One of Earth’s most consequential bursts of biodiversity—a 30-million-year period of explosive evolutionary changes spawning innumerable new species—may have the most modest of creatures to thank for the vital stage in life’s history: worms. The digging and burrowing of prehistoric worms and other invertebrates along ocean bottoms sparked a chain of events that released oxygen … Read more
Both literally and figuratively, light pervades the world. It banishes darkness, conveys telecommunications signals between continents and makes visible the invisible, from faraway galaxies to the smallest bacterium. Light can also help heat the plasma within ring-shaped devices known as tokamaks as scientists worldwide strive to harness the fusion process to generate green electricity. Now, … Read more
Aquatic biology is a branch of biology that focuses on the study of life in water environments, encompassing a wide range of organisms, ecosystems, and processes that thrive in aquatic habitats. From the smallest microorganisms to the largest marine mammals, aquatic biology explores the diversity, adaptations, interactions, and ecological dynamics of aquatic life across freshwater, … Read more
Microbial ecology is the branch of ecology that studies the interactions between microorganisms and their environment, including other organisms, abiotic factors, and biogeochemical processes. Microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, and viruses, play essential roles in ecosystem dynamics, nutrient cycling, energy flow, and biogeochemical transformations. Understanding microbial ecology is crucial for elucidating the functioning of … Read more
Biogeography is the scientific study of the distribution of species and biodiversity across space and through time. It examines the patterns and processes that shape the distribution of organisms on Earth, from the smallest microbes to the largest mammals. Biogeographers investigate how factors such as climate, geology, evolutionary history, and human activities influence where species … Read more
Dr. Seita Watanabe, an assistant professor at Osaka Metropolitan University’s Botanical Gardens and Graduate School of Science, has spearheaded a research team that recently uncovered a previously unknown species of Japanese lily called sukashiyuri. This groundbreaking discovery represents the first identification of a new sukashiyuri species since 1914, marking a significant milestone in botanical research. … Read more
Marine biology is the scientific study of life in the oceans and other saltwater environments. It is a multidisciplinary field that encompasses various branches of biology, including ecology, physiology, genetics, and oceanography, to understand the complex interactions between marine organisms and their habitats. With over 70% of the Earth’s surface covered by oceans, marine biology … Read more
Over the course of its elliptical orbit, the moon Enceladus is squeezed unevenly by Saturn’s gravitational pull and deforms from a spherical shape into a football shape and back again. This cyclic stress causes a phenomenon called “tidal heating” within Enceladus and dissipates enough energy to maintain what is believed to be a global ocean … Read more
Bioluminescence first evolved in animals at least 540 million years ago in a group of marine invertebrates called octocorals, according to the results of a new study from scientists with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. The results, published April 23, in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, push back the previous record for … Read more
Astrobiology, a multidisciplinary field at the intersection of astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, and planetary science, explores the origins, evolution, distribution, and potential for life in the universe. This fascinating realm of scientific inquiry delves into fundamental questions about the nature of life, its cosmic origins, and the conditions required for habitability beyond Earth. From the … Read more
The Moon, Earth’s celestial companion, exerts a profound influence on our planet across a multitude of dimensions, ranging from gravitational forces to environmental cycles. Its presence shapes Earth’s tides, stabilizes its axial tilt, influences its climate, and even plays a role in cultural and societal aspects. Gravitational Interaction and Tidal Forces One of the most … Read more
The search for extraterrestrial life is one of the most profound and enduring quests in human history. It represents our curiosity about the possibility of life beyond Earth and our desire to understand our place in the cosmos. Over the centuries, scientific advancements, technological breakthroughs, and philosophical insights have fueled this exploration, leading to a … Read more
Embarking on a journey to the edge of the universe is an awe-inspiring concept that captures the imagination and curiosity of humanity. While our current technology limits our physical exploration to the confines of our solar system, the realms beyond hold mysteries and wonders waiting to be discovered. Our journey begins on Earth, our home … Read more
Scientists from prestigious institutions such as the California Institute of Technology, the University of California Santa Cruz, New York University, and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center have unveiled groundbreaking findings shedding light on the enduring volcanic activity of Io, one of Jupiter’s enigmatic moons. The research published in the journal Science offers compelling evidence suggesting that … Read more
Location State/Country Maximum Duration of Totality Mazatlán Mexico 3 minutes 50 seconds San Antonio Texas 3 minutes 38 seconds Dallas Texas 3 minutes 25 seconds Little Rock Arkansas 3 minutes 22 seconds St. Louis Missouri 3 minutes 12 seconds Indianapolis Indiana 3 minutes 25 seconds Toledo Ohio 3 minutes 16 seconds Cleveland Ohio 3 minutes … Read more
An international group of scientists, co-led by researcher Ariadna Mechó of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center—Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS), observed 160 species on seamounts off the coast of Chile that had not yet been known to live in the region and suspect that at least 50 of these species are new to science. The recent … Read more
Italy is not exactly renowned for dinosaurs. In comparison to its excellent artistic and archaeological heritage, dinosaur fossils are very rare. Not surprisingly, the discovery of the first isolated dinosaurs in the early 1990s generated excitement, but are now considered nothing more than an exception to a general rule. During the reign of dinosaurs, between … Read more
A newly identified species of pterosaur is among the largest ever flying animals, according to a new study from Queen Mary University of London. Cryodrakon boreas, from the Azhdarchid group of pterosaurs (often incorrectly called ‘pterodactyls’), was a flying reptile with a wingspan of up to 10 metres which lived during the Cretaceous period around … Read more
A groundbreaking study led by planetary scientists Giovanni Muttoni from the University of Milan and Dennis Kent from Columbia University has provided new insights into the exodus of hominins out of Africa around 1 million years ago. Their research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that this migration may have … Read more
Arctic sea ice is shrinking as the world continues to warm, and a new study led by researchers at Penn State may provide a better understanding of how the loss of this ice may impact daily weather in the middle latitudes, including the United States. The researchers used climate models and a machine learning approach … Read more