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Smart News

Lavender’s Lovely Smell Soothes Anxious Behavior in Mice

In mice, at least, lavender may also be as effective at combating anxiety as commonly-prescribed medications

A crow named Mango successfully assembled three- and four-part compound tools

New Research

Crafty New Caledonian Crows Can Assemble Tools

The brainy birds successfully navigated feat previously accomplished by just two other species: humans and chimps

Brass plaques from Benin City, on display at the British Museum.

Major European Institutions Will ‘Loan’ Looted Artifacts to New Nigerian Museum

During an 1897 raid, the British army plundered 4,000 artifacts from the kingdom of Benin

Several young plaintiffs and their families had already planned to live in Eugene, Oregon, during the now-delayed trial—which was set to begin in a lower court in the state on Oct. 29—in order to stay on track in school.

Supreme Court Orders Pause in Landmark Climate Change Case Led By Youth

21 children and young people are suing the United States government over policies they say contribute to climate change

A statue in Joachim Ronneberg's honor stands tall outside the city hall in Alesund

Trending Today

The Commando Who Foiled Hitler’s Atomic Ambitions Has Died

Norwegian resistance fighter Joachim Ronneberg led the raid that destroyed stock of “heavy water” Hitler needed to produce weapons-grade plutonium

Cool Finds

Oldest Intact Shipwreck Discovered in the Black Sea

The Greek merchant vessel similar to those found on ancient pottery was carbon dated to 400 B.C.

Five of the top 10 contenders were actually by British writers, including Jane Austen, J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkein

The Results Are In…These Are America’s “Most-Beloved” Novels, Says PBS

More than 4 million people voted, securing top honors for Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ in the Great American Read initiative

Nyack was known for his vocal roars and laid back personality

A Lioness Killed the Father of Her Cubs in Rare Attack at Indianapolis Zoo

Prior to the incident, 12-year-old Zuri had never shown signs of aggression toward 10-year-old Nyack

Since 2002, a series of fragments with questionable provenance have flooded the antiquities market

Museum of the Bible Acknowledges Five of Its Dead Sea Scrolls Are Forgeries

Analysis suggests nearly one-third of the museum’s 16 scrolls are fakes, and study of the remaining fragments may yield similar results

Mars imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope during a close approach to Earth.

New Research

Salty Water Under the Surface of Mars Could Have Enough Oxygen for Life

New models suggest subsurface water could absorb enough oxygen to support microbial communities and even things like sponges

The Valley of the Fallen

Trending Today

Spain’s Push to Remove Franco’s Remains From the Valley of the Fallen

Congress approved the government decree to move the fascist dictator from his spot in the civil war mausoleum, but obstacles remain

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is seen in Hong Kong, Monday, Oct. 22, 2018.

World’s Longest Sea Bridge Opens Amid Controversy

More than 275 workers were injured during the construction of the bridge, which connects Hong Kong, Macau and China

The "headless chicken monster," a.k.a. Enypniastes eximia.

A Rare Sighting of the ‘Headless Chicken Monster’ of the Sea

The strange sea cucumber, spotted in the Southern Ocean, has only been captured on video once before

Nine out of 10 common types of microplastics were found in the participants' stool samples

Microplastics Found in Human Poop for the First Time

The pesky particles were present in all eight stool samples gathered for pilot study

L to R: Paul Stabler, "Charles Obach" (circa 1870–79) and Jacobus de Louw, "Vincent van Gogh" (1873)

Employer Who Pushed Van Gogh to New Career Path Revealed in Studio Photo

An 1870s photograph of Charles Obach, one-time manager of the London Goupil Gallery branch, was found in the National Portrait Gallery’s collections

Navy Chief Petty Officers are pictured with retired Navy engineer Raye Montague after her keynote speech at a Women's History Month Observance held at Naval Support Activity South Potomac on April 4, 2017.

Raye Montague, a Barrier-Breaking Naval Ship Designer, Has Died at 83

Despite facing racism and sexism at nearly every turn, Montague produced the first computer-made Navy warship design

New Research

Europe’s First Dogs Disappeared After Neolithic Farmers Arrived With Their Own Pups

Genetic analysis shows ancient canines from the Near East slowly replaced indigenous dog populations of that period

Montreal doctors will soon be able to prescribe free museum visits for patients and a limited number of loved ones or caregivers

Art Meets Science

Canadian Doctors Will Soon Be Able to Prescribe Museum Visits as Treatment

An afternoon of art may offer serotonin mood boost, welcome distraction from chronic pain

Walpole's neo-Gothic estate boasts a castle-like white exterior, labyrinthine network of closets, chambers and rooms

Curious Collection of Historic Oddities Reunited in Horace Walpole’s Neo-Gothic Castle

See more than 150 artifacts originally on view in the estate during the 1700s

So long, and thanks for all the fish

At Behest of Derek Jeter, Marlins Park’s Much-Ballyhooed Statue “Homer” Is Going, Going, Gone

The artist is not pleased

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