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Scientists Baked a “Fossil” in 24 Hours
The simulation could help researchers gain new insight into the fossilization process—without having to wait 10,000 years
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Most of Mars’ Dust Comes From One Place
Erosion of the Medusae Fossae Formation has, over billions of years, likely covered the entire planet in 10 feet of volcanic dust
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Dads Pass On More Than Genetics in Their Sperm
Seminal research reveals that sperm change their cargo as they travel the reproductive tract—and the differences can have consequences for fertility
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Compelling Evidence Suggests There’s a Liquid Lake Beneath Mars’ Surface
But do the findings hold water?
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Scientists Give New Particle Accelerator the Thumbs Up
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine endorses the $1 billion Electron-Ion Collider
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Lizards With Bigger Toes and Smaller Hind Legs Survive Hurricanes
A serendipitous study comparing the physical traits of lizards before and after 2017’s hurricane season shows natural selection in action
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People Were Messing Around In Texas at Least 2,500 Years Earlier Than Previously Thought
Pre-Clovis projectile points and other artifacts at the Gault Site date back 16,000 years ago or even earlier
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The Andromeda Galaxy Ate The Milky Way’s Lost Sibling
New simulations show Andromeda absorbed the large galaxy M32p about 2 billion years ago
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Why the Most Helpful Dogs Keep Calm and Carry On
Dogs are willing to overcome obstacles to help people in distress—as long as they keep their cool
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Indigenous Peoples Manage One Quarter of the Globe, Which Is Good News for Conservation
Despite making up 5 percent of the world’s population, indigenous peoples maintain large swathes of land, two-thirds of which are still in a natural state
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Study Suggests Neanderthals Sparked Their Own Fire
Hand-axe wear suggests our hominid cousins used flint and pyrite to unleash Prometheus’ gift
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Climate Change Is Responsible for These Rare High-Latitude Clouds
A study shows that methane emissions are responsible for the increase of noctilucent clouds, which glow eerily at night
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Genes That Jump Between Species Could Rewrite Our Understanding of Evolution
Horizontal movement of genetic material is widespread across animals, challenging traditional notions of inheritance
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Tree Shrews Love Hot Peppers Because They Don’t Feel the Burn
A genetic mutation prevents Chinese tree shrews from feeling the heat of capsaicin, making them the only other mammal besides humans that enjoys hot foods
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DNA Analysis Confirms Authenticity of Romanovs’ Remains
Will Russia’s fallen royal family finally receive a full burial from the Orthodox Church?
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Babies’ Cries May Predict What They Will Sound Like as Adults
A new study has found that vocal pitch arises very early in life
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How Fruit Flies Stay Young at Heart
Researchers link structural alterations to fruit fly hearts to longevity-promoting changes in metabolism
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Before He Died, Ötzi the Iceman Ate a Greasy, Fatty Meal
A detailed analysis of the mummy’s stomach contents suggests he knew precisely what to eat to survive in harsh Alpine conditions
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How Data-Gathering Seals Help Scientists Measure the Melting Antarctic
Stumped on how to take the temperature of the ocean floor, oceanographers turned to the cutest, most competent divers they knew
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Oldest Stone Tools Outside Africa Unearthed in China
Six artifacts date to 2.1 million years ago, potentially rewriting what we know about which species led the migration out of Africa
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