Science

Antarctica, now a vast frozen continent, was not always covered in ice. Around 34 million years ago, during the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, the continent was ice-free. According to Eric Wolff, a paleoclimatologist from the University of Cambridge, Antarctica resembled northern Canada with tundra and coniferous forests before it froze. The shift to ice began due to

A significant discovery of ancient silver coins has been made on the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria, located between Sicily and Tunisia. Archaeologists from the University of Tübingen, Germany, unearthed 27 Roman silver coins, known as “denarii,” dating back more than 2,000 years. The coins were found hidden in a hole in the wall during excavations

The White Shark Café, located in the Pacific Ocean between Baja California and Hawaii, is a mysterious region where great white sharks gather every winter and spring. This area, once thought to be an ocean desert, has puzzled scientists for years. Great white sharks, typically found off the coast of California, make a long journey

Patients suffering from chronic pain have limited treatment options, often relying on medications like opioids that come with harmful side effects and high addiction risks. A new study in mice, published in Current Biology journal, suggests a new way to use the placebo effect for treating chronic pain. By activating specific neurons in the brain

In 2006, a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome began decimating bat populations across New England. Over the following decade, the loss of these bats, essential for controlling insect populations, led to significant consequences for agriculture and human health, according to a new study. With fewer bats around to consume insects, farmers resorted to increased use

NASA is offering digital content creators the chance to witness the launch of the Europa Clipper spacecraft, a mission aimed at exploring Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa. This mission will help scientists determine if the moon has the potential to support life, with research suggesting an ocean beneath its frozen crust. The spacecraft, equipped with nine

On September 4, a small asteroid named 2024 RW1 burned up in the atmosphere above Luzon Island, Philippines. As per the Catalina Sky Survey, the asteroid, roughly 1 metre in diameter, posed no threat as it entered the atmosphere at a speed of 17.6 kilometres per second. NASA confirmed that these events happen every two

In Siberia, a massive crater emerged explosively in the tundra, sending ice and rock hundreds of feet away and creating a large circular scar. This event marked the 17th crater discovered in the Yamal and Gyda peninsulas since 2013, attracting significant scientific interest. The craters are believed to be linked to climate change, with modern

August saw the highest number of sunspots in nearly 23 years, according to recent data. With an average of 215.5 daily sunspots, this marks a significant increase from the forecasted number, which was less than half of the actual count. The latest figures suggest that the sun’s solar maximum, a phase of heightened activity in

Saturn’s rings, one of the most unique features of our solar system, are set to become nearly invisible in March 2025. This rare phenomenon will occur due to Saturn’s unique axial tilt, which will align the rings edge-on with Earth’s line of sight. The result is a brief period where these majestic rings will be

Indian researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) in Mohali, led by Dr. Bhanu Prakash, have developed a new technique to address chromium contamination in wastewater. This technique employs sunlight as a catalyst in combination with microfluidic technology to convert toxic hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] into the less harmful trivalent chromium [Cr(III)]. This

Recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have challenged earlier assumptions about the size of galaxies in the early universe. Previously, scientists were puzzled by the apparent size of these ancient galaxies, which seemed to defy the standard model of cosmology. The JWST, with its advanced infrared capabilities, has now shed light on

A recent advancement in quantum communication technology has seen scientists develop an exceptionally bright light source capable of generating quantum-entangled photons. This innovation holds significant promise for the future of secure and high-speed quantum communications. Published on 24 July in the journal eLight, the study reveals how combining existing technologies has led to the creation

Tensions between Brazil and Elon Musk’s business empire ratcheted up further as the country’s telecoms regulator threatened to sanction his satellite broadband company Starlink hours after its top court stood behind a controversial decision to ban social network X from the country. Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also backed the top court’s Judge

Glaciers have long served as nature’s deep freezers, preserving the physical characteristics of past climates and the genetic blueprints of ancient life forms, including viruses. As the planet’s climate continues to shift, scientists are increasingly looking to these frozen archives to understand how pathogens have historically responded to environmental changes. By studying viral genomes extracted

NASA has announced that Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which is currently docked at the International Space Station (ISS), will return to Earth without astronauts on board. The undocking is scheduled for September 6, 2024, at 6:04 p.m. EDT, with the capsule expected to land in White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico, six hours later. This mission