, the appearance of the crack was linked to tectonic activity along the East African Rift. But although geologists now think that … Read more