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New Research

A CT scan of Pseudoliparis swirei

Cool Finds

Meet the Record-Breaking Fish That Lives 26,000 Feet Under the Sea

The creature is a type of snailfish, and has adapted to survive crushing pressures

One of the samples sequenced by the yeti researchers

New Research

Most “Yeti” Evidence Is Actually From Brown Bears

The results dispel the idea of these mythical beasts while providing clues to the ancestry of the elusive Himalayan and Tibetan bears

Simply by pooping, the once-endangered cape zebra helps researchers measure its health and well-being.

New Research

How Stressed Out Are Zebras? Just Ask Their Poop

Scientists are scooping up the pungent piles of data to measure the health of once-endangered ungulates

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre's Edicule, a shrine that encloses Jesus’ purported resting place

Mortar Found at “Jesus’ Tomb” Dates to the Constantine Era

The new analysis correlates with historical accounts stating that the tomb was discovered by the Romans, under the direction of emperor Constantine

"Perhaps you'd be interested if I had a sponge?"

New Research

Male Humpback Dolphins Woo Mates By Presenting Sponges as Gifts

They also use “wingmen” and occasionally sport the sponges as hats—but researchers aren’t sure just how much game they really have

New Research

Blue Whales Have a Secret Feeding Weapon: Ambidextrousness

Though they tend to favor their right side, blue whales can switch to ‘left-handedness’ while hunting

New Research

Your Brain Swells—Then Deflates—While You Learn

Researchers hypothesize that the brain “auditions” various cells that form, but only keeps the best of the best

New Research

How Clogs Damaged the Feet of 19th-Century Dutch Farmers

A study of 132 skeletons revealed bone chips associated with a rare condition

Artist's rendering of 'Oumuamua

New Research

The First Interstellar Object Seen Buzzing by Earth Is Pretty Weird

Roughly the size of a football field, the object is roughly 10 times longer than it is wide

The formerly wobbly Millennium Bridge

New Research

What Makes Bridges Wobble? Your Awkward Walk

A new study asks: How many people does it takes to set a pedestrian bridge a-swaying?

Artists impression of Ross 128 b

Cool Finds

Earth-Sized Planet Detected Just 11 Light Years Away

Orbiting the star Ross 128, our new planetary neighbor is thought to be temperate, with days up to a balmy 68 degrees Fahrenheit

This is base of Neolithic jar being prepared for sampling for residue analysis.

Cool Finds

Oldest Evidence of Wine Making Found in Georgia

The discovery of grape residues on pottery suggest Neolithic people had a taste for wine 8,000 years ago

New Research

Global Carbon Emissions on the Rise After Three-Year Pause

An uptick in China and U.S. coal use is expected to make 2017 the year of greatest emissions yet

New Research

Rare Roman Sundial Uncovered in Italy

Commissioned by a local politician, it sheds light on the relationship between Rome and its outlying territories

Did you get that injury during the night or day? It might be telling about how long it'll take to heal.

New Research

Why Wounds Heal Faster During the Day Than at Night

A new study suggests that you should consider staying away from sharp objects at night

An artist's rendering of an asteroid striking Earth.

New Research

Dinosaurs Might Be Alive Today If the Asteroid Had Hit Another Location

Only a fraction of the Earth’s surface contained the right amount of hydrocarbons to trigger the mass extinction, a new study says

New Research

A “Zombie” Star Is Refusing to Die

The supernova has been flaring for more than 600 days—and it may be the second time that the star has exploded

Chopin at 25, by his fiancée Maria Wodzińska.

Chopin’s Preserved Heart May Offer Clues About His Death

Scientists who recently examined the organ have suggested that Chopin died of complications from tuberculosis

Crested pigeons make an awful racket when they take off—but where's it coming from?

New Research

Australian Pigeons Have a Specially Evolved Feather to Better Annoy the Heck Out of You With

Pinpointing the birds’ noisemakers could help researchers better understand why urban avians make so much dang noise

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