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Smart News / Smart News Science

A bit of the ancient delta off the coast of Svalbard.

New Research

Earth’s Largest River Delta Was the Size of Alaska

The Triassic Snadd delta between Norway and Russia lasted millions of years and was likely a biodiversity hotspot

New Research

Over 150 Years of Data Sheds Light on Today’s Illegal Tortoiseshell Trade

The analysis, which goes back to 1844, shows why the decline of the hawksbill sea turtle isn’t just a modern problem

A polar bear walks on the ice of the Beaufort Sea in Arctic Alaska.

Trending Today

Judge Blocks Oil Drilling in Arctic Ocean

The ruling says only Congress—not presidential executive orders—has the authority to reverse bans on oil drilling leases

Very Good Dogs Can Detect the Scent of Seizures, Study Finds

But can they predict seizures before they occur?

Researcher Jack Ashby initially suspected a crow was responsible for the toad's skinning, but after examining the photo, he concluded that an otter was the more likely culprit

Why Otters Disembowel Toads Before Eating Them

The unfortunate amphibian likely fell victim to an otter, which skinned it to avoid ingesting the deadly toxins found in its glands

For more than 30 years, plastic Garfield phones have been washing up on French beaches

Why Have Garfield Phones Been Washing Ashore in France for 30 Years?

The mystery has been solved, but environmental advocates aren’t celebrating

New Research

Mosquitoes Can Smell Your Sweat

Researchers have identified a receptor in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that detect lactic acid and other compounds in human sweat

New York is the second state to pass a ban on single use plastic bags. California was the first.

New York to Introduce State-Wide Ban on Plastic Bags

But the plan has drawn criticism from both business groups and environmental advocates

The Toad mountain harlequin frog is one of more than 500 species endangered by the fungal outbreak

World’s Deadliest Pathogen On Record Devastates More Than 500 Amphibian Species—and We Don’t Know How To Stop It

The powerful fungus essentially ‘eats’ its victim’s skin alive, weakening the system before triggering cardiac arrest

New Research

Raging Rivers May Have Washed Over Mars for Billions of Years

A study of 200 river systems shows the waterways persisted even while the atmosphere was disappearing and the Red Planet was drying up

At 8, Jo Cameron broke her arm and didn't tell anyone for days because she didn't notice. Decades later her doctors found she had osteoarthritis by chance and she underwent surgery to remove the bone in her hand. A few drug store pain killers was all she need to ease her pain.

A Scottish Woman Doesn’t Feel Pain or Stress. Now Researchers Think They Know Why

Genetic analysis revealed that Jo Cameron has a previously unidentified mutation that may affect pain relief, memory and mood

Mini mum fits comfortably on a human's thumbnail

Meet ‘Mini mum,’ ‘Mini scule’ and ‘Mini ature,’ Three New Frog Species Among the World’s Smallest

The newly discovered amphibians are all about the size of a thumbnail or smaller

Trending Today

International Expedition Will Excavate the Dino-Rich ‘Jurassic Mile’

More than 100 paleontologists are heading to the fossil-filled Morrison Formation

The most recent vortex on the left and the first one discovered in 1989 by Voyager 2.

New Research

There’s a Dark and Stormy Vortex Brewing on Neptune

It is the sixth massive dark and stormy vortex found on the planet since 1989 and the only one astronomers have watched develop

New Research

A Network of Lakes Lies Under East Antarctica’s Biggest Glacier

The water underneath the Totten Glacier may force researchers to recalculate how quickly climate change may melt the massive ice sheet

New York County Bans Unvaccinated Children From Public Places

The drastic measure comes as officials try to curb a severe measles outbreak

Scotty’s skeleton is scheduled to go on view at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in May 2019

Cool Finds

Meet Scotty, the Largest and Longest-Lived T. Rex Ever Found

The dinosaur weighed an estimated 19,555 pounds and likely lived into its early 30s

For the first time, two female astronauts will conduct routine tests outside the International Space Station later this month while a team of women at NASA direct the work from the ground. Left: Christina Hammock Koch; Right: Anne McClain

NASA Cancels First All-Female Spacewalk Due to Spacesuit Size Issues

NASA didn’t have two properly fitting and space-ready suits for both women

Trending Today

Thousands of Invasive Cane Toads Overtake Florida Community

A mild winter and rain has led to a spring explosion of the amphibians, which are clogging pool filters, lawns and driveways

South Dakota National Guard distributes drinkable water at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Midwest Floods Lead to ‘Humanitarian Crisis’ on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

Water-logged and muddy lands are making it difficult for emergency aid to reach people in need of help

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